What’s a girl to do?

Earlier today I caught myself singing “My momma told me there’d be days like these.  There’d be days like these my momma said.”  I’m finding there are more and more of these days lately.   Last Labor Day, one of my cousins hosted a Family Reunion in South-Central Kentucky, where my mother’s family originated.  My mother came home from that visit sick, and we had to hospitalize her.  While she was in the hospital, we also started my daughter in a daycare program one day a week, to help her develop social skills.  The combination of those two events started me down a path that has led to the complete and utter destruction of my immune system.  Next month I meet with a new ear, nose and throat specialist to schedule the removal of my tonsils, but right now I find myself struggling with the little kiddie disease Hand, Foot and Mouth.  Oh the joy!  With tiny blisters all over my hands and feet, there is just not a lot for a girl to do…seriously!   My husband played Mr. Mom today taking my daughter to daycare and then to dance.  After three days of pulling out my hair, I decided something has to give.  At home, all alone, all day long and I can’t stitch?  This is the stuff of nightmares!  I’ve decided this is the perfect time to update the blog and at least show you why I’ve been so remiss in that lately.

I should preface this by saying I’m still not happy with Noshi Ribbons, so I’ve tried to focus on other things.  The wonderful group of women I stitch with has undertaken Stars for a New Millennium, another fabulous Toni Mineri piece.  This is the second time I’ve stitched this piece.  The first time I followed the suggested threads for the Fall Foliage color way as laid out.  This time I want to hang the piece in my living room and there isn’t a color way that “fit” the colors I wanted to use:  chocolate, teal, rust and a dark, but a true, red.…so I made my own.  I need to add more squares before I make up my mind on this color scheme, but I’m enjoying it so far.

I’ve also been making a great deal of headway with my husband’s Christmas stocking.  I’ve enjoyed working on it a great deal lately.  After staring at Santa for about a week wondering how I was going to stitch that gorgeous coat and do it half the justice Liz did in painting it, I stumbled across the article Elegance in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of Needlepoint Now.  I chose to use the Vertical Satin Diamond stitch for the bulk of the coat, only enlarging it (2,4,6,8,6,4,2) for the large sleeve and portion of the cape closest to the viewer.  The farther side of the cape and the sleeve farthest from the horse are done as diagramed (2,4,6,4,2).   Ann Strite-Kurz’s article Using Common Stitches in Uncommon Ways (Mar/Apr 2012) provided the diagram for my horse’s collar (diagram 6).  I like the way it is coming together, and more importantly, he husband seems to approve.  Please let me know what you think.

I’ve also stitched these little hats in times when pulling up the big frame has been inconvenient.  My husband signed me up for a Christmas Club at Pocket Full of Stitches several years ago and I rediscovered them while we were moving.  I’ve changed some of the stitches from the stitch guide, but the threads have all still been appropriate.  They are still a work in progress, but they have been so much fun!

I have class tomorrow to work on Stars, but I think I’m going to stay home, just to be safe.  I don’t want anyone else getting sick, but I sure am going to miss Miss Polly and my stitching group!  Hopefully I’ll be able to stitch at home.

Until next time,
Penny