Santa Crows & Stitching Woes

Is this not one of the most wonderful Christmas pictures you've ever seen???

My photography this morning doesn't do it justice but I just love it   : )   I have various Christmas/winter pictures & wallhangings that I use every year at this time to replace the pictures that are usually hanging on the walls.  I was just saying to John the other day that we need more Christmas pictures because we don't have enough to replace everything, especially the springy/summery looking ones hanging behind me right now.  Perhaps next year   : )

I saw a fellow stitcher post several Christmas items ... 5 of them mind you!!! ... that she stitched this past weekend.  She indicated that 2 of them were so quick & easy that she stitched them both within an hour!  In comparison, last night I finished stitching a pinkeep that I've been working on for several days.  It, too, is what you'd call quick & easy ... but not for me, the stitching slug!  Now I know I wrote in a previous post that I am not unhappy with my slowness.  I enjoy the process of stitching & it is not my goal to become the Mario Andretti of cross stitching.  However, my fingers seemed to be taken over by my toes the entire time I was stitching this item.  I made mistakes I don't know how many times.  It only consists of two words ... Gone Sledding.  The G & the S are enhanced with some backstitching.  It really should've just taken me a couple hours to stitch this up but no, it took me a few days.  At one point I finished the S & the L & then realized I had made a mistake somewhere.  Couldn't find it so ended up ripping out both these letters & starting again.  Then when I finished the S for this second time I discovered I left out 2 rows early on.  Once again I had to frog, i.e. rip-it, rip-it, rip-it.  I then managed to finish the last letter last night & added the back stitching.  Made a couple mistakes there that I had to frog as well ... but I've finished stitching it now!  This item will be a gift as will most of the items I've been working on recently which means I will need to stitch it again for me.  Hopefully things will go better the second time   : )

I have placed upon myself this morning a strict rule of sorts.  I am not going to allow myself to stitch anymore until I finish what I have already stitched into the pinkeeps or ornaments or pictures they are supposed to be.  I am already experiencing withdrawal symptoms at just the thought of not being able to stitch for even one night.  Do I have a stitching monkey on my back?  Yes, I think I do.  Anyway, today's plan is to do some finishing work.  I don't know if I'll get everything finished but I hope to make a huge dent in the meager pile.  I hope you likewise make a huge dent in whatever pile of stuff you have to do today   : )