Standstill

Not up to stitching.  The issues I've been having are getting more complicated to explain, and are now preventing any needlework.  Close work causes a weird dizziness which then hits the stomach, not caused by BP.  

So.  Before this setback, I reworked the motif chart of Nash's Little Redwork Pinkeep to a smaller size.  Looks the same, just tighter. 

The other start was to be this snippet of an old sampler I saw online and charted.

I thought simple fill in (no chart reading) of Julia's large house would be doable, but even that was a problem.

This post is being worked in short sections, taking long breaks between.  Reading, whether on screen or paper, causes the same feeling.

The courtship of Tootsie.

Have a good week folks.

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Lizzie!

 Where in the world is Lizzy Peddie?  I have a complete mess in the sewing room and started sorting for some semblance of order.  Many samplers are draped over a rod, covered, wondering when they will see the light of day.  Lizzie is not one of them.  Several were a surprise, forgotten finishes.  Another roll revealed some Christmas pieces, not fully finished, Lizzie was not a guest in that group either.  Cannot imagine where she is.  How could I have forgotten about these?

In the search, I decided that this guy will be an easy stand-up finish slipped over this.  I can easily cut the plastic condiment bottle down and insert a few items for weight.  Add a drum top and glue bottom to a wood base.  Stable and tall to stand among pumpkins. 

These two may end with a taller drum finish, the larger fits perfectly around the straight tall glass from a spent candle.  I save them and their lids after frozen wax is removed and glass is cleaned.  

No stitching.  The glove finger was removed too soon and the crack reopened.

Hope you are doing well as we are another day closer to spring.

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Drum or roll

 Snow.  Need I say more. 

So here's the little fat drum.  Very difficult to get a good photo of the gingham pattern or depth of red which is much stronger than it appears here.  Added the pen for scale ( blue tape identifies Frixion for me).

One error when adding that top border - there should be two stitches together in the center which would allow the end stitches to fit into the side border pattern.  Added a few additional stitches creating a solid area at edge, may remove and leave the error. Also increased the side border height by two.

Option to finish as a pin roll, no?  If I make another with the charted fabric, one drum, one roll?  Or do the complete sampler on the straw gingham?  

Larger than I would like if 28 count gingham is used.... thinking about it.

Did you notice my healing thumb crack in previous post?  Thanks for recommendations, Cetaphil crack healing balm and also the lotion are at local walmart, but I am ordering on amazon since ... you know ..... white crap.  Tried all the others so I'm anxious to get these, but will still use the glove finger.  Keeps the bandage/balm in place and water out.

Ollie is walking just fine this morning.  He has that type of very thick hair that snow sets on, doesn't seem to penetrate.  Like a deer.  One (deer) that we are feeding was either born with an unusable leg or was injured.  It just dangles and she is so thin, shunned and alone.  An unexpected video clip when scrolling IG showed adult elephants throwing and shunning a baby and I couldn't sleep last night.  Probably not for a while.  The photos of bloodied dogs that people deliberately injure, claim the animal is stray and needs help, and then offers links to send money for treatment is a new disgusting scam. Some are legit and if inclined, verify the group by entering their name/link in another tab.

Hope your day goes well.  Stay safe folks.  

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Meet Ollie

 A frequent visitor and suitor of Tootsie.  A big boy that needs trapped, he must live somewhere, and is not as skiddish as the Toots.  This boy can eat!  Yes, he is limping.

With a comfy house and another shelter not as closed in, they never stay.  Ever.  Even the two far from the house are not used.

I found out what may be the cause of the BP problem (lowest is 145, high is 180, bottom # is steady and good).  The start and then increase of meloxicam.  My pharmacist said it can definitely raise pressure, also interfere with effectiveness of bp meds.  Bingo.  Never had HBP before this and being drug sensitive, I agree with him.  

This will be a little peek of what the fat baby drum will be like in the red.  I like it.  But will still start the other color.

Stay in, stay warm, stay safe.

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Next!

The blue thumb is coming along.  My gloves are nitrile, I always include a box in hub's quarterly OTC allowance from his Advantage plan.  Great for potting, painting, messy jobs, but using a smaller size finger tight and long enough to stay put and hold bandage/balms in place is a great aid for healing.  My thumb is already less sore and I should have protected it as soon as the split started.  My hands become velcro like in winter, was told it is a form of seasonal hand eczema (?) and using cortisone cream really calms the condition.  Miracle Hand Cream and others recommended are also used throughout the day but without the steroid cream, mine does not resolve. No rash, no itching, just sticky paws!

First, I decided to add a darker green thread along the border of what will become a roll.  The light green was not strong enough on this linen.

Trying to choose a small project is really tough, but the BBD book that the above project came from is my next stitch.  I've stitched so many of the projects in this book, so so glad I have it.

So this one was chosen, but the bottom section is also featured as a sweet short drum pincushion.

The book recommends 32 count WDW linen shown here, but I don't ever remember the gingham offered in 32 count.  Was it?  I have a small piece of 28 count, would have preferred 32, but never found it.  I ordered two eighths from HobbyHouse and will shrink to a higher count. I have it in my brain that I want a small sampler on a dark gingham .... we'll see how that goes.

So.  In my mind, this baby drum in red check linen with black thread would be adorable.  Doesn't look it with this start, but envisioning the finish ... sweet.  But just in case, I'm also stitching it on the straw check with red thread.  When you can't decide, do them both.   I am adding a top border, do not like it without.

Winds have been brutal, snow is not welcome but came anyway.

Feel better today, not sick, just .... I don't know. And my BP meds are certainly not keeping it down.  Doc called in the script, did not require office checks, and told me to return in a year.  Through my own research, I found that when your cholesterol rises, chances are great you will have HBP.  I stopped my statins this summer when Advil and Tylenol were taken around the clock for months, and it rose quite a bit which coincided with the high BP.  Hmmm.  Why did I have to find that on my own?  Regardless, I'm hoping it will lower as my number goes down, but no blood work for 12 months.  I'll message the cardio office NP for a requisition in a few months.

This is what my Italian family calls spitini.  I have heard of some restaurants offering spidini which is probably the same.  One of our favorites. The beef (usually eye of round roast, best is filet if affordable) is partially frozen in order for the butcher to slice wafer thin which we cut to smaller piece when rolling.  The dish for breading them combines lots of garlic (twice through the press), seasoned bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.  Rolled and alternated with onion slices and bay leaves on skewers, broiled on second rack for 3 minutes each side (less for very thin rolls).  The bay leaves are every other roll and really flavor the meat.  Hubs always makes early in the day and covers in fridge for the flavors to meld.  My sister's friend was too embarrassed to ask, and ate the bay leaves. NO!!

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm.

Every day, closer to Spring.

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Thumbs up?

 Hello hello.

My stitching has been sidelined because of a painful deep split that is not healing.  It is no longer fresh to allow the two sides to meld and heal, the skin inside has hardened preventing that.  Happens during cold weather but visiting more stores during holiday shopping increased sanitizer use, and dry skin suffers. Covering with a finger from latex or nitrile gloves protects and holds the healing balm.  Snug fit stays in place all day (not worn at night), even through water, shortens healing time. 

My last project had a row of solid fill with negative letters.  And that is called .... ?  Reverse stitching?  Negative fill?  Whatever, it has always been difficult for me.  This time, I worked rows vertically making them shorter and so much simpler to count.  Filling the graph's negative space with a color also made it much easier.

These were finished before the split.

Kathy and Lauren's trees inspired me to try something different next year.  While browsing, these real glass icicles caught my eye.  A seller on Amazon offered a three box set for cheap so I grabbed them.  Now there are single box offers for more than half of my three box price.  Some sellers state  "GLASS",  but description beneath states "acrylic".

My new same brand, style, size, compression stockings are ... well ... a little smaller than a year ago.  Really?  Too late to return, did not expect a problem, a costly mistake.  Surprisingly, those silicone dotted bands stay in place without the It Stays roll on. 

I've been feeling crappy for a week but thankfully am not ill.  I hope it's not caused by starting bp meds.  My body does not like drugs.  Was hopeful that Pilocarpine would help the Sjogren's but even a low dose caused a reaction. 

Hope your new year is feeling good!

Thanks for visiting.

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