Monday, February 20, 2012

Found in the Attic

I chose "Home" as my one little word for 2012, and I have been working on organizing and decluttering my house - room by room. This week, I decided to tackle the small attic storage area inside the house. The kids have the week off school, and Clara pitched in to help complete this mammoth task. One surprise I found was a large stash of counted cross-stitch projects.  I'd forgotten about these entirely.  I found over a dozen unopened kits (mostly Holiday and baby-related) and supplies which I gave away on freecycle:
(Just FYI - the other things I freecycled were an aerobic step; two largish plastic toddler push toys; an old globe that still had the USSR on it; a telescope; a picnic basket; and a largish plastic toddler slide - I love freecycle!) 
I also found half-a-dozen projects-in-process.  I think it's been ten years since I worked on them, but, since they were all over half done, I decided to hang onto them.  My favorite is up top - a group of Humel girls.  Here's a few others:
I decided to join the Felt Fairy's Monthly Make, so that will be a good incentive to finish some of these up. What kind of surprise craft projects do you have lurking in your storage areas?
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19 comments:

  1. Mary BFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:04 PM

    Rinda they are lovely especially to one at the top. Would be super if you could complete it.
    Yes I have cross stitch products that I have never completed and I doubt I ever will now. I also have a lace cushion and bobbins somewhere but that takes so long to do I gave up on it though it is very relaxing to do.
    Somewhere I have a Marquetry picture too that was never completed but I really don't know what happened to it.
    I've tried so many crafts over the years but I think Scrapbooking is the one I have stuck to the longest.

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:14 PM

    What an excellent find. I too have many unfinished cross stitch projects (including a Jo Verso type one that I designed of my wedding and all the wedding party - started over 25 years ago) and you may well have inspired me to get them out and finish them.

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  3. JaneFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    I've just finished a cross stitch I've had on the go for over two years and I'm now doing one I started about ten years ago!!

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  4. LizzieFebruary 21, 2012 at 4:08 AM

    Great finds, Rinda! I do have a few counted cross-stitch projects lurking in our loft... Also there is one by my bed, which I have been working on for - oh dear - about 10 years! It's supposed to be for my friend's youngest daughter, as a Birth Record... hum, hum... Her sister and brother already have one each, framed and hung on the wall... It's nearly finished... In fact, just this morning, I moved it from a corner, where I was getting dusty, to the basked by my bed, in the hopes I could start making a stitch or two before I go to sleep each night. After all, if I had made a couple of stitches a day, for the past 2 or 3 years, it would be all done now!
    Love the little Hummel girls. Hope you find something good to do with these.
    XX

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  5. SianFebruary 21, 2012 at 4:26 AM

    Wow, it must be ten years since I did any cross stitch too. What a great find and a great question - I suspect I would find unfinished cross stitch if I went looking too

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  6. CheriFebruary 21, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    Of all the different kinds of crafts I've enjoyed over the years, counted cross stitch is one I never even tried! Your pieces look wonderful.

    And I don't even want to think about how many unfinished projects I'd find if I went digging.

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  7. IreneFebruary 21, 2012 at 6:55 AM

    Those Hummel children are so sweet. I was taught how to cross stitch by Tia Lupe. I do have some small pieces she stitched. It has been years since I last cross stitched. My unfinished work is mostly in glass.

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  8. DeniseFebruary 21, 2012 at 6:56 AM

    Lovely finds Rinda, I still have some cross stitch Christmas cards that I started - ahem a few years ago and never finished! I must admint I prefer a bit of crochet!

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  9. scrappyjackyFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    I love those Humel girls as well.I find I really enjoy cross stitching when watching TV....and taking a small one on vacation is perfect...as it takes up virtually no space in the suitcase.
    I don't really have many unfinished projects....more a 'to do' list where I have the 'ingredients' but have yet to start the project!!! Though I do have a part made mosaic...which has been waiting a number of years to be finished.

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  10. Deb @ PaperTurtleFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:16 PM

    I gave away a whole bunch of counted cross-stitch kits several years ago. Oh, I was so obsessed with cross-stitching there for a while! The last thing I stitched was a carousel horse on linen for Carrie.

    Good for you on cleaning out your attic! That must be a great feeling.

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  11. UnknownFebruary 21, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    I have a few(!) unfinished cross stitch kits too. I got a Noah's Ark one to do when I was pregnant with my first - he is now almost 18 and it is still not finished.

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  12. AmyFebruary 21, 2012 at 3:38 PM

    I've never done a cross stitch, they always seemed too fiddly - but they look lovely! I hope you get these ones finished!

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  13. laurieFebruary 21, 2012 at 3:52 PM

    i'm sure if i start digging around i will find several unfinished projects! i am so impressed with all the work you are doing around your olw.

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  14. MelissaFebruary 21, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    What a fun find & how exciting that you'll be finishing up some of these. I have to admit that I don't think I have any unfinished projects from years ago because I've never been really crafty. Of course, I have that shelf of scrapbook-projects-in-progress, but those don't count, right?

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  15. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    Great finds! I know I have several knitting projects hidden away in a closet, but I think I've given everything else away. Our attic got a great cleaning several years ago, but needs another one.

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  16. becky ruppelFebruary 22, 2012 at 1:39 AM

    They are so sweet and you remind me of the quilt projects I abandoned for my camera.

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  17. becky ruppelFebruary 22, 2012 at 1:39 AM

    They are so sweet and you remind me of the quilt projects I abandoned for my camera.

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  18. JimjamsFebruary 22, 2012 at 3:23 AM

    Good for you Rinda - my decluttering fell by the wayside - but I too love Freecycle. I have a couple of "other" crafty projects that are half-completed - a cross stitch I started the night before DS1 was born (he's 22) and a fabric covered box ... originally intended for my stepmother's birhday (+/- 10 years ago) ... I really should finish that one!

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  19. ComfyMom~StaceyFebruary 24, 2012 at 12:18 PM

    I have a nearly complete king sized quilt top in my craft area. It needs the sashing, and I need to make the back piece and then it needs to be quilted. every 6-8 months I thnk I ought to go down to the quilt store & see about finding someone to quilt it for me. I can make the back & add the sashing but there is no way I can manipulate a kind sized quilt 'sandwich' around on my bottom of the line Singer sewing machine

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