Sunday, April 25, 2010

Counting My Blessings...A New Group Stitching Project

Today I learned about a new SAL, offered by Amy at her blog.  She describes this process in this way:  "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."

Are you a glass half-empty kind of person?  I strive to become more of a glass half-full kind of person!  Someone I've been stressing with my staff at work is to look for the positive in situations, rather than only seeing the negative.  Some days this is a lesson I need to remember myself!

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.

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.

If you would like to participate in this project, please send an email to Amy with your blog address. She asks participants to consider having a separate blog just for this project.  That is exactly what I'm doing with this new blog. 

There is no limitation as to how many squares you stitch, or how often you stitch.  I am aiming for 100 squares; each 1" in size.

I haven't settled on my fabric for sure yet, but I'm leaning toward a really yummy light pink Lugana 28 ct I have from Enchanted Fabrics, or perhaps ordering a piece of either a light sky blue or a sunny yellow....decisions, decisions!  28 Lugana is my favorite fabric for stitching, so it will probably be Lugana of some color!  I'm thinking of using Valdani threads for the embroidery.  I hope to embellish with beads, charms, and buttons as well; depending on how the spirit moves me with each square.

Once I get started on this project, I'll post a photo of each square on this blog.  I'll write a bit about why I chose to stitch that particular square, and what the blessing is to me.  It is my hope that participating in this project will help me appreciate the simple blessings in my life, and not spend so much stress and worry focusing on the negative things.  Hope you find your own blessings.

Until next time,

Vicki in CO