Tuesday 5.5.09

I'm still obsessed with French Fancies. I bought another box today, and began to think it had all gone too far when I justified myself to Nina by saying that I was trying to manage on a box every other day.

I'm beginning to think its the colours that are the attraction. The pinks are just so perfectly pinky pink. Girlie pink, sugary pink, the colour of pink sugar mice, and pink beads in little girls necklaces, the colour of the frivolous and the feminine. The pinks are the best. Next best are the yellows. Sunshine and daffodils and the centre of a daisy. They have a faintly lemony taste, which puts me off them just a little bit. Who needs the taste of fruit? Thankfully, they don't taste of banana (or maybe it would be better if they did), I find the taste of banana flavouring repulsive, so I wouldn't be able to eat them then. Last to go are the browns. They are vaguely cocoa flavoured, but although they taste nice and I should love them as they represent chocolate, they look a bit dull next to their more cheery friends. I shouldn't hold that against them though, as after all every group of friends has a 'quiet one'. Last year, there was a limited edition range all in pink, and I missed the browns (although inexplicably, I didn't miss the yellows).

I was buying a cardie at the supermarket and Nina did our regular debate about a colour that may be blue but in my eyes is definitely 100% green. I got to thinking that its over a year since I've done any sewing. I've done no patchwork since the project that I started just before I went to Cornwall. I abandoned the cross stitch of an eagle within weeks of moving in with Nan, there wasn't enough light, and in any case, I was fed up with all of the shades of brown.

I have a theory that colour is the reason that almost all cross stitches that are made up look tacky. Those bright clashing, cheery colours are the most enjoyable to work with, and it matters as cross stitch unless you are a super-quick pro, happens at about one hour per square inch. There are only so many hours a day anyone wants to look at brown. Its a shame that for home decor, stitched pictures of cats on backgrounds of pinks and yellows has never caught on.

My new hobby seems to be french fancies, maybe I should go back to sewing. I can't just yet though, there are still two pinks in the box.