2009 CQForNewbies Victorian Boot and Ornament Swap

Tommy and his Zoepuppa

The last four weeks, since Oct. 29th, have been the hardest of my life. Not only did I lose my husband, I lost my best friend, my greatest supporter, my rock, my reason for being. Tommy was my whole life. I truly don't know how I am going to live without him. Each day is a struggle. I can't close my eyes without seeing him. Sometimes I swear I hear his voice. I still check my phone for missed calls or messages from him. I love him and miss him so very very much.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has called, sent cards, emails, thoughts and prayers. They mean so much to me.

I probably won't be around much til after the beginning of the year. I will post pics of the Victorian Boots and ornaments from those exchanges on the CQ4N group. Tommy always helped me with them and he enjoyed them as much as I did.

I wish I could hibernate for the next 6 months...through Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, New Year's, Valentines Day, our wedding anniversary and his birthday.

I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Please don't give up on me, I will be back...just not sure when.

Tommy Neal LearBOSSIER CITY, LA - Tommy Neal Lear, 51, passed away Thursday, October 29, 2009, in Bossier City, Louisiana.Funeral service for Tommy Lear will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel at 2:00 p.m. with interment to follow. Reverend Dale Farley will be officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 5 until 8:00 p.m.Tommy was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Monroe, LA, and was employed as Chief Engineer at Days Inn on Monkhouse Dr. in Shreveport, LA.Tommy is survived by his wife, Mary Pauline Lear, daughters Chelsa Ann Lear and Erin Ree Lear, son, Patrick James Lear, Furbabies Zoe and Zax, granddaughter, Jaylee Lear, father, Tom Lear, mother and stepfather, Marie and Thomas McManus, brother, Jerry Lear, sister, Michelle Lear, nephew, Jeremy Lear, mother-in-law, Caroline Cummings, brother-in-law Jeremy Cummings, and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.Pallbearers will be Jerry Lear, Jeremy Lear, Jeremy Cummings, David Harris, Gustave Von Bodungen, and Nelson Pothiere. Hill Crest Memorial

Thank you to Lesa, Ann, and Karen for your kind comments on my last post. Things have changed since then.
We moved into the hotel for two weeks. I got a head cold that went straight to my chest and got really bad. Listening to me breath sounded like poprocks in my chest. We had no money so my mom mailed us some medicine so I started getting better and then wouldnt you know it, Tommy got sick!!!! Because he was working out in the heat, he got very sick very quickly. I gave all the medicine to him and wouldn't you know it....had a relapse myself. For two weeks I have been sitting in a tiny, dingy, moldy motel room being horribly sick. YUCK!!!
After a 2 week paycheck where the owner only paid him for 40 hours, we decided it was enough. Tommy was busting his ass for this guy. Putting in 10 to 18 hour days and that jackass only paid him for 40 hours....for TWO WEEKS work. So yesterday, Saturday, we packed up and moved in with my family. Tommy is going to take some time off and get well and then find a job around here until he finds his next big hotel job....which will hopefully be our last.
Gotta go move more things off the carport and into the house before nightfall. More later.

Moving Day

Well, it has finally happened. After months and months of struggling and trying desperately to make ends meets, the ends have frayed beyond recognition and we have been forced to find a new way to make them meet. In other words, we have lost the house. We have until Monday to be out.

We have 3 options:

1. Tommy quits his job and we move in with my family.

2. Tommy quits his job and we move in with his family.

3. Tommy keeps his job and we move into the motel he works for.

We chose option number 3. So we are moving into a tiny, dingy room at a 50 year old Days Inn. The entire room, bathroom included, is about the same size as my studio now. If things work out, I might actually be able to carve out a small space to get some work done and maybe even have the internet in a couple of weeks.

For anyone who reads and is involved in either of my swaps on CQForNewbies, this has no affect on them at all. Of course so far there has been absolutely no interest in the ornament swap. I had actually hoped that would be a big swap. I would love to be able to cover a small tree in handmade ornaments. Oh well, cie la vie.

Well, better get back to packing so we can go on the road. I will be back and hopefully sooner rather than later. God Bless.

The last block in the FFT #7 RR on CQI was for Diane in Canada. It was definitely a challenge to add to this. Everyone had done such a wonderful job and the block was so beautiful. It took me a long time before I could decide what to add. I added a floral spray with chain stitch roses (a new one for me and oooo do I like them) with Swaroski pearls. Then I added a couple of beaded flowers and a leaf. For some reason, Diane doesn't like butterflies...hhhmmmm. I added a piece of vintage lace with Swaroski coin beads and a couple of buttons with beads. I was relatively pleased.

I did learn something important about my self and my style....I HATE PASTELS!!!!!!!!! Most of the blocks in this RR were pastel and I had to really struggle to find supplies to add. Unlike others, I can't afford to go to the store and buy new things to add to blocks. I have to use what I have and I don't have any pastels.

I have also decided this will be my only RR. I got back a beautiful block but I lost interest. I guess a lot of it had to do with the pastel fact; but it was also a lot to do with what has been going on in my home life. I just can't concentrate on working my best on someone else's block. So this will be my last RR.

A couple of weeks ago I got an unexpected surprise in the mail. It was from my dear friend in Kansas City...none other than Lesa. Just look at all the flavors...I mean colors....she sent me. I can't wait to use them. Thanks, Lesa, I love them.

This is my completed FFT #7 RR block from CQI. It was worked on by Diane in Canada, Faye in Australia, Gerry K. in Washington state and Nicki in Massachusetts. Isn't it just beautiful? I think it will eventually end of being framed.

This is the 2nd glasscase I've made. I am pleased with how this one came out.

I added the leaves and such on the back upper corner to tie into the front design. The seam treatment started out being cross stitch and some how ended up being what you see. I actually like it and am very sure I will never be able to repeat it...at least not without careful study of how I did it in the first place.

This is my first eyeglass case. I kept it fairly simple and clean because I really like the colors and the feel of the fabrics.

I have 5 more pieced and ready to be stitched. Only took me about 5 hours to make the color choices and do the work, so it should not take me too long to work the others.

These are the last 3 areas I worked on to complete the previous block.

I also have an eyeglass case complete, short of sewing of course, that I will show tomorrow.

This block is complete. All I need to do now is to decide on the type of handle I want to use and put it together.

My brother Jeremy and his new dirt bike.

My mom is having a blast riding the new bike, also. Jeremy is so protective of her he walks alongside her as she rides.

Update on my current block

I lied to everyone....the covered tin I made for Lorinda has been received by my friend. I don't have a friend named Lorinda or even know anyone by that name. The tin was really for my dear friend Lesa Farmer. She is one of the owners of the group CQ For Newbies. She always brightens my day and listens to me when I need to complain about life in general. I hope one day we will actually get to meet in person.

Thanks for being such a wonderful friend and I hope you enjoy your tin, Lesa.

This is my current block after doing some work. I challenged myself to do all the stitching before doing any beading. That is very difficult for me.

Normally I stitch a seam and then bead. Then I have to fight with beads while working nearby seams and areas.

I have no clue yet what to do with the area above the motif or the green area to the right of it.

More later.

This is the block I am working on right now. The lighting sucks cause the top light in my studio is burned out and the wiring is messed up. I am working by a lamp containing a 100 watt true light bulb. While giving really good directional light (shines right on the block) boy does that sucker put out some heat!!!

This is the finished tin. It went in the mail today and hopefully will be with its new owner very soon. I do hope she likes it.