Things I Learned From Counted Cross Stitch

I was working on a pattern yesterday. I started it last year before glasses. Now with glasses I see my mistakes, as I was ripping out the old mistakes that I could see now that I couldn't see before. I thought there are things that apply to every day life.

In life there are always mistakes. But like in my counted cross stitch, stopping right then and fixing the mistake is better than waiting for it to go away and ignoring the problem. Fix any mistake if I can right then.

Follow the pattern. I need to repeat this over and over to myself. Quit trying to fix the problem by thinking I can figure something out on my own. Follow the rules. God gave us a book, it really is quite simple, so in life I just need to do what it says and quit trying to think I am smarter. I am not.

Don't give up. I have had this thought lately, I will never be a really good sewer, or hooker or crafter or gardener or even blogger or writer or wife or mother or teacher. On any day one of these pass through my brain. I keep sewing because I think if I keep ripping it out and if I keep sewing I will get better. If I am not happy with where I am then it is up to me to keep working only I can change the outcome and be where I want to be.

Pay attention. How often I will be doing a counted cross stitch and I just sort of enter in to this place where I don't know where I go but when I wake up, I have added too many stitches and I have to spend 20 minutes ripping out. I have to always be paying attention in life, to notice things that really important to pay attention to those nagging little voices that creep in that I need to listen to instead of turning up the music a little louder.

Be myself. Enjoy the journey. When I am sewing or reading or even walking, I am in hurry up mode so I can say I walked 5 miles or I finished another project or I can add another book to my reading list. I need to slow down and enjoy what I am doing so what if my finished projects look homemade well heck they are and I am getting there, so why not enjoy the work of my hands instead of comparing myself to others.

Be real. Yep, I make mistakes in my counted cross stitch that I just leave there because I am tired of the pattern and want to do something else. Stop being ashamed of what I do. Thank God that I have this time in life to sew. I have a feeling it is only for a brief moment in time so I might as well just be real and say, like Popeye, " I yam what I yam." I will never, ever, in a million years do perfect needle work.

 I just thought about his yesterday as I was sitting in front of the fire with my seam ripper in one hand and the scissors in the other hand. I just thought I would share it with you.
I hope you are having a nice Monday. I admit to being a little scared about this one. The first thing I did this morning was pour a cup of hot coffee down my pajama top and burned up  myself real good. I missed my mouth. It was early. Not to mention dark. I was sleepy. I woke up...fast.

So far though every thing is good.
Have a wonderful day.
~Kim~