"Buttons and patches and the cold wind blowing,
The days pass quickly when I am sewing"
~Author Unknown

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Flowers and fairies.....

Have you been visited by stitching fairies lately? I have! It was them that brought me this wonderful seat frame all the way from England. I am having problems with developing a rash now along with swelling and pain in my joints when I hold my stitching. It is from rheumatoid arthritis which seems to be developing. I needed a way to keep my stitching up so decided to give this system a try. I have had frames before but never liked them. I had a floor frame that ended up literally in the woodstove.


I place my seat frame between my legs as I found placing it on the side was not good for my back. I twisted ever so slightly and want to keep a straight and very relaxed position as I sit. I can even stitch with both hands.

As you know, I picked up on old UFO to finish this month. I am enjoying doing it so glad I got it out of my stitching basket. I completed another 'tile' on this sampler and stitched all the lines around each tile so far. I have only one more tile to stitch in the bottom right corner and then will have to complete the border edge around it. I should be able to complete it in the coming week.

I added my initials to the center block...

It is fun to read a book that connects somehow to what I am stitching or quilting. I picked a book called Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott to read while stitching this sampler. Written in 1855 when Louisa was only 16 years old for Ellen, the daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson. There are 9 stories in the book about the world of fairies. It is a fun book to read in the summer when flower fairies are out and about. *grins*


27 comments:

lynda said...

What a pretty piece! I'm glad you found a frame that works for you. Your stitching is lovely!

Elizabethd said...

What a good idea the frame is, it must be such a help.

Anonymous said...

Just one more block and you can have a Happy Dance!

The frame will definitely help alleviate the pains in your hands.

I have been using the F.A. Edmunds stand for some years and I can't stitch without it now :)

Barbara (SQT)

Margaret said...

Flower Fables is perfect reading for this time of the year.

Glad to hear you are enjoying working on your new frame and that it is making stitching a little easier on you.

Great progress on Markum. Seeing you aiming for a UFO finish by the end of the month makes me want to do the same. I'll join you and finish Janny's lighthouse by EOM.

hugs, Margaret

Jantine said...

I am glad you found a frame that works for you. Better not wear a skirt though ;-). And how about real tiny pieces of linen, do they fit?

Elly said...

Fijn dat je nu een standaard hebt gevonden waar je echt wat aan hebt. Zo te zien werkt het heel goed want je borduurwerk vordert goed. Heel mooi!

Mary said...

The new frame looks wonderful. It looks like it will keep the weight off of your hands. Great progress on the sampler!

Nancy said...

Well, I don't know about fairies, but
we have a ton of toadstools in our back yard, so I think I have many gnomes living out there. I keep trying to see them, but no way will they appear when I go by.
Love your sampler and the hoop. It is going to be very pretty.
Love you, Mom

Hazel said...

Lovely wip! The book sounds great too. x

Saskia said...

That's a realy nice frame. Never knew if you sit on it, you get some stitching done... LOL
I'm sitting on my little hexagons now, hope there done soon.
Or I will give them to the little mice to finish them. Or little gnomes that are running around in my house. they chat with all the fairies in the garden.
Oke, oke, now get serious little leprechaun!
I do like the cross stitch your finishing. It's really nice!
see you soon!
Knuffels
Saskia

AnitaA said...

Heel handig zo'n standaard ! Wat wordt je borduurwerk prachtig,mooie kleuren gebruik je .
Groetjes Anita.

Barb said...

Heidi know how you feel with the RA I was diagnosed 3 years ago however they are now not sure it is with me . Although I am on medication, it aint good.
So gentle hugs for you.
Love the tiles and the little fairy book and of course the little quilt.Take care sweetie

hazel c UK said...

I like your latest project Heidi the colours are lovely. I have been using this type of frame for a number of years now because of my RA and it does help. I also weat a Handeze support glove which helps as well.

Happy stitchin,
Hazel UK)

Jenny said...

I love the sampler you are finishing, the colors are so pretty and feel like summer....what a wonderful idea to use that frame, I really hope it helps. I love Louisa May Alcott but I have never heard of Flower Fables....something new for me to look for :) I really have to get back to my needle and floss. I haven't cross-stitched in about 4 weeks...oh my....a little scottie dog quilt for my daughter's birthday became a priority :) I hope you have a happy weekend Heidi, hugs from California.

Nanny Ree said...

I just remembered I have one of these in the back of the cupboard ~maybe I should use it lol!!!!!

angelasweby said...

Heidi,
The frame looks great and hopefully will solve your problems. Stitching in comfort and making sure you don't aggravate already weak joints is really important.

Your beautiful tile sampler is nearly finished now and your reward will be the satisfaction you feel every time you see it. The little book of fables looks so very inviting :>)
Angela xx

Pondside said...

I love the connection between book and needlework!
I hope that frame solves your problems, as I know you still have lots of stitching in you!

Susan in SC said...

Beautiful stitching as usual! I really like your seat frame. I think I would like one of those as well.

DonnaTN said...

I hope the frame system works for you. I have tried them and wasn't happy either, but then I didn't have so much incentive to adjust to it. I love, love, love your sampler. Good for you for pulling it out to finish!

Jackie's Stitches said...

I'm glad you found something that works for you! I've heard that frames are such a personal choice - what one person loves another doesn't.

mbroider said...

Congrats on the frame. It looks like such a relief from what you say. I recently bought a scroll bar set via my husband who was in the US. I have not touched it yet though. Prolly this weekend.

The cross stitch project is also v. good.

Maggie said...

Lovely stitching Heidi!
I too have floor stands (2 of them!) but don't find them very comfortable, your seat frame looks just the job!
Have a good weekend!

mainely stitching said...

What a gorgeous book that is! I just saved some of my old Louisa May Alcott books for Rowen (from mom's basement) because I just KNOW she'll love them pretty soon. :)

Now about this great seat frame - do they make one that holds Q-Snaps? I also can't bear to twist and stitch (my one gripe about the way I currently have my magnifier set up) and the whole floor stand concept just isn't doing it for me.

I'm sorry to hear that you're developing arthritis in addition to everything else you're going through, but I just love your attitude. "Keep on keeping on". You take care, and keep in touch, okay?

Christine said...

Glad the new frame is helping.
The fairy book is so pretty, the cover design would make a wonderful sampler

Carolien said...

Hi Heidi,

Well this is another UFO nearly finished! Tada! It looks great!

Have a nice weekend & hugs,
Carolien

tich said...

What a great idea for your frame. I tried one of those frames years ago, and, like you, I found I twisted my back. I never thought to do it between my legs! I have been thinking of trying some needle punch, so I could use it for that too! Now where would I have put that frame?

tich said...

Forgot to say, your needlework is exquisite!