Last week I just happened to come across two cross stitched projects I had completed years ago and have never had framed. Insert the loser sign on my forehead here.
The top left project and teddy bears were finished well over 5 years ago and I have never done anything with them. Always meaning to get them framed and never doing it until finally they got shoved in with some fabric and I hadn't seen them in well over a year and a half.
Fast forward to December 2010. Out of the blue I wanted to find these projects and get them framed. I spent hours searching and couldn't find them. I was afraid that I may have accidentally tossed them or put them in with goodwill or something. I was devastated. Hours upon hours of work gone.
Last week I decided that I needed to go through what was left of my cross stitching stash from when I had purged a few years ago. I was surprised to find that I had really only kept the things I honestly still loved and so other than a little tidying up and finding a better home for my small stash of stuff I didn't need to purge anything. But I still couldn't find my two finished projects. I did find this little Autumn Sampler, though. Almost complete except for adding the beads. I had even added the date I had, ahem, completed the project, "2007". Sort of funny, since I never added the beads that would qualify this as a completed project.
On a whim, I decided I wanted to finish it up over the weekend. I had the beads. I had the instructions. I set it aside with plans to start the beading Friday evening.
Then, because I was all over the place last week I decided to reorganize my fabric. Like I needed another project, right? I sat down on the floor in my studio and started pulling out fabric and I literally gasped and squealed with delight when what did I find but my two long lost projects. Seriously. I could not believe it. Happiness, I tell ya. I don't do so well losing things. I rarely ever lose anything for an extended period of time like this and I had almost written my projects off completely.
I spent 2 hours on my Autumn Sampler over the weekend and now it is really finished.
All three projects are being framed and I can not wait to share the finished pieces here. :)
So what is the point to my little story here?
Finding these little treasures got me to thinking about how I sort of shoved all my other interests out of sight, out of mind when paper crafting overtook my life as my favorite hobby. That is a little sad to me as cross stitch and sewing still bring me much, much joy. Don't get me wrong, this blog is all about paper crafting but just to balance out my crafting loves a bit I have made it a goal to cross-stitch one new piece this year for our home and to sew a couple of things too. Besides, playing with pretty floss, fabric and more inspires me so, so much in paper crafting.
This brings me to some changes I will be making regarding blog posting/shares:
I want to focus more on creating projects and sharing projects and therefore I will be discontinuing the What I'm Using This Week Posts and Videos indefinitely. Unfortunately it takes quite a bit of preparation on my part to get those posts ready. Time that I feel would be better served creating something. I will still be sharing products I love and links for those from time to time but I will not have a set day or video or post for them. I apologize if this disappoints anyone and I hope you all understand.
Good stuff: I feel that with a weekly From Start to Finish video feature on 2peas (and also shared on my blog) plus the Stampin' Fun Friday that two videos a week are plenty. ;) And those weeks that a new Scrapbook Stamping Class goes live you get three videos that week.
I am hoping by making this small change I will able to fit in more things that I want to do and thus be able to share more. Things such as my Project 365 album and little sewing and crafting projects that I have going on.
Tonight I'll leave you with a little something I started over the weekend.
Remember the fabric from THIS What I'm Using This Week post? Well, it took me months but I am finally sewing a little kitchen table quilt using THIS pattern. I am giddy over it. Hoping to share by this weekend at the latest. :)
Wishing you all a fabulous week! I'll be back to paper crafting tomorrow. :)
