Here is one thing I started while Stanford and I were at Dartmouth for his 5-day treatment. It is Flea Market Souvenir, by Blackbird Designs, and is stitched on three pieces of fabric that are then sewn together and embellished with embroidery. I just love this piece, and I've loved working on it! I find so many of my pieces are seasonal, which I just love, too, but it was a delightful change to stitch something that is not particular to some holiday that is coming up . . . any time . . . oops, it passed and the piece is still not done, oh well, maybe next year. It's either that, or I'm stitching pumpkins when I should be stitching tulips or red, white, and blue, when I would like to stitch red and green. So this is great! No matter how long it takes me (and this first section took just a couple of days while we watched movies on the little DVD player we brought), I won't be out of season on it!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Another New Project
Here is one thing I started while Stanford and I were at Dartmouth for his 5-day treatment. It is Flea Market Souvenir, by Blackbird Designs, and is stitched on three pieces of fabric that are then sewn together and embellished with embroidery. I just love this piece, and I've loved working on it! I find so many of my pieces are seasonal, which I just love, too, but it was a delightful change to stitch something that is not particular to some holiday that is coming up . . . any time . . . oops, it passed and the piece is still not done, oh well, maybe next year. It's either that, or I'm stitching pumpkins when I should be stitching tulips or red, white, and blue, when I would like to stitch red and green. So this is great! No matter how long it takes me (and this first section took just a couple of days while we watched movies on the little DVD player we brought), I won't be out of season on it!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Celtic Autumn, at last!
Here, finally, is a picture of my progress on Celtic Autumn! I'm stitching her on 28 count Angel Twinkle, by Liberty Street Designs, and I love this fabric! I love the color and the slightly distressed look, and I love the feel as I stitch on it. Also, having a brand new eyeglass prescription helps me to enjoy my stitching even more now!
I did cheat a little, and stitched an extra evening (but I rationalize this by remembering that last Thursday's stitching was only about an hour, so my Saturday stitching time was really just an extension of Thursday, right?). Here are a couple of questions for anyone who has stitched one of these: How do you keep your place in the chart? So far I'm just marking it off with a pencil, but that will get messy as I fill in more. Do you put in the beads as you go? I'm stitching in hand, so could do that and a q-snap won't get in the way. What color of floss do I use to attach the beads? One strand or two? Also, the conversion says to "use two of the three strands of gold instead", which makes no sense to me at all, since the orignal chart does not say to use more than one strand of gold, and the gold does not come apart like DMC. I have been using one strand, and I think two or three would be too many. I've done SAL's before, but never with a set day of the week, and I really like doing it this way. I'm actually stitching this piece and not letting it become one more UFO in my basket!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
No Pictures This Time
Well, I know my daughter, Heather, can write in her blog and have it be well-written and interesting every day without a picture (though hers is mostly focused on books she is reading and her opinions of them), so today I'll give it a try, since I don't have any pictures to post. Not that I don't have anything to show, just no pictures, since I haven't had DH photograph the 7 or so things on which I've made some progress.
First, a quick update on my son, Stanford. He had his new chemo over the weekend, and did fairly well with it, though he felt worse after than with the other kinds. We'll know after the next CT scan if it's making a difference. I'm finding this whole experience is stressing me out a lot, more than I expected, actually. I've lost about 9 pounds, and I often awaken about 90 minutes before my alarm and toss and turn and doze until it's time to get up. And my alarm is usually set for 4:55 am! So, I need to continue reading the mystery novels I love with an occasional romance or other thrown in there, and stitch a lot. I have been stitching. A lot, for me, anyway.
I've started Celtic Autumn, with Ann and Sue. I did this while sitting in the hospital room with Stanford on Friday. I'll need to figure out how to stitch on this large piece of fabric (which is a good talent to learn, since I'll need it when I stitch the hundred or so other large pieces in my stash). And I'll need to figure out how to keep track of where I am stitching, also how to work with the large chart. Of course, it didn't help that I had only my lap to put the stitching on, and the window ledge beside me for scissors and such. I love this piece, and am very excited to be working on it, and really looking forward to our Thursdays to have the regular time to stitch!
I like the idea of making monthly goals for stitching, so here are my September goals, modified from the orignal list, seeing as how the month is almost half over!
1. Work on Celtic Autumn with Ann and Sue on Thursdays. (My original list had me start this, which I've already done! So I can maybe check something off my list?)
2. Finish In Search of the Perfect Pumpkin, which I started a couple of years ago. (This may be possible, since I've been stitching on it almost daily.)
3. Start and do half of the latest Loose Feathers piece, since the next one will be arriving in October sometime, and I would like to actually stitch these as they come. I own all of them and have yet to stitch a one. And I love them all!
4. Finish Mill Hill beaded autumn kit (it's sitting beside my stitching spot on the couch, does this count? Of course, it would help if it weren't buried by two knitting projects and three other cross-stitch projects . . . )
5. Finish My Garden Wild (This should be a quick stitch, and I've gotten a good start on it. It's a very cute piece, and stitching on it a few weeks ago gave me the idea to make my real garden less wild, which I did on Monday for a couple of hours. I weeded and raked and cut out blighted peonies which were making it look ready for Halloween. Now it's time to stitch a garden, since I've weeded the real one.)
I had two more goals in my original list, which is written in a little notebook I keep in my purse, but I seriously doubt I'll do them. One is to start my parents' 50th wedding anniversary piece (their 50th was in August of 2005, and I sent them a big bouquet, but want to do a sampler as well). The other is to work on something for Christmas. I have several started, and aquired more recently. But I thought I'd work on a Just Nan sampler. I can see these goals will have to stretch out over several months. But two goals I have right away are to STITCH EVERY DAY, and to PHOTOTOGRAPH AND POST WHAT I STITCH. So stay tuned!
First, a quick update on my son, Stanford. He had his new chemo over the weekend, and did fairly well with it, though he felt worse after than with the other kinds. We'll know after the next CT scan if it's making a difference. I'm finding this whole experience is stressing me out a lot, more than I expected, actually. I've lost about 9 pounds, and I often awaken about 90 minutes before my alarm and toss and turn and doze until it's time to get up. And my alarm is usually set for 4:55 am! So, I need to continue reading the mystery novels I love with an occasional romance or other thrown in there, and stitch a lot. I have been stitching. A lot, for me, anyway.
I've started Celtic Autumn, with Ann and Sue. I did this while sitting in the hospital room with Stanford on Friday. I'll need to figure out how to stitch on this large piece of fabric (which is a good talent to learn, since I'll need it when I stitch the hundred or so other large pieces in my stash). And I'll need to figure out how to keep track of where I am stitching, also how to work with the large chart. Of course, it didn't help that I had only my lap to put the stitching on, and the window ledge beside me for scissors and such. I love this piece, and am very excited to be working on it, and really looking forward to our Thursdays to have the regular time to stitch!
I like the idea of making monthly goals for stitching, so here are my September goals, modified from the orignal list, seeing as how the month is almost half over!
1. Work on Celtic Autumn with Ann and Sue on Thursdays. (My original list had me start this, which I've already done! So I can maybe check something off my list?)
2. Finish In Search of the Perfect Pumpkin, which I started a couple of years ago. (This may be possible, since I've been stitching on it almost daily.)
3. Start and do half of the latest Loose Feathers piece, since the next one will be arriving in October sometime, and I would like to actually stitch these as they come. I own all of them and have yet to stitch a one. And I love them all!
4. Finish Mill Hill beaded autumn kit (it's sitting beside my stitching spot on the couch, does this count? Of course, it would help if it weren't buried by two knitting projects and three other cross-stitch projects . . . )
5. Finish My Garden Wild (This should be a quick stitch, and I've gotten a good start on it. It's a very cute piece, and stitching on it a few weeks ago gave me the idea to make my real garden less wild, which I did on Monday for a couple of hours. I weeded and raked and cut out blighted peonies which were making it look ready for Halloween. Now it's time to stitch a garden, since I've weeded the real one.)
I had two more goals in my original list, which is written in a little notebook I keep in my purse, but I seriously doubt I'll do them. One is to start my parents' 50th wedding anniversary piece (their 50th was in August of 2005, and I sent them a big bouquet, but want to do a sampler as well). The other is to work on something for Christmas. I have several started, and aquired more recently. But I thought I'd work on a Just Nan sampler. I can see these goals will have to stretch out over several months. But two goals I have right away are to STITCH EVERY DAY, and to PHOTOTOGRAPH AND POST WHAT I STITCH. So stay tuned!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Well, rats. Try something else.
Well, Stanford's CT scan on Friday showed that the lesions on his liver have grown. This is very disappointing news. Quite upsetting, actually. I've spent a fair amount of time in the last couple of days crying and worrying. The plan now is to go up again on Friday as originally scheduled, only this time try a different drug, that is used for carcinoma. This drug is given every three weeks, usually on an out-patient basis, but for this first time they will keep Stanford overnight to see how he responds to it. The doctor has consulted with colleagues who deal with adult cancer, since Stanford is now 18 and nearing adult age. I guess they figured it was a sarcoma because he is a child. She said it may be a "smart sarcoma" or a carcinoma. Since they really don't know what it is for sure, they also can't give us any kind of prognosis or percentages of success. The good things are that Stanford's attitude is incredibly positive and upbeat, also he still has no symptoms of this cancer. If it weren't for the original tumor, we would have no idea anything was wrong with his liver. Which also makes me wonder now what might be growing in any of us that we don't know about! We'll be doing a couple of rounds of this new chemo, then another scan to see if it makes any difference.
A friend at church today gave me a book to read called The pH Miracle. I've skimmed it thoroughly and am not quite sure what to think of it. This friend cares very deeply, and has great belief in this approach. A healthier change in diet is certainly to the good, though I'm not sure I'm ready for the extreme changes this author recommends (no M&M's :). Whatever we do, it will be in conjunction with what the doctors say.
One thing I've learned through all of this is how important every note, email, treat brought, phone call, gift sent, and offer of a listening ear is. I used to wonder how some little thing I might do could possibly make a difference to someone going through a crisis. But all of those things have been incredibly helpful. I cling on to every note or email I receive, every encouraging word, every bit of reaching out people have done for me and my family. I want to mention a couple of things here. A few weeks ago I came home and found two packages that have been sent by dear stitching friends, who lifted my spirits greatly. Both were totally unexpected, and they both continue to lift me.
This first is from Ann. Stitchers sure know how to help each other! I actually started this one in the hospital last time (I treated myself by starting three new projects in the five days I was there with Stanford.). I'll have John take a picture of my progress soon. Ann, thank you so much. I love the piece, and I especially love how cared-for I feel because you sent it to me!
The second is from my friend, Janey. Janey made an order to Shepherd's Bush, and had part of it sent to me. The part that you see here is their current t-shirt (I wore this at the hospital last time, and it's very comforting to wear something that brings you good feelings!). Also shown is the ribbon that wrapped the present, which had a lollipop ornament and a sheep pin. Next is the photo with two charts, one of "Celebrate Everything" to remind me to continue to enjoy every bit of life. The other is "Bethlehem", along with blue fabric and blue WDW to stitch it. This is to remind me of my faith, and Whom to keep at the center of my life. I need that right now!
A friend at church today gave me a book to read called The pH Miracle. I've skimmed it thoroughly and am not quite sure what to think of it. This friend cares very deeply, and has great belief in this approach. A healthier change in diet is certainly to the good, though I'm not sure I'm ready for the extreme changes this author recommends (no M&M's :). Whatever we do, it will be in conjunction with what the doctors say.
One thing I've learned through all of this is how important every note, email, treat brought, phone call, gift sent, and offer of a listening ear is. I used to wonder how some little thing I might do could possibly make a difference to someone going through a crisis. But all of those things have been incredibly helpful. I cling on to every note or email I receive, every encouraging word, every bit of reaching out people have done for me and my family. I want to mention a couple of things here. A few weeks ago I came home and found two packages that have been sent by dear stitching friends, who lifted my spirits greatly. Both were totally unexpected, and they both continue to lift me.
This first is from Ann. Stitchers sure know how to help each other! I actually started this one in the hospital last time (I treated myself by starting three new projects in the five days I was there with Stanford.). I'll have John take a picture of my progress soon. Ann, thank you so much. I love the piece, and I especially love how cared-for I feel because you sent it to me!
The second is from my friend, Janey. Janey made an order to Shepherd's Bush, and had part of it sent to me. The part that you see here is their current t-shirt (I wore this at the hospital last time, and it's very comforting to wear something that brings you good feelings!). Also shown is the ribbon that wrapped the present, which had a lollipop ornament and a sheep pin. Next is the photo with two charts, one of "Celebrate Everything" to remind me to continue to enjoy every bit of life. The other is "Bethlehem", along with blue fabric and blue WDW to stitch it. This is to remind me of my faith, and Whom to keep at the center of my life. I need that right now!
For both of you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
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