Thursday, May 19, 2011

Wise advice for those of us with too many creative projects and not enough time...

We traveled down to NC recently to visit with family members who have a beautiful home in a golf course community. Of course, I could care less about the lush green golf courses. I did love seeing and admiring the cross-stitch samplers framed all around their house. Envision beautifully intricate designs- not the cross-stitch basic samplers every little crafter does in elementary school.
It is always wonderful to sit and chit chat about creative ventures. My aunt knits, cross-stitches, and quilts. I told her how I have a tendency to start projects and never quite finish them. My husband and my mom's attic would have shouted an "amen" after my crafting overload confession moment.
A woman she knew who completed a quilt a week (I can't even imagine that level of productivity) told her to "never go to sleep without putting her hands on her projects." My aunt then told the story of a quilt that had been lingering unfinished at her house and after getting that advice she did work a little on it each day until it was done. Finding large chunks of crafting time is definitely an ongoing challenge. I have been thinking about this piece of advice and am going to give it a whirl. First up: knitted squares that are still waiting to be stitched together into a blanket for my daughter...
Oh, on a side note: we also went for a nice walk on the beach while down there. Children playing at the beach= total joy.


Silver Mermaids--another work in progress


The city of Norfolk has beautifully decorated mermaid statues all around the city. I made silver mermaid charms for all my bridesmaids in the spring of 2008. I wanted to make something special and unique for bridesmaid gifts. It was an ambitious project that was finished at the last minute. My sweet husband accompanied me to jewelry class sessions to help me finish the project. I was so crunched for time that I didn't finish one for myself. I started making one just for me, but I need to finish the back so I can actually wear it....another project to tackle in 2011. I have to make it back to my jewelry class to work on this project since I don't have a full jewelry making operation...a full workshop requires two things: space and money...lots of it. I have been MIA since becoming pregnant. Pregnant feet and standing for long periods of time in jewelry class did not mesh. If you were a bridesmaid in my wedding and are reading this...email me a photo of you wearing your mermaid necklace so I can add it to this post. I much prefer to view jewelry pieces on actual people. What kind of gifts have you given or gotten for participating in weddings?

Update: thanks Robin and Carrie for sending these photos! I love how they turned out!






Craft Hope Spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time