What can I say???

 Me, who has more cross stitch UFO's, kits, patterns and threads than I would care to count went and bought two more. I have loved this swan design after seeing it featured in a cross stitching magazine a couple of years ago and I hunted it down and found it overseas. But I was reluctant to pay the asking price as I knew deep within my soul I would never ever stitch it. However, all that changed when I was cruising ebay a couple of weeks ago.  Now I haven't visited ebay for probably the best part of two years - and what was on the very first page as I scrolled through the cross stitch kits - yep, you guessed it!!!  As well, as the price was less than a third of the original one I had seen, which also included postage. What was a girl to do??? Bid for it of course - which incidentally was in its final hours with no other bids beside it. That surely had to be a sign that it was to be mine. Yes, I know that the likelihood of me ever stitching this is less than remote - but I just love the design and have already had so much pleasure from just looking at it!!!!!

Now the reason I bought this design is harder to explain away.  In my cross stitching life I have seen many North American Indian designs. This is only one of about four which I have and the only one that I have so actively pursued  - I even entered into a bidding war - something that I have rarely done in my ebay life. For some months now I have had a feeling that my life was taking a subtle directional change and perhaps in this design it reflects that change. I would like to think that I will have it finished and hanging on my wall in the opening months of 2014...

And G - this is for you... Not a lot more done - but some... I particularly like the way the stem stitch curves in the variegated colours.  As I suggested to you in our conversation  I think that this block is 'a bit pedestrian' and it lacks that intrinsic  factor that gives it life... I know that the block is far from finished but I just can't bring it into focus at the moment... 

Well, that is enough from me for the moment... But there is one more thing before I go...

I usually don't talk about anything else other than stitching or related things here, but as we all head into the final days before that big day please if you can - just for a moment - pause and say a prayer for all of those families who were touched by such horrific tragedy in Connecticut yesterday (our time). I can't for the life of me come to terms with such a senseless loss of life and innocence. My heart has never been more touched or saddened...

Until later, hug the ones you love..

Sharon x