Learning

[Squirrel]

I am slowly teaching myself to relax with my stitching after goodness knows how many years. In the rush and believed 'need' I have been pushing myself for about 2 or 3 years to get a particular piece of stitching finished for a special event.

Suddenly it is not necessary. Christmas is just days away and I wisely gave up any thought of making my Christmas cards this year but rather to do a few small motifs, cover kits ready for next Christmas. I posted the last card out on Monday, sent off some e-cards and had a quiet afternoon catching up on some reading.


Since then I am slowly stitching a cover kit of a Penguin, and if I get confused with colours just 1 shade away from another I put it away and go read, play mahjong on the computer or just sit and watch the clouds.


It is FANTASTIC and I love it. Slowly the shoulders are settling back to where they belong, the neck is less tense and I can once again enjoy stitching. I intend to enjoy relaxed stitching as long as I can given the tight timetable for getting the next project done. However I am determined to not start it before January 1 regardless. I need to try out 'me time' for a while longer.

DO TRY IN SOMETIME, its FANTASTIC.

[Podolyanka]

Sally, you have voiced my thoughts. For years I had been stitching like crazy and at some point realized that working for the result turns stitching into a hard work, not hobby. All those deadlines, "I must", etc- are elements of slavery if you see what I mean. So I stopped stitching heaps of cards to begin with. Then I gave up stitching tableclothes as Christmas or birthday presents, now I am trying to stitch solely what I want to, not what I am supposed to have to. Slowly and enjoying every stitch. And yes, there are days when I dont pick up my WIP even if it is a day off. Is this aging or getting wiser?

[Squirrel]

I am sure it is getting wiser Lyudmila and keeping ones sanity intact.


Today I spent on the balcony in the cool (to begin with) breeze but when it became a wind about an hour ago I came inside and caught up on various other jobs which needed doing. A fabulous day of stitching - and no stress.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Very wise words Sally, thank you!

I did just that last night, played about with a little Christmas tree design shared by a fellow stitcher and just stitched with no thought of when it needed to be finished or what stitches or colours I *had* to use - wonderfully relaxing.

[Garnet]

Very wise words Sally, thank you!.

My thoughts exactly, I ended up stitching 17 cards this year and that's far too many, I will have to learn too somehow.

Your body has the wisdom to tell you when you are doing too much and it's now that you are relaxing and leting go, it must be such a relief.

This wonderful craft of ours is meant to be enjoyable, not a chore.

Enjoy your "me" time Sally.

[poppy]

Oh, Sally, it sounds so good. Not that easy to achieve, though... As soon as work stops for this year, I will give it a try

I ended up stitching 17 cards this year and that's far too many, I will have to learn too somehow.

That is A LOT of stitch cards, Maureen . You have very lucky friends. I hope that you can relax more this New Year too.

[cristaltipps]

I stitch better to a deadline, it is ridiculous but in life generally i am a terrible procrastinator i put everything off till the last minute. what works for me is i allow 100 stitches per day I work out how many stitches in a project then divide by 100 if there are not enough days plus 2 weeks for framing then i do not do it. I generally can do up to 400 stitches in an evening BUT cannot stitch every single day. So far i have only ever missed one deadline for my brothers 40th he had to wait a few extra days for it. But we had a laugh as he lives close to me and has been i suppose kind of like my taskmaster, as he pops in here most days he will say so how is it going have you made much progress and always admires my work while encouraging me to keep going, anyway i gave him the wrapped frame with no stitching in it just a note saying to be continued and it's your own fault it isn't finished you didn't encourage me! Which as it was secret and he didn't know he really found funny. BUT anyway i waffle on and really we all have to be happy with what we are doing or it ceases to be a hobby and becomes a slog and a chore we start to despise. I am glad you have discovered a way to relax into your stitching and enjoy it again xxx

[Squirrel]

Thank you all for your positive words. So far I am sticking with "stitches when I feel like it". very well.

I didn't put 1 stitching. I stubbornly walked down to my local shopping area for my weekly shop rather than wait until my DD finished work. It was 20c with a burning sun in a clear sky. Thankfully there are 2 bus shelters on my way so I could rest and have a drink of water. My kids have taught me well, I rarely leave the house without my bottle of water. I got a taxi home with all the extra shopping and then sat on the balcony in a calling breeze for the next few hours - reading and relaxing.. and I don't even feel quilty about it either.

[rcperryls]

The only thing feeling guilty about not stitching does for me is to make me stay away from it longer. As we often say "Its a hobby " and it is for fun. Sounds like you had a great day today!

Carole

[Squirrel]

I did "have a great day" Carole and tried for a repeat yesterday but the wind got too strong so I had to come inside where it is stuffy and far too warm.