Love Lives Here

I feel like I should acknowledge the fire this time, but I don't know what to say. I've been thinking a lot about the unrest in Los Angeles in 1992. (I wrote about that here.) In some ways this is so much the same. But in some small ways it feels different. This time, I've seen white people acknowledging systemic racism publicly, that Nike commercial, the cops speaking out against other cops... But will this lead to us crawling out from the depths of racism? Will we right past wrongs? Demilitarize the police? Reweave the fabric of our society? I hope so, and I will do what I can to contribute to a new America.

As you can see from my latest finish, Love Lives Here, a freebie from Lizzie*Kate, I have not started a pandemic stitch. This piece was started for the 2015 Ultimate January Challenge. It is almost done, there's supposed to be a bird on the roof. I've ordered a couple of JABCO bird buttons to use instead.

I've also been working on the Deruta biscornu from Giulia Punti Antichi. This is very close to being done but I ran out of that orange color (GAST orange marmalade). I found another skein in a project bag but it's slightly different. At least I had the foresight to leave some unstitched areas around the whole piece so the new skein will blend in.

Maybe I'm learning a lesson, but I'm not making any promises about what I'm stitching next!

Tis A Season, Anyway

I know last time I was talking about projects, I said I was going to start something new to commemorate what I've taken to calling The Inside Time. I didn't have all the colors of the project I chose, and it was getting late, so I just grabbed a project I had already started--Tis the Season by Blackbird Designs. It is stitched on Lakeside Linens Pear with the called for Belle Soie (that's how old this is) silks. I started it in July of 2013 for my aunt who had asked that I stitch something she could take out every Christmas. Then she told me to take my time. I bet she regrets that!

In November 2017, I started those snowflake motifs (shown here) and I put the one under the tail in the wrong place. Because I am a changed stitcher I took it out and restitched it. First one at a time and now fixing variations. I hardly recognize myself. 

Anyway, I am really, truly going to start a new project. (The third sign, no doubt!)

In other news, I need a new place for my workspace. I am tired of working on a laptop when I usually work on two huge monitors. I haven't gone to retrieve my work computer because there's no place to put it. The dude is working in the study and I am a nomad living out of a bag working on the dining room table and clearing up every night before dinner. It's become clear we are in this for the long haul--at least the summer. By mid June, I'll know what's happening next semester. I'm sure that if the students aren't back on campus, we won't be, but I think our office might not go back to campus no matter what (we don't work directly with students). It suddenly occurred to me the disaster I call a craft room (the work with the organizer didn't stick) would be a logical place--one where I could even stand to work. (I am also missing my standing desk.)

So I've started shoveling out. I'm 1/3 of the way there...and finding projects and kitted projects I had forgotten about. Lucky us!

Rest in Peace

Frank Bielec, of Mosey and Me, has died. I always loved the whimsy of the patterns. And the anniversary stitch I did for the dude was absolutely perfect. May he rest in peace.

#bewellandstitch

My latest finish is Four Fat Friends by Drawn Thread. Stitched on ...you know...fabric with the called for WDW threads. Another one I optimistically started in 2015 for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge.

I'm searching for a new project. I am definitely looking at the #bewellandstitch projects so I can have a little memorial of this time. Not that I think many of us are likely to forget it any time soon. But still.

I first became aware of the #bewellandstitch designs scrolling through Instagram, where Jody Rice of Satsuma Street offered her Stay Home chart. Then I started to see finishes, especially Needle Work Press's Stitch and Be Well. As I explored, I noticed that our dear Serendipitous Jo compiled quite a list. (You can also find them on her themed freebies page.) I noticed that she was missing a few of the ones I found. At first I was going to send them along to add to her list, but then I realized I have a blog! And the list was getting kinda long.

Be Calm - Be Safe, Homespun Elegance (Facebook)
Bee Well, Autumn Lane (Facebook)
Bee Well Teresa Kogut (PDF)
Be Well from Lila's Studio
Be Well and Stitch, Hello from Liz Matthews (PDF)
Ewe Be Well from Shepherd's Bush (PDF)

Homeschool Sampler from Posey Gets Cozy, Alicia Paulson (PDF)
Our Daily Thread, Stone Street Stitchworks (PDF)
Stitch Well and Be Calm, JBW Designs
Stitch and Be Well, Needlework Press

Though not part of the #bewellandstitch crowd--just because I want to hang out with her, doesn't mean everyone does--Julie Jackson has a free chart:
Subversive Stitching, Stay the F*ck Home (She also has kits for sale for Don't Touch Your Damn Face, Wash Your F*cking Hands, and Isolation Update.)

It's been a while since I asked, so let's focus again:

* What am I grateful for today?

* Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?

* What expectations of normal am I letting go of today?

* How am I getting outside today?

* How am I moving my body today?

* What beauty am I creating or cultivating or inviting in today?

Our Souls are Procrastinators

Those who know me know that I stitch an anniversary sampler as a gift for the dude each year; this is the sampler that I intended to give him in {shock, horror} 2014. Well, it's done now! Phew. Don't worry, there have been anniversary stitches for the in-between years, some more on time than others: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

Midsummer Night Designs, Our Souls
Stitched on a fabric I didn't record, nor do I remember
Called for Anchor flosses.

Me: That was supposed to be your anniversary present in 2014.
The dude: 2000?
Me: 2014
The dude: Whatever, it doesn't matter. I appreciate it, it doesn't have to be "on time."

Reader, I married him. 💗💗

No Flying Away, Stay Home

I have another finish! This is Rabbit Works, Ladybug, Ladybug. It's an old pattern--the year the designer charted on the pattern is '98--that I bought on a road trip I took with Best Pal. We went up to Syracuse so I could do research for my dissertation in the Joyce Carol Oates archive. We visited all the needlework stores we could find in the area. I picked up the pattern and WDW ladybug thread in Endicott, NY. Funny the things you remember.

I started this in 2015 for Debbie's Crazy Ultimate January Challenge. I may finish all those starts yet!

It's stitched with the called for WDW colors, though I did eliminate one ladybug that was perched on the "g" of ladybug. It was too hard to read on the chart; I think it was charted over one on an over two grid.

My Floss Came!

When we last visited I had started working on Our Souls even though I knew I would soon run out of dark pink floss. While watching Endeavour, I completed all of the light green and medium green stitching.

As you can see it took about a week but I received the replacement floss and I'm ready to complete the flowers. I still  have to figure out what to do about the initials since the original pattern didn't include an alphabet. {hard eyeroll}

This is Our Souls
by Midsummer Night Designs
stitched on a random piece of linen
with the called for Anchor floss

In the meantime, I picked up an oldie but a goodie, Ladybug Ladybug by Rabbit Works. This is stitched with WDW Ladybug and, you may recall, I had a bit of a worry when I had to do the whole piece with not very much floss. I was able to get replacement floss, but it doesn't have the sharp black that the original floss had. (It goes from red to very dark maroon.) But I'm now stitching every third (or so) letter with the original floss, and it's going swimmingly. I'm having a hard time putting it down to get back to Our Souls.

We've finished the part of Endeavour we have available in the US, and have moved on to Fortitude. Apparently we're just going to watch shows with one word titles that imply moral strengths. Any recommendations?