Restraint

This post by one of my favorite bloggers almost tempted me into digging out the cross stitch supplies again. But remembering last year's fiasco and the fact that I have a lot of crocheting planned and knitting left to do, I was able to exercise restraint.

Many years ago, I did really enjoy cross-stitching this picture, which hangs in our downstairs bathroom.

It was copied from the back cover of Creative Hands, a 21-volume encyclopedia of all things handcraft-able. Originally published in 1966, my aunt must have had a book-of-the-month club sort of subscription to the 1975 edition, which she handed down to me.

These books are loaded with instructions and patterns for knitting, crocheting, sewing, cross-stitching, lace-making, macrame and more. There's a wealth of information in there, but half the fun is laughing at the pictures. Austin Powers would be right at home amongst the hairstyles, fashions and decor depicted in these books!

Someday I'd like to go through them all and learn some new/old techniques, but ALL crafting was put aside today in favor of de-Christmasing the house. In the immortal words of Dr. Seuss, all of "The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings!" were banished to the attic for another year. And then I steam-cleaned the living room carpet and rearranged all the furniture for good measure. It was enough to make me forget about cross stitch...