April 19, 2009

Diligence

Although I have been tremendously busy with school stuff, I made some time for stitching this week. I was getting antsy and agitated, too unsettled to devote the time and attention to the fine points of my reading for class, and things aren't going well at work at all. My left eye has developed an annoying twitch that comes and goes like summer lightning. The stitching helped a lot. So here's a bit of progress on Tulips (it's really called Product of my Needle, but sheesh, what a name). This is a fun, if time-consuming stitch with all the black to fill in. But the elements change constantly: the pink tulips, the green leaves, the gold Greek key border, the silver Kreinik braid splitting the two black lines under the alphabet. Can you see it shine? Fun!

I took this out too. I believe I will be able to finish it in the next couple of months, especially if I have time off this summer. The practice group leader of our legal practice is departing for another firm and will probably take half the group with him. He's a mercurial, difficult man, high in legal intelligence, low in emotional intelligence. He experienced a setback at the firm and has been pouting ever since, and I figured he'd pick up his marbles and move on. Sure enough. But he will likely take everyone I work for with him. The firm they're going to has done its own layoffs and has its own idled staff, so it's likely my co-workers and I--the grunt staff--won't be invited along. And in truth--not sour grapes--I don't want to go. Nor do I want to stay. What I'm hoping for is a layoff from my current firm, with the generous parting gift they give and the vacation that I've been hoarding. In any case, pushing the needle in and out is more soothing than any pill, and doesn't require a prescription.

I've always been a huge fan of Scarlet Letter's designs, and I have a number of them in my stash. Yesterday I went to Everything Cross Stitch and got the fabric for Christinia Cathcart (a design by The Samplar Workes that I showed a few weeks ago) and a few skeins of AVAS for Diligence. I also picked up LHN's Beach Cottage and fibers.

Anyway, I love the over-the-top border of this design. I think I'll leave out the boxer with the golden orb on the front steps, though. He creeps me out.

The skein colors were odd (and mostly not in stock)--they're less blue and more aqua than in the photo. I can't decide whether I should adjust the colors or go with what they recommend. See the small floss toss below? The blue is more of a swimming pool aqua in the floss, and truer blue in the picture. The red is more mauve-y in the floss version.

Here's Elvis, posing next to the big jar of pennies we use as a doorstop and to keep the bunny fencing from falling over (we fence out the places that bunnies like to crawl under and privately demolish the carpet). You can see that his face is getting fluffier by the week.

Off I go to the grocery store or we'll have to live on Fritos and Lean Cuisine again this week (which from a diet standpoint is a little like driving along at 60 mph on the freeway and suddenly throwing the car in reverse). Happy week ahead!

19 comments:

grace said...

Your progress on the tulips are beautiful, I love the colors and the border is just gorgeous!
Hope your suffering at work ends soon and you get your much needed vacay. I agree cross-stitching is much better than any prescription. :) I'd rather stay home and cross stitch than go out and party any day. hahaha To the contrary, my friends would think I'm crazy.

Tammy said...

Tulips are So pretty! And your new project looks like a fun one to dive into. Yep, xstitching solves lots of ills, doesn't it?! I wenet down to ECS today and got the fabby and floss for a few different projects--what a high, lol!

Siobhán said...

Your tulips are coming along so nicely! Super pretty, and I love your other WIP, too. Hope things get better at work, and I'm glad that you have your needlework to make the stress easier to handle!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

I love how the tulips are coming along, and I hope your job situation improves soon.

Elvis is starting to look like his old self again, I see. And how nice that he's guarding the rainy day fund, in case you do get laid off!

Deb said...

That boxer dude is a little scary, but the sampler is very pretty. Love your progress on the tulips. It's really going to be a stunner when you're finished. And your STSS looks wonderful too! And you're right, stitching will remedy just about anything - no prescription necessary.

staci said...

Love your Tulips wip...the colors are very pretty. And Diligence~wow, magnificent!!! I've just started a very small project that had the same problem of the actual floss colors not being what I expected from the picture!

Margaret said...

Oh I do love that Tulips piece. I think it must be OOP -- can't find it on the SL site. But I may just ask Marsha about it-- she's sent me charts that aren't listed on her site before. Love all the pieces you're showing. And Elvis is just so cute!

Anonymous said...

All your stitching is wonderful. The first looks to be a fair amount of work!

RG said...

There's the Elvis we all remember! Now, show us your Zoey wisps, Elvis!

When the going gets tough the tough stitch or pet rabbits or both!

It's Tulip Festival here in Mt. Vernon, Washington (Yes, we also have a George, WA.) and there are hordes of people out to see the fields!

Hey, with all those guys leaving, maybe they'll make you Prez!!!

Deb Cushman said...

The tulips are beautiful. Looks like you really don't have to worry about working -- Elvis is rich enough to support you!

mainely stitching said...

Love your Tulip progress, and I think your new project-to-be-started is fascinating. Really unusual!

Take care, and enjoy a sane week!

The Scarlett House said...

I can understand why stitching is therapy for you. What a time you're having at work. Tulips look great, and as for the CC sampler, that's quite a border. Glad it's your border and not mine :) to do.

Nicole said...

Wow, beautiful progress on Tulips Glenna. Your other wip is very pretty too! I like the colors for Diligence. I think they will be pretty!

Jules said...

Wow! The tulips look great! At first I thought it was beading. I agree with leaving the creepy looking guy out of the Diligence pattern. It doesn't seem to fit with the rest of it. And Elvis is a cutie!

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

Twitching eye during the Spring while under stress? sounds like Liver wind for sure, but you've found the cure, well done! Sending out orders that all unfolds to your greatest benefit. Elvis is looking quite normal......

quiltcat said...

Gorgeous tulip stitching! i agree about the creepy guy in the Diligence sampler...better to replace him with a cat or rabbit, i would think! I had to laugh at the quotation "we're sure of fruit if we manure the soil" given all the manure that's going on at your work. I think you'll be lucky to NOT be asked to join his team at the new firm. I hope all works out well! (By the way...i spent the first year that i was supposed to be writing my Ph.D. dissertation learning how to cross stitch and making zillions of pretty and complex projects...an excellent form of creative procrastination!)

MyLifesAStitch said...

OMG your last line made me seriously LOL (got a funny look from the kitties)!! Too funny!!

Tulips look great, and yeh, I have to agree. The little dude in Diligence is a bit on the freaky side.

I'm sorry work is not going well... I hope that it works out as beautifully as possible for you!!

Have a great week!

Alice said...

hi glenna,

i just saw your hilarious comment on my blog and wanted to stop by and see what such a funny woman is up to. gorgeous work and little elvis?!?!...what a looker he is!

best to you,

'alice'

Anna van Schurman said...

I like the swimming pool blue and pinkish red. But if you don't, it's probably best to change it. I hope your job situation works out for the best. There's a lot to be said for unemployment. (At least for now...)