"So why do you do it?", you ask (pretend that you asked).
Well, it all started 28 years ago when my neighbor, who had a little girl the same age as mine, started a needlepoint stocking for her daughter. I thought it was a great idea and stitched the first stocking. I had opened Pandora's box. Soon I got pregnant and stitched one for the baby I was carrying. And then the owner of the neighborhood needlepoint store in San Francisco decided to close and those beautiful hand painted canvases were put on sale.
I panicked. What if I couldn't find the same hand painted canvases ever again (can you tell this was before Internet sales)? I was sure that we wanted to have at least one more child; and then there were my husband and I. Wouldn't those stockings be perfect hanging from the mantel with our names on them at Christmas? So, naturally I bought THREE stockings on close-out; one for the future baby and two for my husband and I.
Well, we had not one but two more daughters and of course they each needed a needlepoint stocking and I had only bought one. The problem was, I was too busy raising children to do much stitchings. When Rachel was 20 she finally got hers. Two years later, Abby was feeling justifiably slighted. I took her to pick out a canvas like her sisters and they special ordered it...but it didn't come and didn't come and meanwhile, I started and finished my husband's stocking. I was tired of feeling guilty for purchasing and not stitching those stockings long ago, so I bit the bullet and finished his. Abby's order (which turned out had not been ordered after all) finally came six months later and by then I was TIRED OF NEEDLEPOINT. So I set the stocking aside.
I am determined this to finish Abby's stocking before Christmas even it if it kills me (death by boredom I suspect). A finished stocking for me? Don't hold your breath or place any bets on that happening in the near future.
OK, back to the stitching. This post was really just an excuse to put it off working on the stocking for a little longer.
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Go, Bonnie, go! It's beautiful! I know what you mean, I get bored with certain types of needlework, too.
ReplyDeleteYou'll get it done.
Hahaha! But just think how much you'll LOVE those stockings when you're done. My MIL was a needlepointer. One year she made my BIL and his wife needlepointed stockings that are beautiful. She told me "I didn't think you'd want any because you can make some quilted stockings." GAH! I LOVE needlepointed stockings! So, I went out and bought some. The End of very sad story LOL. Eat chocolate between your stitches!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a needle pointer...I just don't have the patience, but your work looks beautiful! I'd love to see your finished stockings!
ReplyDeleteBonnie it is beautiful. I understand you getting bored with needle point, I was a short term cross stitcher and finally admitted it was boring to me. Gave all that stuff away. Keep going though, your daughter will cherish her stocking.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, such an amusing post. I do hope you finish that stocking by Christmas, although to me it seems like more of a labor of love, or a labor to make sure your daughter is not feeling slighted :). I used to do counted cross stitch. I can't believe that I did it now because I never do anything like it. It was a bit relaxing although a little bit frustrating. Glad you had two more daughters, instead of just one. About the Christmas Tree Stores....our fellow blogger Kathleen finds tons of good stuff there at amazing prices, but I think you have to hit it just right because I didn't find too much there, but I did bring an amazingly heavy bag home full of dishes found other places. Joni
ReplyDeleteThis whole post had me laughing:) I have no doubt you will get that stocking done!
ReplyDeleteJust think of how beautiful they will look when they're hung by the fireplace with care. You can do it, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, I just read some out of your Book of Mormon blog, and I could relate to so much. What a grand idea. It felt too personal to write a comment, but just wanted to say that it is such a good idea.
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