3/4/15

Stitching and Stitcheries

This morning I moved the hoop on my latest quilting snowlady to the last position. All that's left is to stitch the little tree on the left there. Do you see the cat?


I should be able to finish it in one more sitting. I wasn't expecting to have it finished this soon, but last night was a sleepless night. Who knows why? Occasionally, it happens, and so I sat up most of the night doing embroidery. I was able to get a little bit of sleep beginning in the wee hours of the morning, but my eyes sprang open at their usual time. I loaded up on coffee and did a little more stitching. When I moved my hoop, I decided I was tired of that.

With it so close to being finished, I decided to spend some time today getting the next ones ready. Since I am addicted to stitching, I must have some hand work to do at all times, or who knows what might happen. I took up embroidery again after a long absence about four years ago, and I haven't stopped stitching since. In the interest of world peace, I'm avoiding embroidery withdrawal.

The next block for The Vintage Kitchen from Jenny of Elefantz was posted on Sunday. These are tiny, and so I'll do that one first.


Then, I traced out the next block for Gingerbread Square. This will be the 2nd of nine blocks, called "Snowman and Cocoa".


These are large blocks, and so they take a long time to trace. Once they're traced, they need to be colored. That takes twice as long as the tracing.


So, I spent most of the afternoon on those, except for a short break to pick up my new glasses. I'm going to be very brave and post a picture of myself with them. I hate how I look in pictures, so be nice. Whenever I see a picture of myself, I totally see my mother. My mother was not unattractive, but I never thought I would get as old as she was. Anyway...here you go.


Also, it's hard for me to get used to myself wearing glasses. I had perfect vision until I was about 45 (which was many moons ago). I was able to wear contact lenses up until just a few years ago. Then, my prescription moved outside the bounds of what contact lenses could correct. I was giving up too much of my distance vision in order to get my reading vision correct. So...here I am. Looking more like my mother than I ever wanted to.

That's probably enough moaning about getting older. And may I just add that the alternative to getting older is far worse. With all my complaining, I'm not really complaining. But if somebody wants to grant me a wish, then I wish to look like Olivia Wilde, because I happen to think she looks amazing.



Hm. Nothing happened. Just to be clear, that is the actual Olivia Wilde in that image, not me. Oh well. It was worth a try.

Since I spent the whole day working on stitcheries, I didn't make any more progress on Rubber Duckies. Nevertheless, I did get half of the appliqued blocks finished yesterday. 


Mike is gone this evening for a work-related event, and so I have the house to myself for a couple more hours. I'm heating up some leftovers for dinner, and then I'll try to get a few more of these done. I'd really like to get it to flimsy stage by tomorrow.

How about you? Any wishes granted today?

24 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Your stitcheries are wonderful and if it is pleasing and relaxing and works for you - you stay with it. I don't like photos of myself either - I see my maternal grandmother (not pretty or a nice person). No wishes made today, so none to be broken.

WoolenSails said...

You look wonderful in your new glasses. I hate how I look in photos, I think I look like my grandmother and that is scary, lol.

Debbie

Marei said...

I didn't sleep last night either, Barbara, but since it's too cold in my basement to sew in the wee hours of the night/morning I spent hours tossing and turning. Hoping tonight is one where the eyes close and the brain shuts down. You're making great progress with all your projects. Good for you. Love the glasses and you look good in them. As for granted wishes? Well today was another 90 minute massage so I have NOTHING to complain about. Bliss......

Pamela said...

I like the new glasses (and your lovely smile)! I'm due for a new pair, but I hate picking out frames. So hard!

Quilting Babcia said...

Snowladies is going to be one terrific quilt. And the glasses are perfect for you, they look so natural I had not remembered that you didn't wear them before this! All those rubber duckies and the bright greens and yellows make me think daffodils and spring. Wonder if we'll have any under all this snow when it finally melts.

Dana Gaffney said...

You look great! I like the glasses and I'm so glad you didn't go for some trendy frames. The Gingerbread Square blocks are favorites of mine so I'm glad to see the next one, I really love the colors from the coloring.

Jeanie said...

You look great! And of course we see family traits in our own faces..... I like to think of that as the way our lineage continues visually. Love your stitcheries..... especially putting the cat in the box... how perfect!

Debbie said...

I grabbed my remote and sent you a few zaps.....guess the batteries are low. Sorry. Yea for the new glasses, for the lovely person you are.....it is unfortunate that we all become our mom when we look in the mirror.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I suspect I'll have to get new glasses this summer as my current prescription isn't doing the trick. I'll take DD with me because I'm too blind to see without my glasses. ;-)

If I had a dollar for every night I couldn't sleep for whatever reason (usually no apparent reason - part of the dratted aging process, I fear), I could buy a house on the beach. ;-)

I love your snowlady piece ... I want to stitch some redwork and use it in a quilt. So many quilts, so little time (unless I just give up sleeping altogether - ha!).

Barb H said...

I thought the pics really were of your mother and you! Hah! To paraphrase Sandra Bullock, "After 3 hours in makeup and hair, anyone looks beautiful!" You look very nice in the new glasses. The beauty of your heart and soul shines through.

Sher S. said...

I like the glasses, I know what you mean about photos of myself...hate them. Rarely do I get a good photo, but it has happened on occasion especially when it's a grandson taking the picture, they do a good job. Love you stitcheries, need to get back to mine. Got bored with the one I'm working on and it's the last of the series so I could put the whole thing together. It's called "Mind your Momma" and I love it.

Debbie -- Sheltered Stitches said...

The glasses are fine! I just picked up embroidery after a long 5 year absence. . What hints have you got to keep consistent stitch lengths? Your work is stunning!

Anonymous said...

The stitchings are super (love the boxed kitty!!!!!). I'm up for new glasses this year, too, and your style is my leanings. We'll see. The duckies are coming along swimmingly (sorry!).
My eyes popped open at 4:00 this morning so I can understand such nighttime activity!!!!!

LethargicLass said...

You look great! Although who wouldn't want to look like Olivia Wilde LOL!

Denise :) said...

You are beautiful ... your smile is always so happy! I like your new glasses. I'm looking at a pair that have purple in them. They're the heavier, boxie frames like yours. I've always done wire or frameless . . . so this is a big jump for me! Your stitcheries all look grand!! :)

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

Funny thing, I have actually NEVER met a woman who likes how she looks in photos. Even my DIL who is young and gorgeous and models hates her photos and is super critical of her looks. Why do we do this to ourselves? I just try to remember that I look far better than I will 10 years from now so who cares. And by the way the new glasses are very stylish and you look great in them!

Christine M said...

That is a lovely photo of you, Barbara. Your snowlady is looking great. I must trace out my set of scales by Jenny. But I have to finish a quilt top this weekend so that comes first.

Christine M said...

That is a lovely photo of you, Barbara. Your snowlady is looking great. I must trace out my set of scales by Jenny. But I have to finish a quilt top this weekend so that comes first.

quiltzyx said...

Obviously the cat is in the cat trap. Where else would a kitty be? I am so glad that in the interest of world peace you have more stitcheries ready to go! I'm with you on the photos of self. I don't think I look like anyone in my family, but I think I must. Years ago I went to one of the skyscraper bank buildings in downtown LA to have lunch w/my sister who worked there. As I was walking thru', one of the employees said "oh, you must be Judy's sister" - and I never met her before!
I've been working on transcribing most of the week. Stayed up until 5am Tues. morning working on it, went to bed, up just before 9am & worked on it until at least 10:30pm when I finally finished it. Oy.

Shari said...

The glasses look nice on you. Very current.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I don't like pictures of myself, either. I need new glasses, but, they keep wanting me to get bifocals, but, they also tell me I still won't be able to see everything with them, either. BTW, I still picture myself as looking like I did about the time I got married. I sure wish my weight was closer to that. Sleep well.

Kate said...

Sorry about the sleepless night. At least you spent the time being productive and not just tossing and turning. I don't like pictures of myself either, glasses or not. But you look like you (or at least the you you show on the blog), so the glasses look good.

Michele said...

I was thinking that the box would be the perfect place for the cat.

Brown Family said...

I downloaded The Vintage Kitchen from Jenny of Elefantz. They are so tiny that I can catch up easily! I am to the point where I need to have a cataract fixed so I can see better in my left eye. Every thing is fuzzier than it was last year. Not looking forward to that!