Monday, November 21, 2011

Helloooo....

Hello everyone. How are you all? I am doing just fine. I think I always fare better in the winter time than in the sweating heat of summer. Loving the cosying up and staying in weather and that fog we had yesterday - wow!

I made a good effort at the weekend for IHSW. I firstly finished off the istitch mystery which has been a pleasure to stitch up. Now I want to find a small box for it to finish it off.



Designer: Istitch
Fabric: 25 count Lugana
Threads: DMC variations - not sure which one 41something

I also stitched this up for my DD's yearly Christmas ornie. I have yet to turn it into an ornie but I will find some suitable fabric this week at some point and do that. Excuse the creases!



Designer: The Sampler Girl
Fabric: Kiwi Illusions 28 lugana "woodland glow"
Threads: DMC 718 3818 304

I adore Tanya's charts and have several of them stitched up waiting to be framed. They are all on different shades of linen - quite pastel colours actually and I am unsure of whether to get them framed in the same style of frames or do each one differently. Any clues?

I have also started a Blooming Flower cushion in the remnants of the autumnal wool I had left over from the Autumn Blanket and it is looking quite good I think. It sticks out a little in the middle but apart from that I think it looks good. Problem is, I am running out of wool and don't really want to have to go buy extra so not quite sure of what to do. It may end up beign a small cushion! Anyway, that said, it is a darling pattern and works up a treat. I may well find myself doing another one soon.



Blooming Flower cushion. Pattern from here.

I have finished my secret stitching but can't show you untill after next weekend then all will be revealed!

We have had some bad news in our family. Do you remember in July/August time when I made the blanket for my brother who is severely handicapped/disabled? Well, due to a heck of a lot of neglect at his care home, he has been rushed into hospital with severe dehydration and a chest infection. He had MRSA before he went to the hospital and also a throat full of thrush. Poor boy. They said he may not survive so we all rushed up to see him - it is a bit of a way and he seemed improved. He has been a bit up and down since then but seems on the mend but my mum and dad have decided they want him back at home and do not trust to put him in a care home again. It has been a long and agonising time for my mum who never wanted him to go in in the first place but I do worry about how they will cope as they are both in their 70s now. They have been promised lots of help and support so hopefully it will all turn out okay.

Well, I wish you a good week with lots of stitching and crocheting or whatever you like to do. It's going to get verrrryyyy busy for me now as I have birthdays and Christmas and then more birthdays but I will try and get on as much as I can.

Lots of love,
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32 comments:

Julie said...

The mystery is beautiful, I hope you can find a suitable ox for it.
Gorgeous ornie design for DD.
Loving the flower cushion, that ones on my 'to do' list for next year.

Kathy A. said...

Hi hon. Nice to see your lovely stitches. What a pretty piece Carol's mystery is. I like your colors.
Love the crocheting.
I hope things improve with your brother and that your parents are able to handle him at home.
Take care my dear.

Carol said...

Hi Hazel, sorry to read about your brother, hope he continues improving and, if he goes home to your parents, that he does get the promised help.
Your mystery is beautiful, great design. I'm sure DD will love her new ornie. I've taken up my cross stitch needle again and I am remembering just how restful it is.
I made a Blooming flower cushion too (you've reminded me I haven't put it on my Ravelry projects!) I also used the pattern to make brooches using sock wool and a small size crochet needle. Really quick and easy to do.
Carol xx

Margaret said...

Oh your poor parents and brother! I hope he recovers well and your parents get help to take care of him. How awful that the care home neglected him!

Love your stitching! That flower cushion is wonderful -- love the colors you chose!

Joysze said...

Congrats on the iStitch finish. Love the floss color you've picked.

The flower cushion is so cute!!!

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother!!! I'm glad he's on the mend.

Can I make a suggestion? The blue font color is really hard to read against the yellowish background. :( Perhaps a shade or 2 darker for the blue would be easier on the eyes?

Faye said...

Love the crocheted flower!! And of course the istitch piece...Nice colors....

Wishing for the best for your brother also...Take care, Faye

Cross Stitch Crazy Mum said...

Love your stitching, they look wonderful.
And my thoughts are with your family through this tough time

Jeanne said...

Congrats on your finishes Hazel. I very much sympathize with the dilemma regarding your brother and hope he continues to improve and your familyh can find a satisfactory solution for his care. I have a disabled older brother I am always worrying about....still is living alone but my 80-yr-old mother is doing everything he can't do for himself. I live almost 2000 miles away so cannot be of much help to her. It is very hard some days to find joy when others are suffering.

Ruth said...

Congrats on your beautiful work, but mostly hugs and prayers for your brother and family.

Ruth said...

Congrats on your beautiful work, but mostly hugs and prayers for your brother and family.

Ruth said...

Congrats on your beautiful work, but mostly hugs and prayers for your brother and family.

valerie said...

Great finishes! So sorry to hear about your brother. I hope that he has a full recovery and that your parents are able to care for him with help from friends and neighbors. *hugs*

Catherine said...

So sorry to read the news of your brother. Sending thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Lovely stitches!

Lesleyanne said...

Love both of your finishes. Your crochet flower is lovely. Hope your brother continues to improve.

Christine said...

The SAL is gorgeous, and the ornie is lovely too.
I don't think I'd frame the TSG pieces to match, a mismatched look seems more in keeping with their primitive style.
The crochet flower is absolutely amazing!
Sorry to hear about your brother's problems, hope things improve soon

Kate said...

Sorry to hear about your brother - I hope the improvement continues.
Lovely ornament & flower cushion.

Chris said...

Beautiful finishes Hazel.
I hope that your brother is well soon.

Carol said...

Your Istitch finish is one of the prettiest I've seen, Hazel--such a lovely color you chose...

Pretty cushion, too--hope you can locate some more wool!

Oh, dear, I'm so sorry to hear about your brother's health problems... I know that must be so upsetting for the entire family. I do hope he continues to improve and that your parents get some help in taking care of him...

jenny said...

Love love love the colours on your flower cushion.

Mylene said...

Lovely finishes, Hazel.
Sending good thoughts for your brother and family.

Sara said...

You've done some lovely work, I really like your blooming flower cushion. Very sorry to hear about your brother, hope he will continue to improve.

♥ Nia said...

Lovely stitching :)

Louise said...

Hazel,
Your pieces are just beautiful! I am so sorry to hear about your brother not feeling well. I hope he heals up quickly. I can understand your parents wanting him back home again,even at their age. there is nothing like the love of a parent and their child. Thinking of you!
Louise xx

Sally said...

I am so sorry to hear about your brother Hazel. It must be such a worry for you and your parents.

Your SAL piece looks gorgeous and I love your TSG finish.

The crochet flowers are gorgeous.

Caitlin @ Naughts Cross Stitches said...

Your mystery Sal looks great. Lovely choice of colours.

I hope everything works out with your brother.

Giovanna said...

Congrats on the Mystery finish - very pretty! Sorry to read about your brother, I hope things will improve for you all.

Stitchabilities said...

I do hope your Mum and Dad get lots of help, then at least they know he is being looked after properly! I love that cushion, (see my email) Love the I stitch design I still haven't started mine!

Anonymous said...

Hello I haven't left a comment on your blog before. I love your mystery sal, I've been watching it grow. Your cushion project is lovely and the colours go really well together.

I know this is my first comment to you but I would like to send best wishes to your brother and your parents.

Anne said...

Sorry to hear about your brother. I am glad he is improved a bit. Your WIP's are beautiful. Congrats on Carol's finish!! Your crocheted flower is lovely!!

Kathy Ellen said...

Your Mystery Sampler is coming along beautifully, Hazel, and I love your beautiful crocheted flower cushion too.

I am so sorry to learn of your brother's declining health. What a shame that he wasn't properly attended in the care home. I hope that your parents are able to assist him to better health at home, under their loving and attentive care.

Blessings to you, dear Hazel.

Dani - tkdchick said...

What beautiful finishes, that pillow is so pretty!

I'm sorry to hear about your brother, that is just sad and awful that people are allowed to run homes like that. We put our trust in the medical system and we should be able to! I hope he's doing better and will be able to go home with your parents.

Siobhán said...

Oh Hazel, I am so sorry about the problems with your brother. How terrible that the home that he was in treated him in such a way that he got so sick. :( I will pray for your parents, and for him, because I know it must be so hard on them.

Your stitching is beautiful! Love the blooming cushion, too. As far as framing, I go with whatever suits the design itself. You could always take the pieces to the framer and choose the frames for the piece and then see, as a secondary concern, how they meld together? I always think that if you stick with wood, you're fine. But then, who knows, my house is probably Tacky Central but it's home to me. LOL