Oldest UFO

Oops, I forgot. Today should be my Oldest UFO SAL update and I don't have one. My UFO did not get touched at all this past month between working on my things that have deadlines and screwing up my wrist. Hopefully April will be better.

My Suite Feels So Much Better

Denise and Jason came this morning and loaded up her vehicle and they did a recycle run. It's amazing how big my storeroom looks now that we have all those bags of cans, plastic, cardboard, newsprint, glossy paper and jars out of there. They also took all my old computer parts. And then they came back and loaded up for a run to the dump. My computer room has SPACE!!!! It's wonderful.

Have to open Sisters 3 mornings in a row next week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but then I'm off until the following Tuesday. Annabell has to take her youngest daughter to Children's to have her foot operated on, so Michelle and I are covering the extra shifts. I won't be happy when the alarm goes off, but what can I do? She needs the help and I certainly have the time.

Well, no crafting last night and Saturday we already know is a washout, so we're hooped for this week. After I do the recycle/dump run planned for tomorrow, I'll try my first stitches, but with a wrist brace for probably a week. It feels great now, so we shall see.

Chilly day, but so far no rain. Hopefully April will bring warmer weather.

I can finally use my right hand again. Not 100% - the wrist still doesn't like to be twisted but for most things I'm good. Tomorrow should be craft night with Cynthia, so I will try and stitch - cautiously. Even if I cut back to a couple of hours at a time I should still be able to meet my deadlines, which makes me very happy.

Not much else to say. Been filling in my time reading, watching TV and napping which doesn't make for the most interesting blogging.

Well, I was overly optimistic about my wrist yesterday. I am in real pain and there is no way to hold my hand that doesn't hurt and I can't put any kind of pressure on it at all. Even my Tylenol isn't helping much. There will be no stitching at the very least for the weekend and maybe all week. Serves me right for ignoring the ache on Thursday. Gettimg dressed this morning was an adventure. One handed dressing is very tricky, especially when it's the dominant hand that is out of commission.

My right wrist is complaining bitterly about all the stitching I've done lately, but I can't stop as I still have two projects with deadlines. Another grad piece - I'll be doing the same picture with a couple of colour changes and a different fabric so they aren't carbon copies - and a square for another love quilt. Once that's done, I'll give myself a little break. I hate to think of stopping though, even for a little while as I've done so well with my stitching this year. In the meanwhile, I'll strap on my wrist brace and carry on.

Had craft night at Cynthia's last night. I have Michelle's vehicle while she and the family are out of town so transportation was taken care of, and I got supper as well as the crafting. A scrumptuous shepherd's pie and salad made of super greens. Progress was made on the second grad picture while she worked on some costumes for Fiddler on the Roof which is being put on at the end of the month.

Hooray, it's done! Well, almost. It still needs a tassle for the cap, which I'll do in the UBC colours which are blue and grey.



I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It will probably end up as a pillow as I think that's easier to move around than a framed piece.

IHSW

What a great stitching weekend! I really was able to "hermit and stitch" and as a result, all the cross stitching is done. WAHOO!!!!

Now for the back stitching and the personalization. It's hard to tell from the picture, but this Damask Aida has a lovely sheen to it (shows a bit better to the right of the butterfly) and the gold seal on the diploma is done with gold blending filament.

Stitching Weekend Begins

So, it's Day 1 of the IHSW and here is where I start with my piece.


It's hard to see the diploma as it's white and light grey on white. This is one where the back stitching is going to REALLY make a difference. The fabric is 14 count Damask Aida and has quite a sheen to it. Nice to work with though.

IHSW

That's short for International Hermit & Stitch Weekend. The idea is to hermit and stitch for the weekend, every 3rd weekend of the month and that's the weekend coming up. So, I'm going to join in. Should be a lot of fun. The idea is to pick a project and concentrate on it as much as you can - March 16 - 18. I will post a "before" picture on Friday and an "after" picture hopefully on Monday. Thanks Bonnie for introducing me to this.

Got lost chasing green leaves again yesterday. Pretty much have the Dufty side of the family done and got started on the Lapp side. Have to figure out some way of organizing all these ancestors I'm finding.

Well, I've discovered a new addiction - ancestry.ca! I've been entering all the information I have for both sides of my family which is a fair amount thanks to a couple of aunts (one from each side) who had done some research about a decade or so ago. Now it's the fun part - chasing the hints to see which ones belong to my family and which ones are just similar names. It's fascinating - you fill in a generation, the leaf pops up to tell you there are more hints and usually you can fill in another generation, more leaves pop up and on you go. I do TRY to limit the amount of time I spend as I do have stitching to do with deadlines, but it's hard to stop once you start. And I always want to know MORE!

Got some more work done on the first graduation piece, which helped ease the guilt of ancestor chasing.

Really don't like the change to DST, and the cats are cranky because I'm not feeding them at the right time. Does it really serve a purpose any more?

Finished the second towel for Cynthia's birthday. Another Stoney Creek design (AP006), stitched on the 14 count Aida insert of a Charles Craft kitchen towel. Looks pretty good if I do say so myself.

Have gotten started on the first go round of the grad piece - the word congratulations is completed. Oh well, at least it's a start.

Got Gail's square packaged up and ready to be mailed. I'm so glad I'm done, but it was VERY difficult to decide what to write on the card. What do you say at a time like this?

Got some work done on the 2nd towel for Cynthia's birthday which is good. This has to be done before I get started on the grad pieces, as her birthday is in April while the grads are in May and June. Good thing the pattern seems to be stitching up quickly.

I Hear America Singing

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the plowboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day -- at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Walt Whitman
1819 -1892

3 March 2012

Hooray, hooray, my square for Gail's quilt is done! Finished it just before noon today, with no frogs - only a couple of knots. I am pleased with the result.

Just needs a light wash and iron and then I'll package it up and send it off, probably on Tuesday. Definitely expedited post.

And not only that, but I had just the right card in my collection. The front has a Thomas Kinkade style cottage and bridge with a quote from Helen Keller that says "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." Below that is "Just to let you know" and when you open it up, the inside reads "You are not alone". I'm really pleased with that.

"Success is counted sweetest"

Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne'er succeed.

To comprehend a nectar

Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple Host

Who took the Flag today

Can tell the definition

So clear of Victory

As he defeated -- dying --

On whose forbidden ear

The distant strains of triumph

Burst agonized and clear!

Emily Dickinson

1830 - 1886

1 March 2012

Well, I seem to have the frogs penned in - I got some real stitching done last night. Of the 4 "logs" that surround the centre design I have 3 of them finished, hopefully the last one and the back stitching tonight.

Did my first of the month weigh-in and I'm down another 6.5 pounds - 38 in all. It's never fast enough, but I am pleased. I still want to know why the weight goes on so much faster than it comes off!!

"I taste a liquor never brewed"

I taste a liquor never brewed --
From Tankards scooped in Pearl --
Not all the Vats upon the Rhine
Yield such an Alcohol!

Inebriate of Air -- am I --
And Debauchee of Dew --
Reeling -- thro endless summer days --
From inns of Molten Blue --

When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee
Out of the Foxglove's door --
When Butterflies -- renounce their "drams" --
I shall but drink the more!

Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats --
And Saints -- to windows run --
To see the little Tippler
Leaning against the -- Sun --

Emily Dickinson
1830 - 1886

29 February 2012

I'm going to be tearing my hair out soon. I was stitching for about 3 hours and ended up with less done at the end than after 3/4 of an hour. Those dumb frogs have taken up permanent residence in my home I think. However, I will get it done!