Monday, June 15, 2009

Stairway to Heaven

This weekend, I got tired of seeing my three newly framed pieces sitting in the chair.


New frames lounging.

So, I gathered up all of pieces I had and I put them on the wall.

Well, first I had to attend to the three pieces that had been laced but not actually put in their frames. I got out my point driver and drove them into the frames but good. Then I applied the backing paper and hanging wires.


Just in case you've never seen backing paper and hanging wire.

Then, I started hanging. After I had hung about four pictures, I thought it might be a good idea to put them on the wall in a less permanent way in case I was screwing up. So I cut out kraft paper squares to match the picture sizes. Then I put the stand-ins on the wall with repositionable scrapbook adhesive and played with the layout for a while. I might be a slow learner, but at least I get there in the end.


New gallery

I have been basking in reflected glory...or something like that. I feel quite accomplished. Not that I was any less accomplished when they weren't hanging on the wall. But the pictures sort of remind me (almost constantly) that they exist.



Looking up as you enter the house.


Top down.

It reminds me of when I was writing my dissertation. I had been in the program so long I was growing moldy. But then I started keeping track of how I was doing--how many chapters complete and approved, how many pages in progress. Every time I started writing, I would open that document first as a little reminder. Suddenly, instead of lamenting how long I had been working on the project and how much was left to do, I had some kind of grip on reality. I was, say, 2/3 of the way through chapter four and had outlined chapter one while chapters two, three, and five were done and dusted. (Chapters 2, 3, and 5 really were done first. Chapter 1 was dead last.) I could see the light at the end of the tunnel--and it was rapidly moving closer.

Suddenly, all I want to do is stitch--I haven't been stitching so much you might have noticed. I want more things on that wall. And I think a few of them should be a bit bigger. I feel so focused! Let this be a lesson to me.

Anna's Bird was really the inspiration to all this. One of the places the dude and I discussed hanging her was right where she is now. Because she leads you into the dining room.

Anna's Bird, leading you into the dining room.

29 comments:

Teresa said...

WOW!!! That looks fabulous!!

You are so inspiring me to get stitching more often and for longer- I want a wall like that.

It really looks terrific!

Deb said...

Anna, that wall is truly inspiring! I learned that trick with the paper before hanging anything. Gets you over the fear of nailing into the wall (and in my case, hearing the rath of my husband for putting holes in his paint jobs). That wall is great and I really love Anna's Bird. You picked out the best place for her. Glad to hear that you're inspired to stitch again too. But how could you not with such a magnificant wall!

Caroline said...

That looks perfect - good job and very inspiring I agree!

I have a newish blog should you care to visit - I tend to work fairly exclusively on large project, though as I'm still new I'm slowly posting them as I go.

http://strumpety.blogspot.com/

valerie said...

Wow, your wall of lovelies looks fabulous! I love how Anna Bird leads you into the dining room. I had to smile seeing your "Tall Flowers". I stumbled on your blog maybe 3 years ago and saw you working on this. I just had to buy it and it's been languishing in my stash drawer ever since. I stumbled across it today looking for baby sampler stuff and here it is, hanging on your wall. Love it!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! When I think of all my stitched items sitting in my drawer, I wonder if I have finished anything at all. Oh, a couple of ornaments are stitched, but nothing is framed. You are an inspiration!

Patricia Lessell said...

WOW Love it! You have given me inspiration and soon I shall start stitching for myself and hang them all on my stairs too. Lots of Love Patti xxx

Aussie Stitcher said...

Your stairway wall looks fabulous. I want a wall just like it.

Daffycat said...

Damn, I need a staircase. That looks fantastic!

Anonymous said...

So very lovely! I'm jealous. I want my wall to look like yours!

Annemarie said...

Oh great. Show me your perfect sampler staircase wall and inspire me with your fabulous stitching when I have absolutely NO TIME to cross one single stitch. Now how am I going to get through the day?

Seriously, I think your wall looks perfect and thanks also for showing us a glimpse of your house. Wowie.

Katrina said...

Gorgeous! Love your wall :-).

Lisa said...

Your wall of inspiration is wonderful. What a great way to look and admire all of the needlework accomplishments...and then to be inspired to sit down and start again. I think your choice of putting Anna's Bird on the wall leading to the dining room was a very good choice. It looked ok in the dining room, but stands out with the white wall.
Take care

xeyedmary said...

WOW! That's a lot of stitching! It looks wonderful, though, and what a great place to stop and admire each piece.

karenv said...

Love your wall! It looks fantastic, great inspiration :)

Adrienne Martini said...

Holy cow! That wall is fabulous!

(On another note entirely: the word verification for this comment was "imsob," which seems very silly, if not a little insulting.)

CJ in OK ;-) said...

Your wall looks amazing. Although it reminded me of my "pink thing" aka In the Tall Flowers that you have finished at the top of the stairs. I have boxes, alphabet and stems only, and it's been that way for a long while. I may have to come back here for inspiration until I get mine finished. Thanks for the tip on my Knocker project I will try it, what do I have to loose. CJ ok;-)

Kristen said...

Wow - just wow! What a gorgeous grouping. I'm so jealous!! You're right, it is an inspiring sight. Gotta keep stitching...

mainely stitching said...

Wow, Anna. I am deeply impressed. It looks staggeringly good. WOW. And the paper cutout idea ... sheer brilliance. My better half would approve - our walls have so many holes it looks like we've got concrete worms. LOL.

Teresa said...

Hi, again!

When you get a chance, check out my blog- I left something there for you today.

doahleigh said...

This looks really really nice. I'm so impressed - I'm not sure I could make it all look so natural and lovely!

Melissa said...

I love your wall! Is it just me or is stitching just made for stairways? Anna's Bird is beautiful. What big pieces are you thinking of stitching?

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Oooh, I want a wall just like that! Gorgeous and I love where you placed Anna's Bird - perfection.

Meari said...

Love the "gallery"! Your stitching looks so much better on the wall.

Michelle said...

Oh, it's wonderful! What a great tribute to you and your stitching!!! I've done the same thing with our travel photos in our stairway (there's a photo on the style blog somewhere). Beautiful!

Jennifer said...

Love it, love it, love it! Looks fabulous!!!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Ooooh what a fantastic gallery!

Susan said...

That's an amazing wall! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.

It's fabulous that 1) you've kept so many pieces for yourself and 2) you have the perfect place to hang them all, with room for more.

I'm so jealous.

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

Great!!! I love the wall up the stairs - beautiful display.

Tanya :)