Apr 9, 2017

SUNDAY NIGHT SWITCHEROO

About an hour or so ago Buzzy decided to let me know that marathon stitching sessions with a 20X20 inch q-snap were...problematic.  I knew this was coming, and I think I even mentioned several days ago that my left arm was hurting from holding such a monstrosity and that I was going to have to switch to a lighter project, but this is me we're talking about.

When the pain got too intense, I swallowed a couple of Tylenol, slapped a BenGay patch on my forearm, and got on with it.

Tonight, though, my entire left arm is sore and swollen, Buzzy looks a bit forlorn, and I have finally come to my senses.

(For all you nurses out there...no occlusion...good thrill...no color change, numbness, or cold fingers, and I am pushing liquids and have him elevated.)

Firstly, though...I did manage to finish that second tree and two of the three birds atop said tree on Good in Everything.
I am still really enjoying this (obviously), but am somewhat kicking myself that I didn't exercise patience and order a lovely piece of linen from Picture This Plus.  Mottling would have made all the difference in the world, and were it not for the sacrifice of what little mental health I have left I would scrap this and start over.

(Rats...now that I've put that thought out there in the universe, I might actually do it!)

(Stay tuned for the results of the war between my rational and irrational brains, but don't bet the farm on me making a good decision...)

So my dilemma comes in the form of wanting to continue to stitch tonight, but needing something small to play with.  Should I pick up one of the Kurdy Biggs class pieces?  Well, I do love them both, but they require me to sit under a better light and use a lap stand and laying tool...not feeling that tonight.

How about starting my birthday present?

Nope...not gonna.  I promised myself that on my birthday (this Friday), I would wake up, make myself some cinnamon donuts, and I would open my present and play with it all day.

I thought that I might start this little guy:

And then I remembered that I needed to grab my beading mat for church guild tomorrow night (EGA Elkhart chapter meets in a church), and I kind of randomly flipped through my "Misc" basket.

EUREKA!  I found a kit that I totally and completely forgot about!  And it coordinates with my birthday present!!  And it's Plum Street!  On gorgeous linen!  With Belle Soie...which I've never used before!

So...as soon as this Tylenol kicks in and I've given Buzzy a little rest, I'm going to set about stitching this puppy.

Hope your Sunday has been everything you wanted it to be!  I never made it out of pajamas, but I did manage to watch a gajillion Flosstube videos, put stickers in my Erin Condren life planner, and water the plants!  All in all a very lovely day indeed!!

15 comments:

  1. Hope Buzzy is doing better, Coni! I like the Plum Street design you have pulled to start. Enjoy your evening!

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  2. You might want to consider getting some kind of frame for your bigger projects...I have damaged hands and can't hold Q-snaps either. Someday I hope I can afford a floor frame, but for now I use a double-hoop lap stand when x-stitching. For canvas I like The Doodler.

    Double hoop: https://www.amazon.com/Lap-Stand-Combo-10-Hoops/dp/B005CLIE4G/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1491790189&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=double+hoop+lap+stand

    The Doodler: https://www.amazon.com/Images-Stitchery-Design-DOOD-Doodler/dp/B002I6XM86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491790239&sr=8-1&keywords=the+doodler+stitch+frame

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  3. Hope the Tylenol kicks in and you're able to get a good night's sleep. My advice is to put donw the big project for a few days and starts Beans, Beans. Now I want to order that pattern!
    Carolyn

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  4. I have a wood Grip-it with a Q-snap head. I was having problems holding my bigger projects and this has made a world of difference. I don't think they make Grip-its any more but if you google it, you will see what it looked like. You can also find them now and again on Ebay. I saw one a while back for $45 and free shipping. So, keep an eye out on Ebay and maybe let the gals at your ANG and EGA groups know you are looking for one. One of them might have an extra. You won't be sorry.

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  5. Please save yourself and Buzzy and just use a floor stand to hold whatever wonderful thing you are working on. Hope the Tylenol has kicked in by now, and that Buzzy calms way down and is back "normal" very, very soon. Honestly, I can no longer work without a floor stand and magnifying light...at all. Not all bad, just an adjustment.

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  6. You'll LOVE Plum Street and Belle Soie!!!! Please take care Coni. We want you to be well and happy in all ways. Hugs & Prayers, Cathryn

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  7. On Good in Everything: why not stitch the wording above it and call it done for now? Don't cut off the extra fabric yet -- put it away and think about it for awhile.
    --Lynn in southern NJ

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  8. Hope you are feeling better! Gorgeous, gorgeous progress!!

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  9. let Buzzy rest--don't push him--he's still young. Regarding a restart on your lovely WIP, while PtP mottled fabrics are magnificent, on a project like the one upon which you are musing (in my humble opinion) once all the stitching is done, there'll be so much covered space, you won't notice the lack, or presence, of mottling. You'll enjoy using Belle Soie--just don't forget the Thread Heaven! Have fun. Love your posts and look forward to your adventures in Stitch World.

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  10. Love Belle Soie...and Plum Street! I hope you will like it. WIP- sometimes I think the overdyed look is too much, hiding the stitching. I'm loving the way it's looking right now. But it isn't my project :)

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  11. The floor stand changed my stitchy life. Buzzy would appreciate it.

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  12. The floor stand changed my stitchy life. Buzzy would appreciate it.

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  13. Hope your arm is feeling better soon.

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  14. Hope your arm is better. I love your stitching choices.

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  15. Hi, Connie. I'm a lurker for many years (way back when you started Stars for a New Millenium ..) .. re: floor stands, not sure if you can afford it right now, but when you're in a good position for a stand, please look at the one Judy O'Dell sells. It's not as portable as some of the other stands out there, but it's a good solid stand that I use for my 6" q-snaps and my 20" stretcher bars. I'm sure it would accommodate larger stretcher bars, but I haven't had the need to try it out yet. The only 'negative' thing about t is the wing nuts that attach the arms sometimes fall apart. A quick trip to the hardware department, 50 cents out of the piggy bank, and problem solved.

    Hug Bosco for me and good luck with the next phase in the adventure!!

    - Sue

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