March 08, 2009

Fiddling While Rome Burns

Owing to the two midterm exams that are due at the end of this weekend (as of this moment one complete and one half complete) I have not had much time to stitch, but I did accomplish a bit on Dot's Garden (not worth showing), and this little bit on Praiseworthy Stitches' "Skating Party." Because I changed the color of the fabric (to Lakeside's Patina), I've changed some of the floss colors. And although there are red beads that go with the border leaves, I decided the design needed a bit more flair. So I have added silvery blue Kreinik blending filament to the greeny-blue frozen lake. Not sure if you can see the sparkle in this photo. Stitching a winter scene now seems odd; remember the eight inches of snow in that last picture of my garden just six days ago? Gone now, replaced by temps in the high seventies yesterday and today. The buds are all bursting out on the trees, the birds are tweeting outside my window, the wild bunnies are digging up my bulbs and chewing the emerging tulip leaves.

I websurfed a bit the other day and bought this chart: "Christinia Cathcart" by the Samplar Workes. I also picked up a few charts on ebay. Oh, and for all of you who might be a Theron Traditions fan, she's teaching a class with a beautiful new sampler at Celebration of Needlework in May. Check out her new sampler! It's called "Morning has Broken," and if you're old enough, that title alone will be enough to send the Cat Stevens song circling endlessly through your brain. I figured out that since I didn't have time to stitch at lunch or after work or all weekend, this bit of shopping made me feel better and calmer.

We had sweeping layoffs at work last week--125 people in our firm nationwide, and approximately 30 in our office. I'm still there, but several friends were cut. It was pretty brutal; the person's manager called them into a private meeting late Thursday, their building badge was confiscated, their email and phone were cut off as of that moment, they were walked back to their desk to get their coat and purse and then they were sent out the door, which is now locked against them. Someone from HR will go through their desk and cube and will box up and send their personal stuff to them. As you can imagine, the rest of us are beginning to remove our personal stuff and take it home because you never know, in the same way that those of us who work in highrises in major cities after 9/11 made sure always to have comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water that we could grab in case we were evacuated down the stairs and had to walk partway home. I feel terrible for some of the affected people, who believed that the firm would look out for them, were devastated when they were cut.

I picked this up at Everything Cross Stitch recently: It's "Alphabetissimo" by Papillon Creations. What I especially like about this chart is the designer's suggestion to use any two colors of your choosing. I prefer the blue to the red, so I'm going to reverse the colors, and will use the Picture This Plus fabric and NPI silks from my stash. I so much wanted to start this--I've missed stitching this week! Oh, well, next week! And, I'll be headed to Cape Cod in less than two weeks to visit my parents. I should get some stitching done there; one of the best thing about my parents is that they enjoy sitting quietly in the evening doing crossword puzzles or reading or knitting (in my mom's case), so I can stitch away. I could really use a big bowl of quahog chowder from the fish market too!

I'm reading in a couple of blogs about stitchers working on "Dutch Beauty" with its little poo-ing dog. Hilarious. From now on, I think I should use french knots for rabbit doots on my charts with bunnies.

"Doots? I always use the litter box!"

Happy Week Ahead; may any surprises be pleasant ones...

21 comments:

Dona said...

I enjoy reading your blog! The addition of the filament is a great idea and will add a nice winter sparkle. The Skating Party is a pretty winter design and my favorite Praiseworthy design.

I hope the layoffs skip over you.

Barb said...

Just want to say hi and tell you that I enjoy reading your blog. I'm so sorry about your coworkers. I know from reading a previous entry that it was not really a surprise.

Love the samplers and your bunnies!

Melissa said...

Hi Glenna,

So sorry to hear about what's happening at your workplace. I'm sure it's also un-nerving for those left behind.

Glad to see you picking up new charts and 'sharing'. Like Dona, I like adding that filament to the pond is a great idea. Will look forward to seeing more of it stitched up.

As to the Cat Stevens song, of course I remember it. Dating myself perhaps? Loved Cat Stevens! I like the sampler too.

Anonymous said...

Man so sorry for your coworkers. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. Love all the stitchy stuff.

Tammy said...

How sad about the layoffs--seems everyone knows someone this is affecting. Your skating sampler is going to be so beautiful with the sparkles on the lake-great idea!

Margaret said...

The layoffs are terrible -- they seem to be everywhere. Sorry to hear your office was affected as well. I enjoy seeing your WIP, your new stash, and your bunny!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

I'm sorry about the layoffs and I hope your (now former) coworkers find something soon. I know the rest of you must be pretty worried.

Daffycat said...

Lovely stitching, Glenna and beautiful new stash too. Have a good visit with your parents...do the buns go with or what?

MyLifesAStitch said...

Hi Glenna,

So sorry to hear about the layoffs in your office... it must add a whole new level of stress and angst to your work days. :( I'm lovong reading your blog, though. When I enlarged the Skating Party pic I could see the filament - beautiful! What a great idea! Good luck with your exams, and at work.
~Robin

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Scary sounding layoffs, glad you are still there......I think fiddling, or stitching, while Rome burns a very good thing indeed. Pink should have a wrist watch, didn't he come with one??????

Kit said...

Ugh, how sad about the layoffs, it's been so tough all around, and everyone just holds their breath waiting to see...
I love the Alphabetissimo sampler and looking forward to the updates. Great poo idea -lol.

RG said...

Pink says, "ok Elvis, your turn!"

The layoff process is brutal. Where I worked there was a very long process including a significant prior warning. I think because we were a Federal contractor. But there were gallows-jokes too. An optimist brought a lunch to work. A pessimist left the car running in the parking lot. It was good to bring your sandwich wrapped in a road map. etc etc....

RG said...

Oh gads it just crossed my brain ... Morning has Broken - Cat Stevens ... that was almost 40 years ago! Where did it go?

The lady on the Fresh Parsley blog on my blog list is performing in the play Hair! She has posted several pictures ... takes one back a long ways ....

mainely stitching said...

That's a really harsh way to get your pink slip. I've been in downsizing things before, but never been treated like a criminal. What a nasty taste that must leave in people's mouths. I hope you'll be fine.

Great charts you've acquired lately!!

Fez and the Gang said...

Wow how awful. Not a good start to the weekend.

Mom says that she is going to start cross stitching again because she keeps seeing it on your blog and remembering how relaxing it is... but she won't post her attempts!

Spinning Beauty said...

I love reading your blog! That is really too bad about your co-workers. Having been on the receiving end of a lay off, I know how those people must feel. It's also very hard on the remaining staff. Sad all around. I love your Dot's Garden and your Skating Party is coming along nicely :)

Kellie said...

Skating party is such a pretty design. I like the idea of adding the filament for some sparkle. Your new charts are great. I am sorry to hear about your co-workers--sad and scary times.

Deb Cushman said...

Sorry to hear about the coworkers. We're just hanging on hoping that it doesn't hit us to hard.

The winter design is lovely. We had snow and hail here today IN MARCH! We can't quite believe it.

The Scarlett House said...

At least I'm glad to hear that you are still employed.
Love the new sampler by the Samplar Workes. It might be a must do for me.

Wendy said...

Job cuts are horrendous - DH is going through this at work and the mood there is just awful.

Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens! What memories that brings back. I think I wore out my old 45 of this, I played it so much.

YowlYY said...

The layoff procedure as you describe it is pretty horrible - my previous employers in Germany weren't so brutal when had to fire people, but then it was a different type of job - I guess this makes the difference.
Your stitching is brilliant as always - may I ask what kind of lamp do you use when stitching? I think I may be in the market for one soon and cross stitch people were said to be very knowleadgeable when it comes to true daylight lamps etc. :)