Hello ’23

I managed to squeeze in one more finish of the year, but it’s only a little one. A little reindeer kit needed finishing and making into a Small.

So, I have finally managed to dig out the old table for 2022 and update it, something which I have been very much slacking on. It’s really a lovely way to look back and feel I have actually achieved something rather than that vague not sure feeling. I’ve already started a new one with the unfinished pieces. Those Bieldy Slipper have been on several tables now, must finish them!

As I was in a bit of a finish off the year mode I also stitched these two little cheap kits which will be the first finish of ’23. The reindeer one needs a something around the edge but that can be done at a late date.

I found a lovely dark burgundy batik for sashing the random blocks I had made. I didn’t want black or anything too bright and I think it sets them off just right.

So that has been sashed together. You can work out the size as they are 10 inch blocks with 2 inch sashing.

The backing is very hard to photograph as it’s so busy! It has a riot of colours that work with the front though. Only trouble is it is only about 2 inches bigger than the front and that could cause problems. I am either going to have to enlarge it someway or perhaps uncover the longarm and see if mounting it will help. That’s a big job though with half the studio space still dumped in there.

I’ve been stitching on some felt balls I had made and some felt dryer balls I had to add to the Temari Not balls I did for Workshop on the Web a few years ago. They have been great little thing to have in my bag to just pick up.

Another finish for the table for the New Year is the Stylecraft 9966 Granny Motif Cardigan. This is an unbelievably simple way of putting together a cardigan and completely adaptable to all sorts of variants. I wouldn’t recommend the ReCreate yarn though. It shows it’s recycled heritage in being a bit scratchy.

I thought I’d been looking forward to the end of a horrid year. When it came to the actual time I found I was rather reluctant and the depression hit a bit hard. I didn’t want to let go of the year I had last held and spoken to Chris. It seems it has all has finally caught up with me and my health is now suffering badly. I had a routine check up and my blood pressure has been dangerously high.

Thankfully my surgery leapt into action and we are working to find a good balance of medication. After two days of tablets and rest…

I’m also planning on more mindful approach to each day, making sure it think about what I am doing and trying to literally not bust a blood vessel. It’s still going up in the evening so today the doctors may tweak the meds a bit more.

So I tried starting well and was knocked straight back down again. I know things are very much changed within me now but I’m becoming very tired of the one step forward two steps back thing. I just hope every cloud does have a silver lining as Mother was trying to show me last night.