The Doctor says I can go home tomorrow but I have to come back on Thursday to see him. Thank Goodness. It is not that I am not well looked after but I just want to be in my own bed, with my own things. So Coochie look out for me.
This is the first time I will have missed a Children's Class ever. Some things just can't be controlled.
I came into hospital for a simple procedure and i’m Still here. I didn’ t think o bring any sewing with me but I do have some knitting. Not that that is any good I keep getting mixed up with counting.
i have a room over looking the river,
And although there is double glazing the noise of the low flying jet as it flew up the river for the “river fire” celebrations rattled the windows. I did get a fairly good view of the fireworks. The let me walk down the hall to where there are fixed windows. When there are no fireworks there isn’ t a lot to see.
Now all the photos have gone up sideways @#$&
Hooe they let me out soon.
I
I decided to buy this book for my collection from the Book Depository. Now I just have to wait for it to come.
I like Yumiko Higuchi's designs. They remind me of my time in Denmark back in the distance past.
I am off to hospital today for some more tests. Hope this lot will resolve some of my health problems. I am so sick and tired of being ill all the time.
I have managed to get some close-ups of Larry the lizard. I think he is some kind of Water Dragon. Isn't he just beautiful?
He blends in with the bark of the tree and his colours are the same as the bush around him.
I was wondering if he would make a subject for a thread painting? I think it wouldn't be easy. But he is a beautiful creature.
I was busily drawing my bird women but got distracted. How does that happen? I only had one thing on my mind and this other thought came in and took control. It said you should do portraits of Cats for you applique class. I have no idea where that came from.
So I put one lot of drawings away and started on another. I have two cats so far but there are others lurking back there.
As you can see I was drawing the pieces of fabric, what I haven't put in is the over stitching I want to add for the details. These cats have definite personalities already!
I know where they came from. Friend Pammy put up an image of a cat on Facebook. It must have crept out of the computer into my brain. It is a great image.
I'm not sure if I want this design for an Applique or an embroidery. I will have to see where the trail leads.
I have started with Russian Folk Art, which I find a rich source of inspiration and came upon a Alkonost or a bird woman. These creatures are woven throughout mythology from Rome, Greece, India, Asyrria and other European countries. It has been interesting to see them linked to Sirens and Harpies, maybe because they are said to have had the most beautiful voices. It has even been stated that the Veelias in the Harry Potter books come from the same source.
So what do they look like? Well this is some of what I have collected so far, manly from Google searches and Pinterest.
Now I have to start drawing and come up with my own version.
Some music is too exciting to stitch to, some music just puts you to sleep. One of my favourites are String Quartets. Most of Mozart's string quartets are about right for me. This is an old performance (1991) of the Emerson Quartet. I find it just right for cross stitching.
And here is a Russian composer who is new to me, Cesar Cui, he was a friend of Borodin. He only wrote one sonata for piano and violin but I really like it.
I have started my Quaker samplers, Two Sisters, for my grand daughters. Oh I do like to sit and relax with some music and just stitch. I have to watch that I don't get carried away and just keep stitching, so I am limiting myself to one length of stranded cotton. I divide the thread and thread my 3 needles and then just stitch. Heaven.
I am back on the hospital round - about again. Firstly my husband and then I had to have lots of tests, again, with still more to come.
You should see the weird looks I get as I sit and embroider! But sometimes these waiting rooms are not well lite and I turn to my books I keep on my Ipad. This time I got to finish the 6 book series "Death of Kings" by Bernard Cornwell. Not deep reading and a bit "boy's own action" but still enjoyable to pick up and put down.
These are all set in the time of Alfred the Great and the wars between the invading Danes and the Saxons. They keep pretty much to historical fact with a far dob of fantasy to make the story interesting. But now that I am finished I can see that these events also had an effect on George Martin and his "Game of Thrones" series. The times, the events, the kingdoms, all seem to hang on that same framework as the times of Alfred the Great. (Even the sighting of dragons flying over Northumbria. AD 793) Once you get back to these times there isn't a lot of written evidence. The "Anglo-Saxon Chronicles" seem to be the source that most writers refer to. It was an official record written by the church so is pretty heavy on bias. Still, a good read.
At first I couldn't think of any really easy straight sewing on the machine projects. Now I can't stop thinking of them! So, here is a very easy one, some serviettes. I used cotton quilting fabric, which is a good weight and comes in lots of different designs and colours.
Traditionally the most common sizes for serviettes are;
12" x 12" morning or afternoon tea
16"x 16” Informal Luncheon
20” x 20 “ and 21” x 21” Dinner and for more formal occasions such as Banquet Dinning.
But, my designs is driven by the fabrics I have to hand so I have made mine 12" square finished. This is for using for morning tea or lunch. But I don't think I would make them any smaller than this. You should find that 1 m of each fabric should make a set of 6. (I would look out for cheaper sale fabrics.)
I press my fabric on the diagonals to make sure it lines up properly.
Stitch a 1/4" seam around the edge, needle down to pivot at the corners.
Leave a 3" opening to turn through and then press down the seam allowance before I do this.
Snip the corners before turning through.
Top stitch around the edge using the inside of my 1/4" presser foot as a guide.
And that is it. You could use the same fabric top and bottom or have a different back or even make every serviette different. I think these will make great Xmas gifts.