French Knot Henry Framed

Hi friends! We are having cool days and cold nights. I got a little more done in the garden BEFORE I got the cortisone injections into both my hip bursas yesterday. CRAZY PAINFUL INJECTIONS. Worst cortisone shots I have ever had. I asked the doctor if he used a horse needle this time?!?! He said he really wanted to make sure he got in there to help me out. Unfortunately I will have increased pain for one or more days still. Then I am hoping for greatly reduced pain.

I forgot to share with you a picture of the French Knot Henry framed in the frame I finally settled for. I wanted copper, but had to settle for brass in the 5x5 size. I never found anything locally at numerous stores. I bought this frame off Amazon inexpensively.

So glad Mabel and Henry are both done in french knots and hanging together.

I am planning to give Mabel a haircut Friday. Then I will get some pictures of her too. Here is one for now. The poor girl misses Jacob. He is gone from morning til late at night four days a week. She is laying on his small drawstring backpack, school books and his nursing shoes.

Over halfway done with my school themed stitchery. I would love to make it finish #5 before the end of the MMMM SAL.

Thank you for your kind words and friendship. I am so glad you stopped by.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

"I Have What?!"

Hi friends! This is the French Knot Henry. Way over a thousand french knots in there. A few thousand? I don't know at all. I had fun making it.

I looked at some vintage poodle embroidery and drew myself a Henry on this white linen blend. I used a combo of DMC and Anchor. Now I need to find the perfect golden or coppery frame to compliment this French Knot Mabel! They will hang together. :)

If you are still wondering about the first French Knot Henry, the flop, well don't!! I threw it out. Yep. Life is too short to hang onto things I will never need I decided. Let me tell you why I picked up this new attitude.

I started going to the dermatologist for acne a few months ago. Nothing major, but I am 45, and I do not want any pimples. I went just for a routine discussion/check up about the meds with the doctor. I decided right before leaving to show him a new mole on my left leg, above my knee. I have had it for less than half a year. It is odd in shape and color. He was very interested. He removed it.

I got a call from him Tuesday evening, at 8:41pm. I knew that wasn't going to be good. It is melanoma. That is the deadliest skin cancer. It was in the early stages.  The dermatologist feels he got all of it.

I now go in early Monday morning for a full body exam by my dermatologist. If you get one melanoma, the risks are high that you may have more.

I go in Friday, the 8th to the surgeon. They always go back and take a wide amount of surrounding tissue out. I will have an elliptical incision, 2 1/2" by 1". A large scar. However, large scar = life.

My dermatologist has told me at least three times how very fortunate I was to show him that mole at my appointment. Melanomas cannot be left in place. Before this mole, I really didn't give my spots and dots a lot of thought. Now I must think about them the rest of my life I am told. If he finds something on Monday, he will remove that also. I will get rechecked by him in 6 months. Then again in 6 months. Then once a year, every year as long as I am clear. Otherwise, ever six months.

Would you take one moment and check out these melanoma warning signs and images from the Skin Cancer Foundation? Please? I care about you!

Melanoma may be hereditary for me. Or it is from the sun. I have never used a tanning booth in my life. I have to stay out of the sun. My doctor said I have to wear sunscreen every day. Even if it is not sunny. A car drive on the way to work is enough sun exposure to cause melanomas in me he said.

My hip pain is lower. The right side is almost perfect. The left starts fairly low every day, but by evening is not good.

I know you weren't expecting such depressing news here today, but I wasn't expecting this either. I care about you my friends. I truly do. I want to share my life with you, just as you share your lives with me. :)

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

I just finished a small My Big Toe freebie. I need to do the finishing on it. I started a Bent Creek pattern last night.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

The little therapy dog

The French Knot Poodle

Happy Saturday everyone!
Hope it's filled with stitching. :)

French Knot Poodle

 I made this little french knot poodle two years ago.  It hangs in our hallway.    I made it to look like our Mabel of course.  I used various grey dmc threads and tweeded a bit to try and match her shading.  She was born black and keep turning lighter and lighter grey slowly.  She even has a few touches of silver to her.   I framed it in a silver 6x6 frame.

Mabel :)

And here she is soaking up the sun.  This picture was taken this month by my thirteen year old daughter Madeleine.

Today  I will not be stitching until I do finishing first.  I must force myself on the finishing part sometimes.  I like to take a little while to think on how to finish a stitched piece off.  I will finally have a small Christmas themed pillow done today.  Then I will be finishing a scissor fob for myself.  I do not have one.  I made one before, that was a gift for my friend Ruth.

While I work on finishing I will be thinking about what to start next.  I am considering a new craft to me.  Or I have a sewing project that is waiting.  Always something right? :)