Monday, August 24, 2009

Ambitious or Absurd? You Decide...

Do you remember back in January I set out on that endless journey to complete my first HAED titled, Wintery Heirloom? No need to get excited, I am not here to post that I completed that monster of a project. In fact, I have made very little progress:

January 2009

August 2009

What is wrong with me? Why can't I sit down and stitch on this?

Could it be that I was too busy contemplating my next HAED purchase?


Or, maybe this beauty…


Struggling to put needle to fabric on Wintery Heirloom one would wonder why I managed to press ADD TO CART becoming the proud owner of both designs!

Let me state this very clearly “I have BIG DREAMS of completing A Moment To Cherish before one of my sons decides to marry”~ With a 20 and 22 year old, I think (hope) I still have time!

But WAIT... did I have BIG DREAMS of completing that Folk Art Wedding Quilt for one of the boys? A beautiful block of the month by Robyn Pandolph. I believe I did, and over the course of about 4 years, I have managed to complete 4 of the 12 blocks…

Folk Art Wedding Quilt
Robyn Pandolph Block of the Month

This does not really qualify as “progress” now does it? Actually, I have not worked on this quilt for about 3 years. So much hand appliqué, so little time (or maybe interest)!

Much like the Bermuda Triangle many of my projects have become a modern mystery, disappearing into that “Stitcher’s Triangle” ~ a black hole that defies explanation.

So why, why, why do I continue to buy, buy, buy???

Blackbird Design: I Thee Wed
M Design: Family Tree


Ambitious OR Absurd? I will let you decide!

  • Ambitious: Having or controlled by ambition
  • Ambition: The desire for personal achievement
  • Absurd: Ridiculously unreasonable, unsound

Yes, I do manage to complete some projects ~ usually those small ones. It's off to the Post Office with these two exchanges!



Until next time...

22 comments:

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

LOL!...I'm right there with you my dear...I bought not one but TWO yards of Autumn Fields Linen last week... (to the tune of $200)...

Cathy B said...

I'm right there with you Marie and all of the above (ambitious, ambition, and absurd) apply!

Marnie said...

Welcome to the club...the SABLE club. I think there are plenty of us with stash beyond life expectancy floating around out there. The thrill is in the chase!

Julianne said...

Hi Marie,

You are not alone! Is their comfort in numbers? I continue to buy, buy, buy but don't really seem to stitch as often as I buy.

Cindy said...

*SIGH* I can totally relate :) I still have grand dreams of finishing my HAED, but I am only on the third page (after nearly three years of sporadic work on it)! You picked out some nice new ones :) I always like to buy new charts when I see them because I'm afraid that when I actually get around to having time to stitch them they will be OOP!

Julie said...

Oh, good, I feel SO much better! I'm sharing this post with my father! LOL I have no desire to stitch something like that, And They Sinned is bad enough! Send help if you hear me talking about it! You've got one life to live, do what makes you happy!

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhh, I agree about the safety in numbers thing, I just wish you could all be here when DH opens the cupboard door and it all falls out on top of him!!!

Kathy said...

You are ambitious, just like all true stitchers. We want it all and think that we will stitch it all. And we can and will given enough time. I have been eyeing some of the HAED designs. Have not succumbed yet. Just to lots of other stuff for my collection. I have seen what you can accomplish. You will get more done than you think.

Gabi said...

Ambitious!!!! That's how I call it and I stick with it. And taking the 5th for any eventual question about my stash purchases. In case of need I call myself a collector.
Hey....that's the solution. You (and I) are ambitious collectors. That solves that problem.

BeckySC said...

I fall back on this .........I'm preparing for retirement :) LOL!!

I look forward to seeing your progress on the HAED designs, Marie!! I "thought" about purchasing Witches and Crones :)

Have a lovely day!

Michelle said...

My vote is for ambitious! Those are beautiful patterns ~ I have not jumped on the HAED bandwagon yet.. :)

Michelle

Heather said...

Well, it’s like me, I buy TONS of fabric, and I can’t stop, it’s like a bad addiction. My husband says I need to slow it down a bit, but he knows I’m addicted too. It makes me happy, and I LOVE it... What to do? At least you actually stitch all of the time, and finish things, so you will use it. :)

I love the HAED patterns you have chosen! They are gorgeous.

Danielle said...

Marie,
After much back and forth over my cross stitching "career," my thought is this: cross stitching is my outlet, my love, something just for ME. I consider myself not only a stitcher, but also a collector. You don't have to stitch everything in your collection, nor do you need to give yourself deadlines. And also, don't feel "bad" when you decide to stop stitching and want to start something else or you want to keep buying. Just go with it and enjoy it. Life is too short.

Paula C. said...

So many beautiful projects!!! I can't seem to get into any of my larger pieces and they aren't half as intense stitching as these, lol!

Deanne J said...

I think all stitchers are there with you

Michele said...

lol I loved your post Marie! I think most of us belong to AAA! lol .. I know I would never stitch a HAED, but I drool over all of them! I admire that you actually have purchased a couple :)

Katrina said...

Considering I have enough things that I will need at least two lifetimes to finish it all, NO COMMENT! I think collecting charts and linen and thread is a whole separate hobby, LOL.

Jan said...

Marie~ I want to thank you for stopping by and posting on my blog! If you hadn't done that, I wouldn't have found this absolutely wonderful blog of yours to peruse and marvel at! Thanks, and you count on me being back very soon!

I love all of those projects, they are beautiful!

Cindy F. said...

Ha! too funny!! Love your HAED choices and you HAVE made a great start on your first one:) You're more restrained than most of us;)

Just start them all, so you don't get bored with one...lol....

And your quilting project is GORGEOUS!! You should challenge yourself to one block a month and it'll be done before either son is married....hopefully;)

anna s. said...

LOL!!
Actually, I am thinking a lot about all that recently. About all the money that goes into charts that will never be stitched... all the money that goes into stash that could go to other things! I'm starting to see that without this costly passion, I could probably afford amazing trips, designer clothes and much more... The only improvement decision I was able to apply this year is to buy only what seems like a sure chart to stitch in the future... I started to analyze whether I would really want it to hang on my wall, be into my smalls baskets etc. You bet, that only reduced the buying by little!! :)
What kills me financially is the fabrics and threads... probably have more charts I could ever stitch, but all require supplies... aaargh. My fabrics collection is still small and I would like to have a better choice at home of 36ct linen in natural light colors.

Connie B said...

Marie, you crack me up!! I was just talking about this very thing with my co-worker! I said to her "I think I have enough stash to last 5 lifetimes"! She asked why I keep buying things....it's a sickness!

Lynn B said...

Oh Marie

I am so glad someone else is like me, I too have started a first HAED and cannot seem to find the time to do much on it, I just keep starting other things. I keep signing up for exchanges and then agreeing to do personal exchanges but I just can't stop myself, I suppose it's the thrill of waiting for the parcel in the post! LOL!

Your finished pieces are lovely!

Lynn B

Happiness is cross stitching.