Thursday, August 6, 2009

A Beauty from Ranae

I am such a flake! I completely forgot to mention and extend my thanks to sweet Ranae for sending this gorgeous issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly to me! Ranae gave this away on her blog and I was the lucky winner. It has been forwarded on by several stitchers and I intend to pass it along once I've gotten my fill of it! Thank you Ranae!


I got some stitching in yesterday. As usual, it was not enough to make nearly the progress so many of you make on a given day, but I will take what I can get! I am hooked on this piece. It is a marvelous stitch! Brigitte, you should definitely start this one (IMHO)! You may even finish before I do! :)



Today I read this very honest and vulnerable entry on the blog of an incredibly talented stitcher. She says she feels insecure about her stitching sometimes. I am in awe of her skill. Her projects are bigger, bolder, and stitched with more mastery than I could dream of achieving! I relate though. I'm terribly insecure about my stitching and my finishing. I desperately want to participate in all of the gorgeous exchanges so many of you do, but I hate to think someone will get my pitiful stitching in exchange for a masterpiece they made! I follow the HOE blogs just to oogle everyone's creations and packages! Maybe I will get the guts to do it myself one of these days. In the meantime, it was special for me to read that even some of you gifted and experienced stitchers feel insecure about your work sometimes. Not because I enjoy hearing people feel this way, but because I know I'm not entirely alone in my feelings sometimes.

Thank you all for your support! I love reading your comments. They mean a lot to me! Happy stitchy wishes everyone! HUGS!

13 comments:

valerie said...

Oh Kim, your stitching is beautiful...you shouldn't feel bad. But we all go through these feelings. I felt how you do about finishing (and still do sometimes) but joining HoE really helped me branch out (and learn how to make fobs, cording, pinkeeps and flatfolds) and everyone is helpful and the tutorials out there are wonderful. I think you should join!

Glenna said...

Oh, my goodness--your post and Michelle's and your comment to her made me cry. At work! Over my sandwich! Your stitching is lovely--there's nothing to be shy about with it. We do it for ourselves, and we show our friends IRL and on these blogs because we want to see each other's work, not to judge! It never even crossed my mind that anyone would feel worried about their stitching! (That said, I'm shy in gatherings IRL too, so I get that part.)

Ranae said...

Your very welcome, Kim
I feel the exact same way you feel. That's why I don't do exchanges, I would love to though.
Maybe we should do a personal exchange together, lol.
I have sent a couple of things I stitched and finished and I was so nervous, I hated that feeling.

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Kim...you sweet dear...
YOU are a fabulous stitcher..pictures don't lie, in fact sometimes they highlight what is the problem and I can honestly say that I've always admired what you have done.

And as far as the exchanges go...don't worry abut getting in a group to exchange. I learned that after I got myself all wrapped up in groups (which I don't belong to any now - I got terribly burned out)...but just ask someone to do a personal exchange. Ask a friend, ask Ranae (she suggested it too), ask a blogger you admire...heck ask me...I'll do one we could do a Christmas Ornament exchange and give ourselves a long time to get it finished ;) I have found the Personal Exchanges are much better, you have an intimate knowledge of who you are exchanging with and it is just more fun....
Never worry about your stitching and finishing. No one is perfect and nothing ever handmade is perfect....believe me, I know from experience!
HUGS!!!

Anonymous said...

Wise and sweet Ranae and Vonna have said it all!! And I would love to do a personal exchange with you as well, but no pressure... you'll be swamped with offers before the day is out...LOL!! Just enjoy your hobby!!

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

You are a great stitcher. I just love those pretty colors in your present work!
Jennifer

http://www.feathersinthenest.blogspot.com

Michelle said...

I agree with Vonna's statement of doing a personal exchange with someone you know. That takes the pressure off a bit. Exchanges are fun (other than that whole pesky deadline thing I can't stick with). And thank you for all your kind words to me. I appreciate them. I hesitated to post that, but then I thought I bet others feel this way, and maybe it will help to know they're not alone. Big hugs. And your stitching is wonderful! I love this BBD!!!

Brigitte said...

I can only recommend the HOE exchange group to you. It was the first exchange group I ever joined and I'm still a member although I'm having a little pause at the moment. People there are very friendly and helpful.
I know your feeling, I always have doubts when I choose what to stitch for an exchange and how to finish it.
Your stitching is wonderful, Deb. And I have moved the BBD piecd to the top of my to-start projects. It will definitely be my next start. Thanks for the inspiration.

Cheryl said...

Ive enjoyed reading everyones replies to your post! I know what you mean, i just dont enjoy finishing so dont get enough practice at it. Like Vonna said though, thats the appeal of something handmade, it isnt gonna be totally perfect (well mine isnt anyway LOL) And if you ever wanna to a personal exchange i'd be up for that some time :)

Lelia said...

Beautiful stitching! This is a fabulous project ... looking forward to more progress pics

Aussie Stitcher said...

Ranae and Vonna have made great suggestions. And Ranae is a true gem the way she shares so much. Your stitching looks great Kim.

Michele B. said...

Kim, you may not be the best stitcher in the world but you are certainly one of the most articulate. Your posts are so thoughtful - you are always spot-on in what you say. Thank you for giving voice to what so many of us feel. I guess it's more universal than I thought - a good reminder when I am in the midst of my own insecurity about my slow and inexpert work.

Next time you come to Boston let me know - I'd love to meet you!

Cindy said...

Well said ladies. I totally agreed with you all.
I think each of us go thru that stage of worrying especially during exchanges. As long as we did our best, it will be a piece of beautiful artwork filled with love.
We all learn along the way, don’t we?