The Kind of Stitcher

The other day I was watching Psycho(thanks Sharon) and Norman Bates was telling Marion Crane how "a hobby should pass the time, not fill it". It really got me to thinking about the kind of stitcher I am. I now know that I am the kind of stitcher that is perfectly happy filling her time with little Xs. I discovered last week that I don't mind stitching backgrounds like you find on HAED charts. One of the reasons I avoided their charts for so long was the solidly stitched backgrounds. I didn't think I was the kind of stitcher that could do that kind of hardcore background stitching. I would go to the website, look at charts, go to fabric sites like Silkweaver's and look at overdyed fabric because the idea of all those little Xs was overwhelming to me.

Since starting QS A Night at The Pumpkin Patch [HAECCKQS 2514] - $9.00 : Heaven and Earth Des I have discovered that I am more than happy filling my time with the stitches it takes to create a background. It's so therapeutic. Watching the background come to life on the fabric is just amazing. I thought I would find it boring, a waste of time, I mean why not just buy a hand-dyed fabric and get to the real meat of the picture, but I love stitching the background.

In Natalie Goldberg's book Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life there's a story about her or a friend of her's, I can't remember, going to a therapist and the therapist asks her tell her one thing she knows to be absolutely true. After sitting there for a while she says something like I know for a fact I love chocolate.

The one thing I know to be absolutely true in my life, I love the little X. Yes, I love my husband and the kids, but outside of the family unit, I dearly love my stitching. There are times when I talk to nonstitchers, I get a little, oh, excited, when I talk about cross stitch, they look at me like I'm crazy. Instead of thinking to myself, maybe you should be quiet, talk about the weather instead, I find myself feeling sorry for them because they are not as enlightened as me.

I'm a perfectly well rounded person. I watch the news(Hillary, Obama, McCain, Huckabee), I know all about current events(Did everyone see Nicole Kidman's baby bump at the Oscars last night? Did you all hear that Britney got married in Mexico to a guy that's already married? Angelina Jolie-preggers. I don't live in a cave.), I read books. But my conversations always end up back on the topic of stitching whether the person I'm talking to is a stitcher or not. I have a lot of trouble understanding why the average person doesn't think it's an exciting subject.

I am the kind of stitcher that worries about the bad economy, not because of that whole roof over the head or food on the table thing but what if the economy really tanks and I end up actually stitching all the stash and there's no money to buy more? Talk about a panic attack. It doesn't matter that I have many TW kitted up and those alone should keep me busy for several years, what if we go into a full blown depression? I might really and truly get all the stash stitched because there definitely won't be any reason to leave the house.

Me and Norman Bates, who knew we had so much in common? And who else could work Norman Bates into a post about stitching?

I wanted to post some progress pictures today but I can't find the camera. My desk fell last night during the Oscars and I'm hoping that the camera isn't under the pile of wood. That would not be good.

Thank you to everyone for your kind comments on 13th Colony Bay. I really appreciate you all stopping by the blog and sharing my passion.

13th Colony Bay

Yes, believe it or not I'm still around. Just getting over a horrible case of the crud that knocked me on my butt for over a week. But I'm back! With pictures too. Below you see my 13th Colony Bay, still not finished but it's displayed on a china cabinet that the spousal unit scored for exactly $0.00. Yes, nada, nothing, as in FREE. It's also got a matching table and six chairs that are currently in the garage and various points in the house until we figure out exactly what to do with this stuff. He wasn't thrilled when I told him we really needed a couch more. The response? 'They weren't giving away free couches." But now I have the perfect excuse to start acquiring pieces of Lenox British Colonial Tradewinds china. Here's a better picture of 13th Colony Bay:

Here is Part 1 and 2 and part of 3:

And here's a close-up of part 3:

I am still no where near finished but I am stitching as much as humanly possible. I would really love to have this finished by the end of the month.

Wish I had more exciting news to report but this is it for now.

A Letter To:

Business Owners- Village of Hawk Run Hollow-North West Florida Division

cc: Hawk Run Hollow Home Owners Association-North West Florida Division

Dear Business Owners

It is my duty to inform you that construction on the properties of the project known as the Village of Hawk Run Hollow will be delayed indefinitely as my attentions are currently focused on a new development, you may have heard of it, Shores of Hawk Run Hollow (see picture above). Acquistion of this new project is an absolute must.

After seeing my diligence and continued hard work on another coastal property, 13th Colony Bay, the people of the Shores know I am just the person to develop their property in a timely manner.

I am sending a copy of this letter to the HRHHOA. To ease their minds I want them to know that we here at Melissa's Construction From the Hoop consider their comforts and needs a priority.

There are nearby businesses just outside the Hawk Run Hollow community that can offer the same services as those in the planned Village. Instead of Opal's Boarding House we can offer the services of a big chain hotel. Sure it's not as cozy as Opal's but it does have a waterfront view.

Since the big chain hotel doesn't offer the home cooked meals that are offered at Opal's we highly recommend a local restaurant with down home cookin'. The country fried steak is a must. There's a McDonald's next door for breakfast and also if gourmet coffee suits your taste buds there's a little coffee stand right next to the hotel.

For life's little necessities the local grocery chain offers the discriminating shopper every thing she could need. There's also a Publix within walking distance and I recommend their eclairs.

So you see the delayed construction should prove to be no inconvenience to the residents of Hawk Run Hollow and should help boost the local economy.

As soon as construction on the Shores of Hawk Run Hollow is completed my plans are to direct all my attention on completing the construction of the Village of Hawk Run Hollow.

Sincerely

Melissa

Melissa's Construction from the Hoop