Saturday, July 18, 2009

Startitis

Yes, it's a terrible disease affecting many stitchers, and it's horribly contagious. I've been reading all about it on other stitchy blogs, so I know now how it's transmitted. All you have to do is see someone else's stitchy starts, and you're immediately obsessed with starting something new of your very own. I've been fighting the urge daily. No, many times a day. Ever since I finished And They Sinned, I want to start every single project I have (and there are hundreds ... no kidding), but I've only started two.

First is Women of the Mayflower. It's from the Spring 2004 volume of Fine Lines, so it's been waiting to be stitched for quite a while. It's a design from Olde Willow and is charted for Olde Willow floss. I have the colors, but my purple for the words and other parts was way too pale, so I had to use a darker color from Weeks (which required unstitching many letters, of course). My fabric is 35-count Dye Pot Blend from R&R, and it seems so big after 40-count! I actually started this in the car on the way to Minnesota (before ATS was actually finished), but stopped when I discovered the purple floss issue.
You see, I didn't take ATS to Minnesota. There was only a tiny bit of stitching left to do as I was leaving town, but I didn't want to expose it to all of the travel elements. You know ... dog hair, dog feet, road food, Diet Coke.

Next to join the WIP pile is Shores of Hawk Run Hollow (gasp!). I know! I'm so excited to start this project, which certainly must have drool marks on the fabric and charts from my many longing looks and thumb-throughs while stitching other things. I'm using the NPI silks called for and 40-count Vintage Autumn Gold from Lakeside. A sweet lady at Needle in a Haystack (how rude of me to forget which lady) helped me choose a piece of fabric with less gold and more brown in it ... over the phone! She was incredibly patient. I love stitching Shores, and here's a pic of my progress from a few days ago. With my unfortunate photographic skills (or lack thereof), the color of the fabric isn't like real life.

Finally, here is the WIP I took to Minnesota. It's The Heart's Content Colonial Charm Sampler, which I started about 15 years ago. Isn't that awful? I have so many things in my WIP pile that were started oh, so long ago. I'm gonna try to force myself to work on it at least once a week (uh huh, sure). I love it, but I'm obsessed with Shores and some other projects. What to do?

I just got a call from my niece to let me know that she and my mom will be stopping by after a run through Whole Foods! Eek! I have to get out of my nightgown and wash my face and pick up a few things, so this post has to end. I'll leave you with a sunset from Sugar Lake in Minnesota. I took loads of sunset pictures, and some of them actually turned out.


Thank you to all of you sweet bloggy friends who commented about the completion of ATS. It's so much fun to have encouragement. You'll be happy to know that it's at the framer now.

Oh, before I go, there are two giveaways to tell you about. Marie and Jolene are both having giveaways, so get on over to their blogs and check them out. And make some fun.

15 comments:

Margaret said...

Oh wow! I have that Women of the Mayflower chart thanks to a stitchy friend. I love all your starts! Don't you hate startitis? lol! I've been trying so hard to resist that bug recently!!! It's soooo hard!

Now I have to see if I can even get the OWS fibers for the Mayflower piece anymore......

Karen said...

Doris, you are the woman, finishing ATS (which is wonderful, by the way!) and starting two awesome new projects. I love Women of the Mayflower; I have some Fine Lines mags, wonder if I have that one....

Patricia Lessell said...

It is just gorgeous and I do so miss that magazine because it really was the best one out there. I definitely am one that loves to start - shame about the finishing though! Mine not yours. Lots of Love Patti xxx

Stef said...

It's a terrible disease!!! Very highly contagious and I think I've been bitten really bad just lately! Congrats on your ATS finish, quite an accomplishment that really deserves a new start or two! And I also miss Fine Lines magazines - I treasure mine and spend way too much time reading them over and over again! Can't wait to see your progress on Women of the Mayflower!

Maggie said...

Great choices for you new starts, i too am tempted by shores but have too much on the go at the moment! i will watch you progress with interest though :-)
I love sunset (and sunrise) photos and yours is beautiful.

Jennifer said...

I love shores of hawk run hollow. I love the sea! Looking forward to seeing more of your design. hope you are enjoying your holidays.

Deb said...

You have some great starts here! I love the Women of the Mayflower! And isn't Shores fun to work on? It's a big one, but just when you get tired of one block it's off to the next. And your Heart's Content - I have that started too - although not as far along as yours is - I should pull it out just for fun to look at - I can even remember when I started that one - around 1990 - ye gads, isn't that awful? Maybe I should join you on stitching it one day a week (well, on second thought.....). Great WIPs though!!

Ellen said...

Love your new starts! It's contagious, I also love to start new projects but the finish....(patience).

Will follow your progress on these twos, Hugs.

Brigitte said...

I'm the same when I have finished a BAP - I want to start every single chart that gets into my hands, and then I don't stitch anything for several days because the decicion is so hard, lol.
I love your starts. Shores is in my to-start pile as well, and The Women of the Mayflower is another great project that I'd love to stitch as well.

Jan said...

Love the Women of the Mayflower, Doris!! All your wips are looking so pretty, congrats on all of the new starts.

I have told myself, 'Self, remember how much gratification you receive when you finish something, instead of starting something new all of the time!' LOL

staci said...

Wonderful projects Doris! Bring on the startitus, lol ;)

Siobhán said...

CONGRATULATIONS ON FINISHING ATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so behind on blog reading & am sorry I'm just now saying that. Woohoo!! YGG! I'm so psyched for you. Looks like you had a wonderful trip, too! I love all your new stitchy starts. Beautiful stitching, as always!

Anonymous said...

"Startitis" : a new word for me, thanks ! When the symptoms are too acute, they paralyse me and I just stop stitching altogether...

Annemarie said...

Lovely new starts to celebrate the completion of the mother of all samplers. Congratulations on that!

Carol R said...

I love the Women of the Mayflower - I will watch your 'work in progress'. I visited the Mayflower in Plymouth MA a couple of years ago - such a tiny ship - how did the Pilgrim travellers survive such conditions on their way to a new life in the new world?