*** Okay - just figured out - I have already stitched this before, on PTP Sand fabric. That it takes two of the darker floss, and one of the lighter one. Stitching it again is fine with me. But kinda funny. I have converted a bunch of my original posts back to drafts - so I can't even say when I stitched it. I did finish it. Did not frame it - but I did finish it. I had the fabric - I had the fancy floss - it didn't cost me anything to stitch it again. ***
To Laugh Often - Twisted Threads. A new start. Using suggested fancy flosses, on 28 count Queen Anne's Lace jobelan, one over one. I don't mind doing words at all, and this is from my stash. Saw it on McKenna's 1884 store, just $2, but then thought I had it in my stash already. But was it easier to just order it again, or try to dig through my stash? I found it in my stash. So far, it's been fine.
I had looked up photos on-line for my high school reunion. I have never gone. The people that I would like to see or talk to again, do not go to class reunions, But I did look at the photos, and have memories. They were all people that either did not talk to me while we were in school. The cheerleaders... Or - men that let me know what a huge deal that they dance with me when I asked them once, or didn't talk to me when I asked them to talk at some bar a few years after high school. And I seemed to have a version of that - I can't be bothered to talk to YOU (me) memory for each of the people in these bar union photos. Oh boy - I could go - and they could tell me they are still too busy to talk to me - can't be bothered to say hello to you....
And it turns out - it REALLY irked me that those people could still make me feel like that more than 45 years later, just looking at photos. I did not care about their opinions then - it was clear that I did not matter to them in school. Which I didn't care about in school. And part of suddenly wanting to stitch this.... is a line that ends with.... and endure the betrayal of false friends.
I can see some of the photos show guys that these cheerleader girls would never have dated, or be seen with, the guys that they are all cozy-cozy with in these bar photos. And I am not claiming to know all their relationships - but that line about false friends - just fit the mood that I saw in those older reunion photos. So I just HAD to start it.
Swedish Horses - Modern Folk Embroidery. This is where I am, 3 pages finished of 6 total. My camera sucks for showing colors correctly, but the above photo is kinda close. I am happy with the colors. I didn't want to do another brown version combination. And the pattern photo is white stitches on a tan fabric, which is lovely, but my stitches would show flaws on something this big. The side that is complete measures 9.25 inches. It should be square when finished.
This is Swedish Horses - Modern Folk Embroidery. This is two of six pages completed. This is also two skeins of dmc 3799 used. It is enough to see what the final design will look like, and to know that I have enough floss to complete it.
I ordered the cookbook and one pattern from market. Which for me is enough.
Hannah Wilson - Needlework Press. Picked this one back up, and added to it, but progress was slow.
Last night I added enough to get across to the left side, and then prayed as I brought the side stitches down to meet the XYZ section. And it was a relief when they met up correctly. The bottom alphabet is the page break, so I was glad I won't have to stack pages, on my magnetic pattern holder. Some of the alphabets are small and stitched one over one, but I already stitch the big alphabets one over one. So I am filling in the big stuff, and then I will add something else to fill in if it looks goofy.
I have not been stitching. I started doing jigsaw puzzles. And buying jigsaw puzzles. Probably over 100 puzzles. It was a nice break. But I missed stitching, and have been trying to return to stitching again. I have so many stitching projects started, I'd rather be stitching. Picking it back up seemed to be the hard part.
I turned 65, so finally able to get Medicare, but somehow that got screwed up, so I don't have medical insurance for last three months. I have talked to Social Security, they told me what to fill out to fix it, and I did that around thanksgiving.... and I checked around Christmas to be sure they had the form, they do... but I was told it was still - "IN PROCESS". Then I got another form in February saying, we see you didn't apply, but if you filed something after Oct 25, for GOD'S SAKE - DON'T FILE FOR IT AGAIN !!!! So it had now been three months without insurance. So I had an check up in January - and I cancelled that.... You get heart checks after chemo, I had to cancel that in December. And in December, that doctor retired. I do have the add on stuff.... the stuff that covers what Medicare does not cover, and I have been paying for that.... but you just know, if I end up needing medical care, it is not going to pay, because Medicare is not gonna pay first.... And my drug plan was supposed to start being auto paid from checking.... that did pay.... so they finally sent me a payment book to pay... in February... So I was already late paying January and February.... So there was an option to pay the entire year - so I contacted the back to be sure they had NOT paid, and I mailed the check - full year - same day. Three days later, another threatening letter.... YOU HAVE NOT PAID... So I call saying - you JUST sent me the bill - the check is in the mail.... It has not had time to get there yet... But it should be there in days, and when I mailed it... DID I WANT TO PAY IT AGAIN over the phone??? no, I am not going to send you double payments. THEN I get a phone call on the holiday last week. The one where the banks are closed. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE YOUR PAYMENT.... so I call back to some auto phone thing... So do I want to pay again??? NOOO....
The next day I call the bank - It's TUESDAY, after the holiday, banks are open again. Did they happen to cash that check I mailed them? YES, they cashed it last THURSDAY.
So they got it and cashed it two days after I said it as in the mail, and yet days later, they call and say - we don't have it. HUMMMM... and just to be clear, I am paying for my drugs myself - not using the drug plan - my estrogen killer - is $24 for 90 days if I use the Amazon pharmacy. $100 a year. I do not think that is bad for a pill with no drug plan. IF I USE their insurance plan - it is $46 or more - thru Amazon - for 90 days. So I was not going to change in the middle of a prescription anyway. The insurance prefers some other mail order pharmacy. So I have been signed up with them since November, and have not used anything yet. But they have their money for the full 2026 year, and I will watch at year end for the bill. When I signed up - I signed the papers for it to start auto pay - but clearly, like signing up for medicare part B - it has not gone smoothly.
I did start looking at the new next market stitching things.... I figured the cookbook... then I saw the Heartstring Samplary - All things wise and wonderful. I have the other two patterns, so I am gonna have to order this one too. I saw the fancy floss list was up already, except the two new flosses not released yet, I could order those - so I did - and just to you know - $100. plus tax and shipping for just the floss, no pattern, no fabric. I can't remember what I have for the other two patterns, but I know I have the patterns. But I don't think I have them started. I have lots of stash - and started things. But if I find patterns that I love, I pick them up to support the designers - just because they ARE wonderful, even if I know I will not ever stitch them. I don't buy the supplies for those.
And after the months passed not updating this blog - I had forgotten the password.... seriously. And I keep a book of passwords, but I had not written the blog password in the book - but in about 10 minutes, it came to me - and I wrote it down... Sometimes things can just be slightly goofy.
Hannah Wilson - Needlework Press... got some love....
Then I tried the restart of a Blackbird Design - but the fabric again was just gonna crash, so I tried a third restart.... which I ended up pulling the threads out, and giving up.
Then it got tossed back.... But I was happy that it was filled in more.
Then I started Eliza Evans 1831 - and I can't see the designer.... and the photo came out really sad, so no photo. I only have an area about the size of a post card started. It's another alphabet samplar. I ended up doing several jigsaw puzzles. I just was not focused on stitching. Nothing was able to hold my attention. Eliza Evans had me fussy counting - but I got it started, and I think it's correct so far.
I had a bunch of medical things - not because there was any problem, but because it had been two years since I finished my treatment. The results were all good - so to celebrate I donate blood - and I donate cash to the breast cancer group that helped me. But I worry as the tests got closer - and I worry till they tell me the results. And it takes me a day after to reset - so tonight I am pulling the stitching table closer to where I sit. And updating this blog. Things are good. And I am picking back up Eliza Evans 1831.
