Class Reunions…

So here I am 47 years old and still trying to decide if I should go to my 30 year high school reunion.  It just seems so unbelievable that I have been out of high school since 1976.  How amazing.  So much has happened since in 30 years.  I had a horrible breakup, my brother passed away at 21, I had a baby, got married, had another baby, moved from Arizona to Maryland sight unseen, got divorced, moved back to Kansas City, got my college degree, and began life in my current career.  Whew, my daughter graduated high school and my ex and I now live 4 house apart.  My how so much can change.

My issue is that the reunion is in Tucson on June 29 through July 1.  While rooms are cheap, the heat is too much to think about.  Especially now that I cannot handle the heat as witnessed by getting heat stroke in Philly last summer, fainting and breaking off my front teeth on the concrete.  Humm… last vacation I spent a day in the hospital, but I still think I will go.  Largely because I want to see my best friend, Cheryl, and visit with old friends.  I also want to meet Annette. 

I have worrried about my weight for almost 7 years.  Since I turned 40, I gained 40 pounds.  I have managed to lose 20 of that, but still.  I felt really awful until I found a picture of my best friend in high school.  Amazing what you can find by 'googling' someone with an unusal name.  I feel better, but I am still wondering why I care.  I am a healthy 47 year old.  I am happy with my life, my children, and my career.  What more could one ask?

I admit that I am looking forward to seeing my junior prom date again.  We went to my 25th reunion together and we plan on going to this one as well.  He is such a good friend.  I will keep you all informed of my ultimate decision.  At least I have the time off already.  

Just another day…

I hate going back to work after a holiday – especially if the day is cloudy and rainy.  Yes, perfect weather for reading and stitching!

I finished my rotation on The Maiden & The Unicorn.  I didn't seem to get much done in 5 hours, but, I did get almost half way across in the top borader minus the backstitching.  Speaking of backstitching, I still do not find the colors to use for the BS on the border.  I looked at the website and didn't find any additional instructions.  Maybe I will just fudge and make do.

I will work as long as I have time for on my focus piece tomorrow.  Hopefully that will leave very little of the main piece left but backstitching. I am just missing the top right hand corner of the border and some backstitching.  That will leave just the one overs of the fairy to do.  The end is actually near.  Other than the Mermaid, I do not believe that I have spent this many hours on a piece by Teresa.  I am at 213 hours and have probably 20 more left to go.  She is beautiful though.  I am sure she will be whisked away by my mom.  At least I will have visitation rights.

Once Woodland Fairy is done, Minstrel will take over as my focus peice.  I am only about 3/4 of the way through.  That means that I may only finish 4 pieces this year.  I reality Goblin Market is the closest to being complete, but it should be finished next month in my regular rotation.  The only other pieces I may be able to finish this year are Angel of Summer and Angel of Healing.  Angel of Summer is almost 75% complete and Angel of Healing is almost 70% complete.  Fortunately L&L pieces go pretty quickly. 

Reading:  "Seizure" by Robin Cook

Listening to (TV):  Situation With Tucker Carlson

New Piece in Rotation

I have been lucky this month.  I actually finished my 5 hour rotation on Merrick early this morning.  I decided to do him one over on a 28 ct. Ocean Reflections by Silkweaver.  So far he looks beautiful. 

Since I had extra time this month, I added another piece to the rotation.  I added Maiden and A Unicorn by Vermillion Stitchery.  I found a Mint Green 28 ct cashel and decided to her over two. I wanted to do an over one, but there are too may 1/4 stitches to be appropriate for this piece.  I have completed 2 hours so far.  It has rained most of the day, my yard is happy, but I really did want to spend some time outside today. 

Yesterday evening I spent at the only WWI memorial in the US.  It is located here in Kansas City, and is across from our Union Station.  I met up with several good friends and we picnicked, drank wine, listened to the KC Symphony, and watched the fireworks over the Liberty Memorial.  It was beautiful.  There were 30,000 people there.  It was amazing.  The only problem was leaving.  Larry and I decided to enjoy the weather and we waited until most of the lawn was empty.  We walked back with all of our stuff.  Larry was on the 3rd floor of the 4 floor garage and I was on the roof.  I didn't even bother getting into the car because nothing seemed to be moving.  I went to the northern side and watched the trains pass by in the train yard.  After about 1/2 hour, Larry called and met me up there.  We finally left when only 5 cars were left up there.  All in all a great evening.

The kids are both working, so I will get back to my Maiden. 

Entering into a new world

In finally gave in and decided that I just had to have a blog. A place to discuss my thoughts, my cross stitching, my work, my children, my bowling, and yes, even my speaking.

I am an avid cross stitcher.  I spend at least a half an hour an evening relaxing with my stitching and listening to the TV.  My children know full well that I pay little attention to the TV, but I like it for company.  I think that is largely because I listen to my music whenever I am at my work in my cube or at the gym.

I rotate my stitching so that I do not get bored with a piece.  At first that was difficult because it seemed I never finished anyting, but after 9 months of rotating pieces (beginning back in 2000), I find it works well for me. I actually average 6 to 9 finishes of large pieces a year.  Before I only finished 4.  Why?  Because I got bored and found other things to do.

I have the following pieces in my rotation:

• The Minstrel by Teresa Wentzler 110 hours so far
• Woodland Fairy by Teresa Wentzelr – 213 hours and my focus piece
• Angel of Summer by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum – 95 hours
• Companions by Teresa Wentzler – 80 hours
• Angel of Healing by Marily Leavitt-Imblum – 75 hours 
• Goblin Market by Particia Arndrle – 55 hours
• Angel Procession by Teresa Wentzler – 55 hours
• Paisley Corner by Teresa Wentzler – 70 hours (my travel piece)
• Castle Sampler by Teresa Wentzler -40 hours
• Noah's Sub by Stewart Moskowitz @Stoney Creek – 35 hours
• Footprints by Teresa Wentzler – 25 hours
• Summer Bouquest by 20 hours
• Summer Fairy  by Teresa Wentlzer – 10 hours
• Merrick by Karen Weaver – beginning tonight

My rotation is done by the month.  I begin with 1 hour on my focus piece following by 5 hours each on the next two pieces, then my focus piece, then the next two pieces at 5 hours each.  I keep my rotation small enough that I almost always get to stitch on each piece every month.  I keep Paisley Corner as my travel piece since I travel once a month to Boston for 3 days at a time.  It is easy to travel with. 

I only begin a new piece if I have time at the end of the month or if I finish a piece.  I am diligent in keeping track of hours.  I used to keep track with my PalmPilot, but I have since built an excel spreadsheet that does the work for me.  I keep it on my trusty laptop that goes almost every where with me these days. 

As you can see, Teresa is my favorite designer.  I love the challenge of her pieces, the designs, and the fantasy in them.  I completed the Winter Carosel Horse as my first large piece and my first one on evenweave.  I was so incrediably proud of the work.  He hangs in my stairwell.  I have since completed 50 designs by Teresa.  Most of them are large pices.  Teresa has even signed the back of several of my finished pieces (the backing on the frames).  My favorite is Peacock Tapestry.  Mom framed it complete with a peacock feather.  Teresa signed the piece and it hangs in the guest room of my mom's house.  I keep saying I will restitch it, but I really doubt that I will.  I will eventually get it back (I hope not for many years though).

I actually began cross stitching as a fluke.  I finished a sampler for my brother and his first wife.  I got it back after they divorced.  I am not even sure I crossed the stitches in the same direction!  That was in 1981!  I began again when my daughter was 15 months old.  I was visiting my parents in Pennsylvania and I found some floss and a book and began.  I have been hooked ever since.  Up until then I did embroidery, chicken scratch, needlepoint, and a bit of kniting.  But I prefer cross stitching. 

Lucky for me my mom is a framer in her spare time.  She is 70 and runs the county nursing home, but she still finds time to make extra money by framing.  I still have maybe 30 pieces rolled up and safely stored.  Does it bother me?  Nope, I love the process of stitchng!  What else is there to say.

Well, back to Merrick.