It's Stitchy Planning Week!

 

My favorite week of the year! For many years, my annual, just-for-me tradition has been to spend the week between Christmas and New Year's Day in my sewing room, playing in my stash and planning my projects for the coming year. It's the perfect week for me. The busyness leading up to Christmas has passed and there is the feeling of a pause, taking a breath before the new year begins. The house is clean and decorated, the cooking is done, the snacks are laid in. What better time to indulge in all things stitchy?

I haven't been able to have a proper Stitchy Planning Week for several years, so I'm very much looking forward to this one. I putter in my sewing room, tidying where needed. I go through my stash, and usually clean it out a bit. I plan my projects, and make lists (I love lists) of ideas and supplies needed. Most importantly, I look forward. I wrote about this aspect of stitching a long time ago and I find I understand its value even more ten years later. It is absolutely vital to have something just for you that pulls you forward. Even with everything I've been through since I wrote that, and especially in the last few years, I never lost my love of stitching. 

Or--let's be honest--my love of shopping for stitchy goodies. And right up at the top of my list is fabric. I love fabric. I have a lot of fabric. I always need more fabric. Here is a plug for some beautiful fabric and the nice ladies who dye it:

In early December we made a trip to Texas (bonus baby pics coming up!), and while we were there I got to visit a new-to-me fabric dyer, Under the Sea Fabrics. Actually, we all went: Mr. Wonderful, my mom, and my aunt. Before I get to the fabric, I must praise the ladies there for making our visit so enjoyable. I always visit a new LNS with some trepidation, as it seems most stitchers have a "LNS horror story", including me. The very worst shopping experience I have ever had was in a LNS. So here I was, with my husband and two elderly relatives in tow.

They could not have been more kind. They were warm and welcoming, made sure my mom and aunt were looked after, and even supplied Mr. Wonderful with his favorite coffee, so I could concentrate on my fabric shopping. It was wonderful, and my mom and aunt (who don't get out much) were still talking about it the next day. If you're anywhere near San Antonio, TX and you love fabric, it's worth the trip.

Now the fabric! I had a hard time making up my mind, but I decided to choose colors that were different from anything I already had.

Top: Heaven's Fury, 32 ct. Jobelan; peachy and pinky with a bit of yellow

Bottom: Scylla, 28 ct. linen; blueish green

Hamlet, 32 ct. linen; this picture is very true to life

Top: Ceres, 28 ct. linen; grayish brown, or brownish grey, depending on the piece

Bottom: Anubis, 32 ct. linen; cinnamony brown, not as orange as the picture

Gorgeous fabrics. You can't really go wrong with anything you choose. And they have tons of opalescents, if you love those. I think the last two are my favorites, but they're all beautiful.

I've got a little cooking and baking to do for New Year's Eve/Day, but once that's done I plan to retreat into my sewing room and who knows what I'll get up to. Stay tuned and find out!

Bonus Baby Pics! Trip to Texas: 2022 & 2024 (They were so tiny! *sniffle*)