Superb Sunday Update 5/24/15

NATURE WALKS
The weather has been iffy the past couple of weeks.  On the nicer days, I went for walks during my lunch hour.  Who wouldn't enjoy these sights?

 

WORK
Long time readers know how much I've enjoyed my first few years for various reasons.  Last week was promotional products week.  Since my company is one of the top 10 promotional products distributors, we always participate in some sort of activity in support for the week.

Promotional Products Week 2014

Promotional Products Week 2015

My company is also a HUGE supporter of the American Cancer Society.  We do fundraising all year and have Relay For Life Teams.  One of the activities was to vote (with monetary donations) which costume our Sr. VP of Sales had to wear and parade through the office with.  The choices were: Sumo Wrestler, Jail Inmate, and Ballerina.  How does he look?

STITCHY STUFF
Finally!  I've recently had some happy dances.  First up is the April Monthly SAL.  The first three months, I had no problem with picking colors and visualizing what it'd look like finished.  For this one, I had more difficulty so I started out choosing two colors.  I stitched them and then moved on to the third and fourth colors.  I think it turned out pretty well.

Designer: Palkó 

Design: April Monthly SAL

Stitched on 28ct linen with DMC Color

Variations 4110, Six Strand Sweets

Cherry Pie, and DMC 564 and 594.

My second finish is the Patriotic Mailart I was working on for an exchange I'm in.  Since I want it to be a surprise to the recipient, I don't want show the entire project.  Here's a sneak peak, though!

I had good timing on my finishes because a 'traveling chart' arrived in the mail from Debbie in Canada. 

Floss Toss

I just happened to have most of the floss colors in my stash.  The fabric is a left over piece  of Silkweavers I had in my stash also.  It's so great not having to go out and buy supplies!  This was a quick stitch. I finished it in one weekend.

Design: Love Is Best

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fabric: Silkweaver Solo 32ct Turquoise Evenweave

Fibers: DMC, GAST

 

I ended up making a few floss substitutions.  DMC 930 for GAST Midnight, GAST Asparagus for Evergreen, and GAST Hydrangea (limited edition) for Slate.

 

If you would like to be included in the drawing for the traveling pattern, leave a comment letting me know.  I'll draw a name on Saturday, May 30th.

 

So far, it's been stitched by:

•  Kim at Wisdom with Needle and Thread.  Iowa, USA

•  Debbie at Debbie's Corner.  British Columbia, Canada

•  Meari at Meari's Musings.  Illinois, USA

 

Who's next?

 

OTHER CRAFTING
I had to come up with two projects involving hot glue for a survey I was involved with.  Although I've used hot glue in the past, my conclusion is that it's really for craft projects that don't involve precision.  Repairs, forget it... unless again, the glue is not going to be seen... ever.  Let's face it, a glob of hard glue and strings everywhere don't make for good projects.

One of the projects I came up with was to make window clings.  This would be a fun project for older children with supervision.

Yeah, yeah... I know... It's not winter.  One of the snowflakes looks like a spiderweb, doesn't it?  There's actually glitter on the word "Snow", but the photo doesn't show it very well. 

One can attach it to the window with strategically placed dabs of hot glue.  (Or, you could just "draw" right on the window with the glue.  It comes off easily.)

I ended up doing this three times on three different mediums before I got it right.  Waxed paper and aluminum foil do not fare well as a work surface for this project.  The glue adhered to them and I ended up shredding both the paper and foil trying to get the clings off.  I ended up using a piece of steel my brother gave me for another project.  A cookie sheet would work well, too.  I free hand drew the word and snowflakes with a white quilting pencil before wielding the glue gun.  Once the glue cooled, the clings peeled off easily.

CELESTE

 

Celeste's Life In Pictures: HERE

Last Thursday, I spent a late night in the ER... the animal ER, that is. When I got home from work, my furbaby was breathing funny and I found that she had urinated on the floor and apparently had laid in it or fallen in it as it was all over her rear hip and on her back. She refused to go for a walk.... which is her MOST favorite thing to do. The behaviors she'd been exhibiting just weren't her.

Found out from the ER vet, Celeste has congestive heart failure and a heart murmur. I was sent home with enough meds to get us through Monday. The ER vet said without meds, she'd have days to live.  I feel so bad for her. Anyone have a doggie with this condition? 

I made an appointment on Friday with our normal vet to see how to proceed. Celeste has been put on Vetmedin for the heart condition and Lasix for the fluid and edema. The vet said Vetmedin is the best med on the market for the heart. Since Celeste is so little, I can get a 50 day supply and cut them in half. The cost would be about $35. Lasix is about $7. She has to be on the meds for the rest of her life. So for about $25/mo., I can keep her comfortable. The vet said the meds work really fast, and also said with this sort of condition, dogs can live years but can also drop over in a day. They have no way of knowing when it'll happen. For now, Celeste's personality and appetite is back to normal.  She's not as active in playing, though.

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

Three Little Words
by
Lizzie Kate