Happiness is.....

Recently I have come to realise that I have started to feel, well, happy.  Nothing unusual about his you may think, except for the fact that I can't really remember feeling as light and contented as this for a very, very long time.

So what has changed?  I can broadly attribute my change in well being to a number of factors:

• Sunshine- spring has arrived, daffodils are in bloom, days are longer....but that happens every year (ok maybe not so much last year ;-))
• Finding fulfilment in my job, at last.  After a succession of roles where I was a perfectly capable, yet totally mojo-less round peg in a square hole and a job share which in theory should have been great but in practice left me emotionally and physically drained (despite the very best efforts of both of us to make it work I should add), I'm now feeling motivated, driven and inspired by my employment.  That's a revelation.
• Taking time out to persue a talent and a skill that I love- and that is where the RSN comes in.  The added bonus is getting to go to Hampton Court Palace and spend time in such wonderful, uplifting surroundings- that's such a privilege.
• Family life being calmer, and more settled.  This time last year we cancelled Mother's Day things were so bad.  Tomorrow I'm looking forward to spending time with my children.  That's fantastic.

So to everyone that has known that there's been something wrong and tried to help, thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting up with me.  To everyone that didn't realise there was anything wrong and just accepted me for who I was, thank you for treating me like a friend.  But to all those who told me to get a grip, cheer up, stop being so selfish, that I'm not the only one in the world that is fed up etc etc.  I have to say I'm sorry, but you were part of the problem, not part of the solution.  There as nothing more that I would have loved to do than find this emotion, this feeling, this lightness that I now feel.  I hope this feeling lasts. I have a lot to look forward to.  I think it will.

French knots and more french knots

Progress on my Jacobean Crewelwork for the RSN certificate has been slow, mainly due to work and other family commitments (like a little girl's birthday I've been baking and icing cakes for :-)).  During the relatively few opportunities I have had to stitch- I've mostly been spending on french knots. A solid filling for two petals, and as a highlight in some open buttonholes on two others.

I've really enjoyed these two petals- the colours seemed to flow easily and the knots were quite soothing and meditative to stitch- good job as the solid filling took MUCH longer than I expected.

Here's an overview of where I'm up to now- I've actually finished the first couched outline and have the other couched petal outline to do.  

But first I have to decide on the seeding I'm going to use in a couple of the fillings.  Its a long story, but I had to take two petals worth out and start again.  Part of the mistake was the colour choice.  At least with some idea of how the tulip is turning out, I should be able to make a better choice of colour combinations.  

Speaking of colour choices I have to decide whether to stitch my "white" hart in a very pale blue, with a gold crown, or the palest gold, with a darker gold crown.  Originally, I was going to go with pale blue, but I'm having second thoughts.  Decisions decisions!

Taj Mahal inspiration

As a child, I took my Grandma's ability with a needle for granted.  Even so, I always loved this blackwork Taj Mahal that she stitched:

The reflections of the glass frame don't do it any favours, and the passage of time has revealed a stain on the fabric, but for me this exquisite piece of needlework sums up my Grandma, the time she spent in India and her skills with a needle.  For me it's an inspiration, something I hope to live up to as I develop my own skills.

Taking the plunge

Over the past few months on my RSN course I've been hugely inspired and helped by the various people who's blogs I have been following.  I think because I can only attend class once a month it been almost like a little online community, but I feel like a bit of a stalker and now it's time for me to take the plunge and put something out there in return.  

I have decided to call my blog after my grandmother, Gladys Maud Nancarrow, a wonderful embroiderer and passionate member of the embroiderers guild.  She taught me much of the basics as a child that I'm now extending into what I think of as "proper" stitching.  

I hope to share my progress and my challenges with you, and hopefully get some help when things get tough.  Enjoy the ride!