posted by erin on Nov 14
I don’t know if I’m just being completely uninteresting, if I’m not commenting on enough blogs (I know this is true), or if I’m just not writing enough these days and people have forgotten about me, but I’m feeling a little lonely over here in my little corner of bloglandia. It seems that there’s just a few sweet die hard commenters left to keep me company (waving…”hi guys…glad you still stop in!”), and that’s just because I pay them. Kidding.
Admittedly, I’ve been feeling a bit of laziness when it comes to blogging…and to a lot of other things. Except my dishes. I’ve upped the ante on doing dishes around here since the plague infestation of fruit flies. And I’m totally on top of updating my Facebook status. So other than having a bit of OCD when it comes to cleaning my kitchen and stalking people on Facebook, I’ve become a bum.
I have a list of things I’d like to do and projects I’d like to complete. Want to see it? It actually exists. I spend more time updating my list than actually DOING any of it. A few things have been knocked off the list because the guilt was becoming a little to heavy to carry, lol 
Like starting to work on my cross-stitch again and we finally wrote to our sponsor child.
I hadn’t worked on my cross-stitch in 2 years. Okay, you can all stop laughing at me now. Yes, I am COOL enough to cross-stitch! I started when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and I was too sick to do anything other than lie around. It helped me pass the time and I found it very relaxing. And since I can’t paint or draw it was my way to make beautiful pieces or art. I saw the first one below hanging in a shop and it was love at first sight. I bought all the material, floss (thread) and almost $100 worth of metallic thread and beads. I give you
THE KISS (sorry for all the icky lines on it…don’t know why it’s showing up like that).
Here’s a close-up of the face and some of the beadwork.
It had approx. 36,000 stitches in it and took me 4 months to do it. My dad was so impressed that he offered to pay for the framing because he said it shouldn’t just sit on a shelf somewhere after all that work.
I made another one a few years later from the same line of work.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Now I’m working on a third one by the same artist. Here’s what it will look like when it’s finished (except I’m doing it on a really nice lighter beige linen…I didn’t like the pinky orange color of the suggested linen). I’m almost done. Right now I’m working on the bottom two green and blue pieces of material and then the beadwork.
THE DREAMER
So now you all know my secret. I see these hanging in the library I’m going to have one day. Can’t you just picture it? Dark wood shelving floor to ceiling with all my books, plush carpets, floor to ceiling windows, huge comfy reading chairs, a fireplace and these pictures hanging around the room. It will be like something out of a storybook when I’m done. Sigh.
Oh, and here’s the one I’m going to start once “The Dreamer” is complete. It’s for Ella until I have a library to hang it in
CINDERELLA
I’ll change the color of the background linen to something more neutral and I would NEVER frame it in gold (ick). Anyway.
Off to cross-stitch! 
November 14th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
That is so neat, very well done!
I used to cross stitch all the time and loved it still have a big project sitting somewhere..anyway have fun. looks great
November 14th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
love the x stitch. i am just soooo undisciplined to finish something like that if i were about to start it. (i have a huge bag of unfinshed stuff to prove it!)
but….what i have done….and am not too proud to admidt it is BUY really cool finished (and framed) x stitch pictures at the THRIFT STORE!
that’s my little secret. now, please don’t tell anyone.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I’m still here! I completely understand the never-ending to-do list.
Way to go on the cross-stitching. WOW!
November 14th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Erin , you look really cute in your new hat:)
November 14th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
wow I LOVE your work
Im still here
HUGS
Jen
November 14th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I LOVE the Cinderella! Those are so pretty!
November 14th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Ohhhh, I *so* remember those old cross-stitch projects! Still beautiful.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I came to collect my cheque….LOL
Love the cross-stitch.
I’ve recently picked it up again to complete a baby sampler for a friend due in January.
Soooo relaxing.
I’ve a friend who has done the same line of pictures.
For the life of me the name escapes me…starts with a b(?) I believe.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Impressive Erin!
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve done any cross-stitching. Never did anything quite as nice as you have though. Well done!
And very cool that you sponsor a child.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Okay I don’t know why I am laughing but I used to do cross stitching too. However french knots stressed me out and I quickly gave up.
Can’t wait to see what you get done!
November 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
oi, I am totally feeling the laziness. I have been a bad, bad, blogger and blog buddy, but Christmas is coming and that always perks me up! Hang in there kiddo.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
i remember those lovely cross stictches, keep them coming great winter project. so cozy and pretty.
November 16th, 2008 at 1:21 am
LOL!!!! Stalking? That was for me wasn’t it…haha.
Which one of these pieces was hanging on the way up the stairs in your last house? Gorgeous by the way…
November 16th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Wow Erin, those are some pretty amazing cross stitch pieces!!! Nothing like I used to do:) Hahaha. I love the framing on the first one, that is so special what your dad did.
As for that one item on your ‘to do’ list. I’m all for it!! You know the one.
November 16th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Love ‘em! I bought a cross stitch once with great intentions of doing it and then realized it wasn’t going to happen so I asked my mom to do it for me. She did and it’s beautiful. I’ve had it for close to 10 years now and love it more every time I look at it.
I’m still checking in btw, just haven’t had a moment to comment. Sorry! Can’t wait for girls night out!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Lonely? You have a ton of comments here!
Ohhhh, I did not even know cross-stiching like that existed! It’s beautiful! And the beads! I never even considered beads. I’m very jealous.
I tried cross-stiching years ago, but the thread kept getting into knots and counting the little squares made my eyes cross.
You have quite a talent!
PS- I have a list like that also. It never seems to get any smaller, does it?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Wow! When you say cross-stitch, you mean WOWZA KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF cross-stitch. Those are remarkable pieces and absolutely should go in a library one day.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Those are some amazing cross-stich projects! I do not have the perseverance and self-discipline to finish what I’ve started when it comes to cross-stich. Your to do list looks like mine – LONG! I always end up making the list, pour coffee, gaze at the list, doodle around the list, pour more coffee, make lunch… You get the drift!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I read. I loved. I had too little time to write an insightful or sweet comment and left you this ridiculous cut and paste thingy instead. Mwah!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:27 am
First, sorry I haven’t been around in a while. I still read your posts, I just haven’t been able to comment much. (In fact, I’m at work–shhhh–and shouldn’t be commenting right now.)
Second, great work on the cross-stitch pieces. I used to cross-stitch and my stuff NEVER looked that good.
Third, a bit of advice: to tackle your to-do list, try picking two or three things at a time and breaking them down into smaller steps. It makes big or overwhelming tasks seem more attainable. And if you make a to-do list for each task you’ll see more checks in less time with motivates you to do more.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I know what you mean. I’ve been in a writing slump for the last month and a half. And I’ve been a bad blogging pal since it took me over 10 days to comment on this post! Anyway, lists are good and I think I’m going to start one now.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
it can feel lonely and a bit frustrating when you feel like you don’t have commenters. i so appreciate my comments.
the cross stitches are lovely. i haven’t cs in a very long time but i also enjoy it.
i have many things on a list that i need to get to as well. in fact quite a few the same as on yours.