The journey with Anchor Stitch Kits

I had this tiny cramped embroidery shop close to my house. I spotted them while I was in standard eight. I still remember the kits hung up- there was Dusk, flash frame ganesh and hibiscus. I would spend atleast fifteen minutes marvelling each work. The shop keeper would allow me to watch them too. One day the hibicus got sold off. I got panicked, the shop keeper saw my sad eyes and promised to keep the others in stock. For the whole day he would hang other kits. When it was time for me to pass that way- he would hang those particular kits- sunset and ganesh. In those days sunset was around 210 rs. and I was so keen in buying one- I started saving from the little pocket money I got. Two years passed and one day my father found my piggy bank hidden among my books in my cupboard. He asked me what the money was for and I told him the truth by taking him to the shop. He promised to get the "Dusk" for me the day my 10th board exams got over.  And he did even after facing huge opposition from my mother-( I have eye problem and wear specs. ) Since then there is no stopping me. Dusk got finished into a span of 4 years (I had studies, tuitions and endless exams to appear for). While in college my hunger for these kits grew back again and this time- I bought, the teddy (a birthday gift for my mother), the swan ( a birthday gift for my father), the Sylvian retreat, after much hunting the hibiscus, friends, the vase for begginners, fly with me,. When my marriage got fixed I bought the karigar, tittle tattle and the balancing act- for my new home.

Glad to have had the chance to share my story with you :)

Fly with me...

I bought this on request of an aunt, but then she changed her mind. so I kept it to myself and am working on this for the past few days. I guess this will be over by the end of this month.

The shy one is still perched on the branch, but the flying one is taking shape.

I have spread my wings...but it so seems that the spring is yet to set in...where are the leaves...?

There are more to bloom and more to see the light of the world, more to tell you my friend- you too can fly off...

And loooo! its done!

work in progress and the fun I had

It takes patience to stitch..and I derive fun reflecting on the gradually filling up canvas lying in front of me, before I call it a day.

Well, the path was done, now the bushes on the side left...and of course the the vane-cased trees growing side ways...

Bushes done. now I guess the fences, the shrubs, the distant clouds...

One day more, just one day more, and my Sylvan Threat will be true...ok, ok, at least on my canvas, right!

 Now, Its over...in fact just the framing is left...

And taaa daaa, it's framed! Happily propped up on the wall! With sultry summer creeping in...we can keep imagining of soothing retreats by looking at this picture. As for me, I can keep spending hours, stitching newer projects using this as an inspiration, for me.

a quiet thing for the quiet man

Bought this one along with the teddy. Stitched it with equal zeal, but instead of gifting it to my father, I gave it to an aunt who was suffering from cancer. She had come to the city for treatment, and I would sit beside her ailing bed and stitch. She left for her hometown after the day I gave it to her. and died within a month. She was in the last stage.

Years went passed, and I was again looking for this design in the embroidery shops, found it and again finished it off. And finally presented it to my baba (dad) on his birthday.

swan:

little teddy made my mother smile

Bought it in impulse, worked on it almost everywhere i went, (home, college, an even some days, in the metro stations). and then gifted it to my mother on her birthday...she loved it. She even says that when I am not around, she spends time looking at it and recalling my childhood moments. I wonder why mothers are sweet when we are not around, and turn into angry dinos when we are with them...oops...just kidding...

Teddy:

My first project

Got this on the day my 10th standard exams got over. Though, it took me years to complete, (my exams, tutions and many other things interrupted my work), yet it was a pleasure to get to know, what wonders the needle and threads can create.

The dusk:

My needle and thread

I have been doing this from year 2000 and hope that I will be able to continue doing this for years to come. stitching bumped into me when the zeal to draw and paint died out. I found this less messy and a form of improving on my concentration, something that I lacked. I have spend afternoons, stitching by the widow while listening to the radio. This picture might not match with today's teenager, thus I should mention that during my teens I was a quiet one.

I would like to thank anchor stitch kits makers for marketing such awesome designs, which bring a new lease of life into my, dull and boring walls.