Christmas smalls exchange

Here is the exchange I sent to Paula. I was starting to get worried! The piece is part of Peppermint Twist by Blue Ribbon Designs. You can see more pics of the box. The satin-covered box was a find at a grocery-store sale after Valentine's Day this year (I wish I had bought more). I added embellishments to the piece and was really pleased with the way it came out (much more sparkly than in the pictures). I think stitching for exchanges frees me a lot. For my own pieces I like to stick with the designer's vision, even though some of the exchange pieces come out even better. I'm strange that way. I always second-guess my choices, and they're easier to live with if they're going to someone else.

I sent a few extras--coasters, a Christmas list pad, gift tags, and some candy. I love finding little gifts to go along with exchanges.

This was my first exchange to run, and I was both excited and nervous. I'm still waiting to see that all the pieces make it to their destinations safely. Fingers crossed.

Noel HD

This is a Just Nan piece I finished the other day. I think I started it this year, but I felt like it sat for a good while before I picked it up again. I'm trying to work my way through my WIPs and get them down to a manageable level. Next is Victoria Sampler's Gingerbread Stitching House that I got as a Christmas present last year. I was stitching on the scissor case when I realized I didn't have the accessory pack for it. Now I need to order it and wait. Bleh.

I sent off my Christmas smalls exchange before Thanksgiving, and I haven't heard anything yet. I'm getting rather nervous....

The husband: Matt's finally getting over his month-plus cold/infection/whatever and is finishing up the school year. He's been incredibly busy. I hope next semester (his last) is better and that he finds a job. He won't have a 3.0 average, which a lot of employers ask for in people right out of college, and that's getting him down. He had to withdraw when he was younger and had a few bad grades that are really holding him back. Poor guy. He knows twice as much as the kids in his classes, to judge by their performance on projects together.

Christmas smalls exchange received

Erin sent me this beautiful cube! It's such a pretty, delicate design, and the finishing is gorgeous. I love the little snowflake beads. Erin says it's Holiday Home by Elizabeth's Designs from the 2010 Gift of Stitching ornament issue. She also sent some goodies -- my three-year-old son had to open everything (and try out the lip gloss!).

I finished Just Nan's Noel, so I'll have pics up soon. The four-day break went by way too fast! I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.

Keep a Little Secret HD

This is a little pin keeper by Just Nan called Keep a Little Secret. It's over one but stitched up pretty quickly. I'd like to work on some WIPs, but I think I'm going to have to switch to my Christmas exchange piece soon. I'm running a Christmas smalls exchange for HoE -- my first. It's a responsibility, but I'm excited.

Lady of Shalott HD

Done at last! I started this Teresa Wentzler piece June 2009. That's not bad at all. I've wanted to stitch this piece for a while. Alas, it will sit in my to-be-framed pile until Matt gets a job. :-)

And now a Just Nan needlecase and then a dive into the WIPs. Yay!

Happy Halloween!

HOE autumn exchange received

I received this lovely fob from Lynn! The piece is Autumn Keeper from the Drawn Thread. I've been wanting to do this one for a while, and Lynn got creative with the sparkly color scheme. I really like it. Thanks, Lynn!

Autumn exchange

I made these two pieces for the autumn exchange on Hooked on Exchanging for Becky. The piece is Autumn Biscornu by Barbara Ana, and the fob takes one of the little squirrels from it. I have more pics too. This was a fun stitch and took a little longer than I thought it would!

I have put the last stitches into the Lady of Shalott and will get the backstitching done tomorrow. If I can manage to do the beading while watching Logan (ha!), I may have another finish to show.

We've all been sick these last two weeks, and I'm afraid it's gotten into my chest, despite antibiotics. It may be time to head back to the doctor. Matt's been busy with school and takes the FE tomorrow -- a day-long engineering exam that would look very good on his resume. I hope he passes!

I hope you have a happy Halloween!

Lady of Shalott update

So close I can taste it!

Yesterday I started a Just Nan pinkeep, the peacock one. I needed something to take with me, and the border seemed like something I could do easily. Now to do the over-one stitching -- the not-so-easy part.

Most of my stitching this month has been on an autumn exchange. I mailed it off, so I should be able to post pics soon. It's very cute. ^.^

I hope you're enjoying the fall weather. I mowed yesterday, and now I have a bad sore throat. I hope it' just allergies....

Halloween exchange received

Edgar sent me this awesome exchange. Logan went straight for the candy and stuffed his mouth right after I snapped the pics. I don't know who was more excited about the package -- and I was pretty darn excited! It's the neatest box, and I can use it to store some of my other Halloween smalls during the off season.

Halloween exchange

Here's the package I sent for the Hooked on Exchanging Halloween exchange. My partner was Missy Ann. The piece is one of the pumpkins from Three Pumpkins by Prairie Grove Peddler. I have more pics on my website. I'm going to stitch these for myself too at some point.

Lady of Shalott update

I'm closing in on a finish. I had to take a break to work on a Halloween exchange piece, which I mailed off Friday, but I'm making steady progress on this one. The flowers were a pain, especially the backstitching. Maybe one more pic before the finish! Then I really need to get to work on a piece for Matt, Magnificent Wizard. I'd like to have it done by the time he graduates in May.

But first, I need to work on a fall exchange piece for Hooked on Exchanging. What to stitch, what to stitch....

My boy: Logan recently celebrated his third birthday. I made him a car cake -- supposed to be Lightning McQueen, but I didn't do a great job of decorating because he wanted to watch...and hit the table and bump my arm and talk to me.... This is why moms shouldn't make their own kids' cakes. :-) I'll try to post a pic at some point. He's an ornery little guy -- apparently he got it from both mom and dad. But he's sure cute!

Reading: I've gotten hooked on supernatural romance novels thanks to Missy Ann. I'm read J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series right now. Is it hot in here?

Lady of Shalott update

Here she is once again. I'm a little tired of the confetti stitching, especially in the flowers, but I'm still loving the piece. She came out fine from her wash, and I'm using my old crappy stand now. I need to get to the hardware store and look for knobs.

Corrosion from my Gripit stand

I just about had a heart attack when I looked at my stitching today. It had black powder on it. So far it looks like just on the unstitched part is affected. I guess I'll be washing Lady of Shalott before she's finished being stitched (and it won't all come off if past experience is an indicator, but stitching should hide it).I've had this problem before.

In 2007 I noticed black spots on the HAED I was stitching. I couldn't figure out if it was from my magnifier or the stand, though I replaced both the magifier and bolt/nut to be safe. Now I know it's the stand because I don't use the magifier anymore. My husband says the problem is that the bolt is steel, and the nut is brass and eventually gets worn away, making the black powder. I stitch a lot, so you can imagine the amount of use this bolt and nut get.

So just a PSA if you have a Gripit stand -- check your bolts. Gripit is out of business now, or you can bet I'd be complaining. I am NOT having a good day. I want to just toss the stand in the garbage and get a new one, but I can't afford it. I'll be pulling my Walmart special out of storage.

Lady of Shalott update

I'm enjoying this piece a lot, but I must say it's got a lot of color changes, even more than most TWs. One page left to go!

Baking: I volunteered to make cakes for the bake sale at work later this month. I thought about making a chocolate cake and an Italian cream cake. Or maybe two chocolate cakes would sell better. I do make a mean chocolate cake! What do you think? I may also make some cupcakes, as time permits. Fun!

Lady of Shalott update

I've been having a little more time for stitching since Matt only had one class this summer. He's been able to share some of the kid and cooking duties. I'm also excited about stitching again, which is a good thing!

To address some comments, I keep my TW charts, so I won't be getting rid of this one -- sorry and good luck. Also, the road on the trip -- horrible. I stitched anyway, at least until I got annoyed with the bobbing needle. I only lost it once.

Reading: I'm still making my way through Mercedes Lackey's urban fantasy series. I've also been reading Jacqueline Carey and Stacia Kane -- good but not for the faint of heart. I also did a massive purge of my paperback collection, going from four bookcases to three. It's been painful, but it's what I need to do. We'll probably sell the house when Matt graduates (we don't like the neighborhood), no matter where we wind up, and I don't need to lug useless stuff around. I'm not much on rereading books, so I am getting rid of anything I know I won't read again. So far that's four big boxes. I credit the Kindle for helping me let go.

Logan: He's entered the "Why?" stage and is already driving us nuts. We're having a few problems with potty training. They tell us he does well at daycare, but he hates going at home. I don't know what the deal is. And since he only poops at home, he's not pooping in the potty either. Ugh. Any advice?

Lufy: Thank you for your kind words. It's still hard. Last night we had a storm roll in, and the first thing I thought of was her huddled under the desk, all 75 pounds of her. I really miss my girl. The vet mailed us a card with her footprint on it. Very nice of them, but of course it made me cry.

Lady of Shalott update

Here's my progress on Lady of Shalott. I did get a fair amount done this past month. I even managed to stitch on it in the truck driving to Ohio. That took some doing!

Trip to Ohio: We drove from Texas to Akron for Matt's 20-year class reunion. He didn't graduate there because his mom moved to Texas right before his senior year. Still, he did grow up with these people, and they were happy to see him. I had a really good time. It was great to meet them, and I was completely comfortable with them, something that doesn't happen often for me. I really could see becoming good friends with some of them. We also saw Matt's best friend and his old girlfriend, which I also enjoyed. Oh, not to mention one of my best friends from high school, Becky. It's one of the few trips we've taken just to see people, and it was one of the best I've ever had. I hope we can get back up there again soon. It also made me realize that my 25th class reunion is coming up. Now I didn't much like many of the people I went to high school with, but I would like to see my friends again.

Lufy: The day before the trip, Lufy refused to eat and had trouble breathing. We decided it was time to put her to sleep. I couldn't bear to watch her die, so I let the vet be there for her. I was really grateful that they treated her right. She was out of it by the time we left her, so I know she wasn't afraid. Matt and I are still mourning our sweet dog. It never gets any easier.

Chocolate cake

I made this chocolate cake for Matt's aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party. I was a nervous wreck, but the satisfaction from a job well done is so worth it. The cake is a moist chocolate liquer cake with dark chocolate frosting. I got so many compliments on it. I made two test cakes and test frosting during the week to make sure I got it right. Even the decorating came out well (though I see flaws, of course). This was the groom's cake, and another relative made the main cake. Poor thing--her frosting didn't set, and the cake looked like it had been out in the sun for a few hours. That was my nightmare, so I completely sympathized.

Matt has already requested this cake for his birthday. :-)

Oh, and in case you're wondering, the flowers are real but are in picks so they don't contaminate the cake.

Stitching: I've been remiss in my blogging, but I haven't had much stitching progress lately (computer game addiction is to blame). I have been working on Lady of Shalott, so I'll have a new pic soon.

Lufy: We had some bad news. Our dog Lufy started limping, and after taking her to the vet, we found out she has bone cancer. She's about 11 years old, and the vet said amputation would only slow it. We've decided not to since she already has trouble with her hips, and losing a leg would make that worse. With it being aggressive bone cancer, it's probably already spread. I would spend whatever it took to make her better, but there is no making her better at this point. We're giving her meds to help with the pain, and once that doesn't work anymore, we're going to have to let her go. Matt and I are pretty torn up about it. She's the sweetest dog, and we love her dearly. We're going to miss our girl. She spends her days with me while I work at home, and it just won't be the same without her.

Lady of Shalott progress

Here's my progress on TW's Lady of Shalott. Those curtains took a while to do! I've been involved with an online game, Runes of Magic, so I haven't been spending as much time stitching. I've also been enjoying my Kindle. As a wonder, it's allowing me to let go of some of my paperbacks, which have been doing nothing but taking up space for many years. You can't keep everything.

I'm regretting my choice of fabric for this one. I think I should have gone for the tea-dyed fabric the chart called for. I thought it would be mostly covered by stitching, but it shows in the mirror. Too late now!

Diet: I've been doing well with my diet since Lap-Band surgery. I hear horror stories of people throwing up all the time with the band, but fortunately I have not thrown up once since I got home. I've lost 43 pounds so far. I'm averaging a pound a week -- slow but steady. I did get a second tightening of the band. My hunger is under control, but I can still eat bad things if I want to. Sometimes when I get tired or overwhelmed, I resort to the bad food again, but at least I can't pig out like I used to.

Legends of the Spellcasters HD

I finally finished this collaboration piece. Teresa Wentzler did the first panel, Black Swan did the second, and Dragon Dreams did the third. It seemed to take especially long, probably because it was so detailed.

Another reason it took a while is that I've been reading a lot. Matt bought me a Kindle for Mother's Day, and I'm really enjoying it.

I'm going to dig out another WIP to work on next, Lady of Shalott or Maggie the Messmaker probably.

Weight loss: I'm 38 pounds down now. My Lap-Band has been tightened once, and it's helping with the hunger. I still need more restriction, but we're doing it slowly. It's so weird to eat a small meal and not still be hungry! I like it. I almost feel normal.

Legends of the Spellcasters update

I know, long time no post. I've been in something of a stitching slump. I've been reading some good books by Diana Gabaldon, Robin McKinley, and Jacqueline Carey, and I've been playing a new computer game, Runes of Magic, both of which have conspired to take up all my time.

As you can see, I've made fair progress on Legends of the Spellcasters, though not at my normal speed. Something about the piece has been unappealing to me as far as stitching, and I can't quite put my finger on what it is. I like the way the piece looks, but maybe it's that it's by three different designers. Dunno.

Health: My recovery since the Lap-Band surgery has been going well. I had my first fill (when they tighten the band) a few weeks ago, and I'm feeling a little restriction but not nearly enough to curb my hunger. So far I've lost 37 pounds, and I can tell a different in my clothes. My weight loss is slow but consistent at 1-2 pounds a week. I think it will speed up once I get enough fill in the band (I'm at 3.5 cc; most people get to their "sweet spot" at around 7-9 cc). I get my next fill at the beginning of June. The doctor likes to do it slowly so that my body adjusts. He said 2-4 weeks between fills, but it's been more like 4 because of his schedule.

At the moment, I have an ear infection with a perforated eardrum, the first I've had in a very long time. Now I remember how painful they are and know what Matt and Logan go through quite regularly. Ouch. Apparently sinus surgery isn't going to make me completely illness free, but at least I'm not getting sick every month. (Just every other month.)

Home after Lap-Band

I made it through surgery just fine. I had some pain and nausea for a while, but that eventually went away with the right medicine. The day after surgery, they made me drink iodine so they could x-ray me to see if there were any leaks. All was well, but I managed to throw up the mouthful of liquid after I got back to my room. That's been the only instance, and I'm grateful.

Right now I'm dealing with incision pain and gas pain in my shoulders (they pump your belly full of gas during surgery). Oh, and the vein where they had the IV is very swollen and painful. It's not too bad. I'm on a liquid diet for two weeks. While I'm hungry, it's not a lot, and I can manage. The doctor may do my first fill next Monday, but it depends on how I'm doing. The band has to be adjusted with saline to get it to the right tightness to curb my hunger. Right now I'm sure it's the swelling from surgery that's doing the trick.

I've already lost 24 pounds with the pre-op diet and surgery.

Edited to add: Lap-Band seems to have its own jargon terms--sorry about that. A "fill" is when the doctor injects saline into the port that's under the skin of your belly. The saline expands the band a bit, causing it to tighten around the upper part of your stomach. This reduces the amount of food that will go through the band and makes you feel full. It also constricts nerves, causing you to feel less hunger. Often you have to go through several fills in order to get it just right. Not enough fill and you don't lose weight. Too much fill and you can't eat enough or throw up. I plan to take it slow.

The health saga continues

Matt was the next one on the list to get hit. Turns out what he had was not a stomach bug. He has diverticulitis. After a week of staying home from class and taking antibiotics, he's able to eat again and do a few things. This was after he got diagnosed with herpangina, which gave him a severe sore throat. Like Logan, he had two unrelated illnesses hit him pretty hard. No ER trips, thankfully.

But it looks like I'll still be able to have my Lap-Band surgery next Thursday. I'm excited and scared, which is giving me a bit of stomach upset. I've stayed on the pre-op diet for two weeks now and have lost some weight. I'm pretty happy about that. Every doctor's different, but here's what my pre-op diet consists of per day:

• 3 protein drinks
• 1 egg
• 1 bread
• 6-7 oz. lean meat
• 4 oz. vegetables
• 8 oz. fruits or vegetables

I'm ranging about 1200 calories a day. It's not as difficult as I would have expected. I think the high amount of protein has something to do with that. Someone asked why I didn't just stay on the diet and skip the surgery. If I could stay on a diet, I wouldn't be this heavy.

I'll post again after the surgery to let you guys know how it goes.

Legends of the Spellcasters update

I've made fairly good progress on the piece, but I have a feeling the next panel (the Teresa Wentzler panel) is going to be a little more time consuming. I did hit a snag in that DMC consolidated colors at some point, and two of the numbers used in the chart were the same color. I emailed Teresa Wentzler, and she suggested using a blend, and that worked!

I keep having problems getting the fabric to stay aligned in my Qsnaps. I hope that doesn't cause problems with squaring the piece. It looks off in the photo but isn't quite so bad in person. I may have to go back to my scroll frames for larger pieces.

The health saga: Thursday daycare called to tell us that a spot on Logan's butt was getting red and that he had a fever. We had to take him to the ER to get the abscess lanced. He did not like that one bit and fought like a wild child. The next day he started throwing up and couldn't stop. He also had a fever and diarrhea (just wonderful since the abscess is in such a bad place). We took him to the ER again, and they gave him something to stop the vomiting, and he gulped down four small bottles of Pedialyte. He was dehydrated by then. He was also exhausted since we didn't get home til 3:00 in the morning. The doctor thinks he has a virus. We belatedly realized this must be the same thing that's going around daycare--so two unrelated illnesses and trips to the ER within two days. Today he's been pretty good, if cranky from lack of sleep, and has managed to keep everything down. I feel so bad for the poor kid...and at the same time I'm hoping I don't get it. With my Lap-Band surgery less than two weeks away, I don't need to get sick. Matt has a touch of it, and my mom came down with strep (though the doctor didn't do a strep test and she's much better today). Jeez!

Moon Riders HD

I finished yet another Just Nan the other day. They're like candy! Chris sent me this chart in last year's Halloween exchange. I'm planning on making this into a tiny bellpull.

Sadly, I think I've finished all the little Just Nans in my stash that I can without buying fabric. I'll have to give it another look-through and see.

I've almost finished my current panel on Legends of the Spellcasters. I haven't felt like stitching much because I've been sick, but I think I'm back on it. Pics when I do!

HOE red exchange received

Here are some photos of the red exchange Ina sent me. I love the sweet little heart and all the goodies. Logan was fascinated with the flower soap, but I'm not sure I want him smelling like roses. :-) He also appropriated the candy when we opened the package. I think he enjoyed the goodies as much as I did!

Sick again: So even after the sinus surgery, I developed a sinus infection. At least it's two months between illnesses, not two weeks like before. I also started the pre-op diet Monday in preparation for Lap Band surgery on March 18. I have to stay on it so that my liver will shrink and be easier to move during the surgery. The diet is very restrictive but includes a lot of protein, so I'm not starving too bad. I'm highly motivated too!

Frost on the Pumpkin HD

This Just Nan piece was a really fast stitch. And it's so cute! I'll have to order the frame to go with it at some point.

I also started the Victorian Sampler gingerbread house. I finished stitching the tiny scissor fob. I'll probably put that together before moving to the rest of the pieces. Of course, my name was too long to fit, so I used my initials.

I also managed to take Spellcasters downstairs with me when I was watching Logan yesterday, so I got a little stitching done on that one. I'll try to take a photo tonight.

Matt's been incredibly busy with school this semester. Logan's been sick yet again, and I think I've caught it. There goes my 1.5-month record of not getting sick.

Reading: I've been tracking down the last few Mercedes Lackey books I need. I'm on the last long series I haven't reread (actually, some of them I haven't read at all), the Elves on the Road series. It's not one of my favorites, but I'm a completist.

Egyptian Sampler framed

I asked for Egyptian Sampler to be framed as my Christmas present last year (though Matt surprised me with a car stereo too to replace the broken one I've had for years). I just love this piece. I consider it our wedding piece because we got married at the Luxor in Las Vegas. How's that for unconventional? And to answer your next questions, the chapel looked just like an ordinary chapel, nothing Egyptian about it. (No spinning Stargates either, darnit.)

Pics of Legends of the Spellcasters soon. I promise!

Quilted Bear HD

I finished this little Just Nan piece last night. I've been wanting to stitch this one for a while. I have another bear charm somewhere, but of course I can't find it to put it with the chart. I guess that means I need to go stash diving!

I'm just going to keep plowing through the Just Nans. They're usually small and easy, and that's what I need when I'm trying to keep up with a two-year-old.

Logan found his little trike in the garage, the one we were supposed to give him for Christmas but the weather's been so bad. He played with it inside for most of the weekend, saying, "It's my bi-siscal, Mommie!" He can't quite reach the pedals yet, even though the package said it was for two-year-olds (and he's pretty tall). It won't be long til he can, though!

Barnabee's Bride

Here's the piece I finished the other day, Barnabee's Bride by Just Nan. I have more pictures on my website. I've been having this one for a while. I stitched it to have a small piece I could work on while spending time with Logan. It's often too difficult to take out a large piece. I'm frankly glad to get this one out of my kitted pile. The box for the bee was a great lump in my project bag.

My current small project is Quilted Bear by Just Nan. It took me forever to find a bit of fabric for it. I can't believe I don't have any 28-count natural linen in my stash! Still, the sand linen I found looks pretty darn good. Now if I can find that extra bear charm I had....

Oh, and I finally got Egyptian Sampler back from the framer! She had to do a few adjustments--the inner mat didn't have enough showing, and the piece was far from centered. It looks good now, and I just love it. Pics soon.

In other news... Matt's been having tons of homework this semester. The poor husband has two labs, and he's just working himself to the bone. He's got really dark circles under his eyes and isn't getting much sleep. Logan and I are missing him.

HOE red exchange

Kathy received the piece I stitched for her, so I can show some pics. I stitched Austrian I from the February issue of Just Cross Stitch. Yes, that's over one. It's not quite my style, but after looking at Kathy's blog, I thought she might like it. I did enjoy stitching it. I used some floss I had gotten in a past exchange--I always like putting my stash to use. I had fits with the finishing. I wanted to do something different, but it wound up being a pillow.

I haven't been blogging much lately. I haven't felt like stitching, which I know is a huge shocker. Things are starting to pick up, so I'll have more pics soon. I finished Barnabee's Bride by Just Nan , and it's about time for another showing of Legends of the Spellcasters. Stay tuned!

TMI alert!

Sinus surgery: I'm mostly recovered from my surgery. I haven't had a sinus infection since, and that is such a wonderful feeling! I also don't have the chronic halitosis which I've been plagued with my entire adult life. I suppose all those nooks and crannies in my sinuses harbored nasty stuff. It was so embarrassing--brushing your teeth, gargling, and still having bad breath! And now I'm cured, for the most part (still need to remember to gargle!). The only downside is that my voice has a more nasal tone to it (wow, I bet my French pronunciation has improved now!). It's not bad, but I do notice it. I'm learning to adjust how I talk.

Bariatric surgery: Yes, another surgery. I have surgery scheduled for March to get the LapBand. I'm hovering around 300 pounds, and I want this extra person I've been carrying around gone! I have a bad back, bad knees, bad hips. I need to get the weight off before I can add to that diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. The only thing I'm waiting for is the insurance to finish the paperwork. It's agony waiting. I just hope they get their act together before my surgery date. My eating habits will drastically change after this surgery. Some foods will be right out, like soft bread, pasta, and rice--my favorites, of course. I'll only eat tiny portions, will have to chew everything ad infinitum, and I'll be sipping water constantly. But it will be worth the sacrifice to have my life back.

Legends of the Spellcasters

Does he look like Santa Claus? Because that's who Logan thinks he is. So cute.

This is my first progress pic of Legends of the Spellcasters. The design is a collaboration piece. This panel is by Black Swan. I still have the backstitching to do, plus beads, which will be after all the stitching is done. I'm working on this as part of a SAL on the TWBB in case anyone's interested.

When all I had seen of the piece was a small photo online, I wondered if those were wings above his head. Now I know they're supposed to be the eyes of a dragon.

Damier wall hanging

Yes, it's another wall hanging! This is Damier, which I finished the stitching on a while back. There's a sleeve on the back with a cafe rod, in case you're wondering. The finishing has a few flaws, but I proclaim it good enough. I think I'm getting the knack of this. My mom says I need a quilting foot for my sewing machine to do some of the stitches properly, so I may eventually look into that.

I have a few other things left to finish, but I think they're going to be flat folds or cushioned matboard hangings. This latest round of sewing has also given me the urge to work on a quilt, which I've never done. I've done some applique work, which I really like. But what to stitch...during my recent convalescence, I thought of doing a quilt for Logan with all the things he likes. Cars would figure in this prominently, of course.

Pics of Legends of the Spellcasters soon.

Sinus surgery: I survived my sinus surgery, though it was very unpleasant. With emphasis on the very. I managed not to panic myself, which I'm pretty proud of. These kinds of things can get to me if I let them (kind of like when I freaked over the thought of a C-section). Recovery included lying in bed propped up on many pillows, taking much hydrocodone, and suffering through some headaches, burning nose, and regular bleeding. I never want to go through that again. I'm guessing mine was worse than normal because they found out my deviated septum was about as bad as they get. I also had an active infection, which the doctor thinks I've had for many months. Several rounds of antibiotics never got rid of it completely. Now I just have a stuffy nose, headaches I can deal with with Tylenol, and regular spitting of nastiness. Oh, and weekly doctor visits so he can vaccum out my sinuses. Eaughhh!

In a couple of months, I hope (?) to have bariatric surgery, the LapBand since that's all my insurance will pay for. I was hoping to go with the gastric sleeve (basically they turn your stomach into a tiny tube), but it's not FDA approved and therefore not covered by my insurance. After this last surgery, which was worse than the doctor said it would be, I'm not terribly eager for another round of cutting, but it's something I have to do. The sooner it's done, the sooner I can recover and function like a normal human being!

Lady of Shalott progress pic

I've started working on Legends of the Spellcasters, so I figured it would be good to get a photo of where I'm stopping for now on Lady of Shalott. I'm enjoying this piece, but I'm letting myself stitch where I want for the break. I deserve it! :-)

Stitching goals for the new year

Since I'm not sure if I'll feel up to writing after my sinus surgery Monday, I'll take care of my review of goals now. I didn't seem to do too well on my stitching goals this year, but I did get a lot of stitching done on Teresa Wentzler pieces, which I'm excited about. I also read a lot more this year. I have one series of Mercedes Lackey books left to read, and I can say I've read all her books. Then it's on to other favorite authors I've been meaning to read! And then there are all the illnesses. I was sick a full half the year--every month I got a sinus infection, and they usually last two weeks. That wears you down, but the surgery should take care of that.

Here's how I did, stitching-wise, in 2009 and what I hope to accomplish in 2010.

Pieces I finished in 2009:

• Autumn Faerie
• Winter Faerie
• Spring Faerie
• Medieval Miniature
• Sun Dragon
• Futurecast (six TWs for those who are counting!)
• Royal Blossoms
• Stitchie Witchie
• Heart Throb
• Violet Bouquet NR
• Tulip Time NR
• Victorial Floral NR
• Sweetheart NR
• Strawberry Patch NR
• Wildflowers NR (finished all the needlerolls in the series!)
• Teeny Tiny 'Love' Bag
• My First Gray Hare
• She Sells Seashells
• Happy Jack
• Finishing of Goblins
• Zelda's Fancy Hat

Current WIPs:

• Lady of Shalott
• Legends of the Spellcasters
• Spirit of the Snow Angel
• Rose Quilt
• Maggie the Messmaker
• Magnificent Wizard
• Eternal Promise

Review of stitching goals for 2009:

• Autumn Faerie--done
• Chatelaine's Rose and Butterfly Quilt--nope
• Maggie the Messmaker--no, but I did make a lot of progress on it
• Magnificent Wizard (work some on it)--nope
• Work on more Teresa Wentzler pieces--yes, a lot
• Start an embroidered knot garden--nope
• Try doll making/polymer clay--nope
• Make more cakes--a little

Stitching/craft goals for 2010:

• Maggie the Messmaker
• Magnificent Wizard (make some progress)
• Legend of the Spellcasters
• Lady of Shalott
• Summer Faerie
• Finishing of two Just Nans pieces

Merry Christmas!

My mom gave me the little fob shown above. I don't usually like fobs on my scissors (though I like to admire them), but this one is cute and doesn't get in the way. Now helping me "never lose my scissors again" as the card promises? Ha!

We had a very good day today, me, Matt, Mom, and Logan. Logan is old enough to understand presents, so he went nuts opening them. He loved the train set my mom gave him and all the Duplo blocks and cars we bought him. (The dinosaurs weren't a hit, at least not yet). He didn't know what to play with first. He haven't given him is trike yet because it's been too cold to go outside with it. This being Texas, we just have to wait a few days for warmer weather.

For Christmas, I received one of my cross stitch pieces framed (my idea) and a car stereo (Matt's idea). My stereo has been out for years, and it's driven me nuts the entire time, especially when I have to take the long drives in to work. I just need to get it installed now! My husband is tricky and clever.

Matt received assorted CDs and DVDs he requested, plus the Maglite he wanted. I bought him two T-shirts he says he likes. It's hard to judge how much he liked them, though. My mom bought him an RC helicopter that seemed to go over well, though it's steering isn't great.

My mom wants something for her sewing machine, so I'm pitching it for that. The one thing I bought that was a surprise didn't work--a key finder. You clap and it's supposed to go off. Not so well actually.

Right now I'm taking steroids and antibiotics in preparation for my sinus surgery Monday. That, of course, is keeping me awake all hours. I catch up on my sleep during the day, which is wreaking havoc with my schedule. But at least the meds are making me feel better when I'm not dead tired.

So an enjoyable Christmas with family and simple fun. I also got to stitch in the living room with my floor stand. Logan played with a few knobs, but when he didn't get anywhere with them, he left it alone. So nice to be able to stitch with my stand again! I've been working on Legends of the Spellcasters. I figured that since I had a break from work until January 4 and was having surgery next week, I deserved a new start. I'm also participating in the stitch-along on the TW bulletin board--just getting a head start.

And lastly, I had one of my best friends from school write me on Facebook. She was my best friend from kindergarten through junior high. We had a falling out and then never talked again. It always made me so sad and resentful thinking about it. I thought I would reject her friend request if she ever sent me one. But when she did, she apologized, and that released the flood in me. I never thought it would be such a relief to hear that. She and I will never be best friends again, but that's just a little more resentment I don't have to hold onto. Yes, I'm stubborn, and it's hard for me to give up on old wounds.

I hope you all had a good day too!

Lady of Shalott progress pic

Here's my progress on Lady of Shalott by Teresa Wentzler. Lots of wrinkles, huh? That's what happens when I use a small set of Qsnaps. I've started on the image in the mirror. We'll see how it comes out on this light-colored fabric.

I also received my fabric for Legends of the Spellcasters, my little splurge for the new year. I can't wait to do the floss toss and see what the colors look like.

If you're on Facebook, there's a group called Teresa Wentzler Cross Stitch SAL if you're interested. If I knew how to link to it I would. :-/

Finishing of Goblins

I finished the stitching of Goblins by Patricia Andrle in 2003 and always planned to get it framed. But now that I'm rethinking what pieces to get framed (because of the cost and lack of wall space), I decided to finish some of my smaller pieces as wall hangings and such. This piece I did all myself, with only a little consultation with my mother, the expert seamstress. To some this may be easy sewing, but to me it's quite an accomplishment since I've never been much for sewing. It's growing on me. I've even thought about making a quilt. Maybe someday.

Matt hung this for me in our office. He got to decide on the paint job in this one room. It's light grey with a darker grey stripe around the room. It looks pretty decent, in case you were wondering.

I've been working on Lady of Shalott and plan to take a progress picture maybe tomorrow.

Sinus surgery: I go in for sinus surgery next Monday. I haven't gotten too scared yet. What worries me right now is not eating until after the surgery. I tend to get nauseous and have stomach pains when I don't eat. But then I'm sure I'll have worse pains after the surgery to think about.

Right now we're dealing with getting ready for Christmas while we're all sick. We have the crackling lungs, and Logan at least has had to take breathing treatments. His breathing is sounding a lot better now, though. Getting the boy to sit still with a mask over his face has been challenging. Bribes of candy work wonders, but it's probably not the best thing for him.

Incidentally, I had an allergy test and am officially not allergic to anything. I had very mild reactions to cats and timothy (not that I've ever noticed), but they weren't bad enough to qualify me as allergic. That's pretty surprising because I thought I'd be allergic to something. Awesome.

End of the semester: Matt finished another semester, and that leaves only three to go (plus a summer session). He passed all his classes, which is a relief since some classes were in question. We're getting closer to that goal of his getting an electrical engineering degree and a good job! I can't wait!

Lady of Shalott progress pic

I finally finished the border. I think there may be some errors in the chart on the leaves since they were inconsistent. Not that anyone would notice. As you can see, I've started working on the drapes at the top. I still need to pull the rest of the floss for the piece.

I've also been working on the finishing of a wall hanging and managed to get it done this evening. I did the binding myself and everything! I am so proud since I'm not much of a seamstress. I need a dowel rod and some hooks and then will be able to hang it (somewhere...the walls are getting full). Pics soon!

Lady of Shalott progress pic

I've been making pretty good progress on this. It's fairly easy to tote around the house. Logan's letting me stitch while he plays with his toys, so I can stitch while looking after him now.

I plan to join a stitch-along in January with Teresa Wentzler's Legends of the Spellcasters and then Legends of the Dragons. If you're interested, check out the TWBB.

Sinus surgery: Since I've had 10 sinus infections in 10 months, the ENT ordered a CT scan and then determined I need surgery to clear out my sinuses and fix my deviated septum. I'll be having it right after Christmas, which means my birthday on December 31 might be spent recovering. Oh well, it's not like I was looking forward to turning 40!

Lady of Shalott progress pic

Not the greatest picture, but it shows my progress on Teresa Wentzler's Lady of Shalott. Progress has been slow because there are a lot of color changes and I haven't been using my stand.

I'm going to try to take a picture of all my needlerolls, but I need a bigger basket first.

Sick again: This is the 10th sinus infection in 10 months, so the doctor has referred me to an ENT. I really hope he can fix this without having to cut me. A few years ago I had a doctor comment that he was surprised I didn't get sick more often and they could scrape out my sinuses. I don't think I'd be as quick to say no now, but I still wouldn't be eager.

Last two Sweetheart Tree needlerolls done

I finally got the last bit of ribbon I needed to finish up these last two needlerolls (Violet Bouquet and Sweetheart). I am so happy to have these all done. I started the series at the beginning of 2008. It feels like I've been working on them a lot longer than that.

Now I've been working on the Spirit of Snow Angel by Brooke Nolan, but I'm having second thoughts about the perforated paper. I've already ripped a square out when trying to tuck a tail in (fixed it, though). I'm wondering how long this paper's going to last. I don't need it to last hundreds of years, but just through my lifetime would be nice. The angels are a fair amount of work and money, so I want them to be around for a while. The paper's also taking a bit of bending with all the stitching, Kreiniks, and beading. I could switch to fabric, but then I like the paper-doll quality of the pieces. Hm.

As you may have heard, TW Designworks has closed. This makes me very sad since Teresa Wentzler is my favorite designer. I still have lots of her designs to stitch, but there won't be any new pieces, not even Illuminata, which was promising to be something spectacular. This economy really sucks.

Halloween exchange received

Chris sent a beautiful Just Nan piece for the HoE Halloween exchange, plus a whole bunch of goodies. The piece is Fraidy Frog from the Sept./Oct. issue of Just Cross Stitch. She finished it as a really cute tin and did an excellent job with it. It's one I probably would have stitched for myself eventually, and now I don't have to!

She also sent the chart and a frame for Moon Riders. I've admired this chart for a while. She also sent some orange TicTacs, but they inexplicably disappeared. They are my favorite, so they didn't last long. They remind me of baby aspirin from when I was a kid. Yes, I liked them!

Not much stitching going on lately, which is so unusual for me. I pulled out Skeleton Crew and hope to put in a few stitches. I noticed the fabric's gotten warped, undoubtedly from my Qsnaps last time I worked on it. The Wichelt fabric is so loosely woven that the strands move around a lot. Bleh. I hope I can get the fabric back into shape. It's not motivating me to stitch.

Sick, sick, and more sick: We've all had a few rounds of illnesses lately. The latest one is Logan's pink eye, which had been going around daycare. The drops the doctor gave him yesterday have really helped. I'm hoping the rest of us don't get it.

Finishing of Gray Hare

This morning I put the bow on a second pinkeep, My First Gray Hare by 4 My Boys. Let's see what other items I can pull out to finish up.