February 10, 2012

WIP 17: HoHRH

Happy day, all! It wasn't so long ago that I was occupying a cubicle and counting down the hours until I could rush home on a Friday afternoon and stitch. Now that I'm not gainfully employed (hopefully briefly), you'd think I'd stitch all day long, and while I'd love to, my joblessness makes me feel apologetic for depleting our finances, and in a puritanish way, I don't feel free to enjoy my day completely, so at least the house is getting super clean, and the meals have been less scatter-shot and more nutritious (I'm missing the days of the bowl of cereal and an English muffin for dinner, although lemon chicken and steamed spinach with a touch of balsamic vinegar and a drift of parmesan is nice in its own way) and the library books are even being returned on time. But at least I can stitch half the night now that I'm not getting up at 4:30 a.m. to dress and commute.

I had not forgotten that I started Houses of Hawk Run Hollow some years back--it debuted on my then-new blog in July 2006--so I wasn't surprised when I ran across it. I was surprised at how badly I wanted to take up the needle on it again, though. So I had a little stitching session last night with it, and it's back in the rotation (calling my stitching approach a rotation is like referring to a tornado as a rotation, of course). I love the fabric--40 count, luxuriously rich Lakeside in Maritime whtie--and I love the colors. Some of the AVAS were scattered to the winds (took up residence in other project bags) when I disbanded it because of a major counting mistake that I made on the far left-hand block. I miscounted the blue-green area: it should be 9 rows deep, but it's 8 rows deep, so when I started the bird heads, their feet enter the gold dividing row. Grrr. I can shorten the birds' legs, I can eliminate the birds' feet, I can allow the feet to protrude into the gold row, I can move the bird bodies up one row (a major stitching pain) or I can frog the entire block. For now, I haven't decided what to do, although I'm leaning toward having footless birds. In the meantime, I'm stitching my very favorite block, below the offending block. Thanks to all of you who weighed in on whether it's worth it to continue on yesterday's project, for which I feel no particular love, even though it's a pretty design. I've decided to repurpose the fabric. I put it away long enough to decide I didn't care enough to continue stitching on it.


Counting error: see the bird feet of the right-hand bird entering the gold line?


There's a mistake in this block as well, in the fence, but I compensated for it, and it looks ok, so I moved on. I'm curious how many of you have either completed this design or have started it and have it in your stash.


Pink says he thinks there should be more bunny pictures and less stitching: "Your blog is a snooze."


See you Sunday. Happy weekend!

26 comments:

Laurie in Iowa said...

I started HoHRH and it's buried deep in the back of the WIP closet. I don't think it will get finished. I do have the Village of HRH completed and hanging in my sewing room. I love it. I also started Shores and will never finish that one either.
Why not let the feet of the bird drop into the gold line of stitches?
Glad we helped you make the decision to repurpose your linen.

Margaret said...

I love the AVAS for this piece. I think the colors really make it, don't you? Looking good! Only you see the mistakes.

Linda said...

I started HoHRH several years ago. I almost have block 1 done. Am stitching it on 14ct aida. Someday I will go back to it. Yours looks great and your the only one that knows theres a mistake in it. We can't tell unless you tell us. Love the bunnies.

Linda

Barb said...

Upon getting "older" I decided that life if too short to read a book I'm not enjoying or stitch a design that I'm not really liking!! My new motto's for life.

Kellie said...

I think I would either have feet-less birds or let the feet drop into the gold line of stitching. It looks really good. I have this chart and the fabric in my stash. Haven't collected the threads for it yet, but it is definitely one I want to stitch.

Krista said...

I have HoHRH too but haven't yet started. I think your stitching looks great as it is. When I have a mis-stitch I try to adapt around it.

Cari said...

Perhaps the bird is nesting and has no feet....or perhaps the birds feet are in the golden grass. Do whatever suits your fancy. It's a lovely piece. Happy Stitching !!!

marly said...

I don't mind bird's feet in the outline at all. They would be fine without feet too. With so much to appreciate when admiring these stitched pieces, it wouldn't be noticed. Just my 2¢. If I would attempt any in this series, I would want to do each block as an individual ornament on a bare twig tree or garland. 4¢.

Jules said...

I have never attempted any of these designs (I know there are different series by the same designer) but admire those who have or are stitching them. I think your missed row and the positioning of the birds legs/feet make it unique to you. That said, leave it as it is and finish the birds even if they run into the gold. Either way, it's beautiful!

Love the bunny yawn!

Catherine said...

Looks fine to me! I'm sure it would look fine if you left off the feet too....such a pretty piece!

Susan said...

I don't have Houses but I have Autumn and Shores in my stash. I think the feet would look fine in the gold border. Nobody is going to know but you. Well, I suppose we'll all know too, but I'm sure we won't say anything.8-)

barbara said...

I have it in my stash. I've stitched a couple of the houses on other people's neighborhood round robins, and have started it twice for myself. LOL. Yours is looking great and birds with feet are overrated. ;)

Marjo said...

Oh, I have it but not started. In fact I collected all of the Hawk Run charts but not a stitch to be seen. Love your progress. I think the birds are fine. I doubt I have ever not made a mistake in something I stitch. I love all your parade of WIP and enjoy seeing them.

RG said...

Your stitching rotation is about like BL's cooking rotation. All those pages of mouthwatering stuff and no sense of order about what I get tomorrow for dinner!

I'm with Pink - slow news day, weekend coming up. Let's snooze.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

I like that piece. The colors are really nice. LOL on Pink's big ole yawn!

Mouse said...

well I haven't done this chart soo can't help you on this one ....but have defo fudged things ..lol
love the one you did yesterday with the flowers but I do think the colours are brighter than the photo of the chart ... but if you are not happy with something there is no point in carrying on with it ... as it would just get worse for you ....*waves small paw at the bunrabs :) love mouse xxxx

Crafty Green Poet said...

Your stitching is beautiful! I love Pink's bunny yawn!

Brigitte said...

It must be wonderful to take out all these WIPs and show them, but it's certainyl hard to put them back into their bags instead of stitching on and on and on on them. It don't know if I could do it, lol.
I have Houses in my WIP box as well and I'm exactly as far with it as you are. It's certainly years that I haven't pulled it out.

Nancy said...

It looks beautiful Glenna - with the little touches that are uniquely yours!

Siobhán said...

I'm all about fudging--do what works best with the minimum of ripping and restitching, so I'd just work in the feet and go from there. Like another stitcher said, there's so much going on in the design that nobody is going to notice. I've stitched HoHRH, Village & Shores. I plan to stitch Christmas & Autumn, too. With Village, I misread a symbol and stitched a hill into one of the blocks-or what looks like a hill because it is a different color from the other bits of grass. I kept it as is--call it my flair for designing. LOL

Stephanie M. said...

I have this one started too, but had to stop to work on something for my daughters wedding. I would leave it as it is with the feet in the grass. Your work progress is great, I wish I was further along on this one.

Mindi said...

I'm just getting caught up on blog reading, and you've been working on some amazing projects the last couple of weeks. My vote is for footless birds. Once its hung on the wall, I doubt anyone will even notice, or just think its part of the design. Its amazing how many adjustments I'll make to a design just to keep from frogging where I've made a mistake.

I'm all about re-purposing fabric if I've decided I'm not longer in love with something. No need to have it cluttering up the WIP basket, and the supplies can always be used for something else.

Michelle said...

I have SOHRH started and in the back of the closet. Only one block finished. Block 2 has to be ripped out. I'm voting for leaving their feet off, or let them go into the gold. Either way, I wouldn't rip that whole thing out.

Katrina said...

I am so enjoying seeing all your WIPs. I love all the HRH pieces :-). No suggestions on the fix???

IMHO it's always okay to abandon a project you don't love!!!!

Daffycat said...

lol Post a few photos of salad next time. Make Pink happy.

Dratted frogs. It's nice when you can compensate and avoid a major frog. I have had designs I have given up on because of frogs as well.

Oh I dream of staying home and stitching the days (and nights) away but I'd be driven batsh*t crazy in no time.

woolwoman said...

I had a similiar booboo with birds feet on Shores of HRH and I just moved on which is what I think you should do. I knew if I pulled all the way back to my mistake to correct birds feet I would throw it down and never come back to it. Once you get everything in no one will ever notice - truly they won't. I have Villages and Houses with linen and silks too but did not purchase any more after that. I realized these are long term projects for me (I'm so slow plus have startitis) so I just figured I did could always find Autumn, Christmas and Farms if I wanted them in the future. I chuckled when I read about your former starts on the other edge of the linen - I am guilty of that practice as well. Just a trial run I say to my friends in jest. Hope you enjoy the weekend - Melody