My little challenge project

Last week I had made a commitment to stitch 5 strands a day in cross stitch/embroidery.  In the last seven days, I only failed one day.  It was a crazy busy day, and I was in a lot of pain from the previous day's activities.  It hurt to sit, stand, walk.  I was just  miserable, and I probably wasn't much fun for the family, so then I felt even worse about it.  So it was just a wash.  However, the other six days, I did the 5 minimum or more!  I even finished stitching one of the many projects floating around!

Here is the piece I sort of focused on this past week.  Mostly because it was the one on top of the pile. It will hopefully be a little stocking stuffer for DH.  I was actually starting to wonder if I would get any of these projects done before Christmas, which is kind of what prompted this whole experiment.  That, and I feel like I'm in a place where I'm not growing as a person. I'm not getting better at anything, I'm not doing anything new, I'm not learning anything.  I'm just kind of here. And really, stitching 5 strands a day is kind of stupid, but it forces me to work on time management with out having outside commitments.

When I started my 5-strand stitching, this is where I was in the piece.  Now, 7 days later, I am finished!!! With the stitching, anyways.  That is all I care about right now. Done, done, and DONE!  My stocking will may hold the cute little Mrs version I started after finishing the Mr.  Because even after the all the years we've been us, I still feel like we should be excited and happy about being "us". It's not everyday, that would make me sick with the gooey-ness.  But once in a while. 

And in the pile, I found this little key-chain kit.  Still unopened, still with it's magazine it came with.  But I love the pattern, so even though it's not destined for a Christmas present, it's getting worked when I don't work on the Mrs.  But I like it.  I may even have a little frame for it go in.  I think the wood medium with a metal frame would look great on my desk. 

Now, off to decide if I "owe" 5 strands for the day I missed, or I if I need to practice letting it go.  Which I have a had a harder time with ever since that stupid movie.  My stubborn side rears it's ugly head and screams "NO. NO WE DON'T WANT TO LET IT GO AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET IT GO!!!"

About that pile of craft supplies...

 After deciding to do something about the over abundance of craft supplies, I started with gathering the stitching supplies.  Oh. My. Lanta.  There are a lot!  There were kits in drawers, and bags in closets, and patterns or magazines on EVERY bookcase or shelf.  There were some upstairs and downstairs. Some in various states of completion, from everything together in a bag to just needed a frame.  The photo on the right here is just the "little"? pile by the recliner.  Yeah.....I think I dream big, or something.

There isn't A pile. There are PILES!  These photos are kind of embarrassing. I mean, really? This is ridiculous!  But I've been around enough craft rooms to know this is kind of almost normal.  The piles may be yarn, or fabric, or paint or whatever, but they're there.  Some people are definitely better at organizing the piles, neatly folding fabric, or dedicated yarn bins, or whatever.  Me? Not so much.  

 This little basket is full (over full) of little kits I've accumulated.  Sadly, there are more that I have found, and I have no bigger baskets to contain them in!  So one will go into each vehicle for waiting times.  Since I always seem to be driving someone somewhere for something, this plan should make a pretty decent dent in the pile by the end of the school year.  Whatever I don't love love love can go into a gift box, and then some of the birthday panic will go away.

 This is the lovely pile of project bags that I found stashed all over.  I start one, and something comes up, so it gets put away and ....well, it stays put away.

Which is why this is a project kit that I have carried around for 20 years.  That's a little too long.  So I started it last spring.  The one before the one we just had.  There are three of them in this set, so it may be time finish them.  Although, at this rate, I can give them to a my great grandchildren as housewarming gifts.  Since I'd like them in my own kitchen, that time frame doesn't work.

So my solution?  5 strands stitched every day.  Period.  For a month.  No going to bed til they are done.  No carrying extras strands stitched over to the next day. They are happy accidents.  I've got a little calendar page in my notebook I can keep track in. I may need to bribe myself to keep it up, but I think once I see progress, it may be the only motivation I need.  I am not worried about any finish work there may be at this point, just getting the stitching done.  Maybe when I am little less overwhelmed in life, I can make the finish work a priority. It can be a whole other monthly challenge.

Off I go now.  There are some stitches waiting to happen!  I'll worry about the piles later.  After this one decreases a bit!

oooh, I may have hoarding issues

Recently I was looking for threads for a cross-stitch project.  One that may make D2 veeeerrry happy on Christmas morning. Or maybe St. Nicholas Day, depending on when I finish.  None of my "real" embroidery threads fit the color scheme I wanted, so in to the leftovers I went.  That may have been a mistake.  There are BAGS and BAGS of 'leftovers' I have saved over the years. Because, you know, I may need them. None of them are labeled. I have no idea what the color number is or which company it is from.  The same goes for fabric, fancy papers, and yarn.

So...My plan, or goal, or thing which needs to be done, is to use them or give them away.  I know there are widgets and whatever to help keep track. I have no idea if I have time to track one down.  So in the meantime, I will keep an actual tally sheet with my project basket to keep track.  Hopefully in the next week or so I will add a list of tallies to the side bar.  If anyone has need of a general item to finish a project, I will happily send it off in the mail. And by general, I mean:

2.5 x 2.5 cotton squares in blue

or

any lengths of green embroidery floss in 3's (or 2's, or single, or whatever!!)

or

acrylic yarn ends of any color

or

green cotton yarns


Just remember, we are going really generic.  If you want greens with no snowmen, I can handle that. If you want the green that matches your sofa cushions, I'm not sure I can help.
Please. Please send me an email at dburnette10@hotmail.com with your request. lease put "crafty leftovers" in the subject line, so if it goes to my junk box, I'll be able to spot it!!! I can't throw it away, the pile represents too much money for me.  But if it goes where it is needed and wanted, the anxiety goes away.  Funny how that happens!  Now, on the upside, I DID find all the colors I needed for this particular project.  So I may not have any grey embroidery thread to give away. Right now anyways!

So think about your bazaar or holiday projects, and the things that can be a little iffy and drop me a line.  If I can help, I will. And if I can't, well, we won't know until we try! Here I would normally say "one man's trash is another man's treasure". But it's not trash.  That would be the problem to begin with!!

I would love to make this an annual or seasonal project, so let me know if you think it's worth doing!