I am back from yet another cardio test, this one involving nitroglycerin – ugh, beta blockers – meh, and contrast dye injected into me – never again if I can at all help it. I am so behind on everything. If you are waiting on an email from me, you may want to resend and CC ModR on it, because I don’t know what’s going on anymore.
Seriously, the test was ordered in April, then they lost the paperwork, then they scheduled it, then they rescheduled it, then they rescheduled it again because “central booking doesn’t know anything and I book appointments for Imaging, and we have no availability.” Twelve weeks from order to actual test. Blergh.
I stressed out so much, it killed an entire week of writing. We’ll have to rewrite post ER scene, because I was feeling sorry for myself and it’s all “woe is me, I have the sads.” And I couldn’t work yesterday because not only the test and driving into Austin took forever, but all of that blood vessel dilating + no caffeine gave me a raging migraine, which I never get.
::hugs her vanilla black tea::
On top of that, the tank top I was knitting for one of the girls is too wide. How? The gauge is right and it’s extra small size. I should have ribbed the damn thing.
And the purse I crocheted is too floppy. I think I might need to insert something into hem to make it less floppy because it just flops when you try to lift it by the handles, which means I will have to line it, which means I will have to break out the sewing machine, which means I have to prep for war and gird my loins. Maybe I can handsaw the lining? And I need to figure out what stiff material to line it with because it can’t be cardboard, since the whole point of a ribbon purse is that you can wash it.
So grumpy. Very, very grumpy.
Grumpy.
Let’s talk about something more fun. Is anyone playing Genshin Impact and if you are, how do you like it?
Re: lining the purse. I use the foam sheets from the kid’s projects. I took a class with a cheat on using the ones with the sticky backing to get the lining to stick smoothly but that wouldn’t work if you wanted to wash it. Not sure how washable the foam (without sticky backing) would be, but it does well to keep them from flopping. Oh, I’ve also used the plastic mesh (found usually near the foam) in the lining (had a cylinder shaped purse that kept collapsing). If you could get it in -I hand sew the lining- that should probably hold up better in the wash.
Anyway good luck
Solidarity. In heart failure since May and SO VERY SICK of tests with contrasts.
Maybe it’s a good day to soak up some vitamin D? Hope you can go for a swim soon! (Water therapy is one of my favorites!)
Enjoying Heirs of Chicago(land) as a distraction
Lining the purse…yes, you can most likely hand sew it. Depending on the purse design, size, and construction, you may be able to get away with a single seam plus attaching it around the purse opening. If you want to get fancy and not worry about potential frayed seam edges could do a “lined” lining. That way you could use a fusible interfacing on the “interior” of the lining (which can go from barely there to thick/stiff enough to construct free standing bowls) which will give you the stiffness you are looking for but still washable. If you want to be REALLY fancy schmancy can do an outter lining that showcases the ribbon crochet and an interior color that makes things easy to spot. At the end should be a simple whip stitch around the purse opening to attach. Machine might not even be faster than just doing it by hand but really, fusible lining is what I would use for the “stiffness” factor.
As for the tank top being too wide…how wide is too wide and what fiber are we talking? Is this a rip out and start over or a potential layering piece. Is creative use of shrinkage an option? Is it knit in the round or can you do some creative seam adjustments in a final construction phase?
Medical and writing stuff can’t do anything but express sympathy. But crafting issues? Yeah, those I’m all over. Possibly have used one or two I’ve mentioned to “save” my own projects in the past.
I’m really sorry this is happening to you. I have a friend who had a heart transplant 12 years ago. She has diverticulitis right now and the first set of antibiotics made her mouth break out in sores. When I feel down (which seems a lot these days) I think of my friend. She is also a cancer survivor so when I’m feeling grumpy and my dog Charlie or music doesn’t perk me up then I call my friend who is always positive. I can’t complain as she’s got all kinds of crap to deal with and I feel rather small. I’m not trying to shame you as constant tests and errors would have me falling into the dark side too. But there are many who have it worse so you have to take your blessings (your family) and the fact that you are a most wonderful author. Do take care of yourself first, we will all be waiting when you’re better no matter how long.
Genshin has been keeping my oldest kid’s interest for months now, she doesn’t normally stay with one game that long but day after day, she goes: oh I’ll just do my dailies and finds herself sinking into it. My husband tried it but wasn’t feeling it. My son was like: no way. It holds no attraction to me but I play so little these days, all my gaming time still goes to acnh.
Heart testing is no fun. Grumpiness is well-deserved! Hope you have reslved any issue and can move on with other, fun things.
Love, love, love genshin impact. Not into playing on a ‘ team’ but it is a ton of fun playing by myself. My characters are lvl 70, and I have to say, the story is interesting, and it is so pretty!
Textiles student here! You can handsew a bit of cotton muslin together with french seams. Very durable. Considering that I don’t know how you are making the top of the bag I have no idea how to attach the lining to the purse itself. You may want to do a rolled hem for the raw edge of the top of the lining.
Good luck!
Genshin Impact was :::shrug::: I played it awhile back and it held my interest for a few weeks. For me, it’s too easy and repetitive after a certain point.
I’ve been playing Genshin Impact since early October and really enjoying it and generally recommend it. Don’t play if you have gambling issues or if not getting everything will ruin your fun. Also some of the npcs have really tragic back stories that aren’t always immediately obvious. This includes some of the children.
The music is beautiful. They had the London Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra record the music for the three regions that are currently available. They went as far as giving certain themes different variations based on time of day in game.
There is also a lot of story every where if you want to look for it. A lot of the weapons and items have bits of the previous owner’s history included in the description. There are also books to collect with in game histories and folk tales.
The gameplay in the character demos and collected miscellany trailers are pretty accurate to how actual combat works. If you would prefer not to watch trailers for past limited characters, the following are the permanent characters with a demo and/or miscellany trailers:
Kaeya and Xiangling are two of the characters earned through gameplay. Fischl, Diona, Xinyan, Rosaria, and Yanfei are 4 star permanent characters. Diluc, Mona, Keqing, Qiqi, and Jean are 5 star permanent characters.
I love love love Genshin impact! It’s low key enough you can pick it up, do something, and then log off. But there are lots of events that changes monthly so it’s not boring, and they just added another country! Plus, the sceneries are pretty, the stories so varied and interesting. The character team comps are so interchangeable, too! I have made friends from all over the country and from Japan playing this game. Plus, I play on mobile/pc so it’s very easy to pick up and go. My kids play on the PS4, and it’s free! Though it’s co-opable across platforms after you hit rank 16, it’s only cross-login on mobile/ pc. (You can’t use your mobile login on the PS4.)It’s a great game!
I gotta say, I found your books late in life and immediately scoured the used bookstores and libraries to read your entire collections within 2 weeks (my husband did not like the reading binge, lol). You have earned another avid fan and I have been spreading your awesomeness in my discord servers.
For your purse, you want some really stiff pelon. JoAnn carries it and it is in the interfacing area. It is considered for use for crafting by Pelon and the nice stuff irons on one side to your lining. You will want to test then out to find one that handles the way you like. If you need another stifferner to keep the bottom flat, sew in boning (or a cut off wooden skewer) would work. Pink Sands Design has really good purse patterns and my purses and tote bags are so much better as I’ve followed their instructions for interfacing. Anyway, I can was the purses when they get dirty with this sstuff.
Love Genshin Impact!!!!!!!!!!!!
Genshin Impact is Meh for me. I love Zelda Breath of the Wild and therefore came for the scenery, but the very young characters, lack of refining (I know it’s free but still!) and overall bad plot didn’t please me.
However you might want to check Amazon’s New World! Currently in beta (I’m in, so very excited) and due to release on August 31st, that’s one really promising MMO, with a pirate/conquistador/Renaissance look to it (I got a curld wig to go kill and skin wolves hehe).
Anyway, the grumpiness will end and the floppy purse will stand on its own absence of feet and everything will be fine 🙂
Just a couple of thoughts. First, I am sorry you need this medical evaluation and glad you finally got it. FYI, as a retired RN, I hope your doctor knows you had to wait 12 weeks or more to get the test! I get very irritated when people must wait so long for testing, especially this type. If your doctor doesn’t know, let them know, sometimes they can exert a little influence if needed!
Second, embrace the grumpiness just for a day. I love your writing. I love the hidden humor I find in even the most dire circumstances. That makes me believe you have a happy nature. Some days we need to be grumpy, the better to be happy the next.
Be well!
Love Genshin Impact, highly recommend, played about 200 hours and theyre still releasing more content and main story quests! X
I made a clutch (knitted outside, silk hand sewn lining) and used plastic for yarn cross stitch. It’s washable, but will dry flat. It’s something you can also get cheaply at any craft store.
No caffeine? Argh, they’d have to unhook my coffee IV. Hmm. Bright side with the dye torture is that you weren’t allergic to the dye? What type of yarn did you use for the purse? If it’s wool, perhaps washing on hot? That “felts” the wool and shrinks it, turning it into fabric.
How to cheer you up? Just finished my third time through Innkeeper, re-reading the Hidden Legacy series now. If the house caught fire, yours are the books I’d grab.
Sorry for jumping around. My brain is acting like a BB in a boxcar today. I copyedit medical journals when I’d rather be talking to Nevada and Rogan.
Years ago I had a test which required contrast dye. I mentioned to the nurse I was nervous and was told only 1 in a 100,000 had an adverse reaction. Test was aborted very quickly and I spent several hours in the ED being checked every 15 minutes.
I reccomend soft and stable by byAnnie. It’s machine washable and gives it a nice touch. I use it for a lot of soft side bags.
Hand-sew. It’s soothing and therapeutic, and will not take too long.
There are actual “stiffened” products that one can use either to line the sides of purses, or to put into the bottoms to give shape. There are books on this – from the library, and I’m sure there are all sorts of YouTubes and such that suggest brands and give demos.
Your crochet purse will indeed be used and useful someday.
Sorry, no ideas about the tank top. Give to a friend and start over w/ a ribbed project?
Much love, you’re the best!!! (And so rooting for you and your books …)
I’m sure someone has mentioned it, but just in case….have you looked into purse frames? You can get wire ones you insert into the lining: https://store.craftpassion.com/internal-wire-purse-framed
Just saw a tiktok where a lady uses these floppy dollar store cutting boards to add structure to fabric crafts. They are cuttable with scissors. Like a sheet of laminate, but firmer.
Look into this for your bag. I just made a fabric box with Stiff Stuff by Lazygirl. Not too stiff but good structure and resilience. https://www.lazygirldesigns.com/products/stiff-stuff/
Hope your week improves. Your stories bring me joy.
try starch on the purse before you do any deconstructing. it might help.
Knowing that on the 22nd you were feeling as grumpy as I do today cheered me up enormously, not because you were grumpy—not ever happy about that—but because misery loves company…even if it’s retroactive.
Hope you’re feeling WAY better now.
Cheers, Faith
Huge air hug, and all the tea ever. Please take care of yourself, the writing can wait a little bit.
You poor thing. Hey look on the bright side. I had a camera inserted into my thigh artery (I think it was the artery) and they pushed it up into my heart to see what was inside. Nothing to put me out either and I was awake. When they removed the tube/camera it hurt so bad I almost crushed to aide’s hand that I was holding and boy did I say in a very loud voice “ouch, ouch, ouch you are killing me”. Of course they weren’t killing me but damn!
Great stiff lining for purse is thin plastic kitchen cutting board. I’m enjoying Genshin Impact a lot, especially as I’ve managed to not spend any money on it.
Plastic canvas makes good liners for things and is washable but don’t put it in the dryer!