Shimmying through life with needles and thread…
Me- confident at 14...
I’m running so short of time these days, that when I read this post about self-confidence from one of my local amazing bellydancers I decided I just need to share it. I have posts for you.. really I do! But what Sara’s got to say is important. Read it!
"Poookah!" - Cats by Kelly (In Stitches)
As I said, the past year was hard. But this year has started much better. I have a plan. And I’m well on the way to following that plan. This is a good thing.
Over the past two weeks, however, the *little* things on that plan (like stitching) have been squished by the big things. Big things being things like the household getting a second car (which took chauffeuring of the EO to and from…) and the father-unit needing to run to the doctor for maintenance type stuff, but stuff that they had to make him loopy to perform! And, the big thing, the overhaul of the studio revving up so that I can easily find my supplies.
It’s the last that really has me stymied. You see, all of my stitching supplies are up there. And the pseudo-ivory embroidery piece that I’ve been working on is up there… I went to take it with me to the last doctor’s appointment and couldn’t’ find any scissors. Now this is unusual, since I have about 30 pair of embroidery scissors. Today I found my scissors, had about an hour to work on the next couple of petals, photograph it and post it here, and lo and behold but the THREAD is gone. As usual, I suspect a cat. One of ours has taken to stealing threads from my stitching stands… and the arm of the couch, and anywhere else she finds it…
So I’ve been knitting socks in the evening. Finally the EO has a pair of hand knit socks that fit him. And I’ve got an idea of how to shape them to fit his weird foot and leg. This is the third (fourth?) try. And it finally worked. MY socks, I’ve ripped out three times now and am about to cast on yet again.
But the stitching? It’s been non-existent. And I’m annoyed, and impatient, because I have PLANS! And I really really want to share my discoveries about Ivory embroidery with you! So. Soon. I’ll keep plugging away, but posts may be a bit sporadic for the next little while while I dig out my studio – it’s almost there, but the EO needs to do electrical work before I can put up the new drafting table, so probably at LEAST another week, durn it…; configure and learn to use my nifty new computer (I’m living on the laptop and pining for my big monitor right now!).
Past Art Montage
I have, in the past, called myself a needlework dilettante (or a craft dilettante, but I always seem to put them back into my stitching, or my stitching into my other crafts…) But recently I have begun looking at this as less of a detriment and more of a benefit to myself and my growth as an artist.
I was listening to a program on NPR last week and a historian stated about a past scientist that made great inroads into Astronomy, and who happened to be an insurance man in his day job, that “back then you could be more than just a scientist – you didn’t need to specialize like you do now.” I found myself taking issue with that statement, both in science, and in other lifetime pursuits (like my needlework).
In science, many many discoveries have been made by so-called “amateurs,” even recently. (Note the elementary school students who did original research on bees and were published in the Royal Society Journal). Of course, the scholarly world of academia tends to frown on this – as they also tend to dislike anything that is written in a way that normal people can understand. <sigh>
But that’s actually not my point in this rambling post! My point is that experimenting with your needlework styles — trying out different types of embroidery and then trying to combine them into work of your own, is the best way to truly take your work to the next level. And mine, too. If you do mostly cross stitch, try a small redwork piece. If you do mostly historic reproductions, try adapting one in a modern style. Try out new things, new types of needlework. I’ve realized that that’s been my goal ever since I started REALLY stitching way back when I was 12! And I’m going to take it even further this year. And to share my voyages. First stop – crewelwork shower curtain! (With a pause to finish the pseudo-ivory work flower I’ve been working on!)