This morning I figured I might as well show Vince a few of the things I have to cross-stitch. Sooner or later, he’s going to see them and if I haven’t told him about them, he might think I’m hiding something. So, in my head, I think . . I’ve ordered 15 or so cross-stitch patterns. I’ll show him three or four or five, and he won’t remember them so . . all is good. Whatever I’m working on, he’ll think it was one of the things I showed him.
I said “Oh, you have to see how cute these cross-stitch patterns are!” Then I got the speech about not needing another hobby . . where are you going to put more stuff? I explained that I’m kinda trading gardening for cross-stitching and that . . once I buy the floss I need or find the floss I bought 40 years ago . . it won’t be expensive at all and most of it hardly takes up any room!
I showed him this set and he thought they were cute. Then I showed him this:
I told him I was going to change the cats to gray to match Addie’s cat and I’d give this to her. He said “I think I might like to try cross-stitching!”
Oh, my goodness! Does anyone remember when we drove to Kansas City to buy a sewing machine Vince had found online because he was going to start quilting?
Does anyone remember Vince trying to knit?
Now . . Vince is going to cross-stitch! He was already wanting to go to town and had asked “Am I going by myself?” and I had said yes! Then he said “Will you go to Hobby Lobby with me if I only stop at Home Depot and you can stay in the car?”
How could I say no to that? Of course, we went to Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Tractor Supply, Home Depot, Natural Grocer . . who thought he could go to two places and come home? He wanted to go by Academy and I think my face made an expression before I could stop it and he said “I guess not!”
Anyway, at Hobby Lobby, he got these little kits:
He also got a magnifying light that goes around his neck. I got some Christmas decorations. My best bet is to buy stuff everywhere we go so he’ll decide it’s too expensive to take me to town with him.
This is about to get interesting.
Dottie Newkirk says
That magnifying light will REALLY be helpful……who knows, he might like the challenge if he stays with 11 or maybe 14 count. Otherwise, you might have to finish his kits “down the road” or teach Addie.
Linda in NE says
Do you suppose that it’s hitting Vince that without the garden, the chickens, the fruit trees to take care of that he might find himself sitting in his recliner watching daytime TV because he has nothing to do?
Donna Williams says
Oh boy. This is gonna be fun! You may remember Rosey Greer, the football player? He played defense for the Giants and the Rams back in the 70s. Anyway, he knitted and did needlepoint, and even wrote a book on needlepoint for men. Maybe Vince really will enjoy it. Here’s hoping. I’ve taken up cross stitch again too, it’s been years but I’m really enjoying it. Looking forward to hearing about it. Oh, and great strategy by the way, that’s one reason Louis is happy to go on his own more, cause I found myself buying something everywhere we went. Hope it works as well for you as it did for me.
Lorraine Croy says
My hubby did some counted cross stitch! It has an eagle, pine trees and Isaiah 40:31. The back was not neat at all and I had to do all the backstitch…..I consider it to be a treasure!
Marilyn Smith says
My hubby will sew on a button by hand, as long as the needle is threaded for him and the button matches his pants. Many years ago as a working mom, after we decided we could not to have his shirts sent out (it was cheap). We had two boys in college. We cut back on everything but the pool man and the gardener. It just about killed me to not have a housekeeper, an ironing lady etc. I loved to sew. Loved to quilt. As I still worked, I kad no time for my interests. I had no time. He had time to play golf as he was retired and I was still working. He was spending tons of time remodeling our home. That was many years ago and he does beautiful work. He is now in his 80’s and thinkgs need a bit of remodeling again. He does not want to get rid of the flooring (Mesican Still) tile that I hated and never agree to…but he said, if I have to lay it ir will be what I choose. It was. I sanded and sealed. I hate it to this day. I really hate it. Grout lines all need to be cleaned out and redone. I just hate the tile. 1500 sq feet of it He is a beautiful artist and is getting a bit more contemporary with his painting. All of a sudden he is painting pieces that younger people like and fit the newer look – mid century modern. He normally has painted landscapes but can’t sell them. His hobbies stretch me to the limit, I am a quilter and he was architecturally trained. He became a teach and a high school administrator. I knit in my teens and loved it. I do needlepoint and have done one cross stitch. We live in the CA desert and I don’t need to knit anymore but I do miss it. I love sewing clothing (that I no Longer need), and love quilting, cooking, reading, traveling and just life at 75 years of age. I hate to shop. Just glad that DH and I have hobbies that many our age do not have.
PegD says
Oh Judy, this made me laugh out loud. Then I remembered my dear dad and his hobbies when he retired. He bought a loom and made some rugs. Made my sisters and me latch hook tree skirts. He made so many sand candles that my mom hid them in the bread box. He also taught me to sew. I come by it all honestly I guess. Enjoy the holidays!
Peggy says
Judy, this made me laugh out loud! My honey needs a new hobby – I’m going to look for a men’s cross-stitch group for him! He does latch hook and paint by number stuff now and his projects are taking over the house (I.e., my sewing spaces!). I told him he needs to take up framing so he can frame all his paintings but that would have to be done out in the barn and it’s too cold out there. He could do small cross stitch pieces without taking up so much of “my” space!
Nancy Hager says
My husband hasn’t made one recently but when he first decided to take up quilting he made a quilt a month. He was a modern quilter before there was such a thing. He couldn’t follow a pattern to save his soul and his color and fabric choices were never the same as mine. We each have our own fabric stash and never the tween shall meet. He gave most away we still have a couple and each of our kids have one. Some were gorgeous and some were what my daughter and I called museum quality because it was so ugly no one would use it and it would last long into the future and end up in some textile museum somewhere.
I think you should definitely help Vince get started so that he will be successful. Think how busy it will keep him during the winter months.
Judy H says
My father used to cross stitch. He made some amazing table runners and other gifts for people. I hope he enjoys it!
Nelle Coursey says
I have the magnifier with the light on it. I really like it! It helps to see what you are doing! LOL I think Vince will do great with the cross stitch. Heck he may even get into other crafts. Has he ever tried painting? Or drawing? With what he does on the 3D printer, I bet he is a great artist! Maybe he could be Grandpa Moses!! LOL