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Saturday, July 3, 2010

Slow progress but enjoyable...


'The Soul of the Rose'
John William Waterhouse

One month ago my little package arrived from Amazon; a DVD of ten cross-stitch patterns and a book that came highly recommended by Willow of Willow Manor blog, "Savage Beauty", a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay, by Nancy Milford.

The patterns depict ten of John William Waterhouse's paintings and I've chosen the one above.  It's very slow going, as you can see by the photo below.  This is as far as I've got in a month; I have to give it away when the back aches!  I imagine it will take about two years to complete - if I'm still blogging then, I'll post the end result!  

  

My workbench above.  It's very pleasant sitting at this window on a cold winter's day and doubly so when the sun comes out.

I'm slowly getting into the book as well and enjoying it immensely.   It's what I call a 'day book'; I pick it up when I have a few moments. 

14 comments:

Marilyn & Jeff said...

How wonderful - the cross stitch you are working on - as well as your work table and the view.

Teri said...

I'm amazed at the container FILLED with all those cards of thread! You will have to keep blogging so that we can all see the end result. That's the least you can do, Alaine! You've got me mesmerized now. I love you view. How wonderful to sit in the warmth of the sun in front of a window with a view. Here we are in the heat of summer. It is always hard for me to imagine all of you on the other side of the world enjoying the opposite wonders of Mother Nature.

alaine@éclectique said...

Marilyn...hi. I asked my husband to pick out of the ten patterns, the one he most liked and he picked the one I had intended to do! I got quite a bit done this afternoon; the sun was lovely after a dreary morning.

alaine@éclectique said...

Teri...I've put that supply together over a number of years. I haven't stitched for about 3 years now, so wanted to get into something substantial and I love Waterhouse's paintings so this project is a pleasure.

I'll have to keep you posted with regular pics of my progress!

We were just saying this morning that we have a real winter at last; like days of old. Being in drought for 13 years, most of the year was dry and winters were mild but we're freezing this year! We love it but we're fast running out of wood!

Sam Liu said...

Your workbench is wonderful, such a beautiful view; it must be really marvellous to gaze at whilst working. Wishing you a happy weekend, Alaine, and I hope you are blogging in two years - I bet the end result will be a delight to behold :)

alaine@éclectique said...

Sam...it is a lovely aspect to look out on, despite the clothesline.

I probably will still be blogging then; I enjoy it too much to give up. I wonder what new gadgets will be available to us another 24 months on?

Four Seasons in a Life said...

Dear Alaine,

What a challenge lays before but I do think that you will surprise yourself and find that it took much less time to complete than the two years you contemplate.

Of course by working at such a wonderful table with a fantastic view could be distracting, for one would keep looking at the subtle changes and movements going on outside.

Wishing you all the very best.
Egmont

alaine@éclectique said...

Egmont...so kind of you. I do sit and gaze into the beyond quite often. I don't know; there's so much to cram into each day to enjoy diversity but I'm getting slower (by choice), so it may take even more than two years to complete! I'm quite certain I'll never complete the ten patterns!

Tess Kincaid said...

Glad you're enjoying my friend Edna St. Vee!

Unknown said...

Are you doing this purely by counting, Alaine?! I thought I would give some tapestry a go about 15 years ago and I might have done as much as on yours??!! And there's no way I would attempt something that didn't have a printed canvas! Happy stitching!

alaine@éclectique said...

Willow...I am. Only up to page 40 as yet - those poor little tykes, pushed from pillar to post!

alaine@éclectique said...

Derrick...yes, counting. It's easier if I do squares of 10. At least I'm getting the boring bit done first.

Susan said...

Oh boy! You chose a very detailed pattern! I used to do X-stitch umpteen years ago when the eyes were good and the wrists didn't complain. I finally gave away my huge collection of DMC thread to my niece who makes those braided bracelets for her friends. I hope she has a lot of friends! Can't wait to see your finished project!

Love the view!

alaine@éclectique said...

Susan...yes, I'm beginning to think that; the little square I did yesterday was mostly two stitches of a different colour. It's very relaxing; I sit listening to talkback radio and the time flies.