Sunday, May 24, 2020

Happy Handcrafts...

Life is getting back to some semblance of normal for a lot of people in our state, but Hubs and I are needing to continue to practice physical distancing from others pretty much at the same level we have over the last 2 1/2 months as we wait  for him to have knee surgery this summer.  We do NOT want him to get sick and have this surgery postponed, or him have to suffer illness on top of a knee that has grown so painful he can't sleep in bed for much of the night. He's walking with a cane, and hobbles, and frankly, doesn't walk very far.  Driving is difficult.  It's getting old and waiting is getting harder and harder.  Trying to hang onto the positive that he has a date, and not focus on the fact that it's still over a month away.   

It's a small complaint, really.  It's where we're at right now.  

Okay... onto happier things.  Handcrafts!  😊

I finished February's portion of the Linen and Threads' 2020 Mystery Stitch-A-Long:



It will probably be lost on anyone not doing this SAL, but I will be adding some motifs throughout the year in areas where they will fit in.  This is called "Friends and Family Sampler"  and each stitcher is encouraged to stitch in the initials of meaningful people in his/her life.  But that idea doesn't float my boat at all.   There are so many spaces for doing this, even if I could come up with that many initials, I don't even know if I'd be able to remember who all they belonged to when I was finished.  So...  inspired by another stitcher of this sampler, I'm looking for some motifs that I can add.  Some will fit in naturally, some will add a bit of wimsy (like animals and insects).  I have to stitch a bit more on this before I have a good feel where those things will fit, but be on the lookout for them.  Or maybe they won't appear until the Sampler itself is finished.   Unless, of course, I change my mind.  We all know I'm fully capable of doing that - and possibly even prone to it.  Anyway...  though the stitching is small and sometimes tedious, I am enjoying this greatly. 

And this week, I started a shawl/scarf project called Inner Light.   Because I'm using two hanks of yarn that are from different dye lots, I'm switching back and forth between the two every other row.  I know the two balls look the same, but one is darker than the other and it becomes apparent when working them together. 


 As usual, all you get is a peek at this stage.  😉 

I think the mottling effect is interesting in this yarn that is hand dyed in shades of bright pink yarn.  Worked up, it's not nearly as bright as I imagined it would be - which is a good thing.  It was really bright in the hank.  

And that's it!  Come back next week and see if I've made any progress!  






30 comments:

  1. Your SAL is very pretty. I like the color you have chosen for it. The Inner Light......so pretty. I can see a bit of the motteling in the little peek you gave. That is a really pretty stitch.

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    1. I'm excited to show it when it's finished. It has another stitch pattern to finish it off. I'm just hoping I don't find myself playing yarn chicken!

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  2. Oh, I forgot to let you know I have your hubby on my prayer list. Keep healthy.

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    1. Thank you, Marsha. That is greatly appreciated. :)

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  3. Great idea to alternate yarn - the mottling effect is lovely with that stitch. Well done on the SAL version you are doing - I would be worried I would forget someone's initials who was important to me so I do like your motif idea. Fingers crossed the surgery date will come up soon - time does slow down when you are in pain. We too are not joining in with all the new openings. I feel too vulnerable and we are staying close to home for the foreseeable future.

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    1. Yes, there is that... the thought that someone would be forgotten when adding intials. And how does one decide who's important enough to put on and who's not that important?Sounds like a recipe for hurt feelings. Feels like a burden. Putting in some whimsical additions feels fun.

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  4. That sampler is gorgeous as is the color on the shawl. I would find it hard not to complain a wee bit to waiting on a surgery while watching them limp around. Hopefully, it will pass soon and he will be have it done and be on the mend.

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    1. Thank you, Sandy. I wrote a lot more complainy stuff and I decided to remove it before publishing. This social/physical distancing is reaching the hard stage for me finally. I think it's especially hard now that our state is opening up - which I'm glad for. I just think we're going to start feeling more and more "left behind". I'm bracing for what will probably feel like a long summer... OTOH, once dh moves into physical therapy, there will be some new things in our day (I say "our day" because I'm expecting to need to drive hubs). lol - I never thought I'd think of physical therapy as a welcome interruption to life.

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  5. Are you using one of those cross stitching frames? I've been seeing a brand advertised on IG lately. While I think it'd be great and super helpful, the size is daunting.

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    1. Yes, Stef! I have the fabric stretched out on an American Dream scroll frame and the scroll frame is being held in my new K's Creations Z-Frame - I have a picture of it here: https://fieldlilies.blogspot.com/2020/03/my-new-stitching-frame.html It's sold as a lapstand, and it does work as a lapstand, but I prefer working with it on a table. The rods I have in the scroll frame right now are 18 inches long. Supposedly this Z-Frame will hold a bit longer frames, but I think this is about the max I'll use it for. There is an expandable Z-Frame for holding even larger scroll frames. And there is a Baby Z-Frame. These will also hold hoops, and I've seen them pictured holding Q-Snaps, but I don't have personal experience with the Q-Snap frames. I bought mine (for the best price I've seen) from StitchVine on Etsy. When I chose this, I was torn between it and an Elan Lap Frame from Artisan Designs. I finally chose function over form. The Elan is a work of art, and possibly an heirloom piece. The Z-Frame isn't exactly unattractive, but its aesthetic doesn't compare to the Elan. The Z-Frame's adjustability was, in the end, the deciding factor for me.

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  6. Your SAL looks beautiful and I admire you for working on such a tiny project with one color! It is stunning though. I've seen several of these now and they are very popular. I know Stitching the High Notes is doing a Modern Folklore SAL which they do every year. She is doing white or ivory on blue fabric. I am tempted but I have too many starts already with Stitch Maynia unless I need another to finish out the month? LOL! I love your shawl too and the effect of your method of varying the yarns is truly beautiful.
    I am so sorry your husband is suffering. Not being able to sleep is the worst! Can't they give him one of those wraps that would keep his leg straight at night so it wouldn't pain him so much? That has to be awful! Everyone needs sleep. I will pray that his surgery is sooner rather than later. My postman just returned after having both his knees done and he said he feels like he's 25 and wished he had done it so much sooner. The best of luck to you both!

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    1. I had no idea (until starting this one) how popular these motif samplers are! I ended up going tiny (stitching 1 over 1) because I really didn't want as large a sampler as the original makes. Re, husband's knee. Straight seems to be the most painful for him - which is why he can't sleep in bed very long. He has a torn meniscus and lots of arthritis. I'm not wearing his knee, so I don't know exactly how it feels, but basically it seems to hurt all the time, though sitting with his knee bent seems to be the most tolerable. Thanks for your prayers, Sam. Sooner would be wonderful. He's been hurting since before Christmas and he first saw a doctor about it in January, MRI in February, was supposed to have a surgery consultation in March, but then COVID happened. Like so many people all elective procedures were back-burnered...

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  7. I have contemplated joining that SAL many times, but I just have too much on my stitchy plate at the moment. After seeing all the lovely variations on the facebook page, I would probably waffle forever decided what colours I wanted to use anyway!
    The pink yarn is beautiful: just like cherry blossoms.
    Hoping for some relief for your husband soon:)
    Jenn

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    1. I was originally going to make mine in several colors, but I just couldn't decide. So I went simple with one color. I only waffled over whether it would be red or blue so I bought an over abundance of both. I'll probably make a blue sampler another time. Cherry blossoms! I like that!

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  8. I'm sorry your husband is having difficulty sleeping...I know hoe bad that can be..sometimes my knees and ankles hurt so much, I just have to get up...

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    1. Thanks, Tammy. Yes... he spends every night going between bed and recliner. It's exhausting as well as painful.

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  9. lovely makes! like the pinks! I am so sorry about your Husband's suffering!!! how HARD!!! I pray that the surgery goes well and that the weeks leading up to this will be peaceful and healthy in all respects as you both wait for the surgery! God bless you!!!

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    1. Thank you, Elizabeth! For your kind comments on my projects and for your prayers. Today as he thought about many in his family who've served in wars and lost limbs and life, he decided he should not be complaing that one of his limbs hurts. He really doesn't complain that much, but the pain finds it way out somehow - even if in just grunts and moans.

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  10. The SAL design is so pretty! All those amazing little motifs would be perfect being used on waste canvas in a crazy quilt application. So sorry that your DH is hobbling - it's not fun I know. Resident Chef had three tears in his meniscus and had surgery a few years ago - prior to that his knee took great delight in giving out on his way down the stairs and he would land at the bottom in various degrees of black & blue-ness.

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    1. Oh my goodness! That sounds terrible! I'm glad The Chef's knee is in good working order now. I think you're right about the motifs on a crazy quilt. That's a really nifty idea! :)

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  11. The sampler is beautiful but it’s even more lovely that it will hold such personal sentiments. Fingers crossed your husband’s knee surgery will go ahead without issues.

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  12. Your sal looks beautiful. I know it's difficult especially if others are getting out and about - my mum feels the same. We will get there, just a bit longer.

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    1. In some ways, now is the best time to have an issue that makes being mobile difficult. OTOH, the possibility of getting sick when one can't even lay down comfortably feels a bit daunting.

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  13. Hi Becki :)) Your Inner Light is lovely, I really like that colour. And your stitching on the stitch-a-long is so professional looking! You're so good! :) I hope your wait time for hubby's surgery isn't too long and painful...I can't imagine waiting for surgery, I'd be on pins and needles...

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    1. Hi Rain! So good to see you again! :) Now that we're finally in June, I think the weeks will go fairly quickly. While hubs is looking forward to waking up pain free (first time in many months), we're both a bit anxious about that time after surgery that is such a process. Striving for patience in everything...

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  14. The photography you did with the yarn is stunning! I love the entire layout.

    Very sorry that your hubby hurts. Same with us, we're not jumping to Barnes or running out unless needed. Though Tim's been working out of the home this entire time. Not a complaint. It's helped us pay down debt.

    Here's to staying safe and not being in pain.

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    1. Thanks, Ivy! I struggle with getting really crisp pictures anymore. I'm trying to figure out if it's me or my camera. Stay well!

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  15. I love the color you chose for the shawl! We are still taking extra precautions here too but we are in the older population! lol Enjoy your Sunday!

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