I Love This Project...Annemarie

Guest Blogger Tuesday
I Love This Project
Annemarie of Orts and Ends

"The first answer I came up with when I pondered the question 'Why do I love this project so much?' was 'I just do.' But that would make for a very short entry on Anna's lovely blog, so I will do my best to explore this love of mine a little further, for your reading pleasure.

One of my commenters remarked recently that she could tell I have a very deep love for this project, and she was absolutely right. I like a lot of other projects, I love a lot of other projects, but I don't love them deeply. I love this Blue Lady as if she were a real person. In fact, when I look at her lovely face (which I can now do up close, because it's finished), I can't help but wish I was a bit like her. She radiates peace, and I would love to be able to walk around in that dress, in those slippers, in that garden, for just one day.

You know that some projects call to you louder than others? Well, the same goes for me, only The Blue Lady doesn't call to me. She doesn't scream, because she doesn't need to. I can hear her beautiful, soft, melodic voice singing in the background every single day, but I don't work on her very often. In fact, finishing this project is not my goal, because I'm afraid if I do finish her one day, I will have lost every reason to stitch.

This is huge piece (480 x 365) was designed by Danish artist Bjørn Wiinblad for Haandarbejdets Fremme, to commemorate its 60th anniversary in 1988. The first time I saw a picture of it was in an old Fremme catalogue some ten years ago and I was immediately smitten. I cut out the picture and stuck it on my notice board, where it remained for eight long years, until my parents gave me the kit for my birthday two years ago (yet another reason to love it so deeply).

It only contains nine colors, which is part of the brilliance of the artist. Amazing how he could create such an effect by using only nine colors! What also appeals to me is the fact that the skill level varies throughout the project. Some parts are so easy you could stitch them with your eyes closed: the face and the dress, for instance, are all half crosses (which also makes it look as if more colours are used). The flowers, however, are quite intricate, using special, typically Northern European half cross stitches. Thankfully, the dead easy parts are alternated with the dead difficult parts, so you never get tired of one or the other.

Still, if someone would ask me 'why do you love this project so much?' -- as you are doing right now -- the answer would simply have to be, 'I just do.' "

If Annemarie completes this project, she'll look like this:


I've been reading Annemarie since back when she was a Wacky Wanderer. Over the years she has shown us her strength and grace and oh, the sense of humor. She's one of the good ones.