Friday, April 27, 2007

Off To Say Goodbye...

Our bags are packed. The girls went to bed early. Nick and I figured out how to check in on-line with Westjet so that we already have our boarding passes for the 5:45 AM flight to Toronto tomorrow morning that continues to Montreal. Our alarm is set and I am just taking a few minutes to blog before I crawl under the covers myself.

I know that this weekend will be hard. Erin broke down and cried tonight because the reality of going to Montreal to close the chapter on my grandfather’s life is suddenly here. “It wasn’t REAL before!” she wailed tonight.

This will be a celebration laced with laughter and tears. It will be a farewell tour of sorts for many places, including the Royal Montreal Golf Club, that I shall probably never have the occasion to visit again. Places where I spent the summers of my childhood that I may never revisit, but that shall sparkle forever in my memories.

Right now, I just can’t wait for the hugs. I can’t wait to be swallowed up in the hugs from my baby brother who now towers over me and will be amazed at how tall his nieces have grown. I can’t wait to see my cousins, share limericks, laughter and fond memories.

My Grampy would have loved being the center of attention at this gathering... and in many ways, he still will be!

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Sore Hands Again

I’ve been stitching so much lately, that my hands hurt. I know... I can just hear the groans of envy out there. “I’d love to have that problem! I’d love to spend 6 hours stitching in a single day...”

I am NOT a fast stitcher. That is why so often, I rely on the amazing model stitchers that have helped bring my designs to life over the years. Santa’s Dragon is different. I keep changing things and it is driving me crazy!!

I got behind with Grampy dying and a few other bumps in the road. Now it feels like the impossible deadline is breathing down my neck and so I stitch until my hands cramp. It was the same last summer working on illustrations for 8 to 12 hours a day. Such a fragile balance between demanding the best that my hands can offer and trying to protect them from damage. I will massage them well with hand cream before bed.

The one great thing about this design is that I know how much fun stitchers will have bringing it to life... especially if they don’t set crazy deadlines for themselves.