Upgraded My Ham Radio License

Haven't been stitching lately, but I have been doing a lot of recent volunteer work and just passed the exam to upgrade my amateur ("ham") radio license from Technician to General. That required I learn a bit about circuits and electricity and electronics and antennas, etc. Absolutely NO background in any of those and wasn't sure my old brain would appreciate the tough work out!  I didn't really expect to pass the first time, but YEAH!!! I actually didn't need to upgrade my license because nothing I do requires it, but after 6 years I thought it was about time - and to hopefully give me a bit more credibility with the radio guys I'm frequently around. But here is the most amazing part: When the husband of my BFF heard I'd passed it, he personally emailed to offer me his father's shortwave receiver. I was stunned, humbled and honored. After checking out what it was he wanted to send me I said; YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! It's on it's way. I met my BFF on a prodigy BB in the late 80's and we've been friends and "sisters" ever since. She had her husband have been kind, caring and very generous over the past 25 years. (Wow, 25 years!!) Whoever alleges that you can not possibly meet and make lifelong friends via the internet just doesn't understand the real connections that bring people together in true friendship.  I'll probably need help getting an antenna set up properly, but I know a bunch of radio guys ... :D  One doesn't NEED a radio license just to listen, but it's a start on something I NEVER EVER thought about EVER doing.

As I've gotten older and my younger professional life is long behind me I've truly pondered to the point of worry about what I'm supposed to do with the rest of it. Guess volunteerism and radio stuff is going to be it - for now anyway. 

In the meantime, I put in 32 volunteer hours last weekend between handling radio traffic at the March for Babies and assisting at the Emergency Operations Center, which ramped up for a couple of public events because of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Will be doing similar this weekend as well. I'd like to officially report that other than meeting and talking with a bunch of very nice other volunteers and with some great police and fire officers, it was pretty boring. Which is a really good thing!  Next time I'm taking some stitching with me!

Santa Update

 


After diligently stitching on this for a couple of weeks, I hit a wall when I realized there's a little error in the bag around his waist and can't figure out why it's not matching up right. Don't you hate when that happens? I haven't stitched on it or anything else since.

Teacup Posies Freebies and ?? re Machine Embroidery?

Vermillion has completed posting all 12 of it's 2011 Teacup Posies freebies.  They also currently have  50% off their machine embroidery digital downloads through Monday, February 26th.

Anyone ever do any machine embroidery? I don't know that I've ever seen a finished piece. Does it look like cross stitch or other machine embroidered items?

Stitchers Alphabet Freebies

By Brooke's Books.  Currently available:A through the new Y. Check out her other free and charity projects then scroll down for the Alphabet freebies.

Blue US Santa Completed

And added the few missing stitches to the Red Santa as well. Both from Down Santa Claus Lane by Leisure Arts (1994).  And, being on a bit of an unusual roll, started stitching the White/Gold US Santa as well.  So far today:

Newest WIP: Blue US Santa with Flag

Also from Leisure Arts Down Santa Clause Lane. I've been stitching on this for a bit over a week. It's a companion to the Red US Santa. Having located the book I see that the 676 and 729 should have a gold Kreinik blending filament mixed with it. Oh well. At some point, IF I can find the box with those in it I may add a bit over the top of some of the stitches. I'll rinse and iron it later, then maybe add blending filament. On 16ct white Aida with DMC.

New Dragon Dreams Valentine Freebie

on Dragon Dreams FB page - be sure to Like and/or leave a nice Thank You!

Valentine Dragon 13

Pulled my Designer and Inexcusable Chart Symbols Vent / Crochet is SOOO much easier

After far too many hours over 2 days I was FINALLY able to rechart a second impossible to read Santa with Flag chart. I'd gone on an internet hunt and found an image of one that had a similar look. Imagine my surprise when I saw the name of the book it came from, realized that SOMEWHERE I had it, finally found it then discovered new Santa with Flag was on the very same page as the one I recharted at least 10 years ago and just finished. As for recharting poorly chosen symbols that frequently looked alike, well, actually they are alike, just on different colored backgrounds, meaning on the dark simulated floss colors you can't even see them. I especially hated the full 1/3 of the color symbols that consisted of background color covered with teeeniney red or grey dots. You have no idea how hard it is to figure out which pink with dots is supposed to be which color, especially when charted right next to each other. It was all just too frustrating, and my eyes quit focusing a couple of days ago.

A long time ago I stitched a Santa with a similar look (must also have been from a Leisure Arts book or the same designer) on a heavy forest green sweatshirt  I only wear it to Christmas functions, but I've worn it to those for at least 20 years. I noticed this year it's developed little holes near one cuff.  I wore it anyway and hoped no one noticed.  I would LOVE to stitch another one but getting the needle through the waste canvas AND a heavy sweatshirt material killed my hands. It was all I could do to finish it then.  OTOH, despite all the washings in warm water the floss and colors have held up remarkably well. Wonder if there is a way to cut out the design and attach it to a new sweat shirt. Hmmmmm.

BTW, I gave up on knitting after only 2 weeks. Instead I grabbed a skein of bright yellow yarn (the pre-school great-nephew I made an afghan in primary colors for will graduate from high school this year) and a size J crochet hook to take with me to the Knitting and Spirituality group instead.  I did try to knit, just that my brain doesn't want to help me and it takes just too much concentration, and too long. One Sunday I made a complete bright yellow granny square in well under 10 minutes - since unraveled and rolled back into a ball.  Last Sunday I grabbed a skein of heathered "Mid Grey" and started playing with the idea of a prayer shawl. After a bit of hit or miss, I came up with this combination of half-double crochet stitches. The texture is created by going under only the back loop in one direction and the two top loops in the other. It's a really easy combination. (Click on the picture for a larger image.) I did start out trying to make a triangular shawl but sitting there in the Narthex couldn't get that tip to work out right, so this one is rectangular. Or, if I'd thought more before I started, I could have made it about 6" wider and it could have worked as a lap blanket, but alas not now.  I'm hoping it'll be long enough for a shawl. I'm already almost through the 2 skeins I had in that color and I doubt it's still available.That's an actual color scan, even if it looks like it's in black and white.