I'm an idiot

I thought that it might be a good idea to do some stitching whilst the German Grand Prix was on. Wrong! I now have to unpick the pitifully small bit of stitching that I managed because I can't count threads and lust after beautiful red Ferraris at the same time. It still looks as though it will be weeks rather than days before I'll be allowed back to work so it's not as though I don't have the time to get this completed.

"Rose"

I managed a huge amount of stitching on "Rose" today, I've completed her hair and I've started work on the flowers that she is reaching up to. I still need to complete her other arm but I keep putting it off as there are fiddly half and three-quarter stitches. Of course, the bit of the arch I'm stitching is fiddly because there are lots of colour changes, but once I'm past the flowers it should get easier (I hope). I'm getting to the point where this is the ony piece I'm stitching, purely because of the limited timescale I have to finish this piece. Hopefully there will be a materials list for the new Chatelaine design soon so that I can start shopping.

Another start

misty
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

Today was a busy day for me. I had a medical appointment this morning and then we had an appointment with the couples councellor this afternoon. I didn't want to take a complicated piece of work with me as I knew I would likely be stopping and starting etc. I took this one which is a very easy piece to do, plus as this is so like my neighbours' dog I'm going to adapt it to change the name and give it to them as a little pressie for being so nice.

Progress

I actually did some stitching today! I was bored sitting in the apartment alone, so I bundled up a couple of knitting projects and some needlework into my big tote bag and caught a bus into town so that I could go and sit in the cafe at John Lewis. The coffee there is good and the staff aren't as rude as Starbucks. Found a table in a quiet corner and took out my stitching (I'd taken "Rose" with me). It seemed that very quickly my quiet corner became to focus of every old dear in Edinburgh as lots of lovely ladies came up and commented on the work I was doing, how fine it was, how neat, how skillful I was. It gave me a real boost but the small talk was a bit wearing on my frazzled nerves and of course it slowed down how much work I was doing. Anyway, I have the face and one arm complete, the other arm is half finished and I need to finish a little bit of her back and her hair, at which point I can start on the motif at the top of the arch. It's been good to stitch I feel as though I have done something positive in comparison to all the failures I've faced in trying to get my life in order, particularly with work. I am seriously wondering if I'm going to be allowed back, particularly after I told my line manager that I didn't trust her. I don't think that she understood where I was coming from so I'll probably need to invite her for coffee or something and try to rationalise a very emotive issue.

Still no stitching!

At the moment I feel like I am fighting to save my job. I've been sent home as unfit to work even though my doctor says that I am fit to work, that work would be beneficial, and I'm not likely to do anything whilst at work. Given that I will still be paid (I hope) I could stay at home and stitch for a living, but that isn't what I want to do. I want to do the financial year end. I want to finalise the first year results. I want to be in my office doing my job because it gives me some satisfaction and focus rather than sitting at home whilst some catbert decides that they are more qualified than my GP to assess my mental state.

Personal Blog

I'm sorry to the people who have been looking at stitching blog and getting upset at all the personal stuff here. I am only giving the barest details to say why I haven't been stitching. I really do want to try to keep the two separate but as with most things there are times when one thing or another dominates.

That's another day wasted

If I carry on like this I won't have "Rose" by it's deadline. Of course, the overdoses and other suicide attempts are rather getting in the way of stitching, so it's not surprising that I'm already well behind on the targets for this month.

Must try harder.

Still no stitching

I was at the hospital for most of the day after taking an overdose - the whole sorry saga is here. I've hit a point where nothing interests me and yet I want to do something. I'm also going from being fairly normal to hysterical tears and back to fairly normal at the slightest provocation. My husband can't cope with how depressed I am, and because this is all started from his having an affair he is shouldering all the responsibility, which in turn is (metaphorically) killing him. I can't remember the last time he was so unhappy, but at the same time I have to acknowledge that his infidelity is the cause of my unhappiness. It's all a mess and I can't see any way out of it.

Following on from the last post I'm still really depressed over things that are happening, but I'm going to try to get some stitching done today to see if that will have any effect.

Bad Week

I've had a really bad time this week as can be seen in my personal blog, so I really haven't done much stitching at all. On the plus side I've received the materials pack for the Chatelaine Medieval Town Mandala from the European Crossstitch Company which are beautiful. It almost seemed a shame to spoil the packaging but the temptation was too much. I've seen photos of this piece that people have been stitching and the colours looked lovely but having seen the threads in real life I have to say the the photos don't do them justice.

I'm away now to make pasta for a lasagna so I need to get the breakfast bar cleared as it the best place for rolling out the pasta into thin sheets.

Mackintosh Chair - Cross Stitch Completed

Mackintosh Chair - Cross Stitch Completed
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

As I said bookmarks are quick to complete. All this needs is for the ends to be trimmed and hemmed and the backing felt to be attached.

Shopping

Shopping
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

I decided that despite having more projects than I will ever have time to complete I needed more stash. So here is the latest haul.

To see more photos of the individual kits click on the photo to go to my flicker account.

Tree of Hope for New Orleans - 3 July 2006

Tree of Hope for New Orleans - 3 July 2006
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

As can be seen, instead of doing the top right corner, I've been stitching the branches of the tree. I've also been doing the fiddly bits of wrought iron work that shows through the branches at the top. Even if I say so myself it's looking really good. I bought this pattern from Martina Weber purely because of the $12 it cost to buy $10 was to be given to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but this has been so nice to stitch that I've bought more of her patterns.

However, I need people to jump on me to remind me to stitch "Rose" because that's a birthday present and must be completed by mid September, and at this rate it will never be completed.

GOALS FOR JULY

Last month was a complete disaster in terms of keeping to the plan, so most of last month's goals are being carried over to this month.

1. Stitch "Rose of Sharon" 3 days a week (complete torso, head and top of arch - not the skirt that I keep doing)
2. Stitch "Tree of Hope" 2 days a week (complete top corner motifs- not the tree which I keep doing)
3. Stitch "Chalk and Cheese" 1 day a week (alt with 4)
4. Stitch "Scoot" 1 day a week (alt with 5) (complete patchwork in top right corner)

I've given up looking through boxes for UFOs. I know that they are there and I know that they aren't going anywhere so why add to the burden of what needs to be done.