Off and on all week I've entertained myself by reading your blogs, surfing stitchy websites and wandering in and out of my stash closet seeking inspiration for just the right project. It was wonderful catching up on everyone stitching and reading about the holidays, etc.; blogville kept moving ahead despite my dormancy, thank heavens.
I created lists of new starts and UFO's from which to choose my next project and actually spent several joy-filled hours putting together thread kits for various projects including a new chart I purchased pre-hiatus, Laura Perin's One Long Panel. All of Laura's suggested colorways are lovely making it difficult to chose just one. I put two options together out of my stash and now I'm ready to get started whenever the mood strikes! I noticed Spinster Stitcher is working on this design and making great progress too. Just in case, Laura sells her charts on her website if you can't readily find them locally. 
Next I turned to ogling my painted canvases. Realizing most of them didn't come with a stitch guide, I gathered up my 5 volumes of Amy's Cookbooks of Stitches and settled in for some serious reading. These are great books and I learned so much; I am always stunned to find out just how much I don't know about my favorite pastime! 
After many hours I realized the best thing for me was to just start stitching....on anything. Stop the hemming and hawing nonsense and get on with it. So I chose a painted canvas given to me in September, "Labors of Love" Owl. The canvas came with a stitch guide written by the amazing Tony Minieri. Would you believe in all the years I've been around I've never had the pleasure of possessing a TM guide. He's famous for them.
So far my feathered friend has Kreinik braid for his eyes in tent stitch with a Splendor outline. His face uses 3 strands of Amy's Burmilana in the Double Brick stitch and is very effective for this birdie. Check out his beak, TM suggested Oblong Plaited Diamond stitch, which has 36 passes in all. Great beak! Owly is just one of several birds represented and all include real tail feathers!
Well thanks to all of your encouragement I'm on my way and very pleased to be starting out the new year with such a fun canvas. Thank you very much for sticking with me. See you very soon.
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