Renewed interest in my Geisha

I have finally been working on my Geisha again.  I'm actually far enough that I can roll my scroll (that rhymes!) and start working on the top half of the pattern.  Moving on to another part of the pattern has made me interested in working on her again.  She was really slow going during that last leg of the bottom of her kimono (lots of "of").

Anyway, here's the last time/this time side by side!

I rolled the scroll up already so I could start working on the purple that's coming.  It's a really lovely purple.  I ran out of gold metallic thread, so I will have to buy it next time I'm in town, but for now I don't need it.

I scrapped my neon Sophie blanket because it was really, really busy.  I mean, I get that the pattern is kinda busy anyway, but that one looked really bad and was quite the eyesore, so I'm probably going to unravel it and use the yarn for something else.

I joined that mystery CAL and am now done with squares 4 and 5:

Square 4

Square 5

I like these circle to square afghan squares.  They're pretty cute.  I'm not so good at the back loop crochet, which is why they have less of a circle shape and more of a dodecagon shape.  I still love the way they look.  Each square so far has a similar look, but because of the colors I chose, they all look so different!

My other project I'm working on is...well, I can't show or tell because it's for my swap partner.  I just really hope they like it.  It's definitely been a new experience for me because I've never made anything like this.  I know I will probably make one for myself because it's really neat.

Nothing more to add, off to finish these last two rounds of the pattern I'm crocheting.

Busy!

An update on my bad back.  I'm still in a lot of pain, but I got in to see the doctor this morning.  I'm on a couple muscle relaxers and some anti-inflammatory medications.  The best news, though, is that I finally got a doctor who listens to me and she recommended an MRI.  So I get to go do that soon!

I have been pretty bedridden for a little while, so I've been doing a lot of crocheting because cross stitch is hard to do when you're stuck on your back.  That being said, I made a few things.  First up is the sweater I knocked out in literally two days:

The front!

The back!

Don't mind the messiness of my outfit, I was in my pajamas getting ready for bed (and in quite a lot of pain, might I add!).  I got the pattern from HERE and I used I Love This Yarn "Surprise Stripes" which is a worsted weight yarn.  I didn't make mine as big as the pattern shows because I'm rather short (five feet) and didn't want to ruin it by dragging it on the floor.  I figured the back of my knees was a perfect length for my shortness.

Okay, I also have some Sophie updates.  Here's where I'm at on them!

Page 15 finish.

Page 16 finish (not much different, really).

Sophie number 2 page 7 finish

Then, after all this, I joined a mystery crochet along.  I think the squares in this CAL are for a pillow, but I really want to make an afghan because the colors I picked work so well together that a pillow just isn't enough for me!  Here are the first three squares of that (I'll probably work up the fourth tonight).

Weeks 1-3

I started the CAL yesterday, but it's been going on for four weeks already.  So I'll be caught up sometime today.

All that lying around got me some serious crafting.  I'm going to go lie down for a bit because I'm in pain, but I thought I would update since I just got back from the doctor.  Happy stitching, everyone!

Threw out my back again

Yes, it's true.  I threw out my back again.  This one was as bad as the one that put me in the hospital a few months ago, but since they didn't do anything for me last time I went, I stayed home.  I'm in a LOT of pain.  I can't walk without random twinges of excruciating pain and if I'm sitting down and try to relax the muscles in my back, I get a crushing pain in my spine.  But, you know, the doctor thinks I'm looking for narcotics, so they basically tell me to suck it up and go home.

I can't bend down to pick anything up, so my poor son has been helping me do practically everything (to include helping me get dressed).  My house is filthy because I can't reach to pick anything up.  I can't do dishes because I can't stand long enough to get them done.  Of course I threw out my back when my husband is away for two weeks for work.

My poor kids are going to be eating microwave meals I can't bend down to put something in the oven (not without burning myself on something!) and I can't stand long enough to cook stove top.

There's a silver lining, though.  I have all the time in the world to work on my crafty things!  I can't lay out any to take pictures right now, but I will when I feel better!

Anyway, this was just an update as to where I've been for a few days.  Happy stitching, everyone.

Serial Starter

It's official, I am a serial starter.  I start a lot of projects.  Oh, I do finish them, but I always have many, many going at once.  That being said, here are the first two WIPs of my THIRD Sophie's Universe blanket:

You can't tell by the pictures, but the colors are neons, black, and white.  I'm really loving the way it looks in person, but it's rather ugly in the pictures.  Ah well.  Here are the four WIPs for my second Sophie:

I'm almost done with the 15th page of my first Sophie.  Hopefully I'll be done with that before I go to bed tonight.

I bought yarn recently to make THIS.  It's black, white, and bright pink variegated yarn.  I'm really excited to start that.

My father came to visit for my birthday and while he was here he joked that he'd like me to make him a blanket, so I am making him one.  I hope he realizes that I am very serious about making a blanket because I've bought the yarn and pattern for something for him.  He lives in Michigan, so a blanket for Christmas would be a great idea with all that snow they get.

I'm going to go finish that page I'm on in my pattern and then I'm probably going to read a book.  Happy stitching everyone!