Sometimes I think I need to rename this blog, "The hunt for stuff I threw in a box and forgot about." I knew I had this set of freebies.
In 2006, at the Indianapolis Market, they released a set of charts called the Town Square. There were 40 participating designers, from Bent Creek to JBW to Shepherd's Bush. There were all kinds of building. I bought the set, but never stitched them; 2006 was a bad year. I threw them in a box and forgot about them.
My stitching pal Riona (of Oubliette fame) mentioned she had found her set of the charts. She is starting a SAL. That got me thinking, "Ya know, I HAVE those. In a box of chaos." So, today, I went searching at Mom's. After a certain small Schipperke man gave me 15 kinds of hell for looking at cross stitch, and not playing with him, I went down in the basement and started looking.
I have a lot of stuff I need to get rid of. I have already decided I am getting rid of all my extra charts at the Sue Hillis get together next month. Today was debating about all the UK magazines I bought for a former friend who never paid me for any of them (including the $180 worth of magazines she begged me to send her telling me she'd pay, and then never paid me for). Part of me was like, "It's stupid to give them away at the get-together, I spent money on them. Sell them." Another part said, "Well, the money wasn't a big enough reason to not have them in a box in the basement." Frankly, looking at them makes me mad. So I'm up in the air as to whether to sell them or not. I stopped buying them in mid-2005 when I realized that I seemed to be laying out a lot of money and not getting anything in return, so I could probably get some money for them now. I don't know. Will have to think about this. It's a hard choice.
I did find my Town Square charts though! In the same box as the magazines. I am stoked. I think they would look supercute as a display for Christmas, maybe as a mix of backing fabrics. They're a bit more kid-friendly than porcelain houses (which I love, but, as anal retentive as I am about my Fitz and Floyd Santa, I'd be worse with houses)and they would be fun. I think I'd only be out for the specialty threads and charms. Hopefully the designers still would offer them.
I was thinking today, they keep talking about the great Recession. I realized that it's affected my stitching, but really, it's been a positive change. I used to be the kind of girl who lived at the LNS every weekend. I bought and bought and bought and never used any of my supplies. I would joke and say it was for when I was a hermit, but I don't think I really appreciated it. And I can say now, the recession has taught me to appreciate what I have. I'm using my over-dyed flosses, I'm enjoying the fabric from my stash. At first that was wierd, because I always wanted that "cushion" of floss but it's easier now. When the alternative is expensive, you get over your issues. And when I'm buying, I buy because it's a true addition to my stash. I'm shopping at stores that genuinely want my business or offer a value. And it's a treat to go to an LNS; I had forgotten what a joy it really is to walk into a cross stitch store and I appreciate the "reset" the recession has given me.
Do you see positive changes in your stitching from the Great Recession?
4 comments:
I am glad you found the charts. The first one I am stitching is Monsterbubbles' Jail and the next is Sharon of Crescent Colors' Saloon. They were the first two to really catch my eye. I shudder to think what this says about my character. The third one I really want to do is the railway station.
I'll get to work setting up the SAL on Saturday morning when I have my technical advisor [aka my husband] available to help me out. I think the best part of the SAL will be seeing what each stitcher chooses to stitch from the wide range of choices.
I like your comments about stitching from stash ... and am doing much the same thing you are. In fact, when kitting up the Jail, I substituted WDW Dolphin for GAST Aged Pewter as called for. I only had 2/3rds of a skein of Aged Pewter in my stash but I have 2 full skeins of Dolphin ... and there's an awful lot of grey in that Jail! I didn't want to run out and then have to worry about mismatched dyelots. The Dolphin is a little lighter but it will work quite nicely.
I find myself being very choosy about what I buy now. I've been raiding my stash before I go out and buy anything new. And since I just bought a car, I have to start watching my pennies.
From your writing, it always sounds like you have more in your stash than the entire stock of most LNS's! I'm amazed at how often you find things in your own stash that you had completely forgotten about. It's like little surprise gifts turning up all the time!
And with prices rising all the time, it's great that you have so much on hand.
What a thought provoking post. I agree about stitching from stash. I'm trying to do that more... just realizing that I bought the stuff in my stash for a reason, and that the stuff that I see that's new will most likely still be there in a year or so. It's a good change.
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