Conjuring Momentum

I need a place to rest my head.

I got emotionally overwrought again this week. (Thus, missing days of posting on my blog). You know, medical stuff. Family stuff. Stuff stuff.

When I get like this, my Studio gets turned inside out with all kinds of partially finished projects strewn across my work table. Chaos in my Studio becomes chaos in my head. Or is it that other way around? Who can say?

But I woke up this morning hurting and sad and crying and overwhelmed. So I took my meds. I had a good breakfast. I started making order out of chaos. I returned to my "bed piles" technique. Each project was removed from my work table and put in a neat, compact pile on my bed. Then I can tackle the project piles one at a time.

But how do I decide where to start? Decision-making is a test when my mind's off kilter. This time I decided to make a game of it. I used the "fish bowl" approach of putting categories of projects on slips of paper, then pulling one paper to lead me to which project to start with.

My first pull said, "Easiest thing." So I cut up scrap paper, disposed of recycling, put yarn and crochet tools away, put the things that belong downstairs away.

My other categories include:

• Want to do the most
• Biggest dent
• For someone else
• Want to do the least
• Waiting the longest to get done

My second pull said, "For me."

I decided it was time to finish my Penguin Pillow. I'd put it off for over a month. It's time to treat myself to finish a project I get to keep.

Since I was dealing with a plaid fabric again, I decided to applique the stitching onto the front pillow fabric, rather than piecing the fabric to the edge of the stitching. This time I sewed some red piping to the edge of the stitching, then centered the stitching on the pillow front and sewed the penguins in place.

I hadn't worked with piping in years, so that was a fun technique to revisit.

'Tis done! 'Tis done! We have a new decoration for this coming Christmas.

Very satisfying.

I think I'll stop for a meal (it's 3pm), then pick my next project. There's a chance I could finish something else today.

Penguin Pillow - part 3

I picked this fabric from my stash for the penguin pillow.

Then I spent the afternoon lovin' on my daughter and granddaughter.

Those two give me so much positive time and attention. They are the joys of my life right now.

Penguin Pillow Progress

I finished all the stitching today! (along with finishing my book)

That felt good.

Tomorrow I hope to pick some fabric for the back of the pillow and to surround the penguins on the pillow front.

Christmas Prep

I was given a mental health assignment by my doctor this week: Do some cross-stitch while listening to an audiobook.

Well ... if I have to! I started stitching up some penguins for a Christmas pillow cover. It's going well and my nerves are definitely less jangled.

The pattern is from Stoney Creek's leaflet, Nature's Best for the Bath. I'll be stitching only three of the penguins. I changed the color of one scarf from yellow to green to make it more Christmassy.

The audiobook I'm listening to is the new memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, All the Way to the River. Worthy.

p.s. I named this post "Christmas Prep" with the express purpose of irritating people who get jacked up about talking about Christmas in the middle of September. 

:: evil grin ::

penguin pillow