getting set up

Even though I have enough floss to stitch a million squares, I always like to start each project with a fresh batch (probably why I have enough floss to stitch a million squares!) It's relatively cheap (especially when you hit a sale) and the colors are so yummy. I let Alfredo help me pick so some of the colors are new to my palette. And, for the record, he's just like a little me. He said "pick this blue...it's yummy!" So I encourage you to indulge in a new palette yourself...be like a kid in a candy shop and show little restraint.

I indulged a little with the fabric too....

Instead of my usual Osnaburg (a very inexpensive unbleached linen utility fabric), I decided to stitch this grid sampler on this beautiful pure linen in a soft bubblegummy pink. This is going to be a big sampler that I'll invest a lot of time into...I just wanted to stitch on something special this time.

Also, since it is such a big sampler (100 squares) I'm going to draw the grid and stitch it first. Sometimes the grid disappears or gets a little wonky when I stretch the fabric onto the hoop. If I start out with the grid already stitched it'll help me keep it all square. I'm going to stitch the grid in a pink close to the color of the fabric.

Here's how I draw the grid...I use a straight edge ruler that's roughly 1" wide. I lay the ruler on the fabric even with the weave of the fabric and draw a line the width of the sampler (in my case, about 10"). With the ruler still in the same place, I also draw a line along the bottom of the ruler. I use that line to line up the next line, and so on and so on, until I have all of the horizontal lines of my grid. I repeat the same for the vertical lines, being extra sure that the first line is along the grain, as perfectly perpendicular to the horizontal line as possible.

I'll draw my grid today and start stitching it in.

counting our blessings

Counting your blessings isn't just about mentally listing the things that you are thankful for. It is about recognizing and appreciating all that you have, even and perhaps especially the little things you overlook and take for granted.

"I murmured that I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." -- Persian Proverb

We fall so easily into a trap of complaining about what we don't have or what we've lost. Last week, I got a big dose of that when we wrote a check for our entire savings, savings that took 10 years to build, all to go to the IRS. Easily I could get wrapped up in a cycle of worry and complaint about that, right? But look at how an attitude of gratitude changes that...1. We had the money to pay it. 2. We can save it again. 3. We are proud to contribute money to the government. 4. My husband's company made a lot of money last year in a time when lots of folks are struggling. 5. We are all healthy and happy.

"I have been blessed, with so much more than I deserve, to be here with the ones who love me, to love them so much it hurts." -- Martina McBride

When we complain and worry and stress, we can be blind to the blessings in our life. Counting your blessings helps you to not only recognize what is beautiful and wonderful in your life, it helps you reconfigure your life. You no longer see the glass as half empty or even half full...you just see how much you have in the glass and you are completely grateful for it all.

"Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings each morning, thank-you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf." -- prayer

I am so excited about this stitchalong project for myself because it will help me in a tangible way show how grateful I am for everything. As I stitch these grid samplers, I almost always lose myself in thought a little bit. With this sampler I imagine that as I stitch each square, I can reflect deeply about each blessing. In that way each square will become a prayer of thanksgiving. When I'm done, I'll be able to look at the entire piece and appreciate how blessed I am, perhaps remembering specific thoughts of gratitude.

"The world can be a horrible, cruel place -- at the same time it can be an abundant, wonderful place. These are both truths." --Lee Ross

I hope this project helps you in the same way focus on the good in your life. When you are at a loss for what to stitch, just look around again with eyes of gratitude and you'll see clearly the abundance of blessings all around. This is a personal project designed to help you focus your life on the good in it.

"Now I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be, in that coat of many colors, my Momma made for me." -- Dolly Parton

If you would like to participate in this project, please send me an email with your blog address. I will post the blogs participating by name alphabetically. Please consider creating a separate blog for the project. Dedicated project blogs will have a separate featured listing.

You may stitch as many squares as you'd like, as often as you'd like. I'm going to shoot for stitching 100 squares on a 10" x 10" grid. I wanted to make it a challenge and 100 squares seems pretty challenging.

I like to stitch on a type of fabric called "Osnaburg". It is an unbleached linen that is fairly easy to find and inexpensive. I use a large hoop when I embroider...it helps me keep the fabric taut. I also love to embroider with embellishments including beads, buttons and charms. Don't be too hard on yourself. Allow yourself to have fun. This project is less about beautiful stitches than it is about your beautiful life. 

When I post each of my squares on this blog, I'll write a bit about each blessing. I encourage you to do the same, especially if you've created a dedicated separate blog for the project.

If you apply to participate but don't hear back from me or see your project's blog on the blogroll, please just send another email. Don't take it personally and please don't think for a moment that I've snubbed you. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. I'm not always the best at keeping up with these things. I appreciate your understanding and patience in advance.

Thank you for encouraging me to host this project. I know it will be a meaningful one for all of us.