Monday, February 6, 2012

February WIPocalypse

It doesn't feel like it's been almost a month since I posted ... it seems longer! Yep, it's been quite the month. I think I'll start with the happy stuff, like a new finish. Look below and you'll see my newest finished EEF Limited Edition Santa.


So sorry about the dim and crooked picture. The sun came out yesterday and this morning, but I was unprepared for photography at all the right times. I put his backing fabric and cord floss in the pic with him. He's from a 1994 (geez, I'm slow) Ewe & Eye & Friends kit. I had previously given him an incorrect birth year, but I've edited my sidebar and the post he's pictured in. I hadn't worked on him since the last time I took my mom to chemo more than two years ago, so I feel like I've really accomplished something by finishing him. I'm gonna treat myself and take him to the finisher tomorrow.


For those of you keeping score, that's my second finish of a WIP this year. I haven't been resting on my laurels (such as they are) since I finished Santa. I started a new pair of socks (no picture yet) ... well, two new pair ... long story for another time. I started the EEF Napa Valley Sampler that will be a gift for friends, but I haven't made enough progress yet to show you a picture.


I have to explain a little about what I've been up to. My dad's getting married again, which has brought so many mixed feelings from our whole family that I can't possibly explain here. I guess it'll have to be in my memoirs (uh huh, when pigs fly). Anyhoo, we were told that we'd have to pick up some things (picture a room full of so, so many items) that had belonged to my mom and my grandma. We were also told that these things would be "unavailable" if they weren't claimed by a certain date. So my sister and I (in not-quite-panic mode) went over and started to weed out some things that no one would want to have, and then we've been parceling out the things that we know someone would want. We didn't want anything to disappear without looking at everything. 


I've become the keeper of many items in my basement, just in case someone wants the opportunity to go through some old pictures or would like something they weren't sure about earlier. Sharing was/is important to us, so we want everyone to have chances to decide. I've also become the proud owner of many beautiful things (an antique wardrobe, old quilts, needlework, jewelry, etc.) that had to be put away. It's taken some time to find space and clean out Nikki's (she thinks it's still hers) closet to make room. We've all come to the obvious, shared conclusion that we'd rather have my mom than have her things.


So why am I telling you all this? I've added a new WIP to my list. It's an old needlepoint canvas that Mom started in 1987 (we found the receipt ... the woman never threw things away!). My sister and I can both remember when Mom bought it at The Needleworker, a shop in Denver. She bought it with all the fibers and took a class to learn the stitches and techniques, and she was incredibly excited. Mom called it the Calico Cat (so did I in my WIP list), but Kitty Cat was on the receipt. Who knows? My sister wants me to finish it so we can share it. Is that like a little sister, or what? Take a look ...


Yep, the 80's called and we answered! Notice the water stains at the bottom? I could only find some of the fibers (they were a mess, which was such a surprise), but I'm gonna take it with me to a needlepoint shop to see if they can help me match one wool. The only areas that haven't been stitched are that wool and some DMC colors that I'm pretty sure I can figure out. All the hard stuff has been done. So why did Mom stop working on it? Why do any of us stop working on something? Another bright, shiny object comes into view ... y'all know how to complete that story.


My sister and I kept all of Mom's WIPs and not-yet-started projects we'd like to stitch, and we gave away some needlepoint canvases (nothing hand-painted) that had been started long, long ago. But we have some things that need good homes, and we'd like to offer them to you. So I'll be giving away a couple of things at a time, in upcoming posts, until they're gone. How's that?


First on the list are three 28-count (two are identified, and one we're pretty sure about) fabrics.


Ugh, that's a horrible picture! Sorry about that. There's Jubilee Amaretto (center), Jobelan Bay Rum (we don't know which one is bay rum), and an unidentified fabric. Each piece is 18-by-18 or larger. All three will be given away together.


Also, here is The Drawn Thread's Winter Whitework Sampler.


This sampler pack contains silk floss, beads, buttons, snowflake charm and silk ribbon.


I'll do two drawings. If you're interested in owning and loving either the sampler or the fabric, just let me know which you'd like to have, or if you'd like to be in both drawings, in a comment. I'll draw names the old-fashioned way on Thursday, February 9, and let y'all know about a winner on Friday. Sound good?


I have work to do! I'm off to get busy. Make some fun.

20 comments:

Margaret said...

I love your Santa finish -- so cute! I can't wait to see him finish finished!

I don't blame you and your sister for freaking out and rushing over asap to get your mom's and grandmother's things. Wow! Glad you were able to rescue things before it was too late. I can imagine how you're feeling about your father remarrying. The same thing happened to me with our father, so I've been there.

Anyway, don't include me in the giveaway. I'm trying so hard to cut back on any kind of stashing. So far I'm not doing very well. lolol!

Anna van Schurman said...

I love that Santa. He is so happily mustard colored. (Please don't enter me as I have recently shed my own things and am on a strict one-in-one-out regimen.)

Jeanne said...

COngrats on your #2 finish this year already! I can understand how you would feel about the upcoming nuptials and having to 'clear out' your mom's things. It's rather telling that you were given a deadline but oh well, at least you've had the opportunity to claim her things. I think finishing your mom's needlepoint is a great idea too and hope your local shop can help you find what you need.

You can enter me in the DT pattern drawing although my stash is already bulging I always love a DT chart. :)

Unknown said...

I love your golden Santa, and the backing fabric you picked out is perfect!

I can relate a little to what you are going through. After my Mom died, I had to take her stash with me because no one else wanted it, and I just couldn't throw it away. That was 1977, and I still have some of her old knitting patterns and all of her old needles and other tools.

The fabric is beautiful, but I can't stitch on linen. Same for the kit.

I am sure there will be many takers though. Good luck with this job.

jhm said...

I would love the Drawn Thread chart/kit. I always love her things but they simply are carried in my neck of the woods.

Rescuing mom's things is always a good thing.

JHM
http://needleworkerssamplings.blogspot.com/

Giovanna said...

Congrats on the Santa finish, he's really cute!

I'd love to be include din both draws, please - thank you for offering the opportunity, and I sympathize about having to sort out your mother's things.

Siobhán said...

Love your Santa finish!! Too cute!

I don't know what to say... I just said, "Oh, Doris" when I read your post. My mom remarried after my dad died (and has since divorced Joe). I wanted her to be happy, I know that my dad would have wanted her to be happy, but oh my gosh--it was so hard. When she called us to say that she got an engagement ring, I quickly got my husband to take the phone, ran upstairs and sobbed myself to sleep. The next morning I was able to be a bit more composed. It was very hard to see Joe's adult daughters' photos up in my parents' house and I might have always made the comment that they at least scared the vermin away, but yeah... it was hard. Big hugs to you. I'm glad that you were able to get a lot of your mom's stuff, though having a deadline as to when to do it would have sent me into mass hysteria.

I'll pass on the giveaway, but thanks. I've been super lucky lately and I need to restore my karma. LOL

Katrina said...

Love the little Santa!!!!

I am so, so sorry about the angst your dad's remarriage is causing. I get the sense this isn't necessarily and easy or happy thing for you or your sister. I can only imagine how much you'd rather have your mom than her things but I am glad at least you got to go through some of her personal things as small a comfort as that might be. Lots of good thoughts and prayers!!!

Ziggyeor said...

Nice finish.

Sorry about the drama. I hope good things come your way soon.

Thank you for offering some of the things from the stash. I would like to be entered in for the fabric, please.

Anonymous said...

Is the cat by the old TS designs? It looks like their work. I have a goose with similar patterns. I used to work for one of the owners in the '70s and recently bought a rabbit canvas from that line on eBay. It brings back some great memories. Enjoy working on it and thinking of your mom.
Please don't enter me, I just wanted to comment on your canvas.
Susan

Mark de Zabaleta said...

Excellent work !

Mark de Zabaleta

Deb said...

I just love your Santa!!! I honestly think that I have a couple of those kits hidden away someplace and I should pull them out. And Congratulations on your second finish of the year too!

I can only imagine the mixed feelings about the upcoming wedding, but hopefully everything will work out fine.

Susan said...

Congratulations on a very cute finish! Glad you were able to save your mother's things. I'm not interested in being in either drawing, but thank you for the wonderful give-away.

barbara said...

I'm not signing up for your giveaway, just stopping in to say how cool it is that you and your sister are taking such good care of your mom's belongings (especially on short notice!). Good luck with everything!

Kellie said...

Love your Santa! Congrats on your finish. I can only imagine the range of feelings that your family must be going through. I would have rushed right over to claim my mother's and grandmother's things as well especially with an imposed timeline. So sorry for everything you must be going through....

Don't include me in the drawing... I just organized my stuff the other day and I sure don't need to be adding more. LOL!

robindefender said...

Your Santa looks adorable!

I am in the process of sorting through my grandmother's property. Such a bittersweet thing to have to do, isn't it? How wonderful that you will have something that both you and your mom have stitched on to cherish.

Loretta said...

Your Santa is lovely!

I can only imagine what you are going through regarding your father's remarriage and I wish all the best.

Best of luck in completing the Calico Kitty needlepoint.

Lastly, I wouldn't mind being entered in the draw for the fabrics.

Take care!!!!!

Karen said...

I'll be nice and not say what I think about you and your sister being given a deadline to go through your mom's and grandma's things; I'm just sending a hug your way. I'm sure you're finding some wonderful memories. {{hugs}}

Don't enter me in the drawing; I'm trying to decrease my stash.

Lija Broka said...

well done on your stitching! sad to hear you having to go through things. good that they were still available. most of stuff my sister, mum, and i had, were either lost in the moves or sold/given away by grandma. some of mums stitching was amazing, huge and all framed.

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