Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Life goes on


Country Life by Scarlet Letter
40ct Sandstone~NPI silks
The dog days of summer are here. My three pups are lazy during the heat of the day, spending most of the time napping. Occasionally, an eye will pop open to see if they're missing anything, like treats being handed out. I can't really blame them, the heat has the same affect on me.
Maybe it's not only the heat that's wearing me down. What a crazy, conflicted, out of control world we seem to be living in. I can hardly stand to have the news on as there seems to be little good news out there on any continent. I honestly believe that is why we needle workers lose ourselves in our stitching. These pastoral sampler scenes are reminders of simpler times. We need this escapism. It soothes our souls. As I stitch on Country Life from Scarlet Letter, I occasionally yearn for a country life myself, far away from the rat race of the city. I'm envious of those who can look outside and see rolling green hills that are dotted with cows and sheep. Wow, I had no idea what I was going to post about when I sat down. I seem to be feeling melancholy today, so I'll stop.
To answer the comments left on last post about whether I frame my own. I do frame them using archival foam core, light-weight batting, billions of pins, and framer's tape. It's not hard, it just takes some practice. Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions.


34 comments:

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

I agree wholeheartedly about the news, Tanya. I can't bear to watch it every night.

Your sampler is gorgeous - love the animals and I think this one is going on my short list.

My dogs, no matter the heat, won't take a break - they want to walk, wrestle and play constantly! I wish they'd slow down!

mainely stitching said...

I so sympathize with your melancholy! Wish I could help. Wanna come visit for awhile??

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

Love the Farm sampler. The cow and horse are great.

Deb said...

I'm in total agreement with you and the news. I hate turning it on anymore. There is nothing good to see or hear.

I know that I've heard the discussions about Country Life, and I wasn't that interested in it, but now I'm seeing your progress on it and I WANT IT! LOL It really looks great so far!

Laurie in Iowa said...

Country Life is looking fabulous Tanya.
You are so right about the news... I've been avoiding it myself these days.
Stitching is a healthy escape... I can think of worse forms of escapism.

Sandra said...

I also totally agree with you about the news. Here all we get is about Kevin (Kevin is the Prime Minister) drives one up the wall.
Country Life is looking wonderful as are all your sampler choices. Looking forward to seeing more of this wide sampler.
I have a border collie and I think she must be the laziest one around lol. She loves sleeping, but if she is outside and somebody happens to come home and then she is up and running down the backyard. We always think she is letting know that she has been on guard duty and hasn't been sleeping lol. - Sandra, Sampler Lover - still having problems with blogger.

Melissa said...

I've been feeling melancholy this week too. *sigh* I hope yours lift soon!

Your new piece of stitching is wonderful!

Sherry :o) said...

Love the piggy on your stitching.

Sometimes we have to look, very hard, for good things in the news. Sure is depressing lately.

I would love to take a long nap all summer long - hate the humidity.

Marjo said...

Wow the detail on that horse is wonderful Love the sampler. Wonderful work as always.

Nicole said...

Beautiful start on country life Tanya. I love that pig and horse. I hea ya on the heat - our heat index was 105 the other day and that's with humidity!

Sandy said...

Ooohhhh .... I'm sorry you were feeling kinda down today, Tanya. :( There's no doubt that my stitching is an escape for me. It feels like a little control in an otherwise out-of-control world.

On a happy note, your Country Life is wonderful!! The pig is just precious. The more I do on this sampler, the more I like it. And since you're on the other end, it just makes me want to stitch that much harder to get over there. LOL

Isabelle said...

Hello Yanya, everything you tell us about our current world makes me exactly the same effect as you and I hav'nt been watching at the TV for a while. For that reason, I really appreciate living in my little corner close to the sea in a peaceful area .
Anyway, you start on this new sampler is just nice and I agree with you, our needle and our thread permits us to live softer moments.
Happy stitching to you,
Isabelle - (in Brittany)

Margaret said...

Your sampler is gorgeous! Love that horse! I agree on the news. I can't stand to watch it anymore.

Jeanne said...

Your sampler is looking great Tanya, love the little horse! I agree with you on the news - I can't listen to it anymore it's just one awful thing after another. My husband and I just got back from 9 days in the midwest touring thru 4 states visiting relatives. We drove over 1000 miles in our rental car, much of it on the backroads enjoying the farm country - it was very peaceful and I can totally relate to what you are saying!

Cari said...

I love your piece...and your work is stunning. I love to stitch animals on samplers. They always seem to be so charming.

I sure agree with you on the news. In fact, I'm sort of getting tired of TV all together. Think I'll listen to a book and stitch!

Have a great week and stay cool!!

Bertie said...

Lovely sampler you are making Tanya, and yes I can recommend living in the country, it is heavenly and hope you will be able to have that too.

Yes the news seems to be always bad, and have nearly given up on that. My heart goes out to those who have suffered from the oil spill and all the animals who have suffered, very sad indeed.
Hope there will be some good news soon!!

Loraine said...

Oh yes! Simpler times are what I'm striving for every day.
Your samplers are wonderful.
Poor doggies! I was thinking about you the other day when it was 50 degrees here! Can you imagine that it is so much colder here right now? We are 50 one day and 80 the next. I can't say I mind it. I like wearing sweatshirts still. LOL
BTW, I don't know exactly what town my in-laws house is in. It's about 25 minutes from Scottsdale. My SIL lives in Scottsdale, and she is the one that bought the house for her parents. We will be helping them move, so I'll keep in touch. It would be great to have lunch.
Stay cool! Hugs.

woolwoman said...

my sentiments exactly Tanya - I would love to live in the country - living in a large metro area - sometimes we just get out for a drive to see trees and large grassy pastures (of course when we can even afford the gas)I also yearn for life in a simpler time but I'm sure any life in any time period has it's challenges. Sure don't want to wash my clothes in a wash tub and sweat to death with no a/c so we can retreat to whatever fantasy world we can build for ourselves to catch a reprieve from the depressing issues at hand. I love your Country Life start - it seems to be giving you comfort at this time - it's lovely. Thanks for the framing tips - might try it one day. Mel

Katrina said...

OMG, your country life is gorgeous! And your puppies are smart ;-).

I so agree with you, my stitching keeps me sane. The news is so depressing.

Alice said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alice said...

Country life is definitely up my alley. I have the rolling hills, the cows and horses all around and it is bliss if a bit boring at times. In those moments the frogs remind me that each creature has something to say. The news is depressing as 11 people drowned in France last night. What is happening in America with politics and the oil spill is downright depressing. In times like these we all turn to our stitching, whether in the city or the countryside. I could do with some heat so send some our way and we will be glad to send you rain.
Alice

Alice said...

Country life is definitely up my alley. I have the rolling hills, the cows and horses all around and it is bliss if a bit boring at times. In those moments the frogs remind me that each creature has something to say. The news is depressing as 11 people drowned in France last night. What is happening in America with politics and the oil spill is downright depressing. In times like these we all turn to our stitching, whether in the city or the countryside. I could do with some heat so send some our way and we will be glad to send you rain.
Alice

Sherry said...

I agree about the news. I often pick up my stitching while DH watches it.

Your sampler is just lovely! I love the theme of it. This heat has been awful and it isn't even truely summer yet! Yikes! I have been a hermit staying indoors as much as possible.

Michelle said...

I agree about the news, and it could very well be the reason these pastoral samplers are so soothing. It's looking beautiful!

MyLifesAStitch said...

I'm with ya... I feel like I'm becoming an uninformed rube, but I just can't bring myself to watch or read it all that much... it's way too depressing. And ultimately... well, anyway. :)

Love your start! I just love the horse & pig in the corners! Just wonderful!!

Have a great week!

Patti-Rocky Mtn Stitcher said...

It is going o be lovely!! The little horse looks wonderful :)Can't wait to watch your progress

Your neighbor Vickie said...

Jealous of your progress on Country Life as I started it eons ago. The border sort of frightened me away...but it is so wonderful. Thanks for sharing your progress. Your work is just amazing!

Siobhán said...

I agree about the news, Tanya. I had it on briefly yesterday, for the first time in a long while, because my man Toby Keith was on Fox & Friends. Did you happen to catch his performance? It was good. Otherwise, I've turned off all news feeds. I do check USA Today & CNN updates on Prudence, and Irish Independent... if I am up to it. I prefer to bury my head in my stitching! I even keep the radio station on the classical station in the car most of the time.

Country Life looks fantastic!

Bethany said...

Tanya,

I would love to work this sampler, it is in my mother's stash of samplers to do. Maybe one day I will get to this. I have the perfect place to hang a long, skinny sampler. Also, love seeing your framed Ann Wragg

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Sue said...

I'm a bit of a news junkie. Maybe I should rethink that stance!

I love your new piece. The animals are divine, and I adore the colors, too.

It's always so much fun to read your blog. I haven't stitched in over two months (work is too busy), but I can enjoy it through seeing your progress.

Deb said...

Having been, once, a farm owner...it was a realized fantasy for me...I'll tell you that it's a better fantasy than a reality. So, just enjoy your needlework, dear Tanya! LOL
I think there's a national week/weekend of melancholy going on for some reason. Are they now poisoning our water supplies? UGH...
The whole world is in the throes of some one thing and another.
Keeping our heads buried isn't the answer...I believe prayer and understanding is. We need to be looking for that in these times, as well as supporting each other.
Feel better, sweet friend. Hugs

Unknown said...

I have also stopped watching the news. After Katrina, it was totally crazy for the first year and each year it has gotten a little better. Just as soon as most things are back to normal the rest of the country seemed to go haywire and now the oil spill . . .

Stitching does make the world a happier place.

Unknown said...

I will be attempting some self framing. I started trying a couple of weeks ago, but I could not get the lines straight - arggh. I might take you up on that advice.