Monday, September 20, 2010

I get it now...

I have been watching you. And everyone seems to stitch patterns that average 1000 stitches. There are some who stitch larger patterns.

But, there are a few of us that stitch monsters - I know Jayne and Mel are two. I just used the handy dandy calculator and found out Grace has 45,600 full cross stitches! Now, of the three Mystic Stitch patterns I have done - it is the smallest.

Where am I going with this? I have stitched over 8 hours in the last two days and this is all the progress I have to show. :(
And overall ~


I'm bummed. I want to stitch all these new cute patterns I have been accumulating all summer. I HAVE to get this done before Christmas! At the rate I'm going I might get it done before Christmas 2011. So, I need your advice. How do I get this done in time but, stitch everything else I want? I have over 15 items in the WIP box as it is. I want to start the Christmas ornies and fall things.

I would appreciate any and all advice! Is there some way to at least feel I am going some where on Grace?

Ok, I'll stop whining. I'm sorry. It's frustration. And Monday. I really don't care for Mondays.

Hey, has anyone else noticed all the new followers I have? I think there are some people out there in bloggerville wanting to win some fabric! ;0)

I wanted to say thank-you for showing interest in my little space and give away. I hope all the best of luck in winning. Less than 2 weeks now! I think there are a few more things I might pick up for the winners.

Well, I need to get back to stitching. The guys are away for a little longer and that means I can postpone dinner for a bit longer too. Yippee!

Smiles - Denise

13 comments:

natalysneedle said...

Denise

Your progress on Grace is awesome. I am always in awe when I see projects that are so large and detailed. You will definitely be proud of the finished project. When I lose my stitching mojo on larger projects I jump onto a really small quick fix and then return to my large project. You have a deadline but if you calculate the number of hours you have left to stitch maybe you can alot a certain number per week to Grace and then stitch other projects. Happy Stitching

Carol said...

I really admire you for taking on such a mammoth piece, Denise! No advice on how to stitch it quicker, but just want to say how lovely it looks so far :)

Jules said...

Wow! Your WIP is looking great!!! It really does the painting justice.

I would say just take your time and have patience with it. If it is meant to be finished by Christmas this year, then it will happen. As for working in your other WIPs, just a little bit at a time. You will see things accomplished!

Good luck!

Emily & Scott said...

You're doing great .. I have a big WIP too .. and some days it feels like I'm never going to get it done!! As for advice .. I have a TV show playing in the background on my laptop while I'm stitching, preferably something I've seen before so that I don't want to "watch it" but its enough to distract so I don't get bored.

paula said...

Years ago I started a needlepoint of the Spirit of '76 painting. It was so large I had it on a floor mounted scroll. I never got it done and for the life of me I can't believe I threw it away. . . or did it just disappear in during the many moves early in my teaching career?

I would suggest you mount this in a scroll lap frame. Then find a tote that will hold it and all the materials you need. Then, you can take it with you and work on it whenever.

Or, better yet, load your Christmas stuff in a tota and take them with you so you can work on them when you are away from home.

Poppypatchwork said...

I am on my last leg of 90,000 stitches at http://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/, I have been working on it since April, and not much else, I have loads of Christmas patterns I will do next, big is hard work but so rewarding once finished

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

Paula has the idea there girl. And yes I do choose some bigens but I love every stitch of them. HOWEVER, they don't travel so well in a purse So,,, I always have the "no-brainers" lol with me wherever I go and people expect nothing less. Just easy to get at and easy to finish. Starting Faith,Hope & Love today while I wait at the Dr's office. What's one more right. Most of the smaller ones I have finished lately have been 1-2 weeks and have been a tad pricey to frame but I will admit that they look darn fine, even if I don't know where I will hang them.
Be always in stitches.

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

I love what you are stitching! This looks great. I know on big projects it's hard to not get discouraged because the finish seems so far away. But hang in there, you are doing great.

I'm not sure how to get all this finished by Christmas, but I know for me I have to work on one thing at a time until it's finished. I use to have at least four projects going at one time, until I realized, if I just buckled down and worked on the one I had started first, I would have already been finished by the time I started working on number four. That works for me, but it might not be something that works for others. Happy Stitching and Blessings Always. :) Vicki

Kttycat said...

I have a huge project i'm slowly working on also. It's to much confetti stitches for me so it drives me insane! I've had people tell me to do just x amount of stitches a day on it... or to do one length of thread each day. Then once you've met your goal then stitch what you want. Lol wish I could say this has worked for me. But alas i'm still way behind on my tiger. Good luck!

Topcho said...

Wow, good luck with this! It really is huge! Ahh, if I knew a way to finish fast my huge project (which is still so much smaller than yours, and luckily is in half stitches!) and in the same time finish all the small cute patterns I pilled up, I'd be first to share! But alas... >.<

Anonymous said...

I have a couple of big projects with about 30,000 each (Mary Wigham and Sarah Woodham). I have to take a break and do some smaller ones to keep my mojo! I put them aside to do Christmas ornaments, and now I can't wait to pick them back up again. :) Just think that every stitch you do is one closer to the finish...slow and steady wins the race!

Blu said...

There's lots of good advice here. All I can say is that toss the occasion small piece so that you can get the HD fix and then get back to the monster.

Pumpkin said...

To me that's a huge progress because I'm a slow stitcher :oS Maybe if you accumulated a couple of more hands and another 10 hours to your day, you 'might' get some other stuff done ;o)