Friday, August 10, 2012

Can I rise to the challenge?

My daughter has started stitching.   She and I have been hanging around together indulging in this fun activity.    She noticed the amount of canvas around here.  She has challenged me not to buy another canvas(besides what is ordered) until I finish all that I have.  The very idea makes me feel scared and excited.  Is this how smokers feel when they decide to quit?  Could I do it?  I would need to finish....
Sunday Meeting by Ewe and Eye

Helowise by Melissa Shirley

Watermelon ornament by Jody

Blue Magi from Heartstrings

Green Magi from Heartstrings

Roof of Melissa Shirley's Thanksgiving House



Sides of the house-missing pic of the front door side  


Coming Home by Ewe and Eye

Village Scene by Ewe and Eye

Russian Magi

North Pole Stocking by Rebecca Wood

Fourth of July by Ewe and Eye-on order

Four Calling Birds by Shelley Tribbey

Ten Pipers Piping by Shelley Tribbey

Three French Hens by Shelley Tribbey


Nativity Stocking by Tapestry Tent


Creche by Kelly Clark

Acorn by Melissa Shirley 
AND what is ordered is substantial.  It wouldn't be a complete dry spell.   What do you think?

27 comments:

  1. I thought I could do it but, I bought four little canvases yesterday. Good Luck.

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  2. Go for it! (Backsliding is allowed.)

    You'll feel less guilty if you finish off a few of the smaller pieces and rotate working on the large ones.

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  3. She is not thinking this through. What happens to all "your" not stitched canvases when you no longer stitch?? (Perish the thought) She should be encouraging you to buy in the direction that she likes!

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  4. I can't decide if your stash is an example to follow or a cautionary tale ;)

    I've had experiences passing up things I loved & later regretting it; bet we all have stories of "the ones that got away". With anything hand painted, there's the real chance it might not be available later. Maybe a "finish one, add one" compromise?

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  5. Stephanie, I think you can do it. You would still have to buy threads. I have been thinking about the same thing. My stash has grown from 5 or so to 2 dozen plus. I feel so wasteful buying a new canvas instead of using the ones that I have. Maybe you could set a limit. Complete everything until you get your stash into the single digits??

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  6. I have had a rule in the past which was finish two, buy one. That has kept my stash under control. At least what I think is under control. Maybe agreeing to half done would be a good compromise. However, I do love all that is here and would love to finish it. And it is impossible for me to buy something and not begin to stitch it. What a dilemma. I am so lucky that this is my problem!

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    1. Even with the moratiorium initiated by the challenge, there will still be canvases coming in. The Needle Works called today to let me know two ornaments came in for crying out loud! I have a 20% off coupon from Amy's which I stipulated would have to be used. The rest of the Kelly Clark nativity, the rest of the Heartstrings nativity, my ANU in October, and my Tony class next summer is already coming my way. WAUGGGHHHH! I think I had better accept this challenge before we go broke here!

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  7. i've been thinking about implementing a "no new canvas purchases for 2013" type plan. i need to make some serious headway in le stash. i do like the thought of finishing a few before buying anything new.

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  8. I like the idea of 2 finishes = 1 buy. This way you can reduce your stash and celebrate your accomplishments at the same time.

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  9. Don't give in to the challenge! Go with the 2 finishes 1 buy if anything! I just keep pulling out old things and stitching on them. Eventually they will get done. Just enjoy the process and consider the other addictions you could have, they are all unhealthy, this one is just expensive but very calming.

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    1. True. My husband has commented more than once that it keeps me out of the bars and out of the stores. If the poor man only knew...

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  10. Welcome to the club! I decided a few years ago I need to work my way through the stash of unfinished projects and those canvases lingering in the needlepoint basket. I'm proud to say I've made some excellent progress, but have oh so many projects waiting in line. That's why I'm currently working on the Melissa Shirley Woodland Santa. Need to get moving to reach my goal of finishing this before the end of the year. No hope to finish it in time to meet the Christmas cutoff for having it made into a standup Santa. ;-)
    I'm cheering for you, but also a big cheer for M. I love it when a young one takes up stitching. ~ Sarah
    PS
    The Swans better start stitching in a convent! ;-)

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    1. I have a finisher friend if you can finish it by late October. Any chance of that?

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    2. Now that's a good goal. I'm going to give it a try! Thanks!

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  11. Stephanie, if you agree to this challenge, so will I!! I was just thinking of this a few days ago. I will do a blog post probably tomorrow with pics of all of my unfinished canvases.

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    1. Doesn't it scare you? It makes me feel excited at the same time. I am a weirdo!

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  12. Stephanie, pat your daughter lovingly on the head and tell her that someday she'll understand. When she does, then she'll be a Stitcher instead of a gal with a needle in her hand. :)

    Turtle (my high-school senior) frequently tries to convince me to do the same thing your daughter is suggesting. Ha! I tell him to marry a Stitcher because that's the only way he'll have an inheritance.

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  13. I hate to admit the umber of canvases that I have " in the que". In the process of moving an I'm a bit embarrassed by the number of canvases I had to box. It was even more humiliating to realized the number of bags of unused and left over fibers. I think I could open a satalite location of my LNP store :)

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  14. I like the finish 2 buy 1 concept. But the rare canvas sometimes just pops up and if you don't jump on it you will regret it later. I'm not a clothing or shoe shopper and could care less about designer purses but don't mind spending several hundred dollars on a canvas and/or threads. It's a hobby and we shouldn't feel like we have to apologize for it as long as our families are not suffering.

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    1. Believe you me, my family does not suffer! And neither do I for that matter. It's me that is thinking of this challenge. I used to finish so much and it bothers me to have this stuff half finished all over the place. The challenge is a fun way to get in order. BTW, there will be a big reward at the end. What? I don't know, but I will take good care of myself.

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  15. I would not go cold turkey. It might backfire. There are ways to cut down, ease back etc. I have found now that I'm not collecting as many canvasses I am allowing myself to spend more on threads and I love the pieces that much more. Good luck and we'll be rooting for you!

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  16. Why accept the challenge?

    If the stitching and stash bring you enjoyment and you can afford your purchases why feel guilty? I would suggest that you keep doing what you are doing as it brings you happiness and you know eventually you'll finish a lot of your canvases. If not, you had the pleasure of buying them or working on them for whatever amount that you stitched. There is no rule/law/mandate that says that we have to finish what we start.

    In other words, many artists have partially completed works that they don't apologize for not finishing. They were working on a thought/concept/technique and when they accomplished what they wanted to accomplish they moved on. Think of all of the artists sketches that an artist might make before painting the picture or all of the rewrites that an author makes while writing a book. They don't apologize as they know this is the process of honing/improving their art.

    I find it funny that many female stitchers feel they need to apologize for what they have in their stash or the number of projects that they are stitching. I don't see this being done by male stitchers or by other artists/crafters. It seems to be a "condition" that female needle pointers and cross stitchers especially suffer from, the need to apologize or justify their stash.

    My daughter is also a stitcher and even though she likes different types of designs than I do, she has never criticized my stash. I think she realizes that I derive a tremendous amount of enjoyment not only from my stitching but from my collecting of needlepoint/cross stitch/etc. Plus it will be part of her inheritance. :-)

    How big is my stash? Huge and I don't say that lightly.
    Yes, it's measured by rubbermaid containers.

    Will I finish it in this lifetime? Nope.

    Did I get the price of the canvas/chart/thread in enjoyment when making the purchase or when going through my stash at a later date? Yes

    I am not only a stitcher but a collector of needlework!

    Does that sound better?
    You are not only a stitcher but a collector of needlework? LOL!!!

    Have fun and enjoy your hobby. Life is way to short to worry about how many canvases/threads/beads/charts that we have in our stash. :-)

    Cynthia
    Windy Meadow

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  17. Hi Steph,

    I just read that you decided to accept your daughter's challenge.

    We'll be cheering you on!!!

    Don't look at that canvas behind the green curtain... Or at Amy's or any of your other LNS's. :-)

    Cynthia
    Windy Meadow

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    1. Thank you. I feel weirdly reenergized about my whole needlepoint situation.

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