Perfectionist

Few years back one of my English Professor had asked me if I was a perfectionist. In my mind at that time I had laughed it off. I felt I was far from being a perfectionist. I lacked the discipline and like everything else in life, being perfect is an acquired art....

Now, I realize that my Professor was right.....When it involves certain activities I am absolutely & 100% a perfectionist. Maybe that is the reason I am having so much difficulty with this particular project. My self-inflicted deadline for this project is July 28th and I am way behind schedule.

I have about 30 to 40 boxes to embroider and I am stuck at box # 1. Below is a preview of the box which I have started and is still incomplete.

It has been three weeks since I started this project and I am still stuck with box #1. I cannot tell you how many times I must have removed and re-stitched the whole thing...WHY?? ...because I don't want to see any mistakes. Not only do I want the front side of the embroidery perfect, I am frantically obsessed with getting the wrong side of it perfect as well. The problem though is my lack of practice. I think it takes years of practice to end up with such sophisticated needlework. I have to be honest....I am no where near the level of Mrs. Restrepo...

The wrong side of fabric of Mrs. Restrepo's work

My amateurish attempt of recreating the same

So with heavy heart I have convinced myself to abandon my pursuit of perfecting the wrong side. Instead, I decided to focus on completing project itself.

Next project...

I finally gave my wall decor for framing at ARTS & FRAMES in East Windsor. The Sales Associate was extremely helpful and suggested variety of options. Of course it has set me back by about $200. He told me it will be ready in 6 - 10 days....Still waiting.

Since I am so impatient I have decided to start  my next project. This project is really very simple, involving needlework.....cross-stitch to be very specific. I think the last time I did any kind of embroidery, was in college when I would embelish my dresses.

One of the reason for doing this project is my neighbor's mom Mrs. Dora Restrepo. Last summer when Mrs. Restrepo had visited her daughter(my neighbor), she was kind enough to show me her work. She showed me the table cloth that she had just completed with designs of roses. Her work absolutely blew me off. I could not believe that someone had done that by hand. It was so neat and it looked like it was woven in a machine. I remember mentioning to her that the fabric she used was not available here in the US.... So when she came back again in winter she got me a piece of that fabric...all the way from Colombia. I thought it was really kind of her to do that.Well Mrs.Restrepo.. Thanks to you...I am inspired to take up needlework again.