Hi Everyone...
I'm back after a much shorter absence. This feels a little more normal. I've been keeping busy as usual and had a nice IHSW weekend and a nice weekend away in the North Coast of California. That consisted of lots of wine tasting and stitching. It was fabulous! Of course, I'm now back to the grind of work, housesitting and figuring out how to cram everything I need to do in the few hours I have free each day. It's basically impossible!
The good news is that I have a happy dance. I ignored all chores that needed to get done on Monday so I can stitch my way to a finish. I am happy to announce that after 53 weeks of mostly off and on stitching, my Jane is complete and she is gorgeous, if I don't say so myself.
Shakespeare Peddler Jane Pattison 1806
Lakeside Linens 40 Count Porcelain
GAST Overdyed Cottons (not the called for wools)
And a close up of the final third of the sampler. I just love the left and right flowers. The cream one just reminds me of some sort of Art Deco design.
While up at the cabin, I made a small start in Mirabilia Lilac. For now, it just looks like a green blob. I started in the middle as starting at the top seemed too fussy with the color changes and that didn't seem too fun right off the bat.
Of course, now that I finished a project, there are a million I want to start. That sounds familiar, I'm sure, doesn't it? Top of my list is BOAF A Very Fine Sampler but as I dug out the pattern last night, I realized I don't have most of the called for threads since most colors call for 2 skeins so I think I will need to wait a bit for that. So instead, I pulled out Mary Wigham. I haven't worked on her since April of last year and am still on Part 5. But perhaps I can make a little progress on her as Jane has me accustomed to working on 40 count linen now!
So there is a lot going on and I'm contemplating a lot of changes. My rent is increasing so I will stay put for now but it's time for me to start researching if home (ie condo) ownership is feasible for me because it's pointless for me to throw my money down the drain if my rent is comparable to a mortgage. I see lots of forms, credits checks, bankers and realtors in my future. Since rent went up, I am thinking about switching gyms to another place that's more cost effective and canceling my cable and just catch up with shows via streaming Netflix and Hulu+. That would be a huge step for me since I've always had cable and am a huge tv addict. Athough, I have to admit that I have fallen behind on many of my shows and have been relying on On Demand and Hulu+ to catch up as it is. Maybe I don't really *need* cable. It would save me $70 a month! All these things make me think that I need to slow things down so I can focus on these things on top of the organization projects I've been putting off at home. So heads up that I may be a spaz in the next few weeks and my "randomness" posts may make a reappearance.
Hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful weekend!!
Until next time...
27 comments:
Your sampler finish is very pretty. It's such a good feeling to put that last stitch in place. I would go for trying to buy, it's amazing how you can make small adjustments that all add up to help you save quite a bit of money.
Wow your sampler finish is so beautiful...
Happy weekend x
What a masterpiece, Valerie!! I love it!! It doesn't seem to me as though you've been working on it over a year...where are these months going anyway? Anyway, congratulations and I look forward to seeing Miss Jane all framed up adorning your wall :)
Too bad about the rent going up... My oldest son is going through the same thing now--wrestling with the decision to buy or keep renting. His rent is a fraction of yours, I'm sure, but I think he just wants a place to make his own... Good luck with all of these decisions.
Hope you have a fun weekend ahead--your trip to the North Coast sounds like it was delightful!
OH WOW Valerie...I LOVE it! Congratulations!!
If you find a way to cram more things in to a day please let me know. I could really use the help.
My son and DIL use Netflix and Hulu. They really seem to like it but I would miss the live newscasts.
Every penny counts! Good luck on your home/condo research.
Your Jane is gorgeous! Your cream flower shows up so much better than mine does. Beautiful! Love your new start too. Good luck with the new home/condo research. Hope it all works out.
Valerie, she is stunning!! Congratulations on such a beautiful finish!!
Rent increases UGH!! That is one thing I do not miss of my old California life. I have house hunted MANY times so if you need advice or a place to vent, girl I am here :)
We have Direct TV right now and they make you sign a 2 year contract. After that is up we are probably going to do away with cable... Maybe? I hardly watch tv these days and George just watches golf so seriously thinking about axing it.
I hope you have a great weekend with some much needed rest and stitching!!
Take Care
Your sampler is beautiful!!!! I look forward to see how you finish it off. So you took your Mary out of hiding, huh? :) If you get a chance, show a status photo of it, I would love to see where you are at and how it is looking.
Sounds like rent is going up everywhere, as Brandy posted that hers is too. I hope that you get things figured out.
Take care...good to read an update on you :)
What a stunning finish!!! Congrats!!! Rent sucks and housing prices and sky high, good luck!!!
Jane is beautiful. Congratulations!
Isn't it HARD deciding what to do about living space. We are considering downsizing, but then we may move from Florida after retirement. Move? Don't move? Move here? Move there? So many questions!
Hope you find some answers easily.
She really is gorgeous! Not great about the rent going up...that's for sure...as far as cable goes, you can pretty much watch and get everything on the internet now. Just go to the network websites and you can watch them all there. Depending on what you are into watching.
Beautiful!! What a fantastic finish!
Yuck on the rent going up!! Good luck with your research and decisions!
Congrats on your finish! It looks great.
I haven't had cable for over 11 years. I watch network TV and catch up with Hulu. But then, there aren't many shows I *have* to watch and I can usually find something on TV. Otherwise, I watch DVD's and rent from Redbox.
Jane is gorgeous! Congratulations. Good luck with your housing decisions - such a tough thing to deal with.
Of course you may say so! It's totally gorgeous and congrats to you on a stunning finish! Good luck in the home search. I am a big TV addict myself-and I think if I whither and die if I had no TV-yeah, I know that's dramatic but that's how it is-LOL However, your long term goal is certainly more important-so I understand the need to reduce.
Jane's stunning! Congrats on your finish Valerie! She really is a beauty and I love that Art Deco like flower too. Jane was ahead of her time! Funny that my thoughts on your next project should be to finish Mary Wigham, and you go and mention it!! Do it! Also go for the mortgage too. It will be worthwhile to own your own place! Good luck with the hunt!!
Congratulations on the great finish! I sympathize on wanting to start a million new projects, and MW is one of my long-suffering WIPs too - funny, I added a few stitches to her just this week, for the first time since Easter :-) Best wishes in sorting out the rent/mortgage/cable/etc issues. Sometimes you just wish life could sort itself out on its own and spare you the stress...
Woo Hoo! It looks fantastic! Congratulations on such a beautiful HD!!!
Stunning finish, so beautiful, well done.
WHEEEEeeeeeeeEEEeeee! Congrats on finishing her. It's beautiful. :)
Can't wait to see the progress on the new piece as you go along.
Can I be jealous of your cable bill? Mine is $230 a month. *cough*. Includes Internet but still. Between that and the landline it's ridiculous. Wish I had the fortitude to live off the grid. Heh.
Congratulations on such a gorgeous finish! She is stunning. Great start too.
Sounds like lots of changes. I think the tv thing will be easier than you think. The home ownership is a big step but with rents so high maybe it is time. I hope that you find the prefect place.
Have a great week!
Congratulations on a stunning finish!
Good luck with hunting for your own home.
Congratulations on a beautiful finish! The process of buying a home can be a pain, but I think there is a lot of satisfaction in owning your own home. Good luck! :)
Stunning! Jane is Gorgeous!!! Congratulations on finishing her. What a beauty! I hope you find the perfect home and at a great price:) Best of Luck to you.
love Annette
Jane is truly worth a happy dance! She is lovely. Congrats on her finish.
I agree with Penny. The process of buying is a pain, but so worth it in the end. (from a realtor :)
Stunning finish of Jane - congratulations on a finish!
Do I owe you an email? I am such a bad friend I will try to rectify this shortly and we can catch up!
Beautiful, absolutely stunning finish! We are all having to tighten our belts..adn we too got rid of cable; dont even notice it is gone..full of rubbish re-runs anyway lol xx
Jane is so gorgeous - well done! You must feel such a sense of accomplishment!
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