January: The Tree, Part 3

Back in December, I went out to the winery where I'm a member to pick up my wine and enjoy a day out in the lovely Virginia country. My brother went with me and we visited a new winery on our way back home. At both wineries, I noticed people who seemed to be regulars. I'm technically a "regular" at Rappahannock; my dad is also a wine club member and we've been coming to the winery for over 20 years. But we're not week day visitors. We come on the weekend, every few months. It's an event for us, not a regular thing. The people I was seeing were regulars in the way people are regulars at their local bar or pub. I've noticed this before and at other wineries, but for whatever reason, it really hit me during this recent visit. It makes sense. Wineries are usually out in more rural areas, so there isn't a lot of stuff around. Wineries are usually open until 6 or 7 pm, so you can get in a happy hour and head home. I totally get it. 

This doesn't have a ton to do with this week's recap, but I'm excited to say that I may have found my local winery/bar. There's a small urban microwinery (yes, that's a thing) not too far from my house. I went for the first time on Friendsmas and enjoyed the wine. They host events like paint and sip classes and tarot readings. I decided to go to the paint and sip class this week. I got to paint a fun pop art version of Keely (it was a paint your pet class), I also got to meet a very lovely artist who runs the class. And I only had to drive a short distance to get home. Oh, and there's a Wendy's nearby should I need fries while drinking wine during future visits. It was nice to be out in my neighborhood doing something fun and it not being a production. Painting is not my main thing, but I enjoy doing it. It helps me with my embroidery in lots of ways, especially when I do more abstract and colorful pieces. The instructor said something that is so true: every painting has an ugly phase. There's always that moment where it looks so bad and you don't think anything can save it. And then you add a new color or shading or one small dab of paint and voila - perfect!

Keely's blue period

Embroidery is like that too. I've been staring at this tree for days and thinking that it's just ugly, but it was just waiting for its voila moment. This week has started to be that moment. It's coming together and I'm pretty certain I'll finish on time and be able to include the stars (maybe not the moon and definitely not the snow). That's a bit of all right. 

Here's this week's recap:

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

January 19

January 20

January 21

I flipped the hoop to work on the tree limbs. It looks creepy from this angle. Creepy in a good way.

I realized today that there is one branch that isn't entirely in the hoop so I'll have to finish it when I move the fabric to add the stars. Sigh.

Other stuff I'm working on

Groundhog Day, the best holiday, is right around the corner. I spent time this week creating my annual Groundhog Day cards. I'm pleased with my design variations this year. 

Suck It Butterflies is almost done. I have three more flowers to embroider and I decided to cover the back. I very rarely do this, but I'm giving this one away and I thought it would be a nice touch. 

My first PopLush embroidery club pattern is coming next month. I'm very excited about how weirdly charming it is. More to come in February.

I also worked on more designs for February's stitch journal. I'm particularly pleased with my cat tree. I don't know how it will fit on the shirt, but it's going to be fun to figure out.

I bought a Kanken backpack recently. I've wanted one for ages, mostly because people embroider them and I've always wanted to make my own. I haven't decided what to embroider on mine yet, but I think Keely might have a suggestion...him.

Obviously I shouldn't leave things on the floor.

He seems to like his painting.