M's block...

This time the block is the right way around - thanks to P and his trusty camera. I hope this gives you a better look at the block and less of a crick in the neck. Nothing like things being put into their right perspective to give a true account of what they really are.

Last night I felt a little lost - it is just about the first time I wasn't leaning over M's block with needle and thread in hand. For all the handstitching you can see there is quite a bit you can't -as I have pulled it out!!!! Because this was my very first piece I floundered there for a while wondering what to do with it. Despite feeling that I also felt very excited to (i) be part of this (ii) to be ACTULLY doing it. I have loved CQ for ages but never been game enough to have a go. J's open request regarding M's block for some reason caught me off guard and I thought that I would like to contribute in some small way if the block made Australian shores. In my mind at that time it was going to be a piece of cross stitch - something I could do and was manageable. But somewhere between that thought and the 'doing' of the block my thoughts changed dramatically. I have had the best time - I feel like I have discovered my 'pot of gold' - I think it is because it satisfies me on a number of levels - my hunting and collecting and definetely my freedom of expression side to name two. Here I don't have any rules to follow - the world is my oyster so to speak. I know I have not even 'scratched the surface' - but what I have 'scratched' I am more than happy with.

I am pleased with the overall effect on the block. My only concern if any, was that I have made it 'too pretty'. M's request of colour and content were adheredto but I did add lots of bits and that may not be what she wants. Also I had never done anything like this before so as you can imagine the learning curve was a steep one. But in saying that I also had a tremendous sense of peace as I sat and stitched - almost a meditation. LOL - the down side was that if I was watching the telly as well I kept losing the plot literally as well as laterally.

Now nothing is safe - I cruise the bead kiosk we have at Doncaster like a shark around bathers. I stand as almost in a trance as I eye off the beads and wonder whether another couple 'might not hurt'. And well as for the op shops - if I thought I spent time in them before - I will have to invent time for me to adequately cover my 'browsing'.

As I have already said that I have a couple of themes running through my mind - but for the moment I intend to concentrate on the on-line classes I am taking with sharonb. I have just sat and read through the first lesson and I am, apart from feeling a little in awe, so glad that I again took the plunge and signed up for these classes. It seems that one part of my life is coming together and giving me some satisfaction and a sense of purpose, this coupled with an underlying sense of excitement makes me feel somewhat alive again.

My hands are itching to get started again - I think I am well and truely 'lost' to this CQing lark...