Displaying the past

 Good morning.

Working daily at Carole's, I have no choice.  The stress is again affecting my sleep, her despair is causing me to feel ill.  The agencies and my state are useless in fulfilling the program responsibilities.  

Yesterday, I removed her shoes from her closet, which she had to turn away from.  I think coming home to where she lived for 50 years has hit her with the reality of losing her legs.  What she expected, remembered, is no longer possible.  The hospital and facility were both unfamiliar accommodations, and she never walked in either.  It was the norm.  The norm at her home is lost, and it's a shock she didn't anticipate.

As I try to rid her bedroom and decorate with her favorite treasures (clutter to me), we will move some pieces and purchase a few bookcases for display.  I have a plan for these two very old and useless purses that she could not part with.  Lining with waterproof material and propping them open will make great succulent planters as a shelf backdrop.  

This wood purse is very unusual and will be fabulous with plantings don't you think?  Mark is as we speak making an interior frame to allow standing.

These shoes were also a favorite and we'll cut it half, glue sole to sole, stand on toe, and make a pincushion for mom's hat pins, or another planter.  Check out the gold monkeys at the tree base.  Do you think this would be a bitter reminder and not a good idea?  

One last ativan and my pepto tablets, and it's back to work there shortly.  

Have a good day,

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Misunderstanding

 Hi folks.

Received several emails and entries that led me to believe I have erred in the listing.

The Dutch Sampler by Gigi R is what I am currently working on.

The giveaway is at the bottom of the page showing Ann Stone.  Ann is the offer, not the Little Dutch I am working on.  Sorry for any misunderstanding.

There's not many entries at all but I want to clarify what you would receive, so let's start over.  

This is the chart, please email again or comment.  Thanks.

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The Ann offer

 Greetings!

I've been working on A Little Dutch, certainly not my preferred style, but I was drawn to her from the start.  True, this piece is not a wise choice given my distractions and frustrations right now.  And I'm not in love with this sampler as I am with all of Gigi R works, yet here it is.  No answers.

  The method I chose to sub smyrna for eyelet is working great.  Not tedious, the sewing method can be used, quick, and not one misplaced poke!

A wonderful chart helps tremendously.  I can clearly see the print and the symbol as it sits on my stand and the enlarged legend I made easily shows the color at a glance.  What a difference.

On to Ann Stone.  Keep in mind this is very old, hand drawn, and not the colors of my finish.  If you would like Ann, leave your initials or email in comments or email me directly.  Still haven't found a decent program so I will log into google and get mail there so none are spammed out.  I can do that, right?

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

Will draw a name Tuesday 1/17 at 8pm.

Have a good day!

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Smyrna. The city?

 No.  The stitch.  The one I chose in place of eyelet.  Much quicker, same appearance, but not easier for me.  I never got past the A on Mary Ann after four attempts.  Continually went off one linen thread, very difficult for me to go over four in one leap.  If the first poke was bottom left over two to center, then top right over two to center, I would have the four thread boundary and the rest would cross over that center, hiding it.  Sounds like a plan.  Some other time Mary Ann.  Don't even want to elaborate on the latest blow to the sister situation.  No patience.

On top of that, I started the Pilocarpine and my drug sensitive old body is palping fast, hot as hell, and head is pounding.  Lowest dose but cutting in half now until my body adjusts.  More frustration is not welcome.  Smyrna the city is more enticing by the hour.

So what will I work on?  This.  Seriously?

Why the hell?  I do not like frequent color changes (27 of them),  do not like script lettering (there it is), do not like light linen (required to show thread), and there is eyelet.  Am I deliberately torturing myself?  Or pretending I'm someone else to escape?  Bizarro world of stitching?  Makes no sense, but I plan to choose between Vellum and Latte and give it a go.

I enlarged the legend to see the 27 symbols better, cut/glued/highlighted to a smaller and easy to display reference.

Sunday will post the Ann Stone chart giveaway.

Enjoy your weekend folks!

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Next

 I've read that a sampler should be started and finished in the month of January.  But my mushy mind can't remember what this superstition claims or its catchy term.   With my current stress level,  not taking any chances so I'm on board.

Mary Ann Bradbury is another old hand printed chart from R&R.  Small and very easy, few colors, a little gem.  Charted for flower thread, I pulled DMC of my choice.

Elizabeth Moor is a chart I've shown before, still love, still hesitating to attempt.  Does that make me a "sluggard"?  I love her message!

The first letter of each word is over two, the rest over one.  If I plan to stitch only two words every few days, maybe I could tolerate.  Also hand printed which makes it more difficult.

 Another day at Carole's today, called UPMC health choice provider and was told if we don't receive a return call by Friday afternoon, try again next week.  I would like to file a formal complaint, but where?  With who?  Spoke with their main office in Pittsburgh three times.  She went from a lively, upbeat, healthy (for her condition) woman, now despondent, greatly stressed, lacking care she needs and was promised by this provider.  Another 60 day process to once again apply for assistance requiring 5 years of paperwork, would offer no immediate help or guarantee return to the same facility.  I needed half of an ativan to sleep last night, only two left! 

I never explained the "background" issue which adds another dimension to the story, and won't.  I complain and vent too much as it is.

 I plan to offer Ann's chart as a giftaway this weekend.

Stay safe and well!

Thanks for the visit.

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Boom

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