Another Christmas is upon us, and, as is "tradition" here with me, I once again find myself hanging my head in shame regarding the many incomplete Christmas items I had hoped to stitch in time for the 25th.
First off is this Dimensions Gold kit which I've admired for a couple of years and finally purchased from EBay. I opened the kit this morning just to glance at the charts, threads, and instructions and immediately felt my heart racing like a kid opening his gifts under the tree! That joy and thrill of starting a new project was slightly hindered when I pulled out the "pre-sorted" threads for the project and found this:
Can we say, "Ugh!" However, I'm undaunted and will persevere in untangling this "rat's nest" of threads and, hopefully, will start stitching this shortly. I mean, what's wrong with adding one more project to the ever-growing WIP pile, right? (Don't faint - this is the stack presently tottering next to my stitching spot:
Yes, I know, I do suffer from a case of SADD (Stitcher's Attention Deficit Disorder) which is why there really are do few photos of things actually FINISHED on this blog. Lol!
Aside from the stack there, I have a Scarlet Letter sampler calling my name over on my Millenium frame and stand. And, these three WIP's that are in various states of completion (or should I say various states of "beginning?)
Santa - can't you spare an elf or two who knows how to stitch to come down to sunny Florida and away from the cold North Pole?
Away We Ride (Blackbird Designs)
Hearts and Holly (Lizzie Kate)
Quaker Christmas II - Songs of the Season
Merry Christmas to all of my stitching friends out there! I have to run now -
that Dimensions kit is calling my name!
Oh my Kevin! My heart is racing now too. But it is because I am a one-at-a-time stitcher. You are making me feel faint!! Merry Christmas to you and Seamus my friend. =)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, Vickie !! I'm really going to try my best to stick to ONE project at a time in 2014 - now don't you all laugh out there! ;-)
DeleteOy vey!!! Looks like my WIP pile...haha. I've actually finished some small Christmas stitchy's that I made into "pillows" to add to a basket in my living room, but I'm afraid I'm hopeless when it comes to finishing anything large :( I do eventually finish them but I wouldn't dare have a blog about cross stitch because I wouldn't have anything to show..LOL
ReplyDeleteO love "Away We Ride"! If you don't think you'll be able to finish it, send it my way :) Wish I could crank them out like Edgar.
I wish I could crank them out like Edgar as well, Colleen! I think his "trick" is to stick to only one project at a time?
DeleteGood luck with the untangling of the thread!! It will be worth it when you start stitching that first little cross! Winter reindeer is a beautiful design, have fun!
ReplyDeleteI love your raindeer kit. Getting ready to start and starting is half the fun.
ReplyDeleteKevin,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful kit...Yeah, you have a mess with those threads...but it will be worth it once you start stitching on it...You can do it!
Your other WIP's are looking great...I can't think of one cross stitcher who doesn't have more then one of those piles of stitching goodness waiting to be worked on. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for putting my mind at ease, Carolyn. I just knew there were others out there with more than one project going on. Whew! :-)
DeleteWow Kevin I can hardly belive that thread is like that. I would be willing to bet it may be DMC thread and if it is, I think I would just use new threads for this and not worry about untangling someone's else's mess there. wow they should have paid you to to take it like that. It is a beautiful project though but to have to sit and untangle that would really make me mad lol. You deserve to be stitching and enjoying it instead of having to fix that. It is a really pretty project though. At least you have picked up your stitching. Enjoy the day! :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't attempted to untangle these yet. Just too scary. Lol! You know, if they ARE DMC floss, I may just do what you suggested.
DeleteThese are all beautiful projects. I have admired Winter Reindeer many times. Can't believe the "pre-sorted" threads are in such a mess though!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that everyone else's WIPs always look so much more tempting than my own? Perhaps we should do a round robin WIP and forward one onto another stitcher to finish?!
Lol , I know, Justine ! You may be onto something there with the pass on one UFO or WIP idea.
DeleteKevin - Move over kid, and let me join you in our mutual SADD affliction. I've got 10 long term WIPs and the one I'm concentration on now and the one I just finished wasn't on my blog/webpage list. Finally I can put a name to my perpetual start-ides condition!! (LOL) I enjoy looking at all your wonderful projects.
ReplyDeleteCome on into The Inner Sanctum, Jan! Lol!!
DeleteI bet there are a lot of others with Start-Otis or SADD that are just too afraid to admit it. ;-)
Winter Reindeer is very pretty, I will have to keep an eye out for that one. I know the feeling, so many projects and yet I still buy and start more?! Will we ever learn...?
ReplyDeleteNo we won't, Emma! Ha ha ha. Case in point - I just ordered a sampler kit from Essamplaire today - Ann Anthony. Did I need that? NOOOO! But I just couldn't resist, I'm afraid. Sigh
DeleteThat is a gorgeous reindeer my friend! Looking forward to your start & especially your finish in time for next Christmas : ) I would be in need of massive doses of tranquilizers if I had more than one stitching project going at the same time!
ReplyDeleteLol, Shirlee! Nahhhh , you have it a little backwards. You'd need lots of COFFEE if you had this many WIPs! ;-)
DeleteApart from the tangle it is a very lovely kit! My dimensions kit was not tangled but did involve 3 hours trying to figure out which colour was which before I could start ... I must have that disorder too as I have not touched it in about a year.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly is a beautiful design - and a mess, indeed. I ordered recently a package described "grab bag loose fibers" and that is exactly what it is! Away we Ride is one of my favorite BBD recently. It's in my ToDo batch.
ReplyDeleteThe Dimensions kit is indeed lovely. I too kno what that giddy excitement at sorting through all the lovely things for a new project. A shame you encountered such a tangle. Love the WIPs and look forward to seeing if any elves spinkle some stitchy dust on them :)
ReplyDeleteWell that elf hasn't shown up yet , but there's always tomorrow! Lol
DeleteYikes in the tangled thread!! Love all of your wips!
ReplyDeleteOMG! I know just what you mean! I have so many WIPs it is starting to effect my sanity! But do I learn?? Of course not! Not only have I joined all 3 of the SALs on Sampler World starting the 1st of the year but I believe we have a date to start M. Woods too if I remember correctly. Just check me into the loony bin!!!! Laura
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you , Laura! Signed up for a Snooty Parrots SAL and a BBD Christmas Garden SAL which both start in ten days. By the Bay SAL I'm starting with a friend of mine also in January. And today I bought another sampler kit with Christmas money from my mom. I will need a whole WING of the loony bin, though. My stash could never fit in a room !
Delete:)those threads make my eyes just~:() and, I love your last post about Nancy!!! Snuggle up to those WIP's.... Long winter ahead~
ReplyDeleteGorgeous projects!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
All of your starts are gorgeous!! I figured out tha tI have 11 WIPS - I too suffer from SADD!!
ReplyDeleteIt's CONTAGIOUS!! ;-)
DeleteI'm a great fan of multiple WIPs - my pile is ever-growing. Yours are lovely. I hope untangling those threads doesn't take too large a toll on your patience...
ReplyDeleteThe Dimensions sampler is really lovely. Does it use blended threads? I adore the Scarlet Letter sampler. I need a few elves at my house too!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog from a comment you made on another stitcher's blog. I am always intrigued and pleased when I find a man who stitches! Your stitching WIP's are great. And I too have a case of SADD, although I am trying to get that under control and finish something I have actually started. Ugh is not even the word for that pile of threads. Just take one thread at a time. The finished pic for the kit looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I can defnitely feel the delight that you must have when adding a new WIP to youralready existing WIPs, lol. I'm just the same and agree - you can't have too many.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your Dimensions kit once you'll have untangled the threads.
They are ALL wonderful projects...no wonder you can't seem to settle!
ReplyDeleteAll great WIPS.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, you will finish the Reindeer by next year.
Marilyn
Wonderful WIPS Kevin!! I'm like you and get panicked around this time of year thinking of all the projects I wanted to finish in time...never happens! I also get the SADD symptoms!! Hopefully the rats nest will get untangled for you to start a new project! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWell, Kevin, he certainly is a handsome reindeer ... beautiful piece! If you find any of those elves ... please share and send a few up North!
ReplyDeleteI just "found" you via Shirlee's awesome blog!
ReplyDeleteLove the deer kit! He really is adorable and very festive.
Just so you know, I plan on hitching a ride with Santa this year and heading back to Florida....ok, maybe just in my head, but I will be dreaming of palm trees and ocean breezes while the snow piles up on my door step! Oh, and I'll put in a good word for you ,too....who knows, he might even bring you more stash this year! :)
Yippee!! More stash!?! Hurry up, Santa! :/)
DeleteOh Kevin, just wrap up those threads and send them over to my house. I have one of those hubbies who LOVES to untangle threads, knots and whatever..Really, he is one of those restless guys, and is always helping me wind floss, etc. When he doesn't have anything to do, he fusses with the tassels on the throw...He would have these undone in a heartbeat...well, maybe not that fast...Loving your blog, I am a newcomer, but loving all these SALs.
ReplyDeleteOma, where can I get a husband like yours? Actually mine isn't so bad, he has gotten on his hands and knees to help me find a lost needle many, many times!!!!
ReplyDeleteKevin, I read on another blog that you have never done a HaED. Oh you MUST! They are daunting, to be sure, but when you see the detail start to appear, it's pretty magical. I have just finished one, and I'm taking a break with a Mirabilia before I jump right into another HaED design. They are challenging and maddening, but just take your time and go line-by-line if you need to. You will not be disappointed with the result, I promise you!
That deer kit is gorgeous! Although I'm not too sure about the pre-sorted threads! There's no such thing as too many WIP's. Life is about enjoyment!
ReplyDeleteLove the Dimensions Gold kit! And your WIPs are looking wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through a fellow stitchy-blogger (Sharon's Cross Stitch Obsession). It's always neat to see the work of male stitchers as there seem to be so few; who actually admit to enjoying the craft!
Hope your day down in Pompano is sunnier than mine up near Tampa.
Happy New Year!