Thursday, Jan 31

Dear Friends,  I have not been stitching much as I had to rush my husband, my best friend, Jack to the hospital on Monday morning.  His cancer is progressing at an alarming rate and there is little that can be done for him at this point.  Comfort care is being arranged and we were able to bring him home today.  We are all glad that he is home and feeling much better with good pain management drugs.

I am not sure when I will post or when I might stitch again.  If things calm down around here, I want to get back to my stitching as it is a good stress reliever.  If I don't post for a few days, just check back again and I will try to keep you up to date.

Roses are oh so pretty.

Cold, cold, cold.  Our weather has been brutal this week.  On the other hand,  I know that there are parts of the country with tons of snow, black ice and other nasty things going on.  So our cold along with a dusting of snow are tolerable.  The lake has frozen so the Winter Carnival can go on as planned.  Let the ice fishing and other activities begin.  I am staying home warm and safe with my afghan.  I am so happy to report that the flowers in the upper left side of this block are done  I am move on to structure stitching tomorrow.

A few things from the wood shop.

Who would have guessed that I would have a purple bench stool for my purple craft room?  I asked for a stool for the sewing table.  I need it short so I can see the sewing machine correctly.  I plan to put a cushion on the top.  Tonight the bench is getting felt feet glued on with a ton of craft books to help weight it down.  Craft books were handy by and ready to go.

My very talented son made the bench and this key rack.  Now the key rack has a history.  My brother gave my son a hunk of black walnut wood.  Apparently this is one item that came from the piece of wood.  How sweet is that?  I am thrilled.

My husband is doing better.  I am also so pleased and happy to report that.  A new pain med is helping to make him more comfortable.  We were able to get out and go to lunch today.  It is bitter cold but it was still good to get out for a little bit.

Baby It is COLD outside

I have two projects going at the same time.  I spent quite a bit of time in my craft room this morning.  While it is so bitter cold outside, the sun was beaming in my room and it was wonderful to spend some time there.  I worked on my Just Nan Valentine project.

I have also been working on the afghan from time to time.  My husband has not been feeling very well.  Naps are the norm around here.  Pain management is very much a part of our lives right now.  Depending on what is going on and where I am, I can pick up a project in either room. 

More afghan - block number 7

We woke to more snow this morning.  The snow was gently hanging on every branch and leave in the woods.  Later the wind kicked up and the trees are clean again.  It was so pretty to see it with the sun on it this morning.  It is super cold here.  Brrrr.

Since it is cold and all the parts are surrounding my chair, I decided to work on yet another block on the afghan.  So I worked on some of the white.  There isn't nearly as much white on this one as the last one. 

Hummingbird Afghan Conitnues

Block Number 6 is now complete.  I finished up the back stitching just a few moments ago.  

The question now is what to stitch next.  Another block?  Something completely different? 

A Stitching Update

I finally put the hardanger piece in the box top.  I think it looks grand.  Now that project goes away for two months until I get some more instructions for the scissors case, I believe.

It is cold here.  I have just spent two days working on this afghan block number 6.  I have some more flower parts in the upper right corner.  Then I will do the vines and little flowers that crawl down the left side of this block.  Back Stitching and it is done!  I am not sure if another block might be in my future or not.  I do enjoy working on afghans.  This one is a pain due to the little flower parts but it is so pretty.

Yesterday I took a bit of time did a bit of stitching on the Just Nan Valentine Tree project.  DH has been having some terrible pain and isn't sleeping well.  I am trying to stay quiet when I know he is asleep.  I am working on the JN piece in my stitching room and the afghan in the living room with the movie North and South series.  It was a good weekend.  DH is feeling better tonight.  He has found that his chair is quite comfortable and might be sleeping there tonight. 

Afghan and Valentine Tree

Thank you all for your comments, emails and prayers.  Jack and I have traveled to Albany and are still pursuing a trial for a new drug to help with his cancer.  It was a stressful trip and I am still not stitching since we got home but I hope to return tonight.  Meanwhile I am happy to show off a few things I have been working on.

The afghan is coming along.  Color!!  Roses!!  Our weather is turning cold so the afghan is a good choice for right now.

As a travel project I started Just Nan's Valentine Tree.  I didn't get a lot done but it is a good start.

A little bit of color

I have completed most of the white and gray for the trellis.  I have started on some flowers.  I did take some time today to find, kit, prepare a new project to take on our little overnight trip.  I should have taken a photo but it is packed and ready to go now so I will wait.  I might not be posting for a day or so. 

A few follower notes:


Fee: I tried to send you an email.  Prayers and hugs to you.  This journey of cancer is a difficult one and I hope you find some answers. 

Terri:  A new invoice was sent to you today. 

Shades of Gray added

I am finally working with something other than white.  I am using three different shades of gray to outline the archway for the hummingbird trellis.  My husband and I will venture to a new hospital and doctor later this week.  We are looking into trial studies looking for a new treatment for his cancer.  I am not sure what to pack for stitching.  Only another stitcher would understand my problem.  The afghan is big and I do use a lap stand.  What to do? What to do? 

Just a bit more progress on the afghan

Fog - rain - damp - warm.  The snow is melting.  We saw the turkey clan this morning.  They don't like walking on the snow as every other step causes them to drop into the deep of the snow.  They hung out in the driveway for quite some time.  I hesitate going out for a photo as I don't want to scare them.  Meanwhile I did get some stitching done.  I am still stuck on white but I am getting there. 

I just had to share this.  Lilian, my friend in the Netherlands, shared this with me.  I love the Brazilian knots.  Oh My - Lilian does the most amazing work.  I always feel like a 'slacker' when I see what she is working on.  This is a 'little pod' for a thimble or orts.  She is conducting a workshop next week with this as the featured project.  I wish I could twitch my nose (like Jeannie) and attend this workshop.

The beat goes on......

I worked more on the afghan.  It was a housework day.  It was a day to have a wonderful visit with my son.  (He is so talented, so wonderful, such a great person.....really!!!)  My husband and I have an appointment next week with a new cancer doctor in Albany next week.  We are hopeful for some new answers.  Thank you all for your well wishes, prayers and emails.  I do appreciate all the support from my on line family.

Mindless White on Cream

I have been working on the afghan.  Some may think this is boring.  I load up six needles and just go at it.  I have been through almost an entire skein of floss already.  I just keep going and going.  Think Energizer Bunny.  The news has not been good with my husband today.  The doctor says the latest scans are not looking good.  Prayers are welcome.  Tonight I just feel defeated and weary.  Hopefully a good night's sleep will help us see a brighter side.

Busy day - turkeys to stitching

This morning I stepped outside to get a photo of some of the turkeys having breakfast.  There were also six deer there but as I took the photo, the deer had left.  I will keep trying to get a photo of the deer.  Our wild life is a constant form on entertainment around here.  

 I put together a floss tote for a subscriber, then I moved on to putting together some ornaments.  Victoria Sampler is the designer.  There is a pretty light purple fabric on the back of these two ornaments.

 Then I  worked on Just Nan's Gingerbread Mouse.  He is so cute.  I had fun putting him together.  I will put him in the display case but he is so small, he might just get lost in there.

I worked on the afghan.  This would be block number 6.  I did a bit of stitching yesterday and then ripped it all out.  Now I have begun again.  It is hard to see but this project has tons of white on cream stitching.  It was quite a productive day.

Quick and Easy - Finish number 4

Hummingbird Afghan block number five is now done.  This stitching is pretty but I really dislike the confetti type stitching it requires.  I am so happy to have this done.  On to another block or something new?  I am not sure.

Something New - Hummingbird afghan

I started working on this yesterday.  This is block number five of the Hummingbird afghan.  There is not a lot of stitching on this particular block.  On the other hand, the flowers are all confetti type stitching so it is still a challenge.  Last year I did 67 projects.  I keep a list going all year long so I know how many I have completed by the end of the year.  It also helps when I try to find photos.  So far - 2013 has three projects on the list.  This will be number four.  The last afghan I did took me five years.  I did five or six blocks per year - it was slow.  I could each block as a project.  An afghan project is bulky to work on.  It is best to work on during the winter months.  I do enjoy it.  The stitching is done over one with two threads.  It is DMC floss so no overdyed to deal with. 

Better Day and 2 finishes!!

Little Mouse is ready for finishing.  I hope to do that over the weekend.  He still needs whiskers, the metal tail and base button.  Very cute and I am so happy to have another finish.

Meanwhile I did the final stitches on this hardanger piece.  I hope to get it placed in the box top tomorrow.  Next part of this will not be coming for two months.  That will leave lots of time for other projects.

Today was a better day.  Jack is doing pretty good.  We did some errands, went out to lunch and caught up on laundry.  A quiet day was welcome after yesterday's terrible day. 

Progress on a bad day

I did the beading last night.  I did the cutting early this morning.  Next up is the filling stitches but I just couldn't face them today.  It was a cold, cold day and it was a chemo day.  It was as if we had a black cloud hanging over us today.  I am so hoping that tomorrow will be a better day.

This has been my travel project.  This is the limited edition Just Nan's Christmas mouse project.  I am nearing completion.  I did work a bit on it today and some this evening.  (I still can't face the filling stitches right now.  Grrr.)  I hope to have the base stitching and maybe the beads done on this one tonight.  Then it is just finishing.  Once I am done, I am thinking of selling my chart.  I hear it is quite desirable.  If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Nordic Needle Stitching Accessories Box

I am having so much fun stitching this little piece.  It will be in the box top for the above mentioned series project.  I still need to do beads, cutting and filling stitches.  Then this one will be done.  I stopped at the office supply store today to pick up a binder, dividers and sheet protectors for all the various series that I am working on now.  It is getting confusing as to what is what with all the parts.  This progress is a single day!!!  Wow. 

Autumn in the Village by Stoney Creek - done

Technically this was finished in 2013.  It will be my first finish for the year.  I was close last night with only the roof of the needle work shop, the lamp post and the pumpkin cart to be completed.  I just couldn't do it.  So I got up this morning and finished it in a few hours.

I thought some close up photos might be in order.  There is a ton of back stitching on this project.  It does make it look amazing but really  - - it was a lot of work.

I so very happy to have this one done.  I started looking around for what to start next.  I am currently involved in six (count them six) series projects and two afghans.  What was I thinking?  Anyway - I need to get working on so many different things.  This project took forever but when I look back at it, it have also been doing Christmas presents and all kinds of other things. 

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope and pray that this year is better than last year.