Improvements

An interesting house we saw out on our walk the other night. This is a common form of architecture here and I love it!

My eye appointment went very well, better than expected. The bubble behind my retina is gone! The doctor told me the outline I am still seeing is just where it hasn't completely set back in. I am so thrilled with this news. It is a big relief. I go back in a month for a checkup and to set up a date for the laser surgery on the other eye. I will also be getting a new prescription for my glasses. Soon hopefully my eyes will be much happier. I can hardly wait.
This has been such a long process I have lost myself along the way. Now that I have permission to work again I find myself confused on how to "get back on the horse". I find myself distraceted and wandering about unsure where to start or even what to start on. I am sure I will find my way back soon. I am not completely idle though. I have been spring cleaning the house. It is in sore need of some attention. Being on restricted activity will make any house look in sad shape. It is starting to look clean again.


I did a small batch of specialty trims and satin silk ribbon last week, only to find that the ribbon wasnt silk after. I should have tested it because I had my suspicions. Next time I will know better. I have never worked with silk satin ribbons before so they fooled me.


I've also been working on my embroidery. Still working on the yoke for my shirt. I really hope to get this done by vacation time. I need to kick it into high gear though. I keep dawdling. I only have three weeks left. I am so excited. I am really looking forward to this trip. I think I need a little change of scenery, I have went kinda crazy in this house!


Hubby took me shopping in Germany for a few things I was in sore need of for the vacation. I found the greatest pair of Birkenstocks and I LOVE them. For once I was paying a reasonable price for a pair and not the $100 price tag you see in the states. I guess there are a few advantages to living next to Germany :) I also picked up a few pair of capris since I have no shorts to speak of. Now if I just get my new top done I will be set!
~Hope you are all having a great week~

I have a crush...

A big big crush...on velvet. I am just so in love with my new bias velvet ribbon. I started making it a while back but since then with all the problems I never had an opportunity to use any of it. Well I rectified that and now that I have I am never going back. It is just so lush and yummi! I love the depth it puts in my work and I just want to paper my whole world with velvet. Why not when it's so soft and vibrant and just wonderful! Am I gushing enough? Here are a few progress photos of the shirt I am working on, see what I mean?


In other news, I am off to the eye doc Tuesday for a progress report. Please keep me in your thoughts. I am nervous but very positive about this visit. My eye seems to be doing so much better!

New work

Hello Again, still taking it easy but slowly adding more activity. I go to docs next week and really expect a good progress report. I can barely detect the spot in my eye now. I think it really shrunk! In other news, my thyroid is refusing to cooperate and I guess it's going to take a bit to get it under control, but that and a severe Vitamin D defeciency explain most of my fatigue away. I think by this time next month I will be well on my way to a new me!
SO I did another dye batch this weekend. Lots of luscious colors of floss. I recreated some oldies but goodies and also added on a few new ones. Here is a pic of a few of them and when I finally get them all wrapped and processed they will eventually make their way into my shop:


I also started a new embroidery piece. This one is for me! Hubby is taking me to the mediterranean again next month. We are going to the same place we went a few years back and I just adored it. So I wanted a pretty top to wear while I walked on the beach so this is it! It will be all white cotton gauze but I am embroidering the yoke. Here is a peek at my beginnings.


I have the pattern sketched out and the paisleys placed. Today I start stitching! I really hope I can get it done in time.

A Fresh Start

Although my days were spent with many an indolent hour while I was away from here, I did manage to accomplish a few things. I covered some of my pillow finally and I love the squishy soft comfort they give me. Someday I will get them all done!


I also finally came up with an idea I liked for the ends of my paisley belt I made last year. I did the embroidery and really like how it looks but ran into a snafu with the eyelets for the ties, I am working now on redoing the eyelet part to make loops instead. I think it will look fine either way so I don't mind so much


I planted lots of seeds and tried to nurture them into baby plants. I'm afraid many refused to show their faces to the light of day. I do have a nice big pot of basil going now and a few gorgeous hot pink Morning Glories starting to grow. All of my plants survived the winter except one mint. the fuchsia and the thyme. I thought I had killed both mints (which in my mind is neigh on impossible) but when I went to replant in that pot there were tiny leaves peeking out. It's hard to kill that stuff! I was real sorry to see the fuchsia go, I love them so.

My eye gets better every day it seems. I dont have my next appointment for a few weeks but the spot seems to be fading and my eyes dont tire as easily. I have been doing a bit of work each day. Not too much as I dont want to overtax myself but I have much catching up to do. I did a big shop update a few days ago adding many of the ribbons that have been sitting here since before my rest and quite a few pieces of linen. I am working now on making another set of listings. My goal is to list all these finished items so I can stow them away in their little cabinets, clear the space off my counters and tables and finally feel like I can have a fresh start. I have ideas floating around in my head. I want to dye some of these cotton prints here, maybe many of them in the same colorway and then make myself a patchwork piece that I can turn into a top. I don't know. I just know that my hands are itching to do again. I also have my indigo pot sitting here waiting for me to get it going. I have many ideas for play with it. I want to do some shibori velvets. I am just thankful that my health continues to improve and I will once again be able to spend my days amidst my beloved fibers.

Surviving

Hello Everyone! I am here and slowly making my way back to a more normal life. Last time I spoke with you all I told you of the problems with my eyes and that I would be doing as the doc instructed. Well, she put me on work restriction, and so that is what I did. Nothing. I was already on restriction from my other doc, being told no physical activity, now I could do no other activity. So I have sat here for a month, no work, no sewing to speak of, nothing. I was bored to tears! I have watched enough tv to last a life time, and filled my days with meaningless drivel. It was all worth it though. My last appointment doc said the bubble behind my retina had receded by 1/3, now a week later it seems that the spot is not so prevelant in my vision. I think it is receding more. I have been given permission to slowly return to work. I am supposed to take it very easy and not allow any stress into my life right now and rest, rest, REST! I will certainly do that too. I want my eyes back to normal. I want my hip back to normal. I am happy to say it is also benefitting from this long rest. I did well for two weeks with little pain at all until I decided on Friday to try a bit more exercise than I should of. It quickly reminded me that I was NOT supposed to be exercising. I will behave.


This weekend I did my first dye batch since my restirctions. It was so fun to play with my dyes again..and soon I hope to pick up my needle again :)