The finishing factory is in full swing . . .

at our house.

I worked all last night on finishing SO's Christmas ornament. I can tell you, it's all finished but putting the hanger on it. And it's HUGE. I can tell you, the state fair ornament contest judges will NOT like that, but, when it comes down to it, this is not really done for them. SO liked it, I like him, and that is most important. I did realize I stitched the stocking in the wrong color. SO said it looked fine to him.

I did modify my design a bit. It was hard to center felt on the wrapped foamcore. It looked funny, so I made that the back. I think it looks a bit more polished done this way, but I am going to make me a wrapped ornament. I am hell-bent on finishing this tonight, so should have a photo tomorrow.

The geisha is nearing getting finished. I finished her shawl Wednesday evening. Now it's mostly back stitching and laying the gold details in her skirt, and finishing the cherry blossom stems. I hope to have that mostly finished this weekend, too, but I am running out of the gold braid. I ordered two more spools of it, just in case I need that much, but I have to wait til it gets here. But, at least I can get the rest done so when it's here, I'll be done quick.

I have decided to use the time I have off next week to put some order back in my sewing room. I want another drawered thingy for in the closet, so that I can retire the collection of tote bags full of fabric and stitching crap I've amassed. I am going to go through my WIPs and put them in a rolley-cart I got when the office moved, so I can get them finished, and then put some charts in binders, so they aren't in a teetering stack behind the closet door. I am pretty proud of myself that I finally took the two seconds necessary to clean out a cookie tin to put my buttons and tiny little clothespins in, and then put them in last night. Of course, I have no place to put said tin, but at least they're in there and not scattered about. I have another one that I think I am going to use for ribbon. And of course, some of the non-stitching things are going out of that room, including the Christmas quilt my mom bought at a yard sale. It's not a storage bin, it needs to be a functional room. Maybe if I had a TV . . .


On a more serious sidenote: Please remember to wear sunscreen while you're having fun this summer. Even on cloudy days, even under the umbrella. I grew up, with suncreen as an afterthought. At 32, I am seeing the results. A month ago, I found a suspicious patch on my shoulder. It was scaly, but I watched it. 2 weeks ago, it still wasn't healed. I spent a week in denial that I could have a problem. Last week, I finally went on WebMD, which frankly should be renamed Webdeathsentence, and, terrified because my spot looked like a carcinoma, made an appointment with my doctor. I've been panicked all week.

Yesterday was my appointment. The good news is, I don't have cancer. I have solar keratosis, which happens when the skin is damaged and doesn't know how to regulate sluffing dead cells, so it goes into overdrive. My doctor froze it, which didn't hurt at all. The bad news is, there is damage. I have to watch now. It's been a wakeup call for me. I use sunscreen now, religiously, but on top of everything else that comes with aging, I have this. Great . . .