Round-up for 17 in 2017
I have had a look at my progress on the projects I listed for the challenge run last year by Meredithe (Pomegranate and Chintz) and Anne (Frayed At The Edge) – 17 UFOs in 2017.
Webgimpe Added
In most cases, I didn’t even look at the projects, in spite of my very best efforts. In my defense, when I made the list, the projects for the Head of Nefertiti, Akhenaten, and my two little Amarna Princesses hadn’t even occurred to me, and they completely distracted me! Their project for this year – “6 and 6 in 2018” takes this possibility into account, allowing for reports on six old, or at least long-running, projects, and six brand new ones which pop up out of nowhere. I can’t be the only one who gets completely taken over by new ideas!
So, here’s the round up…
Blue Section
1 Eve in the Garden of Eden – all I need to do here (all!!!) is to make the box. At the moment the fabric is pinned out to straighten it a bit. I think I can call this “substantial progress”!
2 Nefertiti Shawl – I’ve recently written about the headache that this has given me. I need to get all my silks out again, and think hard about the next stage. I think I may have the faintest hint of an idea for it, but as I say, that needs much more thought.
Blue Flower
3 Queen Anne style teacloth – I got something done on this when we had a bit of a heatwave, and I’ve worked out the stitches for the Blue Flower. I just haven’t done all of them yet. “Progress”, but not “substantial progress”, I think!
4 The Modern Stitch-Off – I think I will decide that this is finished, but I reserve the right to change my mind!
Progress on the Christmas Angel
5 The Christmas Angel – I made a good start on the background, but there is a good deal more to do – again, “Progress”, but not “substantial progress”.
6 The Faience Necklace – I’ve thought about it, but done nothing…
7 The Swan – not a stitch!
8 The Unicorn – not a stitch!
I think it is fair to say that since I was ambushed by some wildly exciting ideas, it’s scarcely surprising that my attempts to finish other projects fell somewhat by the wayside. It was a nice idea, and I’m glad that Meredithe and Anne came up with it, but we none of us allowed for my wayward spirit of invention!
You have done far better than I have!
Thanks for your very honest post Rachel! I was supposed to start work on my casket :). Did I do it, nooooooooooo. Not that I didn’t want to. But other things kept distracting me. Good things, but not alas a casket :).
I think you’ve done a great deal this year, Rachel. Eve is a very time-consuming thing: lots of teeny-tiny stitches. I’d have felt I had done well just to get to the making up stage on that one project in a year. And you have done so very much more, too.
My own ‘finishes’ are mostly very small things, and not all as successful as I hoped. I rather like having some problem-solved, ongoing projects around. Something to grab on when I want to just stitch. Dropping one project to work on some new idea that I am itching to try out, or to puzzle out some technique I’ve seen in some old book, is how I learn and grow. It’s part of the fun of embroidery. And the first-rush-of-enthusiasm pieces that result often turn out to be my best work.
Stitch what takes your fancy, Rachel, don’t worry about the UFOs – they’ll get finished eventually, if they are worth finishing. You know that. Just make sure you don’t use up the materials you need for them while working on something else. (The Voice of Experience speaks!)
You have made progress on some very beautiful work Rachel. I have failed already with my only new year resolution, which is to finish outstanding work before I start more. When enthusiasm demands you get going something new you just have to, life would be such a plod otherwise.
You have a achieved a great deal 🙂 I am frequently distracted by shiny new projects, joining the challenge again this year at least means that old ones won’t be completely forgotten!
It was knowing from our own experience how easy it is to be seduced by new projects that we decided to include them in this year’s challenge!
I honestly wonder if some challenges haven’t become a bit over-optimistic. It wasn’t bad when it was ’12 in 2012′, but as the year number went up and so did the number of pieces to complete that year, it got too much.
Well done for what you did do anyway. 🙂 Few embroidery bloggers did less than me last year! Mine was more a year of knitting.
You’ve done a lot!
I think we NEED new projects to be motivated to finish the WIPs! The 6 and 6 is a good idea, and I have seen others taken up the challenge.
You certainly made good progress last year and am sure you will do well in 2018, too.
Being ambushed by wildly exciting new ideas sounds wonderful! Taking pleasure in the process and giving other projects a rest seems like the best approach. Life and embroidery comes in cycles. 🙂
Every single piece is so unique. You made such beautiful creations. Wish you another year a brilliant one!
yes, it’s those wildly tempting ideas, those distraction that tend to be my downfall too…