CD Sunday Plus - Challenge#164 - hosted by Meg

Well, here I am.  I am so pleased to be back with the team.  I have so missed the cut and thrust of CD Sunday. 

Pamela has been brilliant in taking over everything, having received no notice at all.  I was rushed off in an Ambulance and couldn't tell her anything that was happening.  I am just going to be a teamie for the time being and take things carefully and slowly.

Here is my card for this challenge:

The peacock is a decoupage image by Mary Rahder, which I have had for some time.  The stitch pattern is Laura's Design no 413.  A good pattern, as I can see possibilities of it being used also as a Christmas design, perhaps as a bauble.

I think - or in fact I know - that my next few cards will be of the stitched variety.  It is a craft that I can sit and do whilst resting in my armchair.  The fact that I love the stitching helps a little.

Great to be back.

Hugs everywhere.

Carol

xxx

Hi

 After having been absent for about 16 weeks and with so much happening, I am afraid 'Hi' is about the only greeting I can muster.

Sometime at the end of March, I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance as I wasn't very well.  I don't even remember the date or the actual arrival.  I have since gathered from several of my friends that I was 'proper poorly' and looked as though I might not survive.

But I am here to tell the tale, or rather what I can remember.  I was struck by something called discitis and psoas.  Yes, I had to look it up.  Several medics that I spoke to hadn't heard of it either.  In layman's terms, it is an infection in the spine, but it is not necessarily known where it comes from, or came from.  It needs serious antibiotic treatment, which is what I was given - 54 doses to be exact.  I also had some very serious pain killers that really sent me loopy.  I can still remember some of the serious and unpleasant thoughts I had, and I don't ever want any of those medicines again.  How anyone takes them for fun I can't comprehend?

I have slowly recovered. Part of that was learning to walk again with a walker. I still have to use one when I am outside the house.  The antibiotics and pain killers have been stopped, but I have had several medical appointments.  I cannot praise the NHS enough for the wonderful treatment that I received and am still receiving.  There was a time when I thought that I may not make it.  I gather that my family and friends were very worried.  I had many visitors in the hospital and since at home.  I would like to thank them all for their kindness.

I have now - TG - managed to return to crafting.  I was getting so sick of the TV.  I couldn't do anything else.  Not even concentrate enough to read or listen to my audiobooks.  I have picked up my stitchcards again and am now thoroughly enjoying my days of enforced leisure by being productive.  Here is a card that I have been working on for a couple of days.

This is a "Laura's Design" - no 1401.  I have done it a couple of times before and it has become a favourite.  I have used K.O. threads and some enamel drops from my stash.  The  3D decoupage in the centre is also from stash.  I have had it for some time and cannot - at the moment - remember where it came from. I have remembered - Hearty Crafts from the Toptoppershop.

I will be back with CD Sunday Plus soon.  Hopefully joining in with Challenge #165.  The girls have all been so kind, taking on my duties and keeping me up to date with 'stuff'.  Thank you, teamies.

STITCHING...........

 Since Christmas time I have been creating stitched cards instead of die-cutting.  After doing a few daily chores, I can sit, relax, and stitch.  I find it very therapeutic.  Keeping busy but not stressing the neuropathy.  I am very unsteady on my feet some days.

Anyway, that is enough complaining.  I have managed to make about 30 cards using stitch patterns from people like Linda from Linzoos, and Laura's Designs.  As well as on their own sites, they both sell patterns on 'Add Some Sparkle'. (on my sidebar)

Here are two very different cards made using the same pattern (Y9) from Linzoos.  I have been experimenting with new to me variegated threads.

The centre image on the 1st card comes from a digital set I purchased from Aliexpress.  I played about with the colours and contrasts to get as close in-depth as I could to the thread I had used.

The image on the second card is a Christmas digital image that I printed on the card before I pricked out the pattern. This was an experiment to see if I could manage to get it all in the right place.  99% OK I think.

Part of the fun is finding and matching the right image to use on the card to complement or complete the stitching.  It is also the hardest part.  I have been searching the crafting internet and think I have found most of what I need.  Watch this space.

Carol xx