I'm sure it's no surprise to you that I have many, many orphan stitcheries stored away.
With 5, 6, 7 or even 8 new designs each and every month I don't often have time to display them as finished projects.
But that's about to change.
At the end of last week it was refreshingly cool and overcast so I settled myself down for a long day of Stitchery Club pattern writing, enjoying lots of hot decaf tea in my oversize cup while birds sang in the trees outside my office window and butterflies distracted my attention flitting back and forth among the geisha girl bushes in next door's garden.
I think those calm and delightful distractions in what is ordinarily a rather busy day when I write Club patterns helped open my mind to the idea that followed.
I mentioned recently that the June patterns are my favourite set of stitcheries, and as each one was examined, notes studied and step by step instructions written, I felt a tinge of sadness about storing them away with the hundred or more other embroidered blocks from months and years past.
Not long afterwards I made the decision to week by week give them life by displaying each one in simple projects. Not the intricate or time consuming projects which had been my original intention 'way back when' but sweet and uncomplicated displays.
I admitted a tendency to set the bar too high with my dreams of detailed quilts, pillows, runners, bags, all embellished with stitcheries, and wondered how much easier it would be to let the embroidery shine in simpler settings?
So I began with a free stitchery which I'd shared with you earlier this year.
Adding two floral borders around the "His Strength in My Heart" stitchery I finished it as a pretty cushion cover for the bedroom.
The fabrics were perfect because I'd used the colours of the large floral fabric to choose my threads when preparing the design to be embroidered and had fortunately stored it with the completed stitchery, along with the pink tonal print, when I packed it away.
Another under-utilised resource in my sewing room were the rather large collection of vintage buttons I've been gathering for many years so I chose three pink ones for the back closure.
One stitchery, two fat quarters, three buttons, two hours of playtime on a Saturday afternoon and I now have a beautiful new cushion.
What began as just a stitchery ended as a useful item for our home.
I wish I'd thought to simplify my ideas years ago, but perhaps now is the right time after all?
This cushion will be the beginning of many endings I hope.
We've decided to move house sometime in the next month or so if we find the 'right' rental home, and I'm thinking how lovely it will be to have some new handmade items ready for decorating - another valid reason for setting myself the enjoyable task of using what I have to create beauty in the home, right?
Have I inspired you to look through your orphan stitcheries and finish them as simple projects?
It's Sunday afternoon as I write this and the house is filled with the aroma of lamb and potato korma simmering away in the crockpot. Mr E just popped his head around the office door to say "smells yummy!" so I'm glad the pot is full because we can have it again another night this week.
I might relax with an old movie and return to my knitting this afternoon. This welcome cool weather definitely inspires working with wool.
So far I've finished two legs and made a start on the body of Cully May's bear.
Must be time for a cuppa, so I'll let you go.
Have a lovely day, and may the week ahead be filled with special moments too.
hugs
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