Incoherent Scribblings

When I first started the whole rotation-thing, I tried to follow the classic ten-hour rotation system as described by Shakespeare’s Peddler. Admittingly I didn’t following it exactly as I thought I didn’t need any kind of order to my WIPs and just used a screaming ten-hour rotation, but I at least tried to change projects every ten hours.

However, at that time I had enough stitching time on my hands that a ten-hour system frustrated me. I felt like I was just getting into a good stitching groove and then my time was up and I had to move on to a different project.

I then upped my time block to 15 hours but left the rotation as a screaming one. When the fifteen-hour screaming rotation didn’t work either I switched to my daily rotation system. Back then I had the luxury of stitching for 4, 5, or 6 hours a day and as a result, the daily system worked extremely well for me.

For the past 9 months I have been working on a screaming rotation and it has worked pretty well, all things considered. Nevertheless, now that I have had this major schedule change, I am afraid that if I continue with a screaming rotation based on the hope that I get to stitch everyday (When you work the graveyard shift you just never know when sleeping might become more important than stitching), I face the possibility of getting stalled and not making enough progress on anything to be satisfied.

For that reason, I have come to accept the fact that with this new schedule there is the possibility that I may not get to stitch every day and if I do, it could only be for small blocks at a time. Therefore, I have decided to try and go back to the ten-hour rotation and follow it a little more precisely than I did the first time.

I chose to try the ten-hour system again because I figured if I get lucky enough to stitch for a minimum of 90 minutes a day that equals roughly 10.5 hours a week. Ergo, on a ten-hour rotation system I should switch pieces roughly once a week. Obviously if I get more stitching time I will get the chance to switch pieces earlier, but hopefully the rotation of pieces will happen often enough that I don’t get bored with one particular project.

And unlike last time, I have not only dedicated myself to sticking to a rotation that is based on ten hours at a time, I also plan to methodically stitch each piece in its appropriate place in the rotation. Therefore my current ten-hour system will look a little something like this:

1. Caterflies (For RR, ~25%)
2. Above the Clouds (~50%)
3. Spring Queen (0%)
4. Fairy Flora (~65%)
5. Four Seasons Cats, Summer (0%, 25%)
6. Poet’s Heart (~20%)

You may notice that “The Pansy Fairy” is not part of the rotation, but I estimate I only have a few hours left, so I am going to finish it before officially starting my ten-hour system.

I am not exactly sure how I am going to incorporate new starts into the system yet, but the list does contain one new BAP start (”Spring Queen”) and the second block of “Four Seasons Cats.” By working on all of the above projects I have pretty much reached my personal limitation of simultaneous projects so I don’t think I will make any decisions related to new starts until I finally get through the entire list at least once and evaluate how things are working.

Though I may be down-sizing some of my online cross stitch endeavors, the SBQ isn’t one of them, so without further ado here is this week’s question as suggested by Kathryn: (And on time for once!)

How many needles do you use during a project? Have you ever loaded up a needle for every color? Do you use a new needle for every project or recycle your favorite needle?

I’d say that 99 times out of 100 I use only one needle during a project and I continue to use said needle until I break it, lose it, and/or the finish wears off and it becomes too tacky to go through the fabric smoothly. (Now that I have switched to Piecemakers that doesn’t happen very often anymore. Well, except for the losing part.)

I have never loaded up a needle for every color and though it might be fun to try it sometime, I doubt I have enough needles to use one for every color for some of the BAPs I stitch! Besides, if I have a lot of color changes I’d rather park my threads instead.

I can’t believe it, but it’s that time again already!

For May I wanted to:

1. Mail my Robin’s Nest’s May Flowers Exchange. (Post date May 15.) – Yes!
2. Pick out and maybe start stitching Catherine-Michèle’s Birthday Exchange. (Post date approximately 1 week before her birthday on June 4.) – Yes! Just need to mail it.
3. Participate in The Robin’s Nest May SAT. – Yes!
4. Participate in Friends Gather Needlework Smalls May Challenge. This month’s challenge is a flat-fold. – No, the FGBB moved again and this time I decided not to sign up, so there will be no more monthly needlework smalls challenges.
5. Start and finish Little House Needleworks “Small House Sampler” as my piece for the NwSmCh. – No, started “The Pansy Fairy” instead.
6. Stitch once for an hour on “Old Waterpump.” – Umm… no. This piece may officially become a UFO in the near future.
7. Finish “Poet’s Heart” Band #10 – Yes!
8. Start “Spring Queen” or work on a WIP. – Yes, I put a couple of hours in on “Fairy Flora.”

Overall, I guess I didn’t do too badly considering that I started working full-time again. (Did I mention it’s the graveyard shift?!)

For June I hope to:

1. Finish my round robin square by July 1.
2. Start thinking about what to stitch for the Monochromatic Exchange (Post date August 15).
3. Finish “The Pansy Fairy” and finish it into a flat-fold.
4. Try to stitch once for an hour on “Old Waterpump.” If I just can’t do it, designate it as an official UFO.
5. Start “Spring Queen”
6. Develop a new rotation plan.
7. Type up and post a mid-year review.

Because I am now working full-time again, once I complete my current obligation stitching I have decided to take a break from exchanges and round robins and close down The Robin’s Nest. I will be focusing on stitching for myself and will develop some sort of a rotation plan that will not only allow me to get some time in on each of my WIPs, but perhaps finish some of my BAPs too! Wish me luck… I am sure I am going to need it!

In a word, that is what I did this weekend!

I started out by finishing Catherine-Michèle’s birthday exchange. I just need to pack everything up and send it on its way to Canada now.

After finishing the birthday exchange I began working on Cat #1 of Margaret Sherry’s “Caterflies.” I volunteered to be a substitute stitcher for a round robin and since the cat fit the theme and square, I decided it would work nicely. There is no set date to send this robin off, but I am planning on having it finished by July 1 so that I can get this obligation piece crossed off my list.

And finally, I got a chance to go back to work on “The Pansy Fairy.” As you can see, the stitching is complete and she is just waiting to be backstitched now.

I never did find any 779 in my bag of extra floss and I since I haven’t had a chance to visit the LNS lately I decided to substitute 3021 for 779. 3021 is the color that is used for backstitching in my other Flower Fairy book and is more brown-gray than cocoa, but I think it will work. I guess I will only know for sure when I start the backstitching.

I think the title explains it, so here it is plain and simple.

May Flowers Exchange
I am still waiting for my partner to tell me she has received what I stitched for her, but this is my May Flowers Exchange from Judith. She made it into a cute little flat-fold and sent along a couple of pieces of fabric. Thanks Judith!

Birthday Exchange
Next up is my Birthday Exchange piece from Catherine-Michèle. Words can barely begin to express how much I love the package that she sent me. I nearly drooled when I opened the box and saw this wonderful pillow. I love everything about it. The cat, the colors, everything!

And as if that wasn’t enough, Catherine-Michèle also sent along “Summer Garden Sampler” from The Victoria Sampler… complete with the accessory pack which includes silk threads, beads, and charms. I couldn’t remember if “Summer Garden Sampler” was on my wish list or not, so I checked. It wasn’t, but I have to tell you, it should have been! Thank you so much Catherine-Michèle! I adore everything!

Speaking of birthday exchanges… I finished the stitching on Catherine-Michèle’s tonight and plan on finishing it tomorrow. See, I told you my needles would be smokin’ this week!