Dawn Lewis – The Lyf So Short

Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and coffee–what else does a gal need?

First, let me start by saying that I know that National Blog Writing Month (NaBloWriMo) was last month, but in late September I experienced a close family loss which understandably threw all my lofty plans into the proverbial crapper. Two days before this loss, I had recommitted to my stitching and knitting, to my two design “companies” (Wordsmith Designs cross stitch and Moon & Sixpence Knits), to this blog, and to my moribund writing career.

So, rather than scuttle the whole idea, I’ve decided to move my writing and crafting goals forward to this month.

My writing goals are simple: a blog post every day, 1000 words a day on another project I won’t go into detail about here, and a letter a day (and yes, I know that National Letter Writing Month is April).

My knitting goals are likewise simple: to complete the test-knitting (already underway) and pattern-writing (nearly complete) for my fingerless glove and baby cardigan patterns; and to complete the Thora sweater for my Aunt Janet who has been patiently waiting for it for more years than I care to admit. Anything else is gravy.

The Craftsman title page And my stitching goals are even simpler: to complete the pattern and test-stitching for a chessboard design I’ve been working on intermittently for more years than I care to admit; and to complete the finishing for some Dawn Lewis Christmas ornaments I stitched more years ago than I care to admit. It’s time to stitch or cut floss. Anything else is, as they say, gravy.

These goals are simple but time-consuming and I’ve probably bit off more than I can chew, but a stitcher’s reach should exceed her grasp or what’s a heaven for, right?

And as a “thank you” for anyone who has made it to the end of this list: it’s the “Sexy Getting Ready Song” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the best female-driven musical comedy series about an emotionally troubled lawyer in West Covina airing on television today (warning: NSFW).

In keeping with the season, here’s a little something I’ve just finished, the “1994 Christmas Ornament” by Dawn Lewis of The Needle’s Work:

DMC colors: ecru, 500, 502,841, 902

(plus unknown gold metallic thread and 00123 cream Mill Hill beads)

Over the years, I’ve completed several of these annual Christmas ornaments from The Needle’s Work. They all feature the same colors and similar designs involving traditional Christmas icons like pine trees, crowns, wreaths, and reindeer, with some whitework and sampler-type details. So far I’ve finished-finished 1992-1995 and 1997-1999.

I haven’t been able to find The Needle’s Work on the web and I’m not sure if they’re even in business. I think Dawn Lewis has gone into the historical sampler business now. It’s great that she’s devoting time to preserving these largely forgotten works of art, but I’m saddened to think she’s not designing anymore since I was always an admirer of her work.

I would love to be able to complete my “collection” with the 1996 ornament and any others there might have been designed after 1999. Every so often I search Ebay, but so far, no joy. So, if anyone out there in cyberland knows anything that might help me, please let me know. Thank you!