February 02, 2014

Long Ago and Far Away and a Queen Stitch or Two

Hi, all! I've missed you. You know how, when you extoll your car's virtues "car never breaks down, works great, has 200,000 miles and has circled the moon without a problem," it kicks you in the butt to remind you of the foolishness of ever uttering such a thing by breaking down on the way to work? Well, that's kind of what happened after I announced that I had super mojo about my stitching. Like opening a drain and watching the water circle a tub, out the mojo went.

One factor is that I have suddenly, after 58 years of relative inactivity (I'm really GOOD at the sofa-sitting competition) decided to run the Richmond Marathon in November. (Yeah, Terri, thanks a bunch for that.) What? Run? I'm a stitcher! Only thing I've ever run for is a sale at In Stitches (more on that below). Something I can tell you about starting to run at 58: it freaking hurts at first. And then you get better and better. It's like doing queen stitches. I'll never be fast, and certainly not graceful (how I admire those sleek kids who zip by me on the path with their minimalist shoes and efficient form), but I'm getting it done. I'm quite beginning to like it, in fact, along with the 40-pound weight loss that goes with all that sweating and flailing and blisters. I've been spending an appalling amount of money on shoes and socks and running pants and jackets. Not nearly as much as I used to spend on stitching, but pretty close. Of course, all of this has definitely detracted from the stitching, but I did manage a finish in spite of my fuddled, weary self: Behold Peaceful Paradise!
Jennifer in Richmond, I promised this chart to you if you haven't already found it. Please leave a comment w your email, and I'll contact you about a snail mail address.
I was at In Stitches for the Superbowl Sale today. The shop was full of eager stitchers. When I wandered back to the fabric table, this was being kitted up for a customer: Mary Gail by the Scarlet Letter. Mary Gail is stitched in tent stitch, I believe, with the background filled in.
By using this linen, which I believe is called "Tobacco," (you should check with the shop), all that background fill-in is eliminated. Don't you love the AVAS silks spread out on the gorgeous mustard colored linen? That floss toss really caught my eye. And of course, I'm planning on kitting it up myself and stitching it. In between runs.
Last, but not least, is all three pounds of Bad Rabbit Attitude: Tweaker, aka Elvis, to wish you a happy week.

27 comments:

Faye said...

Way to go on this lovely sampler AND your new found hobby.... Running is admirable!!! And the 40lb weight loss is definitely and awesome perk!!!! Way to go Glenna!!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Woo Hoo, Glenna! I'm so proud of you! The Richmond Marathon! You go girl! I have yet to do anything beyond a 10k but I love it, too. The blisters get fewer, the shin splints less frequent and your stamina better with each run! I tend not to run too much in winter (hate treadmills) but hope to get back to it soon! If I can make it to Richmond for the 10k, we'll have to meet up!
Your sampler is beautiful. Congratulations! Give Elvis a smooch!

Kevin said...

Congrats on your finish of Peaceful Paradise - it's beautiful! I really love that Scarlet Letter sampler on that tobacco linen. Looks like it would be a fun one to stitch with all those colorful silks.

marly said...

I can't do 15 minutes of Leslie Sansone and you're running off 40 pounds!! I'm envious and I congratulate you on both. I hope that linen is Havana and not Tobacco. I just ordered Havana thinking it was that color. Beautiful finish!

Melissa said...

Congratulations on your Peaceful Paradise finish, and even more congrats on losing 40lbs and working towards the Richmond Marathon! I think my jaw dropped when I read that - good for you!

I love Mary Gail too and those colours are so tempting!

Cari said...

Oh my gosh…amazing that you are training for a marathon !! That is just fantastic. You must be so very proud of yourself !!

Your finished sampler is stunning. I love all the motifs on this one. And the colors…so beautiful and fun to look at.

Hugs to you and the bunnies and take good care of your stitching, thinning, running beautiful self !!

Brigitte said...

Great finish, Glenna, congratulations. And a wonderful new sampler. Love the silks and particularly the fabric colours. Enjoy stitching this one.
Congratulations, too on your running progress and success.

Chris said...

Great job on the finish and the running! Wow!

Margaret said...

Wow! Ok, I'm impressed that you are running and shooting for a marathon. Wow! Good for you! Love your finish too -- so gorgeous! Mary Gail is waiting for me to stitch sometime here as well.

Peggy Lee said...

Gorgeous finish. I know you will be proud of that one always!

Love the color of that linen. I would never want to put stitches over every single thread so that would be my choice too.

A marathon?? Forty pounds??
AWESOME!! Way to go!!

Erica said...

Oh Glenna!
It is just stunning!
Congrats on a job well done!

Robin in Virginia said...

Congratulations on your sampler finish! Best wishes to you on your running endeavor! Congratulations on your weight loss.

Robin in Virginia

Robin in Virginia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristen said...

Beautiful finish, Glenna! And congrats on the new exercise regime. I wish I could run, but my threshold for pain is non-existent. ;)

In all of your bunny photos, I don't think I've ever seen one featuring a fuzzy up on the furniture. Hi Elvis! **waves**

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

My goodness, I certainly admire you for taking up running! My goodness, I couldn't do it. Tried, failed. But will say that my hat is off to you and I admire you too for your weight loss. that is stupendous! You go girl!
Your finish is stunning, gorgeous, wonderful and amazing! YAY!!

Edgar said...

What a lovely finish - PP is!! Congrats!!

valerie said...

Congratulations on your Peaceful Paradise finish! It's gorgeous. And kudos to you for taking up running and trying for a marathon. That's awesome!

Jennifer Stumpf said...

Glenna, the Peaceful Paradise is beautiful!! I'm so excited to stitch this! My email is jennstumpf@yahoo.com. Thank you so much! Best wishes with the running & good on you for doing it. I admire runner so much but I will cheer you on from the Richmond sidelines. I'll stick with stitching, although 40 pounds is very impressive!

Jennifer Stumpf said...

*running. >_< Think I was so excited thinking of receiving this chart, the typos flew...

RG said...

Elvis! Yay! Handsome as ever!

Marathon? ? ? - I thought somewhere back you said 10K.

Oh My Gosh! That is an amazing goal and program and god speed and good health! Give us an update on the training now and then.

As a long time runner, I have always believed, and still do, that if you get to the starting line, you have already won the race! Few can/will do that.

Deborah said...

Congrats on the 40lb weight lose and the running. The sampler is just gorgeous!!645

Janet said...

Congratulations on the Peaceful Paradise finish! Can you please tell me the name of the sampler in your blog header? Love it!

Janet

Giovanna said...

Wonderful finish - congratulations! Enjoy the new sampler.

Loraine said...

Your finish is spectacular! I love the new start as well. So pretty.
I am inspired by your news of signing up for a marathon!!! Tell me how ever did you get the nerve? I stressed over doing a 5K, you went right for the mother of all races! You go girl!!! It was fun to read about your running adventures, because I have had the same evolution. I have really started to enjoy running, and miss it when I can't go. The weather here is just the pits, and It's hard to make it out when it's so cold. I've contemplated a treadmill, but I'm not sure yet. Isn't it crazy how much you can spend on clothes and shoes? My goodness I cringe every time I leave the running store.
Let me know how it's going! I look forward to hearing about your race in November.

erin said...

Hi Glenna! This is Erin from In Stitches yesterday. I checked out the two Long Dog pieces at Woodlawn. Neither one had spangles. They were gorgeous though! Just thought you.want to know. Take care!

Tammy said...

Congratulations on all that hard, HARD work! I'm just getting started with treadmills and exercising and it definitely IS tough. Good work on your stitching and the bun is adorable, as always!

Lizzy Pizzy said...

Congrats on your amazing finish, what a brilliant design. Also congrats on making the move off the couch (I am still there :/)