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My online journal of stitchy chores and the occasional hockey talk.

2018 Finishes

1. Let It Snow by Barbara Ana Designs. Finished Wednesday, January 24, 2018

2. Victorian Thistles bookmark by Textile Heritage. Finished Wednesday, February 21, 2018


3. Keep Love by Shepherd’s Bush. Finished Saturday, February 24, 2018


4. Fleur d’Orleans by Ink Circles. Finished Wednesday, March 7, 2018


5. A Little Gray Hare by Lizzie Kate. Finished Thursday, March 15, 2018


6. March Cake by Brooke’s Books. Finished Monday, March 26, 2018


7. April Cake by Brooke’s Books. Finished Wednesday, May 2, 2018


8. May Cake by Brooke’s Books. Finished Tuesday, May 29, 2018


9. Japanese Anemones by Sheila Hudson. Finished Tuesday, June 12, 2018


10. The Lily Of The Valley by Blackbird Designs. Finished Wednesday, June 27, 2018


11. A Slice of Summer by Waxing Moon Designs. Finished Wednesday, July 11, 2018


12. Sweet Tulip by Jeannette Douglas Designs. Finished Tuesday, July 24, 2018


13. Autumn’s Bounty by Black Star Designs. Finished Monday, August 20, 2018


14. Caramel Apple by Mill Hill. Finished Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Number of Finishes By Year-

1. 2008 Finishes -10


2. 2009 Finishes- 21


3. 2010 Finishes- 49


4. 2011 Finishes- 26


5. 2012 Finishes- 35


6. 2013 Finishes- 7


7. 2014 Finishes- 19


8. 2015 Finishes- 61


9. 2016 Finishes- 50


10. 2017 Finishes- 30


11. 2018 Finishes-

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Flags of Our Fathers

Since I am on a roll with the WIPs and UFOs, I decided the other night to get out another one, after I had finished my nephew's birth sampler. I casted around and tried to find one that 'grabbed me', but wasn't finding anything in my WIP bag by my usual place next to the couch, so I went bin diving. Yes, you read that correctly...I have BINS of unfinished objects. Three to be exact. One in a small hall closet and two under the bed bins. Yes, I know it's the personification of gluttony, but honestly, I am truly trying to be better. :)


As I was rummaging around, nothing was really calling out to be worked on. Some of them I remembered why I didn't finish them (such as poor charting, mistakes on my part, ran out of materials, got bored with it, and in several cases, more stitching white floss on white fabric o.o) and others I had no clue. I kept digging away until I came across the one I eventually chose. I know why I never finished this one. This project was initially chosen to be the birthday gift for my beloved father. Being young and a new stitcher of two years at the time, I thought I could finish a 66 high by 109 wide piece in three weeks. I began the project in early August 1997 and worked on it day and night, whenever I could. Needless to say, I did not finish it on his birthday on the 29th of August. Instead of a completed piece, my father received the piece much as you see it below, wrapped up with my shamefaced apologies for not finishing it on time. My father was a big Civil War buff and I wanted it to hang in his library area where he had all of his books.

I kept stitching away at it until September of 1997 when my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had the Whipple procedure done, however, he eventually died in the hospital from the cancer and complications from the surgery. Needless to say, I could not bear to look at the piece, and it has languished for 15 years in the far reaches of my closets and my memory. About 5 years ago, I finally got up the courage to take it out and at least be able to look at it without turning into a massive puddle of grief, but I never took it out and put it back in the Q-Snaps. Tuesday night, however, I came across the project and actually took it out. I teared up a bit when I took it out of the bag that it was stored in, I will admit. Then, like any stitcher peering into the looking glass of the past, I began to chide myself for the sloppy stitching in places. I will have to correct a few things here and there, but when I showed it to my beloved Hubmeister, he told me to leave it be, because the flag is supposed to be old, and not perfect. It's ripped and torn and faded a bit in places and looks like it's seen better days, but the stitching as it is gives it character. I'll think about it at least, because that is a fair assessment, however, the stitcher in me is saying it needs to be corrected. We'll see :).


At any rate, here is my longest running UFO, Faded Glory:



Design: Faded Glory from Portrait of the Civil War (an OOP booklet)


Designer: Jeanette Crews Designs




Fibers: DMC 347, 415, 762, 930, 931, and 3328







It hasn't changed too much from when I first picked it back up until now. The first few rows I didn't think I was going to get through, as I was crying so much, but after a while, it got better and then it felt like I SHOULD be working on it, which is important, I think. I am kind of hoping to finish it by the 29th of August which would have been his 66th birthday. But I'll be happy if I can finish it by the 23rd of October which is the 15th year anniversary of his passing. The only problem I see in all this is that the DMC floss that I am using is 15 years old and I am running out of some it. This is the label that is on the floss that I am using:





If anyone has any 347, 415, 762, 930, 931, and 3328 with that same label on it, please let me know. I am happy to buy or trade.



Hopefully, this will give me the courage to tackle a start I have been wanting to do, but can't quite make myself do and that is a memorial sampler for my only child and son. That one may take a while longer to get the courage up for, but hey, yanevaknow.


At any rate, I need to get going. Got lots to do before the weekend. Hope everyone has a great weekend! :)



---


Respectfully submitted,


C.

6 comments:

Christina said...

What a lovely piece to have as a memorial. It is never easy to loose a loved one. I hope that by stitching this it will ease your grief and give you some closure.

Christina said...

I just search through my floss, sorry I do not have the colors you need with that type of label. Good luck.

ArchangelDecker said...

Thank you for looking, Christina. I appreciate it! :)

Kalu V said...

=') I understand it can be hard working on it, but i think your daddy would love to see it finished and hanging somewhere around in your house.
At work we have a large picture of my grandfather who passed 7 years ago and no matter what is going in and how crazy the days is, everytime i walk by it, it makes me smile and think of him
anways Ill check my stash for the colors you need see if i have any of them with the old tag

Juls said...

Big hugs and sending good thoughts and I know you can stitch this up....I find it soothing to think of my sister when I stitch. This piece will bind you even closer with your dad!!!!

Shelleen said...

I know you can do it and just think what a great memorial piece it will be.