I'm still on my nativity set. I just finished the last shepherd and have started on one of the wisemen. Three wisemen and 2 camels to go!
I'd really like to get the pieces I have stuffed and finished so I can display them this Christmas.
Joan
I'm having a problem with cramps in my hands, mostly my left and haven't been able to do much for more then a very, very short period of time for about two weeks now.
I suppose a sit on frame would help, but I don't have one. Is there a cheapie that I can buy that might work for me short term?
I hate to spend a lot for something I really don't like to use.
I did try one a while back and found it not to my liking.
Lucille
Have you tried a table frame?
Cheryl
No comfortable area where I can use a table. I like to curl up on my loveseat and any table would be too high in that spot.
L >A bunch of stuff underway:
Just started to crochet a throw for my mom for Christmas in colors to coordinate with her new sofa.
Doing a Margaret Sherry design from her 2009 calendar (Domestic Goddess
- a cooking cat) for an ornament for a coworker.
Started an ornament (and plan to do a few more) from Emie Bishop's new pattern, Christmas Quilt
This weekend I plan to add Yo-Ho-Ho-Ho into the lineup:
What a great idea - finishing the finishes!
Sadly, I am still finishing up the serious things. So close - almost done - and planning a day of stitching tomorrow to finish up the last bits and send off my package to ANG.
After that, I have a Quaker Diamond project challenge - which Donna is also doing. I've convinced myself to be editorial, and do a small piece for the challenge (due at chapter meeting in January), and then follow up with a larger piece that I really want to do after. In the meantime, I have a family of lovely Gloriana silks and a piece of deepish green (IIRC it's something like stormy meadow) with some blue undertones from Lakeside that is waiting to be played with. First I have to set up the design - the instructor gave us a couple of sheets of motifs that we are to use in some fashion, and we get to go to it. What fun.
In the meantime, I'm actually planning (post finishing the serious work tomorrow) to work diligently on my "Spring Morning" silk/metal trame' & or nue' piece. And a bit on the Jane Zimmerman gold & silk piece - as I'd like to have progress before going to my chapter meetings next week. Last week I was all set to work on the Spring Morning, went to stitch group Thursday a.m. As I didn't have to work. Restretched the piece, get all set, and realize that I don't have the chart booklet. Yuck. I was able to finish one flower petal, and part of another as I could remember/see the pattern for those clearly. But none else. Talk about feeling foolish - though it gave the rest of the group a good laugh.
ellice
Sorry to hear that. I got some of the compression gloves, not the hand-eeze, but the ones from some ortho group. They help a bit.
Lucille - are you working by a table? If so you could use a frameweight and work off the edge of the table.
Personally I never liked my sit-on frame. Which is why I got the Baby Z from K's Creations. I like that I can use it on my lap, or on a table - but I believe it retails around $56 with a universal clamp that will take Q-snaps, rings, or stretcher bars. I use it all over - just an idea.
Ellice
You might be able to use a lap frame like the K's. I sit with legs up, or cross-legged on the couch and have it on my leg - sometimes with a counterweight on the base. But, I've had good success, even stitching in bed, or an armchair. The Baby Z is small enough that I think you could use it, though it will take pieces up to about 14" X 16" . If I were closer I'd lend you mine to try.
Ellice
Wow, that's *no* fun, Lucille! Maybe totally give it a rest for a week or so, so it has a chance to loosen up?
Do any of the other long-termers here remember the homemade frame- holder that hangs around one's neck that someone came up with? I think I have it printed up in my files at home and will see if I can find it.
Joan
Dang! Wish I'd known about these last year...they would have been the perfect wedding gift for one couple!
Joan
Sigh, I wish. This has been the week from hell with DB, in his 50s, with mono. Spent 2 hrs Monday in the ER after his dr sent him there in an ambulance because he passed out and had really low bp. Instead of strep....mono. Men are the worst patients. Ferrying him to get a prescription, ferrying DM for her dr appt delayed a day after the ER visit, not to mention the usual errands. Needless to say, I haven't picked up a needle. And if I did I'm sure I'd stab myself if I could make sense of the chart.
How cute.
Nancy
No intentionally inflicted needle stabs, please! So sorry to hear about your very tough week - men are babies when it comes to illness kind of things - as a glittering generality of course...
Hope the week continues to improve, as does your DH.
True - this is a cute series of designs - and I guess Sue needs a Pirate to go with all her mermaids ;^)
Ellice
You might be able to use a lap frame like the K's. I sit with legs up, or cross-legged on the couch and have it on my leg - sometimes with a counterweight on the base. But, I've had good success, even stitching in bed, or an armchair. The Baby Z is small enough that I think you could use it, though it will take pieces up to about 14" X 16" . If I were closer I'd lend you mine to try.
Ellice
Oops here, a little problem with switching from my old news server to the eternal-september - and this got sent twice. Sorry.
Ellice
*big snip*
Lucille, I like using a K's Creations Lap Frame more than I do my ancient Sit on It Frame. It keeps the frame more stable and can be on my lap or on a table so it works at home or at a seminar. But they've gotten a lot more expensive than when I bought mine so many years ago!
I am finally back to stitching on some of my UFO's - the next project is a Sea Hose Carousel Animal canvas I bought in 1990! I've got canvasses even older than that to stitch, sadly enough.
Anne W.
It's true - the pirate will go MUCH faster than the mermaid. You noticed that wasn't on my "in progress" list! I did do a couple of letters several weeks back. I *really* need to put shoulder to boulder and just get on with the over-one lettering - that's the plateau I'm sitting on. I won't allow myself to go on with the fun blackwork outline until I do the letters! (I may have to re-think that and give myself rewards at progress points.)
sue
Hey, that sounds like a plan. As someone overwhelmed with UFOs right now, any progress to me sounds good. I'm just sitting here thinking of what to bring to stitch in tomorrow morning! My plan for a stitch-a-thon today was waylaid by a - DH & I both seeming to have a head cold so he stayed home & b
- I had to finish the enormous security form for the hopeful will come to fruition real new job that I don't want to jinx. Tomorrow post-stitching I go to the office for fingerprints - woo hoo. So, I'm thinking of either bringing the more challenging (as in tiny, precise couching) but clearer to work on at group piece from seminar, or liberate Poseidon to work on for a while. Or maybe I'll finally finish the Welcome Spot sampler from Drawn Thread that I started after the first time we did an outing to Stitchin' Post. It's so close to done, if I can find it maybe that will win!
Ellice
Don't you just hate it when a stitching opportunity falls between "appropriate" projects? For the last stitch 'n' bitch at my LNS, I only had big and complicated projects underway, and not something I could do amidst chatter and distractions. I ended up prepping a new project (Mill Hill's Clarissa Cow) the afternoon of that day -- a design that wasn't too intricate, on which I could find the starting point and do a the first few stitches so I wouldn't have to count much, etc., even though it wasn't particularly calling to me at the time. And I've hardly picked it up since!
Sue
Ah, we are such kindred spirits. It's pretty nice and comforting to know that one isn't the only one full of UFO's, etc. So much to stitch and do - so little time. Often I find I'm really in the mood to stitch on a particular piece, but then either I just can't get to it - or I do and then that phase passes - and I don't have the self-discipline to make myself just go finish.
That said - at seminar in of all places the teaching class we went over the "Rule of 12" . Which in short (and hopefully I'm explaining it correctly) is that you line up 12 WIP/UFOs, and you start working on one. When it's done, you move down to the next piece, and fill in with another one in the
1st place. And keep moving down the line. My personal variation would be you set some time -like work 3 hours and then move to the next, and keep on going until you finish one, then another gets put in. Not allowed to start a new project until it fills into the place of a finished one. I can only do this with a time limit - like a couple of hours and then work on whatever. And so forth. I think many people have their own "rule" for forcing themselves to get the finishes done.I've noticed lately that the getting up at 4:30 am for 5 am work is getting to me. While I can stay awake (though I confess to some power napping in the afternoon) in the evening I think I'm finding myself too eye-tired to actually stitch precisely. Hoping this will resolve - either I'll get more energetic - or the "real" job will actually happen and even if it's more hours, I think it will let me get on with things better.
Now, hmmmm, I think I may go stitch on something this evening - after I get cleaned up, after I go do a couple of errands, and clean the kitchen, and well, maybe before dinner. Certainly after.
Ellice
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