Family Time...

I had more than a few tasks to complete this weekend, so I prioritized. I didn't really make significant progress on my fencing, but that's okay. I know it will be waiting for me when I'm feeling up to it again (hopefully, later this week).

My sister, Di and her husband will be here today. My brother-in-law is going to help us by removing a couple trees (saplings) we need taken down because they're right next to buildings. He's also going to take a few dead branches off the apple tree. 

I'll be meeting with the surgeon's assistant late afternoon for my pre-op consult, too. I'm so glad this one will be the real thing. 

I've got a really cool post planned for you tomorrow! If you sew or quilt, you won't want to miss it. I'm off to make coffee now. Di and Tom will be here any minute. 

We Have Clearance, Clarence...

If you're ever offered a recreational, chemically-induced stress test, take a hard pass. That's what I had yesterday. The first IV injection was easy. The second came with warnings of "possible shortness of breath, chest pains, headache, dizziness or fainting, or nausea". I thought to myself, "I'm not going to get any of those. I'm not a hypochondriac." Didn't matter, as I had no control over it. I got every. single. one.  Good thing I was lying down.  

The tech told me beforehand the antidote for that injection was caffeine. (Guess that's why they said I couldn't have any for at least 24 hours before the test.) He asked me first whether I'd prefer pepsi, coffee or hot chocolate. Guess which one I chose. (Hint: chocolate) As soon as they completed the test, he handed me a steamy cup of delicious hot coco. All my symptoms calmed almost immediately, and by the time I was ready to leave, there was just the faintest hint of a headache. Before Handsome and I turned for home, he stopped at a Kwik Trip and grabbed coffee for each of us. By the time we drove up the driveway, my head was clear again. (Small blessings)

I went inside the house, changed clothes and spent the next half hour napping in the sun. Then I came in for a little needle therapy. I mostly stitched my base colors, and plan to go back at it today with the other shading. Or, I may continue with all the base and go back in later to do the shading at one time. We'll see. If all goes well, I'm hoping to make serious headway on the fencing though.

I didn't find out until late afternoon, but the cardiologist reviewed all yesterday's tests and cleared me for surgery. So, I'm now good to go for my new knee next week. What a relief! I'll be able to relax a bit more over the weekend now that I know. 

There are a few things I need to do prior to Monday. I'll bake some more bread for the freezer, and probably do a couple loads of laundry. But mostly, I plan to stitch. I'm not going to stress over finishing the fence. If I don't get it done, I'll have it waiting for me once I'm feeling more myself post-op. We'll see how far I get, and I'll let you have a peek on Monday.

Definitely having my morning cuppa today, though! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. See you later.

Flying Colors...

That's what it looks like around here while I'm needle dancing with these threads. As I said earlier, I have at least four - and sometimes up to seven - needles loaded and in play at any given time. I think I got quite a bit done yesterday.

You may chuckle to know this, but I had to take a few extra breaks from time to time yesterday, because I got such a restful rhythm going that I nearly dozed off as I stitched. Pathetic, right? sigh

This is the closeup view of the fencing so far. I'm nearly a third of the way finished on the top piece, so I still have a way to go. I'm not giving up. I'm still working toward my weekend deadline. Call me the "little engine that could". (I think I can. I think I can...) More tomorrow...

More Fence...

I did manage to work on my fencing yesterday! This is how far I am now. I'm saving the birds' feet and legs for last, but did enough basic lines to mark off where they would be when I get back to them. 

I'll be working on this again today as I work toward my self-imposed weekend deadline. You know how I am when I set a goal. We'll see if I make it this time. Wish me luck!

What A Difference An Hour (and a half) Makes...

Today I thought I'd share what my needlework looks like while I'm actually stitching. Most days, I anchor and trim all my threads before taking a photograph. This time, I wanted you to see how I juggle threads while I'm working on the piece(s).

For the fencing, I'm working with seven different thread colors. Most of the time, I don't have more than four needles active and in play. Every once in a while, though, all seven threaded needles will be anchored somewhere in the ground fabric. This photo shows four needles anchored as I work the base threads for my fencing.

I only worked on it for about one and a half hours yesterday, but even so, I think you can see the progress I made during that time.

I'll be back at my hoop today, in between half hour rises for my farmhouse bread baking. Once all the bread is done, I'll still have plenty of daylight to do more "fence work". I'd love to get as far as the first baby bird today. We'll see how I did tomorrow.

I've Got (A) Rhythm...

I've found my stitching rhythm for the fencing now, so I'm starting to make good progress. I only stitched for about two hours or so this time, as I was working on a few other home tasks. I can see where this will go a little faster now than when I began this part of the piece.

Of course, I'm sharing a closeup, too. I like that the stitching looks like it's undulating - much like you might find in the grain of an old piece of wood. I'll be back at it today, so we'll see how far I can get this time.

The weather isn't quite so ghastly hot now. In fact, it was downright perfect yesterday. We're in for more of the same today, with a slight chance for showers, so it will be just right for me to busy myself with my needlework. 

I hope you're enjoying the weather where you are. If you're in Texas, my heart is with all affected by the flooding. Such a tragedy, and there really are no sufficient words to cover how I and so many other are feeling. Continued prayers that more survivors are found. 

Fencing Is Under Way...

This is what I have to show for five hours of needle dancing. I admit, there was more, but I didn't like it, so I took it out. This was what I accomplished on Thursday.

Add another four hours Friday and this is the result so far. I don't know if it looks like old fencing with lichen on it to you, but it seems right to me. This is about half the height of the fencing board I'll be stitching, so I can't even imagine how many hours it will take to complete. I'm working with a total of seven different colors in long and short stitch to get this effect. I anchored and cut the long threads to take this photograph for you.

I'm working today, so I'll get back to it tomorrow. This will be my last shift for the foreseeable future. I'm not on the next schedule, and should have a surgery date by the end of next week. I'm going to relax and enjoy the time off, starting tomorrow night. I hope you're enjoying the holiday weekend, too. I'll share more progress on this on Monday.

Dance With Me...

Except for the feet which will be stitched after I've completed their perch, my birds are done!!! I'm tickled with how the tail finished, and how the birds all look together. It was Handsome's idea to hold the embroidery at an angle to show the dimension here...and his hands are holding the hoop.

I will begin work on the fencing today, and can't wait to show you what I have in mind. I work again on Saturday to cover for someone who quit last week, but then I'm off the schedule for another two weeks. To tell the truth, I don't mind one bit. 

I'm planning to finish the work on this during my down time, and then go forward with the finishing (turning it into a wall hanging). I'm going to start auditioning fabrics for the quilted portion now that I have the birds done. I'll probably share with you, too, for input. I have some gorgeous Japanese fabrics that might be perfect for this, so that's where I'll look first.

Yesterday was a long day, and my legs just won't settle down. This must be what restless leg syndrome is like, but I know it's because of the pain. I hate taking medicines, but I relented last night so I could sleep. They don't really help, but I keep telling myself to go with the flow. Seriously, surgery can't come soon enough now that we've got a viable plan. Until then, I'm planning to keep my mind and hands busy to keep my attention off my legs. I'll share more needlework progress tomorrow!

Tail WIP...

I began work on this in the morning, and then had to stop after about four hours to get to my new doctor appointment. (Yes. This is all I accomplished in four hours.) I did a little more when we got back home, but decided to leave the rest for daylight.

I've begun with the outline for the legs, but what's shown will be the padding for the actual stitching to give the legs and feet dimension. I'll pad them out a bit more, but just needed to get the placement before I completed the feathers.

I'm at work interpreting again this morning, so after I get home (and take a nap) I'll work on it again. I'm happy with the progress so far, though.

About my doctor's appointment...seems my little voice (and Handsome) came through again. In conversation with this doctor, it seems that my "knee parts" would not have done well with a repair procedure. Osteoarthritis is already causing bone issues, and the meniscus - if successfully repaired - would have failed again soon without a viable anchor. Considering the recuperation for the repair would have been 6-8 weeks non-weight bearing, it would have all been for nothing in the long run.

I really like this doctor. He answered all our questions thoroughly, and is confident a replacement will serve me 25-30 years. Our plan is to do the injured leg first, and the other one about twelve weeks later. He expects full recovery and a return to my former mobility...pain-free. Plus, this procedure will have me up and walking the same day. Of course, there will be initial pain, physical therapy, and work on my part, but then I'll be good to go.

We're going to wait to schedule surgery until after my echocardiogram on the 11th, so we have a safe "go ahead" from the cardiologist. I should get a call from the scheduler this week. I'll pick a date as close to that as possible. I'm tired of walking like a penguin in pain, and now I can see a real bright future for my mobility.

In the meantime, I'm going to finish a few projects, and get my head in a healing mindset. I've got this!

We're Gonna Shake Some Tail Feathers...

I stayed with this yesterday until I completed the wing! There was some frogging, but in the end, I won! The last bluebird wing is finished.

Next will be to complete the tail, legs and feet. I'll do this and then it will be time to move on to the fence post. I have my appointment with the new orthopedist today, but there will still be plenty of time to stitch. We'll see how much I can accomplish and I'll share that soon.

Happy July!!

I Could Have Danced All Night...

I got to spend time needle dancing today. I added more feathers to my bird's last wing, but I still have more to do. It entails a lot of close work, so I need to take frequent breaks for my eyes and for my legs. If I sit too long, I have difficulty getting up. Right now, I'm standing about every half hour. sigh I'm not complaining, because any stitching is better than no stitching, right?

Today will be the rescheduled lunch with Mum and my stepdad. They had to change our date because of doctor appointments for my stepdad. So, I'll pick them up for an early lunch today and we'll meet Handsome at the restaurant, as he has a few things he needs to do after, too.

Later, I'll meet up with with old classmates for our monthly dinner. We changed it to a Thursday this month because we got word that some people can't make it on Wednesdays. We'll see if it makes a difference in our attendance. I'll share a photo of the gang tomorrow.

I'd better go for now. I have a few things to do before we leave. I hope you have something fun planned today, too! See you later.

A Different Point of View...

Over the time I've been working on this piece, more than a few have mentioned that it looks like my birds are coming right up off the fabric. I thought today, I'd give you a different view of my bluebirds. This is the nature of stumpwork embroidery. It's meant to be dimensional.

When I designed this embroidery, I first drew out the design onto paper, then traced it onto my ground fabric. Once that was done, I needed to decide which areas I wanted to elevate. As the bird with the babies is in the foreground, I wanted them to have more dimension than the bird in flight, so they would appear closer.

In stumpwork, the dimension is accomplished with padding, so once I decided on those areas, I stitched down felt, leaving an area I could stuff. When I was happy with the padded area, I closed the opening in the felt and went on to the next piece.

The bird in flight is coming in for a landing behind the other four birds, so I wanted to try to convey that in my work. I did want the bird to have dimension, but I wanted the head to appear closer as it's landing, so I added more padding to the head than to the rest of the body and wings. The rest of the effect is in my stitching and choice of colors.

You've seen my butterfly (the class project from the Royal School of Needlework) as well as my religious hearts, my bridal hearts, my corgi pin, my koi fish, my bird ornaments, and my frogs. Once they were completed, they were released from the ground fabric and finished as pieces to be worn or in some other way displayed, but not flat. I could actually do the same with these individual elements (birds) if I chose, but they're meant to be part of a wall hanging, so they'll stay "grounded". (Funny to use that term when one of them is flying.)

So, do my photographs help explain my process, and the meaning of stumpwork for you? Of course, I still have more to do, but I'm slowly working toward finishing the last bird and starting on the fence post. I'm also contemplating the fabrics and colors I'll use for the quilted portion of the piece. This is, by far, the most elaborate seasonal hanging I've done to date. I'll get there, but slow and steady wins the race.

I'm also contemplating teaching a stumpwork class later this summer. It would be a basic pin that could be taught to all levels of needleworker. What would you think about that?

I've already begun my scheduling with doctors, too. My first appointment will be Friday. My "supportive knee" is continuing to tell me I've made the right decision, so I'm more settled even than before about my choice. I'll absolutely share updates, but I want to focus on needlework for a while. More stitching today. See you tomorrow!

On A Wing...

Today's photograph shows my progress on the bluebird wings. The difference is about six hours' worth of needle dancing. I still have more to do, but I thought you'd like to see where it stands right now.

I have pre-op appointments today, but I plan to sit back at my needlework frame once I'm back home. I'd like to get a little more done before the weekend. 

We'll be setting up my temporary main level bedroom this weekend, and I'll definitely be bringing some of my needlework stuff downstairs. I want to have "spoolie supplies", plus a few other small projects available without having to crutch up the staircase. I'll otherwise treat this like a hotel, with clothes in a tote and small closet, and toiletries in our downstairs half bath. I'll figure out other details as I go. Of course, Handsome will be an invaluable help, too, but I won't ask him to do anything that requires going into the studio rooms. If I forget anything, it will just have to wait.

So, anyway, this is where I am with the last bluebird as of this morning. I'll share more pictures as I have more done, hopefully tomorrow! For now, I've gotta "fly". lol

Niece Time...

It's always wonderful when family visits, and even more so when they bring someone special they want you to meet. My niece/Goddaughter, Jen came to visit so we could meet her special friend. You can tell from the photograph that they look quite happy together.

They came out to the farmhouse, so I had a light brunch prepared for them, and Handsome, Jen, her friend and I sat on the porch visiting for quite a while. Jen brought her two dogs...fourteen year old male and fourteen month old puppy, too. Jen was quite sure that neither would run off, but for most of the time, we closed the gate on our porch stairs to keep them close. 

At one point, Jen took her older dog off the porch to air him out, and she was more than a little surprised when he perked up his ears, put his nose in the wind, and trotted off on his otherwise unsteady old legs. The rest of us sat on the porch giggling as she had to chase him down halfway across our neighbor's field. He looked like a pup again, wind in his ears as he loped across the field. She came back with him after a bit. She was winded, and he seems quite proud of himself. It was pretty cute.

After our visit, they were heading to see her dad, and then to a backyard concert at a friend's. Their schedule was pretty busy, so we were more than happy that they'd made time for us. We're already looking forward to their next visit back to Wisconsin.

Father's Day was quiet. Our sons spent the day with their own families, but called their dad to check in. We mowed the yard, and later, I made a special dinner for Handsome. I expect this week will go pretty quickly, so it was nice to just relax.

We're planning on setting up a "recovery bedroom" downstairs for a few weeks. I don't want to try to negotiate a steep staircase on crutches, so this will be the best option. I have to decide what I want to have downstairs, so I'm going to make a list. Handsome rarely goes into my studio rooms, so I'll try to cover all the bases.

Otherwise, I expect to be working on my bluebirds today. I work tomorrow, and I can't think of a better way to rest my knees. I'll share my progress during our next visit. Happy Monday, y'all!

It's A Start...

I know it doesn't seem like much, but I did get a good start on the second wing. For those who are wondering, I'm using single strands of Anchor and DMC cotton floss for this entire project. Perhaps that's why it looks like less progress than one might expect.

I am enjoying this process again, and between the natural light coming in the windows and my trusty lighted magnifier, I can see every single stitch so they're placed as they should be. It just takes time, and I don't want to rush this.

I'm working today, so there won't be progress on this for a bit. I also have this month's ATCs on my list, and the prompt this month is "beach". Did I already tell you that? I can't remember. Anyway, I'm still thinking about how I want to create that on my cards. I'm hoping for a flash of inspiration, but it hasn't come yet.

I can't play today, so perhaps you'll tell me what you're working on so I can live vicariously through you? I'd love to know what keeps your creative juices flowing. Hoping you'll share so I have fun reading your comments. Off to work I go...

Wingin' It...

I completed the first wing on Sunday. I added a split stitch to indicate the rib on each feather. I really like how it turned out. I may still add some fringe treatment in the lighter section closest to the bird's body, because that would be the case on the real wing, but I'll do the other wing first and then decide.

I'm so glad I figured this out, because it was making me a little nuts. I know I was overthinking things, so once I identified that, it was easier to adjust and move forward. The second wing will go much faster now.

One big adjustment was that I decided to go to the topmost feather and work my way down. That way I was able to accomplish the effect of layered feathers (lying properly) much more easily. 

I'll likely work on the second wing more today. I'm trying to stay off my feet and wait for the surgery scheduler to call me so we can get the ball rolling on the meniscus repair. This project is a great way to keep my hands and mind occupied.

I'm actually getting anxious to finish the wings now so that I can proceed to finishing the rest of the flying bluebird, and then get to the fencing. I have something really fun planned for that, and can't wait to show you. First things first though.

I'm going to grab my morning cuppa, get a few tasks done around the house, and then I'm going to sit down to my needlework stand and stitch away the rest of the day. See you tomorrow!

Slow Dancing...

Wonky wing feathers in progress

Jury's still out on this so far. My intent was to show both edges of each feather (with the rib shown) as they appeared in the photo from which I adapted this embroidery. I'm starting to think that perhaps I'm trying to be too literal and it's actually taking away from what I'm going for.

This was the first photo I shared when I planned my bluebird piece

Sooooo, I'm probably going to take out the gray stitching again. I plan to start at the wing tips this time and work my way down. Each feather should overlap, but in looking at an actual wing, the overlap should be to the top side of the wing, not underneath. I can accomplish that look as long as I start at the wing tip and work my way down. See the photos of the open wings for a visual explanation. Remember, you can click on an image to enlarge it.

Once I have the flight feathers done, I'll go back and stitch more of the little pin feathers (where the different grays appear on the top of the wing) and perhaps even make them a little fuzzy as they are on an actual bluebird. But, first things first.

I kind of knew this part of the piece was going to be a challenge, but I didn't expect that I'd be stitching and frogging about six times to get what I want. Even so, if it's not right I know the finished product would bug me. Instead, I'll stitch and frog until I'm completely happy with the look.

Not today, though. This is my last week of three full days, plus a dear friend passed away the Monday after Mother's Day and her funeral is Wednesday so family and friends can say goodbye. She was one of the ladies on the 50th class reunion planning committee. She was a beautiful soul, and she'll be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her...including me. I'll be working today, tomorrow and Friday from 9:30 - 4:30 (approximately) and the funeral will be Wednesday morning. The rest of the week is my own, so I'm going to do my best to focus on this piece.

I'll be sitting at the hoop and removing all those grey stitches first, and then I'll begin stitching as I have time this week. Perhaps by this time next week, at least one wing will be finished. I'm certainly going to try for that.

Time for me to get ready for work. I'll see you again tomorrow. Bluebird update then. Toodles!

Rethinking and Reworking...

Well, I'm finally progressing on my bluebird wings! I've stitched and removed the stitching at least six times, but I'm finally happy with what I'm creating so I can move forward.

Then there's good news and not-so-good news. I managed to completely remove the ink mark from the fabric, so you'll notice that's gone.

When I'm stitching, I prefer to use a waste knot method. As you can see from this photograph, near the right edge of the image there's a knot with a tail. That's the waste knot. I stitch the knot from the front and then move to my stitching area, leave to little stab stitches where I know they'll end up covered, and then I'll eventually cut away the tail.

Well, I had three waste knots sitting together on top of the fabric after I'd stitched these feathers. When I went to remove them (by slightly lifting the knots off the fabric), I nicked a bit of fabric, leaving a tiny - but noticable - hole. It was unfortunate, however, not earth shattering. I pulled a thread from the ground fabric near the bottom edge, threaded my fine milliner's needle and rewove the thread over the hole until it's barely noticable. I know where it is, but unless I point it out, you may not be able to find it. (It won't be covered by the wing.)

So, I'll work on this as I'm able this week. I work today, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening. One employee less at the station, so we're all taking up the slack. I'm doing my part, too. I intend to stitch on my off days, now that I'm content with the feathers.

Time for me to grab my go cup and head out the door. I hope you have an exceptional week. I'm looking forward to doing my tasks so I can get back home to play. After all, isn't that the whole purpose of having a job? (Actually,  the quote I heard years ago is "You go to work to make money so you can do the things you love to do". Close enough.) See you tomorrow.

A Little Stitching...

I do have a little progress with my bluebird project to share with you today. I actually removed more of yesterday's stitching than I kept, but this is my bird in flight so far.

Imagine my dismay when I moved the floss bobbins to see this little, itty, bitty, pen mark on my fabric. grrrrrr I'll try removing it today, but if it won't come out without leaving a big stain, I'll stitch a bug over the ink. Even though I have a fix for it, I'm still not happy that it's there. Especially since I don't know how it magically appeared. When I'm not working on it, I always keep the hoop and embroidery covered to keep it clean. Oh, well. Water under the bridge. I'll deal with it once I know whether or not it can be safely removed.

I work today, so there'll be no needlework activity. Tomorrow is Craft Day. Whether or not I'll attend will be decided either late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Right this minute, I'm thinking I'll not be going, but we'll see how my work day goes. It's only two weeks yesterday that I had surgery, so I still get tired easily.

Either way, I'll have a new blog post for you in the morning. See you then!

On My List...

I made it!! Two full days in a row at work, I can still walk (well, kind of), and I'm still upright! Unfortunately, it also means I didn't get to do a single creative thing at home yesterday either. 

I'm sharing a photo of dog-themed fabrics today because I need to remind myself of a project I'll tackle and complete in May. Over forty years ago, I made a "retriever quilt" for Handsome...Have I written about this before? I can't remember, so forgive me if I (again) repeat myself. Anyway, that quilt, although still in one piece, has seen better days. 

I made it early in our relationship, and I'd never made a real quilt before then, even though I'd done a lot of sewing. It was a panel of repeating hunting dog heads that could be purchased by the yard. As Handsome is a tall guy, I purchased enough to make an adequately long lap quilt. All these years, anyone who covers up with it was guaranteed to fall fast asleep. It's actually a joke around our house. Happens every time!

Handsome has asked me to make a new quilt for him, but not a "fancy" quilted one. He wants it to have high loft fiberfill like the first one. (sigh), with light outline quilting. As I was unable to find any panels like the first one - I don't mean the same design, but something in a repeating block format - I'm going to have to do some piecing, but in keeping with the original, I'll only do outline quilting once I complete the top, so it's puffy like the first one.

So, here's my plan: First I'm going to finish the bluebirds, and then I'll tackle this quilt project. In between, in the evenings, I'll make more spoolies and work on patterns for spoolie kits. I'll work a couple days a week along with that. 

Oh, Judy asked in the comments where I worked, so I'll answer that here. I work at a local BP Station close to home. It's a gas station/restaurant/convenience store. I don't work in the kitchen, staying out front on the cash register and taking food orders. I prefer interacting with customers to slinging burgers, etc. We actually have really great food, and on Friday evenings, I answer the phone for a few hours taking orders for a Midwest tradition - Friday fish fry (and other food, too). I'm to the point where I recognize callers' voices, and know what their orders will be. It's quite nice, actually.

Today, I'll start by baking bread, but will be sitting at my embroidery hoop this afternoon to return to my bluebird project. I'll be back tomorrow - May 1st!!! Have a great day!