Catching Up!

 What a month March was! Hopefully, April will be a little more low key. I saw my dr. about my arm. He referred me over to an ortho dr but that appointment is not going to be for a while.. He said I could stitch as long as I have support under the arm and don't do too much at one time.

 

It turned out that all of those bursitis flares (that were worse each time) on top of the osteoporosis (caused by one of my meds) did the deed. Damage on top of damage!

 

I have been seeing a surgeon at a hospital closer to me about their kidney transplant program. He wants me to build up my strength some more before we continue the discussion but he said the answer may still be NO because of all of my other health issues.

 

The Grumpy Ol Gazer got his first and second Covid vaccine. I feel good knowing that he is taken care of. I have to wait a while longer because of my infusions and my immune system has to build up some more.

 

What do you do when you can't stitch as much as you would like? I went through stash and made some orders for new charts that I'm sure I really didn't need plus a new thread storage system.

 

I have ANOTHER new start.  After this last month, I felt I deserved one! Hannah Jenkinson by Stacy Nash. I have loved this one and wanted to start on it for a good while but something kept holding me back. I finally realized it was the threads. I love the called for colors but I just wanted something different. I decided to just go through my thread stash and pull the colors that spoke to me! I have done this before and have always been pleased with the outcome! No real order to the colors either. I just use what I want as I want.  I am using 18 count Aida in Toffee from My Vintage Needlearts. No picture yet but coming soon!

 

I am still working on Ann Pegg and several others. My new storage system is helping me keep up with them much better instead of losing them in all the clutter!

 

I only pre-ordered one design from the Needlework Expo. Rose Cottage Sampler by Stacy Nash but I have seen several others I may buy once they are released.

 

My threads for Amy Fisher by HATS arrived along with some extras that I never seem to have enough of. Also The Pink Sparrow sampler by Brenda Gervais and threads came!

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

NO PICTURES

 The worst part of the sciatica is winding down. I still have a limp every now and then but it's not constant anymore or as painful! Good news!

 

I was able to get some more stitching done on Ann Pegg 1877 by The Scarlett House but not much. I was not able to get as much done on her during infusions as I had hoped because the way I would bend my arm to stitch would cut off the tube and my machine would just beep all day long! The infusion nurse does her best to adjust it so I can stitch. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

 

We are only 2 months into the year and I have already labeled it The Year of the Doctor! It seems like between me and the Grumpy Ol Gazer, we have my pocket calendar pretty full for the next month or so! I haven't even had time to take many pictures!

 

Several more Happy Mail days! Some fabrics and threads from My Vintage Needlearts, some stitching aids and more threads! I have plenty of charts to keep me busy over the year and beyond (plus I am waiting on 2 to be released by HATS) but I just never have enough threads or fabrics!

 

I got an email saying that my new stitching storage containers would be arriving later than expected so I took part of a day to begin the re-organizing with the old ones I have. I found charts I had forgotten about and so much more!  I am very pleased with it so far. I don't feel like everything is cluttered and will take hours to find! I can finish up when the new ones arrive!

 

We are waiting for the yard to dry out some more before calling to get more estimates on a walk way going from the driveway around back to the deck. The yard is so sloshy muddy when it rains that a walkway would make it easier and much safer for us. Now we just have to find the right price!

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart

I Am Still Here!

 Our computer has decided to develop a mind of its own and do things how IT want to! It started off with my blog. I have to hunt down several programs before I find one that will let me post and then it still refuses to let me leave any comments! So that is one reason I am often late in posting. Lately it has decided to make signing on the internet as hard as possible for us! Links and apps are either hidden or just GONE! We have had this one for a while but I am hoping we don't have to get a new one any time soon. I hate having to back up pictures and programs to transfer over!

 

Infusions are over for this round! I will start again in July!

 

No snow down this way - yet! And I am hoping it keeps its distance! We have had more than our share of rain. And a lot of thunderstorms with lightening! Our backyard is worse than a swamp! 

 

Hello, old friend! My neighbor gave me one of her extra canes when my hip went bad and it was hard to walk. I used it again after the hip replacement surgery and then again when I developed a case of sciatica. Both happened in 2015. Otherwise, it stays tucked away safe in the corner until needed again. I pulled it out last week when BOTH hips began to hurt again which turned out to be another case of sciatica! A much worse case than before but I seems to be getting better faster than the last time. I just have to be careful.

 

I have managed to get some more stitching done on Ann Pegg. It is still slow progress but she is actually starting to look like a sampler now! I have been getting antsy wanting to start on Hannah Jenkinson by Stacy Nash but I am still waiting on a few threads to come in. I am also still waiting on the Pink Sparrow sampler by Brenda Gervais to arrive!

 

Some happy mail arrived. Threads, some beautiful fabrics from myvintageneedlearts and some other stitchy items I was needing!

 

I have a bad habit of constantly looking for new and better craft storage solutions. I have been using project bags and putting them all in a basket beside my stitching chair. It worked good for a while but it began to get too cluttered for me.. I pulled out all of my old storage boxes that I used for scrapbooking and also kept quilt blocks in and I ordered several more. One box will hold all of my journals, stickers and Book of Days. Another box will hold stitching aids like scissors, needles, magnet boards, hoops, ect. Two boxes will keep my WIPs together and the last two boxes will keep my kitted charts safe and sound. I even have several extra boxes that I can still use for quilt blocks (if I ever get my quilting space back). And since they are clear, I don't have to label them in case I want to re-use them for something else, As for the project bags, they won't sit around unused. I plan to keep my threads and current stitches in them.

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

I am Late!

 I am late posting! It seems like those dull days did not last very long! Life is back on the fast track again.

 

Some people have asked me about my infusions. I have been doing them since 2013 for a total of 8 days per year (a round of 4 days each time) because of an extremely nasty ol auto immune disorder!  I am used to them now and have the routine down pat. The nurse always has some coffee waiting for me. I set up my stitching while she gets my meds ready. It can take 5 to 45 minutes to hook me up depending how my veins co-operate. Then I stitch a little, get a short nap in (thanks to one of the meds) and stitch some more. I get up and walk around with my IV pole about every two hours to stretch my legs. Then it is time to pack up and go home. After that, the fun part starts. The side effects. Sometimes they are mild and bearable while other times they can be monsters! Life Happens

 

I have labeled 2021 as The Year of Samplers. I have my list. Some are kitted up and ready. Some are ordered. A few are still not released yet but should come out this year. What is your favorite type of sampler? Just alphabets and numbers? I love alphabets and numbers with a special verseI

 

I got a late start on Ann. Then I missed a few days of stitching because of side effects from the infusion and errands. Here is my progress on Ann Pegg so far. She has been a wonderful infusion project and companion so far! I hope to catch up on her this coming week!

 

I have been trying to stitch on Mary Eliza McMillan when I am not stitching on Ann. I have not gotten as far as I had hoped by this time because of so many distractions. I am trying hard not to let her end up in my WIP stack even if it means only stitching on her several hours a week! I think once I get past this house, her progress will move a lot faster.;;

 

 

Elizabeth Hunter and her threads arrived along with some new stickers for my journal and Book of Days. I couldn't resist the temptation any longer and ordered Pink Sparrow Sampler by Brenda Gervais. I hope it arrives soon!

 

I couldn't resist buying PFW by Modern FOLK Embroidery. I have wanted a sampler to  personalize with the initials of the 5 grandchildren in our family.

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

It's That Time of Year!

 Infusion time! I will be starting another round the last Monday of this month and go for 4 infusions. A lot of you know that I like to take a special infusion project with me to work on. I prefer to work on a prayer, proverb or another spiritual piece. I am taking Ann Pegg by The Scarlet House this time. I would have to get her started the week before I go in. I am stitching her on 18 count Aida in Toffee by My Vintage Needlearts and am using the called for threads.

 

I still have over half left to work on with Mary Eliza McMillan and there is a nice little inspirational verse on it. I have not gotten as far as I had hoped thanks to several days of hand cramps and a visit from my froggy friends! I have noticed that the DMC conversion colors are not quite as bright and cheerful as the silks but I am still happy with her. Here is a picture of her progress so far. Updates coming later.

 

A journaling prompt for this week. What do you do to practice self care? Some days I like to focus on my hobbies. It gives me time to do something I enjoy which helps me to relax. Also I make sure I get plenty of sleep. A cup of coffee is my way of spoiling myself each morning.

 

Dull days are back! Except for the occasional dr. appointment or quick errand, dull has made an appearance once again! We did have a little excitement one day when we got some snow. No big accumulation but it sure was pretty to watch it coming down. Especially since we did not have to go anywhere!

 

When we got our new appliances in 2020, we decided to wait on a dishwasher because the one we had was still working good. It started to act sick the other night and we thought we might be making a trip to the store to pick out a new one but instead we had our local repair man come out and it was a quick fix. It was also a lot cheaper than buying new!

 

I did order Elizabeth Hunter by The Scarlett House. She has not arrived yet but when she gets here, she will be kitted up and put on the top of the stack!

 

I am anxiously awaiting the release of two designs by HATS. Amy Fisher and Amelia Bachelor. I picked up some new stickers for my Book of Days and Journal.

 

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Summer Rolls On

I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th with lots of good food, fun games, family and friends! It was fairly quite around here except for the fireworks that would go off usually at night. I just stayed up till all the noise calmed down enough to fall asleep!

I am still stitching away on Catharine Dickenson 1840. She seems to take on more personality with each line. Right now I am close to stitching a line and half of initials. I am guessing they are the initials of her family members since most of them end with a D letter. The last two end with E so they could be her maternal grandparents. Just a guess. Many designers include some history of the original sampler and stitcher but it is fun to try to look beyond that.

I don't buy much jewlery for myself especially earrings. My ears are so sensitive, my earrings must be made of quality materials. There are only a few places I will buy my earrings from. I found a pair last week in my birth stone. I prefer the turquoise stone to the gem stone. I found these at NaturallySterling at Etsy.

Ann Pegg 1877 by The Scarlett House finally arrived! I had bought the threads but could not find the chart anywhere! Tanya assured me that none of her charts ever went OOP and it could be ordered. Just knowing that she is kitted up and among friends in my stash makes me feel happy.

Even though I tell myself that I won't buy anymore designs until I get my stash down, it just doesn't happen! I have a nice handful of samplers in my shopping cart! Someone once said that cross stitching and buying the supplies were two separate hobbies! How true! So my Stitching Bucket List just gets bigger and bigger! What the heck! It makes me happy.

I had mentioned that I was going to hold off completing Creation Sampler until my infusion but I would be able to finish before my 4 rounds were complete. I have re-kitted Faith by Heartstring Samplery to take in for the rest of the infusions I have chosen 18ct Aida Irish Cream Hand Dyed by My Vintage Needlearts on Etsy. She has added a lot of new colors too. I will be using a variation of blues through out the design.

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.