Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tout finit

I'm sure there is someone out there that will correct either my spelling or my use of the French words, but as far as I'm concerned this means I'm finished!   Literally I think it means "all finishes".  Though they aren't finishes, I AM finished starting my Ultimate Crazy January Challenge....all 31 of them...whew!!  On with the show!!

Yesterday I started something I've had sitting around for some time.  It's the 1797 Ship Sampler from Carriage House Samplings.  I'm stitching it on 40 ct straw over two using DMC floss.  I would rather be using NPS, but at this point in time DMC is more in my price range *wink*.  I love the feel of this fabric, and the fact that it looks so antique.  Can't wait to get back to stitching on this one!!


Today I started another project I bought the weekend before I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was set aside and while I was digging around for projects for this challenge I found it again.  In the craziness that ensued my diagnosis I completely forgot I had gotten it...LOL  It's amazing the things your mind does when hit with devastating news.  This is Quaker Diamonds from Rosewood Manor, stitched on 28 ct Mello fabric from Picture This Plus over one using Verlandi threads.  I know I may not be able to put in the lower case letters as in the original pattern they were stitched over one thread while the rest was stitched over two.  I will have to see how it goes, I may back stitch the lower case letters in...we'll see.  I can always just leave them out.  



After today I'm wondering if I really will be able to finish them all....a couple of weeks ago my thumb on my right hand went numb.  I'm having trouble feeling the needle which makes it kind of hard to stitch.  I am also dropping things at work, not good when you are carrying sheets of glass around!!  I saw my doctor today who has advised I probably should take a break...try to keep my arm straight (especially when I'm sleeping) and not to lean on my elbows.  She is optimistic that I'll get the feeling back in my thumb so that's a good thing!  If things don't improve in a month, I'm to see a neurologist.  Oh yay, just what I need, more doctors to see!

I don't think I updated you on the meeting with the plastic surgeon.  After reviewing the results of the MRI he's pretty sure I am going to need surgery to fix the issues I'm having with my reconstruction.  I have to tell you, I'm not looking forward to more surgery, after finally getting back to work and things getting back to normal, I just wanted to move on.  It seems that just when it seems I can put all this behind me, something else crops up.  So....I'm not sure yet when the date will be, we are waiting on insurance approval, then waiting on a surgery date.  I've been having serious issues with my memory and I'm blaming it on all the anesthesia and other drugs that have coursed through my veins since the beginning of this whole process.  Wish me luck, and if I seem like a ditzier DJ when I get back, just blame it on the drugs!  LOL

Off to take a night off from stitching (protesting loudly I will admit!!)  It may be a little quiet on my blog while I take care of the issues, but I'll be visiting others and seeing how you are getting on!  *Hug

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Weekend follies

I hope you had a great weekend, I know I did!!  So much going on, and so much fun...I literally spent the whole weekend either stitching, or running stitching errands.  Where do I begin?

Saturday I woke up later than I wanted to...I had to run to the store to frame something so I could give it to them today.  I ran back home and met up with a former coworker and we dashed off to pick up supplies for a wedding sampler that she wants to make for her brother.  You know the ultimate compliment is when someone wants to imitate something you've done.  

 

You may remember that I was a bride's maid in a wedding a few years back for a coworker, and I stitched her a wedding sampler.  Now this lady's brother is getting married, and though she doesn't want to stitch something as elaborate as I stitched for her, as she is a novice, she has decided to stitch something a bit simpler, yet very elegant and much to the Bride and Groom's taste.  We had fun looking at fabric, floss and getting the supplies she would need to start stitching...then we drove back to my house and I helped her learn the basics.  Hopefully she's well on her way to creating something special in honor of their wedding.  I had such fun and who knows?  Perhaps she'll get the stitching bug as bad as I have it!!  

While I was teaching Ms. C, I started my crazy for the 28th.  Here is Too Pretty from Aury TM, part of the Snow Row series.  I just love this one, it's just too cute!!  It's stitched on 32 ct Sea Spray over two using the recommended specialty fibers.


Today, Astrid drove over to pick me up and we raced to Ms. D's house for a stitch day.  In our excitement we surprised Ms. D by arriving an hour early.  I'm so sorry Ms D!!  We were just so anxious to meet up with all of you and spend the day stitching, and laughing, and eating and just enjoying the company of some pretty special ladies.  I know one of them mentioned this, and I'm sure the rest of us agreed, it is such a pleasure to spend time with other women who share the same passion.  I love my guys, but I must say, it's a joy to socialize with other women.  Honestly, don't you agree that men think differently than we do, and after spending lots of time with my guys, I find myself thinking I'm daft for looking at things from a different angle.  It sure is nice to have my feminine thoughts validated!  LOL  I had such a blast with you guys and I sincerely hope we can do this again soon!  


I stitched on The Great Escape, a pattern available from the Stitch Specialists yahoo group and designed by Abi.  I was a few parts behind but managed to catch up today.  The owl is finally finished (I must say, the wheat stitch nearly drove me insane before I finished and there was quite a bit of that one to do, and the next two stitches went pretty quickly after that).  So I've learned three new stitches, the wheat stitch, the button hole stitch and the queen stitch.  Whew!!


When I got home, I searched around for another project to start.  I have had my eye on this pattern for YEARS!!  It reminds me of a certain someone, and as I was leafing through some patterns I had found for free floating in the ether on the internet, this one caught my eye.  I decided to stitch Luten de Noel on 32 ct antique white over one using DMC 815.   Les tites croiz de Ludiveneuh is the designer of this pattern and her freebies can be found on this blog.  Just click on grilles gratuites on the left and scroll through her designs.  She has quite a few lovely patterns!



And now I'm headed to bed.  I scheduled a day off for myself, I must admit the weekend wore me out!!  I must be turning into a wimp...LOL  This week promises to be full of appointments so hopefully I can squeeze a couple of work days in there.  Take care and hopefully tomorrow I'll have another crazy to show you!  Goodnight!