Monday, April 19, 2010

Slump

Wow, I've been in a bit of a creative slump of late.  Partly that's been the return of warmer weather and a return to the outdoors, partly it's been an itching for new projects and products to play with but mostly just a creative slump.  It seems that every time I sit down to stamp or stitch I get sucked into blog hopping for inspiration and never actually get into a project!  I do have stamp club tomorrow so I spent a good part of the weekend prepping for the three projects we'll be stamping and also a swap from the upcoming Summer Mini catalog.  It was good to get the stamping juices flowing (pictures coming after the club, my stampers know that I like the "reveal" during the class when the project comes together). 


I've also been doing a bit more stitching again.  Now that I've moved into my new place and am finally feeling more settled I decided it was high time to get back to that.  I'm currently working on Carriage House Samplings "My Hometown" which I will personalize with the name of my Hometown.  It's been slow going and again, I'll try to post a picture soon.  It's a very pretty piece but I'd really rather be starting Plum Street Samplers "Paradise Lost" but am saving up to do it in all silk so I picked this piece up to give me plenty of time to save.  :)  So, not to take away from what I've been stitching but it's just not where my heart is.  You'd think that would give me the drive to finish it but alas, that is not the case. 


That brings me to another thing that I've noticed and that is the blogs that I really enjoy share more than just their craft.  So, I'm going to start sharing more about what's going on in my life instead of just my stamping business.  One of those things is that my parents are coming for a visit.  I've been working on getting a few projects around the house finished before they come since my Mom hasn't seen my place since before I moved in.  I'm really excited to see both of them and of course wanted to show them the house in the way I like to keep it, not the way it looks after a weekend of hiking and biking.  So, lots of projects, cleaning out the garage and putting samplers into frames so my Mom and I can figure out where to hang them.  I must admit that it makes this house feel more like a home. 


IMG_0885 Because I try to have a photo of something in every post, here is a photo of Plum Street Samplers "The Fruit of the Spirit" that I stitched last summer in preparation for moving.  I took this photo over Christmas (you can kind of see the Christmas runner and mini Christmas tree in the background).  It was a quick stitch and I really enjoyed the colors (I used DMC) and completely love the hair on the girl standing in the grass.  It just felt like home so it was a must stitch!  :)  When I was laid up last fall I stitched two samplers that I sent to my Mom for framing and she's bringing them this weekend.  I can't wait to see the frames she picked and to see the finished pieces.  Best of all I'm glad that I didn't have to lace them!  I've been doing enough of that lately, but more on that in a later post.  Just in case you're wondering, this frame and most of my frames are from Lynn's of Madison.  They are so great there and anytime I'm in town I definitely pop in to say hi and to pick up a frame or some stitching supplies. 


Off to bed, until next time!