Re-thinking my life... and some embroidery

Over dramatic, moi?

I’ve been trying to do a little less over the last week or so. Which might make more sense if you read my last post (linked below). I’m finding it quite nice but also slightly strange. It’s rather odd to be taking time to myself and especially at the moment, when I’m trying to discover what it is I really want to be doing.

If I was sure I wanted to continue on as I have been in the past, taking this break would be a lovely opportunity to give myself some space from the pressures of ‘creating content’ (vile expression), a break from social media and some time to dedicate to the joy of just making things. Progressing projects, starting something new.

But the thing is, I’m not sure if I want to continue on as I have done in the past. I’m not really sure of much at the moment. As I mentioned in the post above, I started the year laying out my ideas and objectives for the year ahead. No grandiose schemes or Herculean challenges, but nevertheless I had some ideas on how the year ahead might shape up… or so I thought!

So my little break is slightly more existential than some time away. I am wondering what it is I really want to do this year, and beyond. What is going to happen if I give myself some space? What will I want to fill it with? Will I just revert to my old ways, or will something new emerge?

I’m hoping time will tell.

Joyeux Noel Sampler

In the meantime, I do want to continue writing here and I also want to carry on documenting my creations. On that front, I do have some catching up to do, as I have a few finishes hot off the press. A happy side effect of taking a break to re-think my life (or something a little less dramatic), is that I can often craft and think at the same time!

My first FO is a lingering Christmas project that was so tantalisingly close to being done at the end of December that I decided to take a little time in January to get it over the line. This is the ‘Joyeux Noel’ sampler by Pretty Fabrics and Trims. From her delightful #sewalittlehappinesseveryday range. I have already completed ‘Summer’, which I worked on earlier in the year last year and I will probably work on another one of the series later this year too. I have been collecting the kits up (they make a great gift idea) and have them all now. So I am looking forward to working my way through them when the ‘embroidery’ mood takes me.

I’m not a natural at embroidery by any means so these kits are perfect for me. Something I find a little challenging, but mostly manageable and with plenty of lovely guidance. I enjoy following along with the instructions, knowing that all the difficult decision making has been taken care of with impeccable taste by Sarah and I just need to walk along the path she has already beautifully cleared for me.

Joyeux Noel Sampler

The only modification I did decide to make was adding some snow and icicles to the roof of the gingerbread house. If there was snow laying on the ground, I reasoned, there would surely be snow on the roof too? I also thought it might look cute and I think it does. I’m actually reasonably pleased with how that turned out. My one diversion from the signposted route!

I enjoyed stitching this one even more than I did the first one I made. Partly because I hope my embroidery is continuing to improve and partly because there was less satin stitch on this sampler than the last. I am not good at satin stitch and find it hard to get nice neat results, so I do not enjoy doing it so much. It’s a shame as it can look wonderful. Other people’s satin stitch does look wonderful. Sometimes mine even starts out that way too, but usually at some point it seems to go slightly wrong. Not in a ‘oh that bit went wrong and I can just unpick it’ kind of a way. More in a slow realising ‘it’s not actually going quite right and I can’t pin point where the failure is, but maybe if I keep going it’ll turn out ok… oh, no, it hasn’t’ kind of a way.

But I’ve got 4 more of these to work through so maybe I will conquer those devilish satin stitches, my nemesis, by the end of it all - you never know.

S x

All my posts are free. If you would like to support me, you could buy me a coffee. ☕️