Saturday morning – a day when the temps will finally hit the forties. It looks pretty cloudy out there, but I promise not to complain about that. Warmth…warmth is what we need here and that will be much appreciated.
I started the afghan yesterday, but I somehow miscounted the chains in the foundation. As I headed to the finish of the second row, that miscount became obvious, so I frogged the whole thing and I’ll try again today.
Things noticed: My eyes become tired much more quickly these days – very different than when I was routinely doing handwork over 10 years ago. And my right hand hurt at the end of the session. You remember that I overdid the crochet years ago and my wrist and hand suffered. But for some reason, I was very tense as I was starting the afghan, so that may be why my hand was sore. I’ll definitely have to pace myself and crochet just one row a day. Nothing more.
Maybe I need to wear one of those magnifiers I see in catalogues? Has anyone used one?
I was up and drinking coffee before I realized that today is Valentine’s Day. We don’t really celebrate except to say “Happy Valentine’s Day.” We’ve done that. So we’re good.
The mini Victorian sideboard is finished.
Left side. (That’s a Christmas card from a fellow Blythe collector in the background.)
Right side.
Front.
Somehow I just couldn’t have a piece all in yellow with no aging, especially a big old sideboard. The yellow would have been too much.
Okay, my friends.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
you’re doing it (crocheting) and will get the afghan done. doesn’t matter how long it takes. it’s the doing and that it’s for your sweet don that matters. and your love for him will make it wonderful … just like don’s coffee is for you. :)
glad you’re taking care of your wrist and hand, too.
the sideboard looks great.
carry on! maybe with a very, very bright lamp to help when crocheting with those darker colors?
to answer your question … i’ve not ever used a magnifier on a necklace. i have radically different vision in each of my eyes and (wearing my glasses or not) magnifiers and binoculars are basically useless to me. so i had to switch to a much smaller thread-count (larger x’s) to keep cross-stitching. but i’m doing it. :)
hope you, don and everyone else have a lovely, love-filled day. i care and am praying and rooting for you all.
kathy
We find ways to keep on creating, don’t we? Just have to make adjustments.
Thanks so much for the pep talk, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Good morning Claudia! I hope your hand feels better… try icing it from time to time? My right arm (I am right handed) got over-used before I retired… too much keyboard scrolling … so now I have to be very careful how I use it. My petit-point embroidery is a repetitive motion agitator…. so I try to space out my sessions. Even drawing and painting have to be monitored. It is very annoying! But I’m not giving up… just learning that I have limits. And yes, I use a magnifier for the small embroidery…. can’t be helped and works well for me. The trick is also good lighting! I notice that I don’t see as well at night as I used to… darn old body stuff…!
I think the old Victorian sideboard looks like a well loved and very out of fashion old piece of family furniture. Of course it needed to be aged! :)
Oh, night time vision is changing for me, as well. I do have a good light by my chair in the den.
Thanks so much, Betsy!
Stay safe.
I’m thinking that by limiting your crochet time, you will build up your muscle strength? I used to knit…never learned to crochet, so don’t know if that’s possible or not. I’ve been reteaching myself to play the piano…I’ve been away from it too long, and my fingers don’t work as well as they used to. I’m more clumsy, and my fingers tire easily. It is hard getting older.
I’m looking forward to seeing the Victorian sideboard in place in your dollhouse. It’s lovely on its own, but it will be fun to see how it relates to its surroundings.
You celebrate Valentine’s Day like we do lol…enjoy your day! ;)
I have no idea what those surroundings will be yet! I think that’s why I’m working on pieces of furniture.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Claudia, I had to stop crocheting altogether as it was causing issues with my thumb. I worked intensely on the keyboard when I was working full-time, lots of writing contracts and budgeting spreadsheets, plus gobs of emails. My hands didn’t recover until I retired. I’m glad they did without surgery for repetitive stress issues. I just needed a very long rest. But, crochet hurt my hands so I have it up. I’m perfectly happy with needlework, sewing and knitting.
As to the sight issues, my daughter works at a well-known needlework shop and the owner is a prolific needle worker, with some of her projects on very high-count linen, which she stitches over 1 thread. She says the key is a great light. My daughter and I both have Stella 2 lamps and we love them. Stella makes floor lamps, table lamps (which is what we have) and clip-on lamps. They are expensive but the LED will last your lifetime and is well worth the investment. There are other good lights out there as well.
I find that if I use a good light, I’m fine stitching with my reading glasses (3.0) on, and I have the beginnings of cataracts.
As for your hands hurting, I find warmth helps. One of my friends bought a wax bath for her hands. She stitches extensively (she designs her own mini-rugs of different ethnic designs) and the wax bath helps soothe her hands. I don’t have much of those hand issues anymore (I.e., I retired…) and I find when my hands begin to ache, rest (no stitching or tech devices for a day or more), and warmth helps soothe.
Take plenty of breaks! You’ll finish it like the tortoise won the race!
Don has arthritis in his hands and playing the guitar exacerbates it. He loves doing the dishes by hand because the hot water feels so good on his hands.
Can’t afford an expensive light at the moment and I’m not sure if I’ll be doing any other handwork but this afghan. I look into them, Wendy.
Thanks so much for your suggestions!
Stay safe.
Shhh, don’t distract me. I’ve given myself the best gift for Valentine’s Day. Free (as I checked it out from the library where I work on the 12th). Read the first chapter then and there but really getting into it today. I’m immersed in Three Pines as Louise Penny weaves her spell in her latest.
But what a way to spend Valentine’s Day, Planning on watching the episode “Three Valentines” from “Frasier” as a perfect way to end the night.
Sounds like a wonderful day. I’ve had the book since it first came out, but I find I’m not yet ready to read it. I like to delay the pleasure, I guess. Enjoy, Lucinda!
Stay safe.
Crocheting can be addicting. But yeah, our hands seem to feel it after awhile. But you sure are multi-talented. You must be a very interesting person, claudia! Well, we all know that…
Did I say, I’ve had seizures for a year now. Ill have to have some tests done. I also have had three incidents of vertigo whole driving. My driver’s license has been revoked. Dad was very surprised to hear theyre looking at my possibly having epilepsy. Ill have to find the bus that goes to my dad’s house.
Guess I’ll be home more, getting in some painting, playing music, sewing.
I hope that the seizures ease up and that eventually you can drive again.
xo
I’m looking forward to seeing your crochet project. I just finished a quilt for one of my grandsons. His 2nd bday is next week so I got it done just in time. It’s so warm in Nebraska I have started cutting cedar trees in the pasture. It’s nice to get some exercise and fresh air. We have not gotten the cold like you.
Enjoy your day.
We’ve had a very, very cold winter. And very snowy. It’s strange how different parts of the country are getting a much milder winter.
Thanks so much, Darlene.
Stay safe.