The Doctor's Nose

Work on the project for Saskatoon continues apace, with some highs and some lows.  Let's start with the highs.

I am making a set of four cross stitch pieces as part of the treasure hunt component of the project - one for each location.  Each one will have a quotation about either temperance or utopia on it.  I finished the first one last night.  I suspect the others will go more quickly because I needed to make every mistake with this first one - it has been at least 30 years since the last time I did a cross stitch piece so I am a little out of practice.  

Once I got over the initial "I can't do this!" stage (and put on my glasses), it went surprisingly fast and was surprisingly satisfying.  I know I still did all sorts of no-no's, like I think you are supposed to always cross each stitch in the same direction or something...anyway...I didn't do that.  But I begin to see why you might want to do that, so that's a good thing, right?

The little kit that I made up so I could carry the project around with me is lighter than my knitting project, so it was fun to bring it along.  One morning I went over to Colette's farm in McIvers to use her washing machine.  I was washing the cotton piece to go under the cutwork silk piece of her shroud.  Full confession:  I also did a load of darks.  The morning was glorious and the farm was sparkling.  It was so quiet, yet so alive.  So full of Colette's energy yet she was so noticeably absent.

Beats sitting in a laundromat.

Looking in one of the barns.

With a flash - can you see it?

So here it is:  my first ever cross stitch.  I know, I know, it really needs some decorative work around the edges but I think I will do the text first on all the pieces and see how much time I have left for extras.  I still need to do whatever finishing one does with cross stitch - wash and iron it?  And I am not sure if I will frame them or what exactly.  It's all still a bit fluid, if you know what I mean.

And what of the low's that I spoke of earlier?  Stay tuned.