January 21, 2009

First, I have to thank Dee for the trade. I received five skeins of GAST in exchange for a Mill Hill kit. She also included a skein of Kreinik Silk Mori. Thank you very much, Dee. These colors will be very useful for upcoming projects.

Second, a thank-you goes out to Kathy Y for the wonderful Vicki Clayton silk she gave me at last night's Heirloom Stitchers meeting. I received a skein of "Old Maid of Liberty" which is Vicki's version of a patriotic varigated. I can't wait to try this on one of my many patriotic pieces!





Last, but certainly not least, I want to say "thank you" to Virginia D for the Tacky BOB she sent me in trade. I'm hoping I'll get alot of use out of this. I've heard many good things from people who own them. Thank you Virginia!




Kathy uses Vicki's silks for alot of her projects and I've figured out why: They COST LESS than Weeks & GAST! Can you believe that?! ...and HEL-LOOO!! They're SILK!! Silk is WONDERFUL to stitch with!! Check out http://www.hand-dyedfibers.com/

I still love my Dinky Dyes but I think Vicki's fibers are going to be my new over-dyed fiber of choice! I plan on purchasing her sample albums with my February stash allowance. Then I will be able to do my own conversions and floss tosses. I'm also looking forward to seeing Vicki in person at the Stitching Jubilee in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, next October.

On a completely different note:
Something I don't talk alot about is that I, myself, am a cancer survivor. The genetic condition I have is called Gardner's Syndrome and is the rarest form of Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). I was lucky because my condition was found in its earliest form, before it became cancerous (Stage 0 according to the American Cancer Society website). But I had somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 polyps that had a 100% chance of becoming cancerous. I was told by the doctor that I "would be lucky to see 21 without radical surgery." That's not something you want to hear ten days after graduating high school, but that's what happened.

I had the surgery and the Gardner's syndrome caused growths in the tissue around my intestine that eventually blocked off my kidneys, which is the reason I'm on dialysis today. (that's the short version, anyway) Suffice it to say that the first five years were H-E-L-L and I don't like going back to that time. Now I live!

That being said, I've decided to donate my stitched "Love, Laugh, Survive & Thrive" to Donna for her Stitching for a Cure Auction. I will be including the 'Pink Snips' from Kelmscott Designs that Amy gave me in the CSE Advent Exchange. I pulled out LLS&T and found that the pins are stuck in the glue and I can't get them out, so I'm stitching it again. I had put this piece away after cursing at it because it stabbed me three times as I was trying to get the fabric wrapped around the backing. Now the joke's on me because the pins will NOT come out. I pulled the heads off two of 'em and stabbed myself another two times, so I chucked the whole thing!

I was honest with myself and admitted that I won't use the 'Pink Snips' or the scissor slide. I'm just not a pink girl. Sorry Amy! I want them to go to someone who will enjoy them, though! What better way to ensure that than to donate them to a cause where they will raise money for a cure?

While I did work on A Stitcher's Companion at dialysis, I plan on stitching LLS&T tonight and tomorrow. I'm hoping to wake up in time to go to the Barnes & Noble afternoon stitching group.

I don't know about you, but when I have to concentrate on something, I can't have the television on or the radio playing. Words seem to distract me when I'm reading or writing. For that reason, my television isn't usually turned on when I'm working on my blog or concentrating on a difficult piece of stitching. Tonight, though, for some reason, I actually listened to the Classical Masterpieces music channel on Comcast. I'm still listening to it now, as a matter of fact, as I'm writing and it's not distracting me. I guess because it's strictly instrumental, but I find the music very soothing. I soaked in the tub for about an hour earlier and didn't even pick up my book. I just soaked in the warm water and the soothing music. It was very nice.

I think the music helped me get through writing that difficult passage up there in this entry, too. I don't talk about that. I can't, really. I just burst into tears. Darn it! Here I go! I'm done talkin' about it.

I hope everyone has a lovely Thursday and can get some stitches in! I'm going to bed early so that I will be awake for the 1pm stitching group. Goodnight, my friends!