Alzheimer's, Stitching and Estate Sales, Yay!

Dear friends,
I have tried to write a blog post many, many times since my last post.  I have so much to say and to show you that I just get overwhelmed.  And, I'm tired.  So, I do nothing.  I'm going to try again by taking one or two bites out of the elephant and then, if successful, I'll come back and do it again. 

Sometime. 

Soon. 

Maybe.

First - thank you to all of you who have asked about my parents, and my mom, in particular.  They have settled in nicely and we've all gotten into a pretty good rhythm and are enjoying each others company.  My folks pretty much have the house to themselves during the day and in the evening, we are there to socialize and offer whatever help we can. 


This is the former dining room turned bedroom for them.

My mom's Alzheimer's has progressed, and is continuing to progress, faster than I would have thought.  I was sure I had a pretty good understanding of how retched this disease was but until seeing it day to day, I didn't have a clue.  

What I really hate is when she smiles and waves at someone, and they don't respond in kind.
It's hurtful.
It's sad.
I want to punch those people in the throat.
Sorry, but I do.

Not only are the memories of who we are fading from her, but her memory of how to do things we think so simple and ingrained are becoming a mystery as well.  My goal is, and has always been, to protect her and to make sure she never feels embarrassed, humiliated or without dignity.  I try to remember to ask if she'd like assistance with a task before jumping in and just doing it.  I don't always remember.  Simple things are becoming a challenge.  I try to remember to cut her food for her before serving, so she's not embarrassed that my dad or I have to cut it for her, in front of others at the table.  I offer to help her select her outfits hoping she'll know that I enjoy doing it.  I gently remind her that I am here for her, for whatever she needs.  We all are.  She was in the hospital last week mainly due to dehydration.  I beg, plead and cajole her to drink water but as with many, it's hard to get her to do it.  The hardest times though are when she wants to go visit her parents, who have long since passed.  She misses them terribly.  I wish I could find a way to ease that pain.  That aside, there are plenty of happy moments that make us smile and be happy that we are all together and we cherish those moments! 
I'm so glad they are with us.

Now... for some stitching related news!

My Joyful World SAL is coming along nicely, I think.





It's sitting in front of my little fairy garden, in a galvanized bucket, that Julie gave me last year for my birthday.
If you're part of the SAL on FB, I apologize that you're seeing this picture again! 

I changed the January, April, May and August blocks to suit my own personal taste.  I also decided to add our households names and birthdates under their birth month block and I have to admit, I love how it looks.  I hope to have the outline completed for September before the 10th, when the next pattern is released.  We'll have to wait to see if I decide to keep that block as designed, or change it up a bit.  This has been a fun project and it is stitched on 35 count, over one, with various DMC, silk and over dyed flosses.  I'm not really keeping track of colors.  If I use one, I toss it in a bag and I may or may not use it again.  If I want to add another color, I grab one from stash.  The August block is from a Cricket Collection Scottie mitten freebie.

I have managed to get a small bit of work done on Plum Street Samplers A Yuletide Welcome.  I can't wait to get this one done and really, just love everything about it.  I have debated and debated about how to do the grassy area because even though it's a Christmas sampler, I'd like to leave it out year round (if I can find wall space).  I think I've resolved that - but a pic will have to wait till next time.  I started the grass area during the Olympics and my goal is to have it done by the time the Olympics are concluded.  I may just stitch till then and call it done, regardless of what's been done.  

I almost hate to show you all the stitching related estate sale finds I've stumbled upon recently!  Seriously, fabric (more specifically, lots and lots of cross stitch linen), buttons, bed linens (glorious, hand embroidered and pieced together linen sheets and pillow cases), DMC thread boxes and lots and lots of floss, ribbon and old embroidery hoops and all kinds of other goodies.  Far too much to show in one post so here a few pics of my finds.

First, this is the home of the most recent sale I went to in Grosse Pointe.  Quite the grand house and not what most of the estate sale homes look like, but it's always fun to go in something this big, just to see the house and decorating.  The gardens in the back were absolutely spectacular.

I was so excited to find all of these calico buttons!  Aren't they pretty? 

What shall I use them for?  Any ideas?

                                                           More buttons I found.  I think the card was maybe a dollar. 

I might put these on a sweater. 

I thought these embroidery hoops were amazing and for a quarter a piece,

I couldn't just leave them there, could I? 

Some are marked... some not.

                                                     

More estate sale finds next time.

Finally, Rob and I went to a concert last week and had a great time although the concert (Brian Ferry of Roxy Music) wasn't all that great.  The music doesn't always have to be great to have a great time, right?

We have another concert coming up this weekend - Sarah McLachlan and Josh Grobin.  Rob is not too excited about this one.  I'm mostly looking forward to hearing Sarah but I love Josh too, so I'm sure it'll be a good time.  We're going to that one with Sheila and her DH, Moe.  Can't wait!

Until next time, have a great rest of summer and be kind to everyone!

Peace,

Terri

Traveling Bags

Dear friends,
     Have you made anything out of an Altoid's tin? 

I've seen so many clever ideas, have wanted to do it for a long time and finally did!  I found this great tutorial for a little suitcase tin which you can find it here on the Graphics Fairy website.  My old Sucrets tin was not embossed on top but I added the foam, as per the tutorial, to give it some added dimension.  I am really happy with how this turned out and will use it to house my needles, small scissors and needle minders.  The tiny tacks were buttons, which I cut the shank off of and the lock is a tiny shield from a 1941 bowling medal I had picked up at an estate sale.

Layering the alcohol paints on the bright blue metal really helped give the metal edges a warm and worn vintage look.

Inside, a lovely Robin and a flower button.

It's not perfect but it was so fun to do that I made two more.

Making them is kind of addictive.

The one on the bottom is an Altoids tin and after the paint and mod podge, it doesn't close quite as easily as the Sucrets tins.  
Do they even make Sucrets in a tin anymore?

They take longer than you might think to make but I think the results are wonderful.

So, tell me, will you try this?
 I am trying to organize our guild auction which is on May 1st.  I've asked guild members to stitch a scissor fob to donate.  We will display them at the auction prior to the sale and then put them in brown bags.  Throughout the auction we will draw a ticket and if yours is drawn, you can buy a "fob in a bag" for $25.  We will reveal which fob you bought after all of them have been purchased.  Sneaky, right?  In addition to raising money, my thought was that this might give folks a chance to buy something stitched that doesn't cost them

an arm and a leg.  

No bidding.  

No arguing.

Believe me, some of the beautiful things these talented women make, go for a lot of money; as well they should!

Here's my little fob, in progress:

Prairie Schooler

1 over 1 on 32

Here it is in the middle of being assembled.

Front:

Back:

I stuffed it with lavender from my garden.  

The hanger and bottom will be beaded but I've yet to get to that, as you can plainly see!  The ribbon and bead ruching is taking longer than I would have thought.

I hope this whole idea isn't a total bust.  

I Rob will be busy moving furniture, painting and doing other things to ready the house for mom and dad's arrival.  The added wall with pocket doors is up in the dining room and the door between the dining room and kitchen is also up.  Rob has finished the painting and I'll show you some pics when it's a little more presentable.  

I hope my parents will love it.

 I also hope to get back to stitching on Yuletide Welcome and the Joyful World SAL this weekend.  Hopefully, I'll have progress to show you next time you visit.

Thank you so much for stopping by and for your lovely comments.

I appreciate them so very much!

Be well,

Peace,

Terri

New Starts, New, Old Friends and New Beginnings (not necessarily in this order)

Dear friends!

I hope this finds you well and happy.

I have had a great last few weeks but have been virtually absent from blogging, Facebook and Instagram. 

Thank you for the many notes of concern. 

My folks were in town for an almost three week visit. 

It was wonderful! 

They will be moving to Michigan to live with us in late April or early May.

You may or may not know that my beautiful mom has Alzheimer's disease, as did her older sister and as does her younger sister.

We used the time of their visit to figure out what did and didn't work well for them.  As a result, we will be making some home renovations to accommodate them and hope to be ready (or almost) for them when they move.  I will have to take some before and after pics to show you when it's all done, which may not be when they move, but at least we have a plan. 

Her having Alzheimer's, as it is for everyone, is absolutely devastating, heartbreaking and painful. 

It seems to me to have progressed quickly but she is still functional and still knows who we are (thank God).  She has a lot of confusion though and really needs someone to watch over her at all times.  Moving in with us is a safety net for her and for my dad and
we are very happy to have them join our family. 
My mom loved being around Sophie and Gracie (and the rest of us too) so I think this is a great move for her. 
My dad will be joining Rob's golf league which he is very excited about.  He hasn't been able to go play a round of golf (and trust me, he's GOOD) in a couple of years so that should be fun for him.  All in all, the stress of caring for someone with Alzheimer's will be spread among several people rather than all on my dad.

"It's a good thing." 

In stitching news, I have completed the gorgeous, yellow house on the Yuletide Welcome Sampler from Plum Street Samplers (Paulette).



I totally love how this is turning out and have decided what to do with the grass so that I can leave it out year round but you'll have to wait for that!

Love this deer.

I recently put this aside to start on a SAL called Joyful World.  I'm sure you've seen this on many blogs/facebook/instagram posts.  The first block, with its darling fox, drew me in but I still resisted.  

The problem was, the 2nd block sort of put me off - it was a couple of ducks in love but they just didn't do it for me.   Then I saw the March block, thought it was super cute and had to jump in. So, as you can see, I changed the February block to a couple of Shepherd's Bush inspired sheepies and changed the purple flowers to red.  For me, February just had to have some red in it.

Is this a boy and girl sheep in love or a momma in love with her baby? 
You decide! 
I think it turned out pretty cute.  If/when Maja uses sheep in the design, I may have to do something else.
Time will tell.

I am stitching this on 32 count linen, one over one with a combination of fibers in my stash.
I am not keeping track of colors used, just toss them in a bag once I've used a color so they'll all be together to use again, if need be.

The other thing I'm not doing is filling in the lacy corners of the border.  I kind of like the lacey look and think the symmetry will be really pretty.



In fun news, I got to meet Chris from Tot Hill Farm Stitches blog.  She often travels to Detroit and we finally got to meet up.
We had a lovely time chatting and the few hours I got to spend with her really just flew by.  Chris is a fascinating person with great stories about her travels.  I admire her for doing all the things she does when she's on a trip - far more than I'd EVER do by myself.  I look forward to the next time she's in town!





Because my folks will be moving in, in the next few months, we've been doing some contracting and some shopping.  Rob and I had a great day looking at closets for the room they will occupy (currently the dining room) and then we hit a fun bar for lunch and a few cute shops.  I thought you might enjoy a few pics.

A beautiful antique desk top cubby….



The shopkeeper's chair.  I have two round-seat chairs that are similar in my craft room that I may have to do this to.
Love.


A collection of fun tape measures:


Either an old box, covered in vintage inspired paper or an actual old cubby.
It was not wood but heavy cardboard.
Loved it.


Darling bunny hand towels.




My new family room arrangement, which used to be my living room.  We moved the brown, family room, leather sofa into the living room where it will better go with the two red, leather recliners my folks will be bringing with them to Michigan.  
The boys hate this room.
HATE.
It's not as lay around comfy as before.
But I kind of love it.
I do need a new shade for the hanging lamp and it will have to be moved back into the corner a bit, but I like the arrangement.
.

This is the little gathering of goodies on the small chest on the left.
It includes a pic of Rob and Matty when he was about 1 month old,
a few stitching treasures and Tyler's first pair of glasses that he got when he was 8 months old.
Treasures, all.




Finally, to go with the blue checked chairs are Rob and me in blue, too.
He's wearing checks, I'm wearing stripes and I didn't notice till we went to take this goofy pic in the mirror that we looked like Mutt and Jeff.


That's it for today, my friends.  Thank you so very much for all the wonderful comments on my last post about how you build your houses.  There are lots of similarities and lots of differences, too.
But, we all get to the same place in the end.

Have a most wonderful week ahead.

Be well.
Peace,
Terri