Pain, Pain, Go Away...Running Around in the Rain Today!

Heading out to my orthopedic surgeon appointment in the pouring rain! I'm trying not to freak out that it will be something bad. I figure if I we were looking at surgery, then I would be in pain all the time and I'm not there yet so hopefully there's something they can do instead. Happy thoughts!

*****UPDATE****
Just got back. Doc thinks I have severe inflammation and the fact that I was trying to avoid using it just aggravated it more when that movement happened. She shot me up with some lidocaine and depo medrall, and next week I have to start some physical therapy to get that range of movement back. I'm just ecstatic that it's not a tear and there is no surgery!

Pay It Forward is Complete!

I finished my last Pay It Forward and it has been received! This was for Lindsay and she lucked out and got three things by accident. I initially made this cool crochet rope cowl for her in this rich purple suede type yarn.

Then I put it to the side and eventually made a slouchy hat as well.  Here's the top view.

And a side view.

Please ignore my arm! So then I went back to get the cowl...and couldn't find it. I looked everywhere. Well, I thought I did. I finally got mad and made her a scarf so she'd have two things.

Then, of course, it goes without saying that I located the first cowl! So I decided that since it was meant for her anyway, I would send them all along! I got an email from her last night saying she had received them all and they seem to be a hit so I guess my first Pay it Forward went okay!

I also had to do some major weeding out of commercial sites on my Facebook account the other day. I was starting to get overwhelmed with the fact that there were more commercial sites than people showing up in my news feed. And you know what? It makes you feel really guilty to "unlike" someone! Especially if you don't REALLY dislike them. It's just that their site is not something I follow on a regular basis. At least it made me feel that way. I didn't realize just how many I had liked (most to register for various contests) until I started deleting those that I don't really follow. I'm sure I deleted upwards of 30 websites. Amazing. And it made an enormous difference to my news feed. I can read comments from my friends and family now!

Another BIG dislike for me is that I now have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday. I put it off for at least 3-4 months now but I have done nothing but aggravate my shoulder pain so it is time to bite the bullet. I just hope surgery is not involved. I'm not looking forward to this at all.

Quiltin's Like a Box of Chocolates...You Never Know What You Gonna Get!

I have been having a horrible time getting motivated for sewing lately. As I mentioned before, I've been doing a  lot of crochet to just stay crafting but I finally got in the sewing room this weekend and did some sewing. I'm trying to finish up some round robin pieces for the Quilt U Be Mine over at Michele's blog. I feel very guilty for not getting one finished on time. I just could not make myself go in there. Then I got mine back...completed. And I absolutely love it. I chose not to do just red, white, and pink because we don't celebrate Valentine's Day. Mine ended up red, white and black. But it just lit a fire and I finally got in there to get it done. I finished my December block (I know, I know!) and I know what I'm going to do on my January block. I've got to hit the post office tomorrow to get some things sent. So nothing can really be shown, well, maybe just a hint.

I was only supposed to use red, pink and white, but the people before me threw in a little teal so I did too. Hope you guys are getting some things done as well!

WiP Wednesday

I was thinking today. For me to have been so prolific with quilting in 2011, I hardly produced anything in 2012. I really have begun to think that putting myself under a lot of stress to finish a few that were "due" took some of the fun out of it for me. I have sort of been throwing myself into crochet again to keep myself  "craftily occupied" and the quilting urge has slowly been coming back. While it continues to surge, here are a few of the things I'm working on in the meantime.
A crocheted throw for my daughter (currently about 28" long so I've got a bit more to go!)

I started with two row lines of color with alternating two row lines of black. I've graduated up to 4 row lines and will do 6 row lines next so the colors are gradually getting larger. There will definitely have to be some blocking done on this one.

A basket weave throw for me in gray

Sorry about the picture quality. Next time I will not be using the cell phone! This one is currently about 15" long.

And a new scarf for me.

This is a v-stitch cluster and done in bamboo yarn. So incredibly soft! Just love it! 

I do have a few more things done but they have to be sent off so I don't want to show any hints here until they reach their destination.

 Ooh pretty! Lee got a new button!

And finally, a Post!

I have started this post at least 5 times and have yet to finish it and post it. Hopefully this will be the time!
Yesterday was crazy. I woke up, took the kids to school, and came back to take a shower and get ready for the day. I wasn't feeling all that well so I lay down on the couch...for a minute....well, I thought it was a minute. I woke up at 12:30. I was shocked! And dizzy! So I'm now on Sudafed for my ear. I have ruptured one of my eardrums twice as an adult from ear infections so it is now weak. Whenever I get any fluid on my ear, it will often wreak havoc with my equilibrium....which is what happened yesterday. Once I take some decongestant and get some of it off the ear, I am able to function much better. I still don't understand the need for so much sleep but I'm not complaining!

I have been doing a lot of crocheting lately. Scarves and headbands for my nieces, a scarf for my dad, one for my husband, another for me, and I'm currently working on an afghan for my daughter. Hubby's scarf was a request that would match his nice new coat he wears to work.

My daughter's afghan is a striped blanket with black being the main color. The alternating stripes are whatever I have on hand or pick up from the store. I did also pick up some gray to make a throw for my couch as well.

And I've been working on several other things, but it has truly aggravated my shoulder pain to a really bad degree. Hubby has insisted that I go to the doctor about it. Of course, I also need to go for a yearly exam, and an eye exam so I it looks like I need to just make a week of appointments. As soon as I get some sewing done, I will post that as well.

Pay It Forward...Gift 2

So I lucked out big time that the winner of my SMS giveaway was also one of the lovely ladies participating in my Pay It Forward, Kelly from live, love, create. I have already sent out gift number 1 to one of the ladies and this is gift two. I decided I would just add it to the prize box she received. I was a little worried because I decided to send crochet instead of quilting, the thought being that not everyone who blogs about quilting can crochet so I would be sending something they don't necessarily do themselves. One of the colors she listed as being a favorite was aqua so I ended up making her a cowl and a flapper style winter hat. Then I sent them. Without taking pictures. Luckily she sent me an Instagram shot in an email to thank me for the gift. I think she likes them; at least she looks like it in the picture!

I always worry about hat sizes cause my head is large but I think it looks great on her! Now, I have one more to go. I have 1/2 of it done, but I wanted to add something else to it as well (no, I haven't forgotten you!). 

I hope you all have a great New Year! We spent ours in the mountains of North Georgia with family. A tiny bit of snow, some rain, but a lot of fun!! I actually left without remembering to take a scarf or hat so I whipped up both while I was up there! Now, back to quilting!