Debi's Stitching and Thoughts

OK ladies, I need some opinions. I have tried a new form of painting for me. It is called Faux painting. Here are a couple of photos of a wall I did. Please let me know what you think.

Well this last week was a very busy day. Masking off woodwork, light fixtures, and cupboards takes the longest time. I had no idea before I began this project. The master bath is the prettiest shade of blue paint. It is called spring rain. The bathroom looks so nice now. Fresh paint really spruces things up quite a bit. Since I have our bathroom finally completed (it took three days for me to paint alone - it is a large as my bedroom was in California), I will start on Rachel's bathroom. She wants it a darker blue/green, called Embellished Blue. I started the woodwork in her bathroom and the third bedroom (my craft room. YAY!!!!). Her bathroom turned out very pretty and she just loves it!







     Master Bathroom













Rachel's bathroom

Before


                          After




The dogs are enjoying their backyard and so am I really. It keeps them from underfoot when I am painting. Now if I could find a way to keep Rachel's kitten away from where I am painting all would be well. Right now he is a black kitty with light blue highlights on one side and his tail. He insisted on rubbing on the wet paint (because it did not smell like him).

Yesterday afternoon, my chihuahua, Harley and Rachel's kitty, Clark, were wrestling on the window seat. It was super cute. The kitten can get Harley so wound up that he runs back and forth the length of the house at super speed. It is really quite entertaining to watch!!!!!! I laugh so hard when they are doing this.

The next room to paint is the craft room. I will be using a color called Cream Angels. It is a white with violet tint to it. The tint is very light and only really shows when the sun is directly shining on it. Figured I can make this room more "girly".

I have two cross stitch finishes to show. Both are for BInky Patrol. I have a friend who assembles blankets in South Dakota.

Just a quick update on the happenings in Safford, Arizona. I have been stitching a barn for Binky Patrol and got to the grass area, reversed my colors and had to frog what I had done. I have begun restitching with the correct colors of green where they go. I knew I had them wrong when I put light green under a shade tree. hahaha. I have begun painting the woodwork in the house, trying to hide the hideous colors that were used before we got here. We have raised a chain link fence in the backyard for the dogs. One problem: two of the dogs dug their way out and will not stay in the backyard. Steve says he has a solution to implement when he has time off of work. He has the next five days off so hopefully the issue will be resolved soon. We are looking into building a shop for him. We are getting bids right now on metal buildings.He is also looking into seeing how much it will be to build one out of wood. He has built his own house before so building a workshop will be a piece of cake for him. Rachel is enjoying high school here. She drives to school every day and is really enjoying that. Looks like I will need to get a new car as she has claimed mine (hahahaha). We are planning on the Corolla being the car she will mainly drive and I will get a new one. I found one I really like called The Cruze by Chevrolet.

Well I have found my stitching mojo. I have my third finish for this year. Unfortunately I cannot say that I started it this year. This is a free pattern from Caron. It is called Olympic Spirit Tree. The original pattern called for gold and silver stars. I decided to change the stars to the colors of the Olympic rings. I used Dragon Floss, Weeks Dye Works, Needlepoint Silk, Gentle Art Sampler Threads...well a bit of everything I had in my stash. Anyway, I thought it turned out pretty nice.

Here is the list of charts I have to trade. If you are interested please email me at: debi.murray@gmail.com, you pay postage)

Told In a Garden: Bookmark Collection (originally $8, condition: New)

Dimensions: Dove of Peace (chart and threads only, was a complete kit at one time): Gold Collection: Hidden Spirits (condition: New)

Stoney Creek: Book 42 - Home Again Christmas (orginally $5.00, condition: some shelf wear but patterns are unused); Book 143 - Passages to Peace (Originally $6.50, condition: New); No Greater Love (Originally $6.00), Condition: Slight shelf wear on edges), Life Is A Song (Originally $5.00, Condition: New); Noah...An Eternal Promise (Originally: $4.50, Condition: New)

Mirabilia: Gathering Eggs (Originally $8.00, condition: New, never been opened)

Cross Stitch Crazy: Free Stitchers Diary from 2004 (teddy bears)

The Sweetheart Tree: Renaissance Romance (Originally $3, condition: New), Grandmothers (originally $3, condition: New)

Bent Creek: November Twirls Snapper chart with snaps (condition: New), The Littles - Snowman (condition: New); Welcome Knocker (Condition: New)

Lavender and Lace: World Peace Angel (originally $15, condition: New); Winter Rose (Condition: New); Emma's Garden (Condition: New); Firefly Fairies (Condition: New); Morning Song (Originally $16, Condition: New); Lady Claire (Condition: used); Serendipity (Originally $12, condition: New)

Little House Needleworks: Reading (chart only)

Keslyn's: Forest Snowflake (condition: New)

Lizzie Kate: Liberty Sam Kit (complete; condition: New); Quick-It: Sampling Christmas (condition: New, charm included); Happy Haunting (Originally: $5, Condition: New); Work Pray Trust (Condition: New)

American School of Needlework: Angel of Peace (Barbara Baatz) (condition: Minor shelf wear on ends of cover, pattern never used)

The Berry Patch: Missions of California (Originally $5, condition: new)

Designs By Linda Myers: Casual Style Bands (Watchbands, Bracelets and Jewelry) (Originally: $6.99, condition: New)

Imaginating: Winter Silhouette (Diane Arthurs) (Condition: new); Three Kings (Diane Arthurs) (Conditon: New)

Bucilla: Teacup Trio Kit (condition: New)

Plum Pudding Needleart: Believe Ornament and sign (Condition: New)

M Designs: Home is Best Sampler (condition: New); Snow Wonderful (condition: New); Virtue Tree Ornament (Originally $6, Condition: New); Grace Tree Ornament (Originally $6,Condition: New); Snowflake (originally $9, condition: New)

Trail Creek Farm: Millenium Collection (Originally $6, condition: New)

Heart In Hand: Wee Winter (Originally $2.50, condition:New); Easter Bird (Originally $3, Condition: New (with button))

Liberty Street Designs: Hearts of Three (condition: New)

Creative Moments: Snowman Scissor/Needle Keeper (Originally $4.00, Condition: New)

Mill Hill: Tiny Treasured Diamond:Winter Pals (Condition: used - no treasures included); Victorian House (Buttons & Beads Winter Series: Christmas Village) (Condition: New)

Forever In My Heart: Weeds and Wildflowers (Originally $6, condition: New)

Diane Graebner Designs: Berry Picking, Fresh Water, Hollyhock Garden Friends, Spring Fling, At Recess, Dollies Ride, Hop-Scotchin', Fun With Lady Bugs, Let's Share, Tea Party, Bubble Play, Helping the Hummers, Cross Stitchin' Friends, An Apple A Day (Condition of all: New)

SanMan Originals: Sharing the L Moonlight and Firefly (condition: New)

The Silver Needle: The Dancing Snowman (aka: Ice Boy) all specialty threads included (condition: New)

Art Ventures: Old North Bridge (Originally $5.99, condition: new)

The Stitching Parlor: Merry Christmas in Red (Originally $6.00, condition: New)

The Design Collection: Snowtunes (Originally: $7.50, condition: new)

Barbara & Cheryl: Seaside Collection (Originally $5.00, condition: New)

Heritage Series: Love and Roses (US Stamps) (Condition: New)

Brittercup Designs: Antarctic Penguins (condition: New); Feather Friends (Condition: New)

Columbine Designs: Flower Fobs (Condition: New)

Jeanette Crews Designs, Inc: One Nighters - 21 Teacher Gifts (Originally $3.50, Condition: New); 38 Musical Instruments (condition: New)

Designs by Gloria & Pat: For All Seasons (Shelf wear and fading on cover)

Holly House Designs: Blessed Are (Originally $7.00, Condition: New)

Frances & Me: Jelly Bean Prayer (Originally $6.00, condition: New)

Hob-Nobb Designs: Cabin In The Snow (Doodles for Leftovers) (condition: New)

JBW Designs: Christmas Motif Sampler II (Originally $3.00, Condition: New)

Hi all, it has been a very long time since I last posted on this blog. I think I am going to start it up again. I am hoping this will keep me motivated to post photos of progress on my cross stitch projects, perhaps post questions and definitely have some charts for trade here as well. Speaking of which I have an entire plastic tub full of charts to trade and will be listing them shortly. If you are interested in any of them I can scan the cover so you can see what is contained within the chart. I am hoping to be able to trade for gift certificates to 123stitch.com.

Not a lot has been going on here. School is out for the summer and Rachel is back from church camp. I am working extended summer session for five weeks, which will end on July 28th. It is a cute class I am working with, well actually two 2 hour sessions of preschoolers (3 and 4 year olds). All are special needs kids and all are teaching me something this summer. It is a great experience. I still do not know where I will be placed next year for the school year. I get to know that at the end of August.

On the stitching front, this year has been a bomb. I have not had one finish which is unusual for me to say the least. I am working on antique roses for Binky Patrol. I almost have the first one done. Four more to go. I also have a wedding sampler that I need to get going on for Steve's daughter who is getting married on Sept. 18th. That is not that far away in stitching time. I hope to work on the roses and the sampler at the same time (a rotation of sorts).

Steve has made me a wonderful oak storage shelf unit for all my cross stitch things. I have not placed a lot on it yet as he needs to finish the shelves but I do have the bottom shelf full of charts and hard back cross stitch books. I will post a photo of this later, when I find my camera.

Here is finish #60.  Kirby Cooking.  On to my next Binky Patrol square.

Not much is happening.  Just been busy stitching squares for the Binky Patrol.  Here is another square finished today.  This is finish # 59  for the year.  This is called Kirby with Apples

Just thought I would show you more of my finishes.  These are finishes 54 -  58.  I am stitching these squares for The Binky Patrol of South Dakota.

Well, I have finish number 53 complete and it was only 11:03 when I put in the last stitch.  I joined a Binky Patrol group that a friend of mine runs.  She sent me this pattern, along with some others, on Thursday and I started right away.  It took me three days (a record) to complete this.  I am very happy.

It is 11:31 PM and I have put the last stitch in my Bluebirds and Daisies Sampler from Blue Ribbon Designs.  It is one of their free patterns.  This is my 52nd finish for this year.  I must have set the piece crooked when I took the photo but you can get the idea.

Sorry about this ladies and gents, but I am driving myself crazy tonight.  My Q-Snap, including my project, almost became a frisbee!!!!!  I am so ready to cry that it is not even funny.  The day started out nice and peaceful.  I made two no-sew cubes out of my 50th and 51st finishes. They  turned out really cute.

The other day when I posted about my 50th finish on Friday I forgot to post a photo of that finish.  Here is No. 50:

Today I counted up all my finishes and so far this year I have 49!  I could not believe it myself.  I was told by a very, very dear friend (thanks Beth) that each bookmark counted as a finish because they were on separate pieces of material.  So I counted those individually.  It is hard for me to believe I have this many because it sure seems like I have not been stitching that much this year.  But if proof is in the pudding, I have it.  I have a journal where I put a scan of each of my projects along with who it is by, the fabric and floss colors I have used, who it is for and why.  It sure is nice to be able to look back on the projects I have done.

I tried this last night and everything got lost so I am going to try this again.

June 11 was our last day of school in the district I wwork in and Rachel goes to school in.  It was an excellent day for all.  Parties, water games, year book signings just to name a few of the things that were going on. 

As a recap:  Rachel had a great seventh grade year.  She maintained a 3.86 grade point average all year long.  She has been inducted to the National Junior Honor Society.  She also tried out to be drum major for the marching band for the 2009 - 2010 school year.  Although she did not get the position she is good friends with the girl that did.  The girl that won thinks that Rachel deserved the position more than she did.

Now, if you have been wondering where I have been lately, well let me tell you.....I have been stitching my fingers raw.  Wednesday I gave out my gifts to the children and staff of the school.  I stitched 38 bookmarks.  I started during spring break and stitched every night.  I finished them on Wednesday morning at 9:54. I left for work at 10:15.  It was a close call but I was able to get them done, notes written to accompany the staff ones and get them distributed before reporting for my assignment.  Anyway, now you have an idea as to what I have been up to.  Now I am working on a project called Dog Lips.  You will have to wait until I am done with this one to see what it is.  Rachel chose the pattern for me to do.  She wanted something fun to hang in her room.  Below you will find photos of the bookmarks I did.  Now understand, doing 38 is alot so I chose one pattern that went really fast (the Flying Diamonds) and made several of those.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The top left photo is of some geometric bookmarks I did for the teachers and office staff.  The last photo shows some more geometrics I did.  For the men I did the Flying Diamonds in black and for the women it was in purple.  The bright blue geometric bookmark was for my partner at work.  She was great to work with and this is how I showed my appreciation for all she did.  There was one other I did that I guess I did not take a photo of which is a real shame.  It was an optical illusion one that was done on the 18ct white fabric with black thread.  It looked totally awesome.

The second and third photos and the one next to it are the bookmarks that went to the children.  If you cannot see the message, this is what I did.  I wrote it like a letter to each child, putting their name then a comma, then this message: Amazing Adventures Are Waiting.  Read A Book!  Ms. Debi 2009.  They were thrilled with them.

So.... that is my story and I am sticking to it.  Guess I do not know how to insert photos very well with this new version of Multiply.  Try to over look it as you look at the photos.

Today was interesting.  It was 100 degrees and I was on a field trip with 100 second graders.  I was there because I am an instructional aide and needed to be there for a couple of the kids.  All went really well. The kids had no problems whatsoever.  We went to Knott's Berry Farm for a science field trip.  The topic was Balance and Motion.  The lines were non-existent if you can believe that.  Each ride the kids went on was preceeded with a short science lesson.  I thought it was a terrific trip, just way, way too hot.  All the kids had a great time.  On the way to the park, the second bus (I was on the first one) was rear ended by a pick up truck.  Here is a link to the short article regarding it: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/truck-freeway-bus-2370587 .  I am glad to say that the kids did finally make it to the park and were able to enjoy most of the field trip.  We were all worried they would not make it.  the ride home was uneventful.  I have to say though that I took a two hour nap after drinking a couple bottles of water and then fell asleep at 10 PM which is early for me.  I slept straight through the night, got up the next morning (wednesday -which I had off from work thank goodness), made Rachel's lunch, got her breakfast and went back to bed for another five hours.  I could not believe how wiped out I was.  Despite all this I would not have changed the experience for anything.

Hi again.  Today was a busy day which was good.  I had an appointment with the opthomologist today.  I had to have a full eye exam which I did not pass.  My optomotrist sent me to the opthomologist because she suspected that I had narrow angles in my eyes that had narrowed more since last year's exam.  Upon examination, the opthomologist said that he concurred with the optomotrist.  I was on the road to Narrow Angle Glaucoma.  He told me that if anything  were to happen that was tramatic that my angles could close immediately and I would be blind.  The only treatment for this condition is a laser surgery. It will not affect my eyesight as far as making it better (it is not like Lasik).  My question to him was "Do I really need to go through this?"  His answer was that it had better be done soon or risk the consequences.  I asked if I would have to wait months to get this done because I am really scared.  He looked at his schedule and I am going in next Tuesday at 4:45 for the surgery.  It will be done in the clinic and will take about 45 minutes (sounds like forever to me and I am not knocked out for it).  I will have to wait around after it is done for an hour or so and the pressure in my eyes will be measured. If it is normal I will be able to go home though I cannot drive myself he said.  if it is high then I will have to stay until it comes down.  He said that 1 in 20 people have to have the procedure repeated two weeks later because the first one did not take.  What this involves is numbing my eyes, putting a lens against each one and hitting them with a laser that will make a hole in my eye somewhere (I forget where though he did tell me).  He said it will take 5 or 6 hits with the laser per eye. Now you can see why I am so frightened (scared).

Where has the time gone.  I cannot believe we are 1/3 of the way through the year already.  There are about 249 days until Christmas and here we are in April.  OK, goings on are as follows:

My health has not improved measurably.  I am still coughing though I am seeing that there are certain triggers.  I am keeping notes for when I see the lung doctor at the end of next month.

Did I mention that I thought we were in the month of April?  Wlel, here in California our calendars should be reading July and August.  Today temperatures were up to 101 degrees.  Tomorrow we are supposed to be close to 104.  Wednesday the temps drop 30 degrees and by Friday we will be about 40 degrees lower.  Yikes!!!!

I have had some finishes even though I have not been posting.  I am going to post the photos below.  I hope you enjoy looking at them.  Here goes:

I decided to try some blackwork.  This is done with a varigated purple.  I really like the effect of the varigated threads.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the second bookmark I did.  It was done entirely in a solid blue.  This one was really fun.

  This is called Nativity and is from Prairie Schooler Leaflet titled: Starry Night.  This was a lot of fun to do.

 

 

 

This was a free pattern (I cannot recall the website at the moment).  It was too cute not to do because we have a dog.  There is also one there called Meow Spoken Here.  I will research it this week and let you know the website name.

 

 

I wanted to try an experiment.  I took bits and pieces from a Little House Needleworks pattern called The Friendship Sampler and made this.  I really like the way it turned out

 

 

This is a Lizzie Kate Snippet.  I chose to do this one beacuse I needed a quick and easy something to do that would not rattle my nerves.  I had been working on a piece for my daughter and had to keep tearing it out and restitching it.  This was my respite.

 

 

 

 

This is the project that was driving me batty.  It is by JBW Designs and is part of their Sweet Nothings collection.  I think it turned out rather lovely myself.  Any opinions?

 

 

 

This is from Prairie Schooler's Starry Night leaflet.  These patterns do not come with individual titles so I call this one Flight to Egypt.  I know the photo is blurry but my camera is not working as it should at the moment.

 

 

That is about it for now.  Hope you have enjoyed viewing my finishes.  Thank you for stopping by.

 

There are some very good reasons for my silence lately.  When I think of them I will let you all know.  lol. 

This last week was something else for me.  We have orange trees in bloom in our back yard and they smell like bug spray to me.  Why I have no idea but it is frustrating as I am sure they are pretty to smell.  My cough keeps hanging on.  I think I should start charging it rent or something. (hehe)  Seriously,  I went to the doctor on Friday for a recheck and she is sending me for allergy testing because the cough will not go away.  She thinks I may have allergic asthma.  She assures me spring will be a better time of year for me.  Why she thinks this is beyond my comprehension since we do not know what if anything I am allergic to.  So she is running blood tests for five different common allergens and I see a pulmonologist on Monday the 16th of March.  I have no idea what is going to happen if anything.  My doctor is keeping me on the Singular, prednisone and antibiotic until I see the pulmonologist.  Guess it is just for precaution.

Here we are on the last day of February.  This has definitely been a hard winter for a lot of people healthwise, including me.  I emailed my doctor because I have been off antibiotics for a week and am still whistling (wheezing - and it annoys even me.  Usually I cannot hear it) and my sinuses are still very painful.  I am now on my third round of antibiotics, have been taken off my inhalers but was told to continue breathing treatments as needed.   I do get into these coughing cycles that are difficult to get out of and she is hoping the breathing treatments will help.  I also have an albuterol inhaler to use, though she knows that it makes my heart race for a really long time (120 beats/minute for about 7 hours). I have also been given a 30 day supply of prednisone.  I went for pulmonary testing as requested by my doctor and my spyrometry (I think that is what she called it) was completely normal so we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I do not have asthma (once and for all.).  I do have this awful, annoying, lingering cough.   I am hoping it goes away soon but I have a feeling it is here for some time to come. 

I have been stitching some and actually have finished another Prairie Schooler ornament.

This is the second from the Starry Night leaflet that I am working through.  I really enjoyed stitching this one.

Recently I have been working on a quilt square for a dear friend.  Unfortunately I cannot post a photo until the quilt is done, so I guess you will just have to remain curious until then.

We had a recent health scare with my mom.  She was driving by the hospital a week ago and decided it would be a good idea to stop in a see her cardiologist.  It wound up being a decision that could have saved her life.  She was pretty incoherent when she went to the doctor's office and he would not let her out of his sight until she was admitted to the hospital.  All symptoms she was having were pointint toward a stroke but when tested for stroke and heart attack all came back normal.  My mom turns 70 this year so this was good news.  But she was still pretty far out there in her mind, was extremely lethargic, slept all the time, could not hold onto things, and the list goes on.  By the fourth day of her stay at Verdugo Hills Hospital she had seen a cardiologist, someone who works with strokes, a kidney doctor, physical therapy (who had her up and walking with a walker every day.  They had to be with her because she was a Fall Risk according to her bracelet on her wrist (you know, that lovely hospital jewelry that is issued upon being admitted.).  It was finally determined that her calcium level in her blood was 15 and it should be no higher than 11 so that was what was causing all the problems.  Now comes the hard part, trying to find the source of the problem so it can be corrected.  So they give her medication to help bring the calcium level down and everything starts to improve.  Great News.  She is discharged from the hospital on Friday (the 26th).  When she is at home she thinks she has discovered what might have caused the calcium problem.  She was taking two different calcium supplements three times a day for five years.  This amounted to 6,000 mg of calcium each and every day.  She was ODing on the stuff.  My mom was born with one functioning kidney so this is something that she has to watch very carefully from now on.  Had she known the risks of taking so much calcium she would not have done it.  This is a concern for me.  I feel that the FDA needs to regulate vitamin and mineral supplements that we put into our bodies.  I say this because so many of them are dangerous when taken at very high doses which some people feel is the way to go.  Doctors do not even regulate vitamins and minerals for regular, healthy patients.  Some of this stuff can be dibilitating.  Prime example - my mom.  Now at her age she should have known to ask the doctor before taking all that she did but like all of us, she learned from experience.  Please be careful with thngs that you put into your bodies that are not prescribed by a doctor.  It can be very scary.  My mom, if she had continued driving, may have caused a very serious accident or worse could have killed herself or someone else.  She has no recollection of the first four days in the hospital which in and of itself is extremely scary.  She was totally out of control.  Thanks for listening.

I have begun receiving birthday cards and floss from the Birthday Floss Club on one of the online groups I am in.  This is a terrific way to enhance a floss collection.  So my birthday has come a bit early this year.

Our dog has decided that it is a great idea to try to help Allen with his garden this year.  The only problem is that she is digging it up and he is trying to prepare the soil for planting.  Today she dug a good sized hole, about 8 inches deep.  Quite amazing!