I Love This Project
Coni J. Rich, The Spinster Stitcher
My little sister taught me to stitch several years ago (as a way to shut me up, I suspect), so it was only natural that my first stitchy gift would be for her.
The significance of the piece has more to do with the back story than it does with the actual stitching, but I should point out that it took me weeks to stop prancing around the house over the fact that I selected the threads, chose the individual stitches, and then stitched the piece without help. Painted canvases have always intimidated me, and I'm never able to "see" what stitches or threads should go where. For this canvas, however, it all just fell into place.
Chrissy volunteered at an animal shelter in Phoenix, and it was there that she met and fell in love with two dogs named Patty and Mike. Patty and Mike were litter mates and had lived at the shelter since birth because their original owner had been unable to care for them. By the time my sister adopted them, they were almost 10 years old, so she only had a few years left to give them a wonderful home. When they both passed away, I knew that a huge part of my sister had died with them.
I stitched the yellow lab canvas in remembrance of Mike, and I bought the black lab canvas for Patty. For Christmas that year, I wrote a letter to my sister from her current pup Bosco telling her how much he loved being her little dog and that he knew she was very special because of the two dogs she had cared for before him. When I told her that I had stitched the piece on my own and had even selected the different stitches, you would have thought I had given her the moon.
Coni blew into my life via an e-mail she sent shortly before she started blogging. What a delight! And I'm glad she started a blog as well because we all need a little breeze of Coni in our lives.
16 comments:
OK, I am blubbing here at work. (sniff) What a sweet gift.
There is a special place in heaven for people who adopt senior dogs. :-)
I'm already a frequent visitor to Coni's blog - she has such a way with words and never fails to make me smile!
Wonderful story and lovely projects. That was a touching gift to her sister!
Just love her blog too. CJ ok;-)
What a wonderful story. Coni often makes my day.
Oh, Coni, you are such a sweetie! I love reading your blog. You and Stewey are an unbeatable combination!!
That is insanely dense stitching! And what a kind, thoughtful gift.
Lovely gift for your sister, and I also heart your blog :)
Love your blog Coni, it's so much fun. The story behind the canvases is so sweet.
Great idea Anna, the guest blogger idea is so much fun. BTW, I read your comment on one Margie's posts, I am so glad I am not the only one who had a hard time getting their dogs to go on a leash, LOL. I thought we'd never get Chloe and Sophie to do it :-).
Awww, what a beautiful story!! I am bawling. Such a wonderful gift, too. sniff...
Tried to comment before but my typing was appearing backwards. Huh?
Anyway. Coni, I am glad to find I am not the only person who danced around very proudly in celebration of that first handpainted canvas that wasn't just basketweaving and tent stitch.
What a wonderful gift to your sister.
I enjoy reading both Anna and Coni's blogs. Always entertaining....but how do I comment on Coni's blog? It doesn't accept my comment(s). I don't have a blog.
Mary Eman
Mary-- Coni may have her blog set so that she doesn't accept anonymous comments. But you can sign up with google or openID to get an identity for commenting without creating a blog. HTH!
Very sweet - love the story and stitching.
Anna - thanks for the info (I'm not really very proficient when it comes to computer stuff). Hope you will be feeling better sooner, not later.
Mary Eman
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