Health Update

Well after two weeks of blood tests, I had the MRI this morning and saw the endocrinologist this afternoon.

The upshot of all of this is that I have a large sack of fluid (growth/tumor/cyst) growing on my pituitary gland. It is quite large and has distorted my pituitary gland all out of shape. However the gland is apparently still working quite well so if there were no headaches the endocrinologist would recommend leaving everything alone and checking on it in a year's time.

Unfortunately the headaches are real and ever-present.  So the endocrinologist is sending me to a neurosurgeon for a his opinion on whether surgery will actually alleviate the headaches. I see him next Tuesday afternoon.

I've also been referred to a neurologist to see whether the headaches are caused by Benign intracranial hypertension (BICH). I see him on the 10 June.

So at this present point in time, I've spent a lot of money, been in a lot of pain and we have a much bigger list of things I don't have ...

Its a process.  It will be fixed.  It will happen.

Sunday Update: 23 May 2010

Had a productive week stitching wise.  I've started the BAPXS "100 Stitches Challenge" and although I haven't stitched every night, the nights I have, I have put in at least 100 stitches.

This project New York is quite an easy one, with only 5 shades of blue and 5 shades of brown stitched on Aida. Even with my permanent headache/migraine I've managed to push this project along quickly. One more week and this might even be finished?

I was at the Perth Craft and Quilting Fair yesterday. The Quilt Display was awesome. There were so many unexpectedly powerful pieces there especially those on the theme of Anzac Day.

 I was good and didn't add to my stash *and*  I also resisted the temptation to start any new hobbies :) Knowing I need to spend a lot of money on Wednesday on medical costs helped my resolve to not spend money.

I did see a stitched model of a kit I have in my stash, so I might just have to make a new start tomorrow instead of finishing New York ...

Aventail by Inkcircles

While visiting Colours Down Under a couple of weeks ago, Janine asked me if I would be interested in stitching up a small model stitch for her.

She gave me a copy of the Aventail pattern, some 28ct Natural Lugana and a skein of Dinky Dyes floss Freo.

The original chart called for 40ct fabric which I wasn't up to stitching on :) but we did use Freo which was the recommended floss.

This chart is designed as a monochrome using a multicoloured floss.  This is exactly how I stitched it for the shop.  However, after finishing it, I discovered I had enough fabric and almost enough floss left over to stitch it again, using the same materials.  I thought I'd have a play.

My version is stitched using the exact same materials. However this time I deliberately started and stopped the stitches to concentrate colours in blocks to alter the look of the design.

What do you think?

Organising Stash Files

Hi all,

OK I'm asking the same perennial question I ask every year or so :)

How do people organise their cross stitch stash collections?  I really would like a database that lists:

• all the charts I have, including ones from magazines
• each chart tagged (sampler, monochrome, fantasy etc)
• lists of what floss is needed for each chart
• list of what fabric is needed
• all of this cross-referenced with my inventory of floss and fabric so I can produce reports of what I still need to purchase.

Each of my last three partners all offered to write me such a database, but nothing ever emerged :(  That happens with people who write code for a living offer to write code at home ...

So is there something already out there?

I've looked at CrossMagic, Floss MInder and Stash Can. All of them are very outdated and do *not* do what I want ....

The Things we do ....

For brunch this morning I am having sardines on toast and a raspberry and lime tisane.

Why sardines? In an effort to get Trubs to eat more. She's fine, her eyes are bright, her coat is healthy, the vets can find nothing wrong with her. She's just very very skinny and doesn't eat much.  I worry about her skinniness. One thing that never fails is to give her some of what I'm eating.  So four slices of sardines on toast.  Two bits of toast* sacrificed in an effort to get Trubs to eat the sardines mashed on top of them.  She ate one topping of sardines, so that's progress.

I am also out of my favourite flavoured black teas. So its onto my stock of herbal tisanes.  Anyone know a good place in Perth to get good flavoured teas?  I need a Rose Grey and a Raspberry Black...

Now to shower, housework and then possibly even a stitching blog - because I have been stitching!  Yes for more than one day too!


* Gluten-free toast - aka slightly oversized crouton.