Life’s given me lemons, so I’m starting a blog

A few years ago, I went back to school to finish up my Bachelor’s degree in political science and found I had to take a “stitching hiatus”.  It wasn’t conscious, it just happened.  Between a demanding full time events organizing public service job, some housework, a tiny bit of cooking, tons of reading and homework, and spending some time with my friends and family, I just didn’t stitch anymore. 

 

Let’s fast forward a few years, to last spring.  Wow, instead of having only been away from stitching for a few years, I kind of felt like Rip Van Winkle when I saw all the online communities of stitchers, forums, blogs, Facebook groups, etc. that had cropped up.  My LNS had closed down, but I could now connect with stitchers around the world.  I voraciously read other stitchers’ blogs and discovered some amazing, new to me designers, like Châtelaine and Little House Needleworks, who were using eye popping variegated threads and silks, shiny crystals, along with wonderful hand dyed fabrics.  I bought lots of new stash, participated in exchanges, got involved with a Mirabilia Round Robin, and joined a Mirabilia Facebook group or two among others.  I can’t tell you what a thrill it was to have Nora Corbett, whose designs I have been stitching for almost twenty years, like the photo of my finished Maidenhair Pixie. 

 

I thought about starting my own blog to keep track of and share my stitching, especially with my Round Robin friends, but I barely had time to read other stitchers’ blogs and with Facebook taking up so much of my time, I put that thought away for another time.  And then life dropped a bag of lemons on my head.  The government needed to cut jobs and the powers that be in our department decided that one member of my team had to go.  I was the, um, lucky one chosen.  I get to be on a priority list for the next year as I try to find another government job while sitting at home.  The logic there kind of escapes me, but hey, I’ll take it.  

 

And so, with extra time on my hands, thoughts of starting my own blog going round and round my head and a new year beginning, here I am, the Red Couch Stitcher.  It likely will not surprise you that my living room couch is red, and that I spend many hours on it stitching with my faithful companion Bart the Pomeranian snoring by my side. 

 

I hope you will enjoy my blog, my stitching, my random thoughts about stitching and life, and the antics of what is surely the cutest dog around.  In my eyes at least.  My sister is convinced Bart is part squirrel, part cat.  But anyways…  Welcome to my red couch!

 

Julie