Sunday, September 23, 2007

I Need Some Stitching Help

Work has truly become my life during the week. In the evenings I used to be able to come home and forget about the office. I could read and comment on blogs and generally enjoy my evenings. However, during the last few weeks, work issues have started to drain me and I've been coming home from work so tired that I'm in bed by 8:30. It's very frustrating for me.

Does anyone have advice for managing a department with three creative, marketing women, each with their own skill sets and four admin staff (two women and two men) without creating cat fights or hurt feelings? Let me know if there are any secrets or what I can do to ease work issues. Most of the stress is handling the marketing staff. The women all have strong personalities and are confident in their skills. Their skills are different, which is good, but it's the emotions I'm struggling with. I was raised with three brothers and had three sons. I guess my skills in handling females is lacking. Does that make sense? Give me a roomful of men and I have no problems managing them, but a roomful of women and I want to run for the hills. Any suggestions on what I should do or resources for developing management skills?


On the stitching front last weekend I used tracing paper and an iron-on pencil to start a new project. This is a stitchery block from an Australian Country Threads Stitchery magazine. I used WOW fabric instead of muslin and so far I like it. Here's my question: Do you see the little yellow flower on the upper left? I'm thinking it doesn't quite look a flower and is missing something. Perhaps a green french knot in the center? Or something else? What do you think?

I'm happy because the Red Sox have secured a playoff spot. They haven't won the division yet, but I think they should be able to do that. If they don't there will be a lot of unhappy Red Sox fans in Red Sox Nation. The Patriots won again today. They are 3-0. Undefeated. Life is good in football land too.

DH and FIL (my boss) leave at 3:30 tomorrow morning for 3 weeks. They will be in Phoenix, Singapore and Hong Kong. They will be home for 48 hours and then off to Rome for 1 week. With them traveling the work load will be a little lighter. Just enough for me to get my evenings back, I hope.

13 comments:

Becky said...

I like the flower, but I don't think that a green French knot would look bad either.

CONNIE W said...

No suggestions here for the work situation but you have my wishes that things will work out somehow. I would go for the French knots, I think.

Patti said...

No suggestions for you as far as work goes except for one - if they are all feeling the tension the same way you are then maybe it's time for everyone to sit down together to talk about things. Get some good information on team building. Sounds like you have lots of leaders and no one wants to be followers. They all need to learn that one can be a leader and a follower and that strong personalities can make a good team if they learn to work together.

I like the idea of a French knot inside the flower but not a green one. Maybe a dark golden brown - something more gold than brown but something that will show up against the orange color of the flower petals.

Doodlebug Gail said...

I like Patti's idea of a brown french knot .... it would look like a little sunflower.

Sorry about the work situation - hope it works out amicably for everyone, including you.

Unknown said...

I'm going straight to the stitchery as I can't offer ideas for your work. French knot would be good, but not green. Choose a shade that you'd see in a natural flower and go with that.

sewnut said...

As far as work, I hope you find a way around managing the situation without "managing it" since that may fuel the need for everyone to flex their ego and protect their space.

Hopefully a few good venting and team building situations will help everyone to recognize that allowing others to shine their personal strengths will not diminish each individuals contribution to the success of the "whole".

...and the french knot - go for it, something in a saffron or golden colour.

Beth said...

As far as work goes, I agree 100% with teambuilding exercises and going a step farther as well. Hire a reputable teambuilding consulting company and do some personality profiles prior to any teambuilding. THe profiles will help to better understand the personality types you are working with and the professional facilitator can help you "manage" them effectively. Our company has done this and it really gives a great insight and the employees get a better view of themselves and their own personalities as well.

I also agree with doing brown french knots in the center of the flower.

Best of luck!!

Gail said...

I love the idea of having 3 weeks of evenings all to ones self. Not a permenant situation, mind you, but a little time to spend with ones own interests! ENJOY

Jeanne said...

Enjoy your post season with the Red Sox! Sorry to say, Comerica Park will be empty after the regular season ends unless a miracle occurs. I haven't totally given up, but am being realistic. I have no answer for your work challenge, but hope you find an answer very soon.

Solstitches said...

That's a pretty piece and I like the fabric you chose.
I thought the flower looked fine the way it is but I'm sure the addition of a few French knots in brown would look nice too.
No help from me regarding the work issues. I'm retired and loving it!

Quilter Kathy said...

I have no advice for dealing with the co-workers, but I do have advice for dealing with yourself! When I am in these really draining type of scenarios (I work with 24 women!) I remind myself that I must take good care of myself - take more breaks, go for walks (away from the stressors) and do more stitching!

Carole said...

I like your stitchery! Do you find the WOW difficult to stitch through? I know for hand quilting it can sometimes be a tad hard depending on the amount of I guess rubber/plastic that make up the design. Do you use a thin piece of batting behind your work? I do hope the work situation as eased up! Enjoy you time!

Beth said...

BOY...I am with you on the Red Sox /Patriots front! With a son who lives and dies by anything New England, I HAVE to know day to day, how those teams do! Woe to me if the Red Sox and Diamondbacks play in the World Series! I may have to leave home! lolol