Saturday, June 18, 2011

2012 Year of Smalls

Confession: Most of my days are spent daydreaming about stitching. What I am stitching now. What to stitch next. What my friends are stitching. What is new from the designers. What is the next chart I want to buy. It is pretty obsessive really. I am counting on the rest of you to back me up that this is not completely weird behavior, right?

So, there I was at work....it was kind of slow so I had a few minutes to think to myself and I was reminiscing with myself about my current WIPs (all of them big projects) and thinking how I really need to do some Christmas ornaments and how I want a basket of darling small stitched items like my friend Karin has; and then all of a sudden........
.....it came to me! Great idea....I can combine my obsessing about new charts with combing through my stash to find lots of "smalls" to stitch. Then, just to up the obsessive ante up a bit, I thought I could declare next year the year of smalls!


That way I could spend all the rest of this year planning, obsessing, looking at and looking for new smalls to stitch. I thought the whole thing was quite brilliant really.
Of course, I rarely stick to my own rules; but this sounds like a fun rule. I could pick one big project to work on a bit between smalls. Pictured in this post are some charts that I would like to add into the mix next year.........Anyone else in with me???

19 comments:

Margaret said...

Sounds like a good plan! I tend to always stitch large samplers so I can't imagine a whole year of smalls. I'm looking forward to your year though!

Gillie said...

I might be with you! It sounds a lovely idea and they'd all be for me - I wouldn't give ANY away!

Anonymous said...

I'm always with you Laura!
L.C.

Joanie said...

Brilliant idea! I've tossed that about in my head this year so I might be joining you. I sigh with envy when I read blogs that post monthly (and sometimes weekly)pictures of smalls that were stitched. Check out Stitching Dreams for inspiration, she's stitched wonderful ornaments. She stitched one a week. I watched her progress and almost shorted out my computer drooling over her finishes. LOL!

Siobhán said...

Umm, I think your obsessive thoughts are perfectly normal! Doesn't everybody go to sleep by counting samplers they want to stitch??? Who needs sheep when there are smalls to stitch, ornaments that need to be done, BBD stockings to do, etc., etc.??

Love your smalls plan! Like Margaret, I tend to do samplers but would love to do more smalls. I'll look to you to encourage me! ;)

krayolakris said...

Very inspirational! And I'm always dreaming about needlework!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

I usually have a small on the go for stitching during the day when the boys are about. Then a large project for the evening when I can concentrate.
This year my resolution was to stitch every magazine cover kit in the month of issue (instead of letting them pile up and losing the mag with the chart in it!).

Karen said...

Sound lika a great plan to me. All of your pics are so enabling... makes me want to start stitching some smalls now!

Oh wait....I still have to finish 8 of those big challenge pieces first. Maybe 2013 for me ...

Chelsea said...

I'm IN! :) I stitch smalls all the time, but don't finish them because I feel guilty that I'm not stitching my big projects. It's a vicious cycle. But if next year it's OKAY to stitch smalls, then let's do it! :) (And I think-stitch a lot, too, don't feel bad. Hehe)

Jeanne said...

Laura I am the exact same way so I don't know if its obsessive or not LOL. I prefer to say I am "passionate about my hobby". I have gotten most of the 'reasonable' sized WIPs done and now have mostly BAPs so I need those small finishes or it gets too overwhelming. I will likely be joining you1

valerie said...

Oh yea, I am totally obsessive about stitching. I think about it *all the time*!

Good luck with your year of the smalls. I think I am going to try and have a Year of Mirabilia and Chatelaine.

BrendaS said...

You sound perfectly normal to me:))) I like to stitch big projects but smalls have that sense of "quick" satisfaction. I will definitely join you!

Ele said...

What lovely embroideries, I like them all!
Please, can you tell me, where I can buy the pattern for the little pillow "spring with the two birds", it looks so wonderful.
I am afraid, I can't order it in Germnay...?

Greetings from Bavaria
Gabriele

Relyn Lawson said...

I do think that's a brilliant idea. Plus, I love your passion. Whatcha readin' just now?

Trixie said...

I actually think smalls might be a bit more fun..you could make a basketfull for every holiday, give them away as small gifts, decorate nooks and cranies in your book shelves with them..one or two on a step going upstairs. I have no idea how long it takes to make a small, but Im guessing you could compare it to making a card or choosing instead to make an ATC? Anyway, rock it girlfriend!

Joy said...

I too stitch mostly samplers and tire right in the middle so no stitching gets done. Smalls for a break sounds perfect! Can't wait to see your progress.

Jeanie said...

I love the idea of the smalls -- a good way to get things done and still sneak in a bigger project now and then!

Patti said...

Sounds perfectly lovely Laura!! And I know the most wonderful place to get "small" patterns- lol!!! HOpe you get some stitching in this weekend- will miss you on Sunday!!!

Kerri said...

Oh a year of smalls - now that is something I can actually manage. I only managed to get one thing on my Crazy January challenge finished.

I have actually been trying to do some stitching for each season this year, so maybe great minds think alike! Maybe everything but Christmas? I would definitely join in!