Stitching Update

I thought it was about time to give an update on what I'm actually stitching.  I have found that I'm stitching less and less much to my chagrin.  I love stitching, I will always love stitching.  But I'm finding myself drawn to bead work and jewelry making.  I've always loved shiny things and since the bead shop moved in just 2 miles away, I've been taking classes and just generally making a nusiance of myself.  It's also easier on my hands, neck and shoulders.  I've had a lot of pain lately and am trying to do all I can to minimize it.  So I haven't been stitching as much as I would like.  But I still have all kinds of plans to stitch things, especially with overdyed threads and fabrics.  So in order to get back on track, I'm displaying a couple of pieces that I have been working on.  The top picture is of a Michael Powell I started a couple of years ago.  I don't know why I haven't finished it yet.  Oh, wait, yes I do.  It's all that weird backstitching he has.  But I got smart with this one (I've stitched 2 others of his and have maybe a dozen more to go) and did the backstitching in #8 perle cotton.  It's much easier than the floss and I like the way it looks better.  So this one is just a few days from being finished.

The second piece is another cross stitch hybrid I'm doing in needlepoint.  I wasn't sure at first if I liked the colors but now I'm really excited about the way it looks.  Once all the stitching is done, I'll backstitch some Christmas trees in with some beads and it will be all ready for the holiday season.  I'm having a lot of fun with this one.  It's kind of mindless so I can do it at night while watching TV.

So that's what I've been up to.  How about you?

How Come

I can't be satisfied with what I've got?  I was just thinking about all the free cross stitch patterns that are available on the Web.  I must have a stack of patterns about 6 inches tall that I've printed off.  And that's just one stack.  I have folders full of patterns.  Free patterns or patterns I've printed off Artecy.com (where I've been a member for years).  And I'm not just talking about about cute, little patterns used by designers to grab your interest.  I do have lots of those as well.  And I love them when I need a pattern for a round robin or a card.  No, I'm talking about gorgeous, big patterns.  Like the Book of Ink Circles (or BOINK as it's affectionately known as), or the ones from Papillon Creations (both names which escape me at the moment).  There are some French blogs that are posting gorgeous samplers that are free for the printing.  AAS has a wonderful, whimsical Christmas design that's a free SAL.  You could stitch for several years just from the free patterns that are available.  So with all this bounty, why do I still feel the need to BUY patterns?  I know I tell myself I'm doing this so when I retire, I'll have my pick of what I want to stitch.  But tastes change.  Who knows if what I want to stitch today will be what I want to stitch tomorrow?  I tell myself that if my favorite designers retire, then I need to get their patterns before they go out of print.  If I never bought another pattern, I'd be set for life.  I've even been culling out things I know I'll never stitch.  But I still find myself drawn to new patterns.  It's a sickness, I tell you.  And I'm not sure I want to be cured!