Holiday Sewing Preparations...

Hello friends! I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving holiday....and for those of you who ventured out into the chaos of Black Friday shopping, I hope you had loads of fun and found lots of fabulous deals. I, for one, didn't spend my early morning/day out and about - it is just a little crowded/crazy for me (but not my husband - he even went to the mall)...I did make it to my local quilt shop to take advantage of their 15% off fabric sale (I just couldn't resist). Instead of holiday shopping, I thought I would get started on making some of my gifts - so I spent my time cutting fabric for four projects - I still have a couple projects left to cut, but I figure if I spend a couple hours each day working on my gifts, I may get them done in time for giving.



Right now, and for the next month and a half, my time will be monopolized by model stitching - preparing teaching pieces and February market designs. Most of the designing is done - now I am doing all the handwork. I was super excited last week because I finished what I thought was an amazing teaching piece....but alas, the group I designed it for was not impressed and I am forced to start over and use that particular project for something else. (Warning: venting in progress)... It has really been weighing on me HEAVY - it is very hard not to take it personally - I am so disappointed. One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn over the past few years is not everyone is going to like my style or what I do (and I am truly okay with that) - I guess I just don't understand why someone would hire me who doesn't appreciate my work/artistic style. The challenge: keeping my personal style and design integrity...and then incorporating it into their guidelines (which I am not sure if they really suit me). This project is definitely forcing me to analyze things...and to be honest is really stressing me out (if I wasn't already at maximum stress level)! I spent countless hours designing something I thought was exactly what they wanted (I was so proud and excited about it), only to have it criticized and broken down. So, for my own sanity, I have decided to place it on the back burner while I finish stitching the New England Stitcher's Retreat piece - which is coming along so perfectly - I honestly can't wait to share it with you.....hopefully I will have photos for you soon....then I have two other teaching pieces to get stitched up and several market designs. I don't really know how I am going to get it all done - but luckily, I work well under pressure....I am just breaking it down day by day and trying to enjoy each and every stitch! So, with that being said, it is back to my stitching nest - I have lots of fun designs to get stitched and ready....