Hello my blogging friends! We are only midway through January and so far the new year is not looking so good for me 😦 A couple of months ago I found a dark line along with a white line on our basement carpet. Either hubby and I are in the basement just about everyday, but we couldn’t find the carpet wet. Two weeks ago, I finally found it wet along the line, like a crack in the concrete line. Oh No! I just knew it was our foundation. Last week we had the experts in and sure enough our foundation has been compromised. As well as a crack in the block wall in the room where our well tank and water softener is. So, we will need to have our basement waterproofed, which entails digging a trench around the perimeter of the basement, setting a sump pump into the floor and wrapping the walls from floor to ceiling, and pouring a new floor. This also means that we will have to get everything out of our (finished) basement and storage room, have someone come in and tear off all the dry wall, wall mirrors and carpet, have the foundation specialists do their waterproofing and then having the guy come back and put dry wall back up. During all of this our well tank will have to be unhooked and moved, so not sure how long we will be without water. We are also having new gutters installed, which is probably why we are in this position now. Limited gutters on the house. Then there is the task of painting the new drywall and getting new carpet. And figuring out where we will put everything from the basement until we can get it all finished again. Ugh. This process will start around the last week of February. So not looking forward to it. So, with this big expense, I am definitely looking to my WIP’s and stash to keep me busy for a long time. So, here is what I have been up to, trying to keep my mind off of what is to come.
I have been commissioned to do this pillow, so I started it on January 6. It is definitely not something I would have chosen for myself. It has a color chart, which I absolutely hate and so much confetti stitching. I have already had to rip several sections out and put them back. I am blaming the color chart on this one 😉 It is being stitched on 11ct Aida, so I am hoping it will go quick, but so far it has been rather slow. The 15th of January didn’t come soon enough so I could put this down and pick up this:
Yesterday the last mermaid for this SAL came out and I had a start on her last night. She is the January mermaid and I think she is my favorite. Maybe because she is my birth month, or maybe because it is the last one. Once I finish her, I still have all the beading to do and I just know it will be so sparkly and beautiful! This was a very fun stitch for the year and I looked forward to each new mermaid every month. This is a Shannon Christine design and was put out by Fiberlicious. The fabric is 16ct Aida Maldivian Dreams by Fiberlicious. If you wanted to get in on this one, you may still be able to, not sure. After the SAL, I do know that the charts will go up in price.
And lastly, I have been knitting on my travel cowl when I get the chance. And yesterday I had a chance to knit several rows while hubby had a little out patient procedure done . He is doing well today.
I am using the Funny Rainbow pattern by Katia again. The yarn is Kettle Tweed in Winter Blossom colorway. I think this will look great with jeans and a black top. I can’t wait to finish it. Hopefully before winter is over. It not, I will have it for next year.
So that is what I have been up to, trying to keep my mind off of other things. I am really looking forward to Spring now. The basement will be done and hopefully all back in place and warmer weather will be here. So what have to you been doing so far this year? I’d love to hear about it 🙂
My Time Stitching 
Oh no! What away to start the year!
I hope everything goes well.
The Mermaid SAL is beautiful.
And yes, that pillow looks like a LOT of work.
Pretty shawl also.
I am still working on Hands On 12 Days, and also crocheted a cowl & scarf in between.
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Thank you, Marilyn. I hope it all goes smoothly, too. Sounds like you have been busy with your stitching, too. Happy Stitching!
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Oh, Ginny! So sorry to hear that you have to go through this. Sadly, it reminds me of our woes in a house 25+ years ago. I do love each of your projects, even the one with loads of confetti. The colors are so bright and cheerful which is nice this time of year. Sending good thoughts your way!
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Thank you, Susanssnippets. It is a lot of money to spend on a house that we were not planning on staying in because of all the stairs. So plans to look for a new house have been scrapped. Hopefully this construction project will go smoothly and quickly. I am taking a break from the sunflowers for now. I will eventually get back to them. For now I will enjoy a little mermaid 🙂
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That sounds like a massive job on your house. Not a fun way to start the year! At least you have a good plan in place though and hopefully it will be finished with the minimum of disruption.
Loving all your projects. The mermaids are stunning.
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Thank you, Carole. The major plans are in place. Getting everything out of the basement and finding where to put it is going to be a challenge. So cleaning out the garage (in the middle of winter) is probably what we will be doing. Probably starting this weekend as I am sure if I blink a couple of times, the end of February will be here, LOL I am slowly moving on the little mermaid. I think subconsciously I am trying to drag her out 😉
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Love the mermaid SAL and the fabric it’s on is beautiful ☺️ xx
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Thank you, Xstitchbee :). It really is a beautiful piece and I can’t wait to add the beads and gems to make it more sparkly!
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I look forward to seeing the finished piece! Any idea what you’re planning to do with it once you’re done?
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Wow that sounds like a lot of work, but at least it comes with a plan; I hope it goes smoothly.
Your SAL and cowl look good! I especially can’t wait to see the finished SAL. 🙂
One of the first cross stitch projects I attempted when I was a kid was from a cross stitch book, and it had color charts and confetti stitching – I dropped it after a few stitches. 😀 I hope you power through yours.
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Yes, we have a plan, Anita. Let’s just hope it all works out as planned. We have never gone through a major construction in our 2 houses before. It will be interesting. I am slowly working on the mermaid. I think I may not want it to end 😉 I can see why you dropped the confetti stitched project. It is not fun. I will power through as I did promise someone I would do it for them. She says I have years to do it, so no pressure ;).
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You’re right, construction / renovation projects seem to have a mind of their own and a take a path of their own, but the one thing they definitely are is interesting. 🙂 Wish you good luck, Ginny! Hope your crafting keeps you happy through the whole process.
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Oh no! What a horrible way to start the year. You mermaids are looking wonderful. And any stitching will be a welcome relief for you! All the best, now you’ve got it worked out I’m sure all will be well.
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Thank you, Catherine. I think this weekend the work will get under way to make room in the garage for basement things. I will cherish every moment I get to stitch 🙂
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Oh boy not a great start to the year! We just purchased a split level last summer that had an unfinished lower level. Our contractor put down a vinyl backed flooring that looks like hardwood and carpet squares. That way if you make a stain, you can just pop up the carpet square and replace it. It is pretty cool!
I love the pillow pattern but could tell right away that isn’t your usual pattern choice! The mermaids are coming along nicely too.
Mary
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Mary, that sounds like a great finish to your basement. I may have to look into that when we start looking for carpeting. Once this project is finished, they guarantee no water will get into our basement for life. That makes me feel good about the whole thing. And hopefully that will be a good thing to a future buyer if we decide to sell. The pillow is definitely not me. But the owner loves Van Goh and she was really geeked to find this. She doesn’t cross stitch, so I am sure that the color chart and all the confetti stitching probably turned her off from stitching it. I will finish it for her as promised, but it may take me a while 😉
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oh, what a start! Good to know hubs is doing well, give him my best wishes for the speedy recovery.
And yeah – colour charts SUCK.
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Thank you, Paula. He goes back for a follow up tomorrow, hopefully all is well. Not a good start to our year. Hopefully it gets better from here out. Color charts definitely suck!
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Oh, what a drag! And they can do this in winter? How lucky for you! Will you stay there without water? That seems too much like camping to me!
The knitting and stitching look great! Can’t wait to see the 12th mermaid !
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They said the well tank would be unhooked just for 1/2 day. They will have a plumber in sight to unhook and hook back up as soon as possible so as not to inconvenience us. Hopefully all goes well.
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Oh, that’s not so bad. Though you will realize how many times in a morning you use water!
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Hi there, nearly not possible to “like” this, as the basement sounds way to much of a challenge. I do not think I would be as calm as you to even be able to write about it. You are doing well in managing the whole matter.
I do LIKE your stitching. It immediately struck me that the cushion would not be something you would stitch out of your own. It is so different to what I have gotten used to. 🙂 but the mermaids are stunning, as always, and I know the beads will be even prettier.
Your knitting is lovely, and the yarn is super pretty.
Keep going, and know it will soon be warmer and Spring will be there, and you can then redo the basement again to your liking. All the best. Hugs.
🙂
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Thank you, Joey. I think I am rather calm for the moment. In my head I have been freaking out about getting everything out of the basement. We haven’t begun that process yet. Once we do I am sure I will be more than overwhelmed. You never know how much “stuff”!you have until you have to move it. So for now I have my stitching to keep me from thinking about it all 😉 I am definitely looking forward to Spring.
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🙂 I know, it is amazing how much stuff one has. I have been cleaning and clearing and downsizing a bit and have sold or given away so much. Now I feel like I have a bit more space and less clutter. It seems one does collect over the years, and just keep it even though you no longer use it. 🙂 I was happy to give away and clear out, I can probably do a bit more even. 🙂
You just take it easy and worry about it when they are ready to work in the basement, and it will be over before you know it. Just think of the fun you will have “redoing” the basement afterwards.
Enjoy your stitching, keep warm and know that Spring will be around soon. 🙂 Take care. xx
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So sorry about all of the stress!
I have to ask(because I haven’t had time to read your previous blogs yet), where did you find that beautiful mermaid pattern?? I want to make that for my daughter!
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Thank you, HandmadebyZan. For now I am avoiding all of it ;). The mermaid SAL is still available (I believe until the end of the month??) through Fiberlicious. If you have any questions about it, you can probably contact the designer, Shannon Christine designs, through her blog or maybe her Facebook page. Let me know if you are not able to find it.
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Thank you, yes, I found it! I have bought it….though not sure when I will find the time to work on it. I have a daughter that loves mermaids(so do her two girls), so I though it would be perfect for her! It’s just beautiful!
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HandmadebyZan, I am so glad you were able to get in on the mermaid SAL. They are really small mermaids, so I am sure you will find some time to stitch them. It usually takes me 3-4 evenings to stitch just the mermaid with backstitching. I still have all the beads to do. You will be surprised at how small each mermaid really is. I am stitching on 16ct Aida and the circles for each mermaid is about 2 1/2″ x 3″. I know you will enjoy stitching them and your daughter will absolutely love it! Happy Stitching 🙂
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Oh no, I’m so sorry for all the unexpected problems. Prayers that they will be resolved timely and accurately. Your stitchings look beautiful, those mermaids are just beautiful!
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Thank you, Craftingwithmomma ❤ I too am hoping it will be quick and painless and we can get it behind us. I am still working on the January mermaid, but hoping to get her done today so I can move onto the beading. So exciting!!
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Oh no! I’m so sorry about the basement. That sucks!!!
I’m glad you at least had a beautiful mermaid to brighten you up and lots of stitching to distract you!
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Thank you, JJ Crafts. I still have not gone to the basement to pack anything up yet. I know I have to get started down there soon. Just avoiding it for now. Stitching is much better 🙂
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I hate to hear of your house troubles. It’s such a unsettling and necessary nusance to have to deal with repairs, especially the well part. Bless your heart.
Good thing you have your stash to keep you destracted.
Your project is lovely. I feel for you on the bad charting. I bought a plastic canvas kit last fall and the charting is made like a cross stitch and it isn’t very enjoyable to work on, so I put it away for awhile.
Your mermaids are beautiful. Are you going to mount it in a frame?
Your cowl is pretty. It’ll be quite fashionable and warm.
Best wishes for your husband to have a speedy recovery.
I hope you have a pleasant week.
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Thank you, E.C. Stitching really does keep me sane. I will be getting the mermaids framed once I get through putting the thousands of beads on. I have just finished beading the January mermaid the difference between beads and no beads is amazing! Wait til you see it! Thank you for the well wishes for hubby. He is doing fine, but will have to have a bigger surgery next month 😦 Enjoy your week, too.
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Whew – the issues with your foundation sound awful. I really like the mermaids. I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like when you get it finished.
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Sheryl, I have still been avoiding the foundation issue, but I am planning on getting down there today to do some packing up. Ugh. I am still beading on the little mermaids. For such tiny mermaids, they are taking so long to bead up. About 2 evenings per mermaid-lots of tiny, tiny beads. I am about half way through 🙂
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Hi Ginny, I’m so sorry to hear about the foundations. That’s an awful lot of work and a huge expense, especially as the house won’t look any different after all the work and upheaval. I hope the work all goes smoothly and as quickly as possible.
Your mermaids are beautiful! I also hate working from coloured charts and I’m working on a secret project at the moment which has one. I’ve found that enlarging the chart and chopping it up into manageable pieces has made it so much easier. I’ll watch out for colour charts and avoid them in future.
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Thank you, Avis. It has been a busy couple of weeks. Not sure we will be ready 3 weeks from now. We are debating pushing the date back. Color charts are really the pits. I will have to try your idea and enlarge the pattern and see if that helps. Thanks!
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