Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Ha! I had to go back in my labels to see if I posted this one before and I'm not even that sure I went back far enough. Either way, aren't these cute.

It would be simple enough to do these, glue, canvas, eyelet lace, embroidery thread and a talented hand.

Cute! Cute! C&G Design


Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Staying in Touch

Geez, it's hard to believe that in a few years I'll being having my 30th class reunion. It seems like yesterday I was a senior in school looking forward to being done and graduated.
I remember two special friends from high school that I spent quite alot of time with, Emma and Robin. Robin I hear from time to time but I seemed to have lost communication with Emma, until recently.

I sometimes wish Emma lived in Maine but she lives far away so emailing has become our way of staying in touch.
I was very surprised when Saturday my husband walked in with a package that had come in the mail. It was from Em, she sent me these adorable snowflake ornaments she found thrifting. She sent them with a wish that she hoped it brightened my day...yep, it did that!
(and I was just thinking of making these)

By God, whomever crocheted these used the smallest hook possible, they seem delicate but I actually think they can take quite a bit, least a kitty batting them around.

The other item that touched my heart is this glass frame....it states it all.

Thank-you, Em. C&G Design
And P.S. I noted the address! Smart of me-I must be getter better!

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Friday, October 22, 2010

What!?!


Not much is going on in my neck of the woods lately, I've done alittle crafting but it is an order I got while in the hospital (good thing the lady is willing to wait).
Other than that it's doctor visits and concentrating on healing while speeding closer to having chemotherapy.
I found this article while perusing the Internet the other day, it's from Newsweek, can ya believe that? Newsweek. The bit is on funny businesses and a doll doctor is top ranking, or the doll hospitals in general.
I guess not everyone can see the value in repairing a childhood memory, or cleaning a discarded art piece worth thousands, but hey....it ranks with the bubble busters (gum cleaners) and people who breed giant rabbits. I'd much rather be doing repairs on dolls than the other things listed but to each it's own......see Funny Business.
I sometimes think these unusual jobs come from a need for employment.
Don't you? C&G Design


Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Raggedy Ann Grandparents

Whoops! I forgot to prepare a complete post last night, it was shower night without my drainage machine (yah!), pretty epic to me.
So without ado I found this picture of Raggedy Ann's Grandparents, aren't they cute?

I'm off to see the chemotherapy doctor today.

Wish me luck. C&G Design
Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Monday, October 18, 2010

My Next Challenge

I saw my chemotherapy doctor last week, I was somewhat nervous and I still am, the idea of pumping chemical into my body just doesn't seem good especially if it makes me sick.
I will be in therapy for 6 months, going every 2 weeks for 3 or 4 hours apiece.
I will have a port instead of the nurses seeking for a vein spot every time, a port is a junction (so to speak) into the artery with a plastic intravenous capsule outside of your skin. I had one in the hospital except it had 4 capsules. It was called a central line.
The kind of chemical cocktail (2) I will be getting is exclusive to colon cancer, one has a peculiar side effect. I won't be able to touch anything cold or my throat will spasm making me feel as if I were being choked, I will have to wear mittens to take anything out of the refrigerator or freezer. The Internet claims this is true with cold weather also. Oh boy! Winter in Maine!
The Internet also states that the chemical (at least one of them), interferes with the cell construction at the DNA development. That's the second stage of cell growth, unfortunately it will affect the good cells also.
I read that there has been a recent new drug approval for chemotherapy. The drug targets the growing area and chokes the blood supply off to the tumor.

Gosh! Great works in motion! C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Snowflakes

These are cute, compliments of Snowcatcher.



Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 11 crochet hook, 54 beads, empty pizza box, wax paper or foil, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Instructions

String beads onto thread. Keep them far enough ahead to prevent them from interfering with your work, and use one bead at a time as directed.

Ch 6, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and 2 ch), *1 dc in ring, ch 2; repeat from * around 10 times for a total of 12 spokes; sl st in starting dc. Do not pull magic ring too tight.
Round 2: *Sl st in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, tr in same space, slide one bead next to stitch after 1st loop of tr stitch (bead should be in center of tr when tr is complete), ch 3, sl st in same space, ch 1, sc in next space, ch 1, sl st in next sp, ch 1; repeat from * around 5 times for a total of 6 petals; sl st in starting sl st.
Round 3: *Ch 2, hdc in next ch 2 sp, 1 dc in next tr, 1 tr in same tr, ch 5 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 2 (place bead in center of chain),1 tr in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dtr in same ch, ch 4 (place bead in center of chain), trtr (yo 4 times) in same ch, ch 1, sl st in top of trtr just completed, ch 4 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dtr in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), 1 tr in same ch, ch 2 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dc in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), sl st in same ch, sl st in next ch, 1 tr in dc below, 1 dc in same dc, 1 hdc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, sl st in sl st at base of petal, sc in next sc (between petals), sl st in sl st at base of next petal; repeat from * around 5 times ending with sl st in starting sl st; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or foil to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or foil.

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or foil. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

While in the hospital I was due to change my header, a reminder stored in my blogger account published accidentally, not the first time though it's O.K.
So I located my last header graphic and today it's changed! I like this one, Ann looks as if she is going to get into mischief. Reality....she is probably getting ready to stop mischief.

She's looking at the words. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Monday, October 11, 2010

What Kathleen Sent Me

As I posted about before, many gifts were sent to me while I was in the hospital (I also bought over eBay so I'd have boxes to open when I arrived home). Kathleen of Rural Maine Life was sweet enough to send me a box of little dollies and I opened it up while still in the hospital!

Here is what she sent; Four celluloid dolls, you may remember my post on celluloid or find it here. The girl on the left is a Patsy look a like while the boy on the right has googly eyes.

A cute Annalee doll, seems to be missing a ball.

A dress me doll with a paper outfit and a pillow doll. Wouldn't that be cute on a larger doll bed?

This is a Topsy turvy doll, little red riding hood.

But wait! It's a Topsy turvy turn about doll, see the wolf that hides under grandma's hat?

Both of these dolls are Arranbee. The brunette is a early Littlest Angel and the blond is a Cody girl for the Cody line of make-up. I accidentally found that out while looking at the Littlest Angel.

This one reminds me of the Japanese animation, she's cute.

I don't know if this little one belongs in the box but doesn't she just make you smile?

Thank you, Kathleen! C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Friday, October 8, 2010

A Short Note on my Progress

I want to let my readers know that it has been a good week for me, I have felt stronger everyday and I"m looking forward to the upcoming week. I have some outside plans to do, packing the little people, removing our canopy, and maybe taking a few fall photos.
I am hoping that by Halloween I will be able to walk with Madame when she trick or treats, it may be the last time she'll want to do it.
While in the hospital I had 2 orders from Etsy and a Email from a friend of a prior customer, she ordered 5 sets of a craft I did a while ago, more on that later.
Next week I also meet with the oncologist doctor, he'll brief me on chemotherapy.
Until then, catch you on Monday. C&G Design
Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

What a sweetheart!

While in the hospital, I was sent several gifts and cards. I want to thank everyone who thought of me, it really brightened my day.
One of the near and dear surprises I received was from Skeeter, what a sweetheart! She sent me her vintage raggedy Ann and Andy Look at Andy's legs! Ann has the same fabric, a cute eye catching change.
Skeeter writes that her grandmother worked for a shop owner, a hairdresser, and the shop owner had displays in her window.
When the shop owner took the display down Skeeter's grandmother asked if she could pass them along to her. Skeeter believes they were made by a customer.


I feel privileged and honored that Skeeter has chosen me to give these to. They will take up a space on the love seat with the other Ann and Andy's.

C&G Design
Happy 50th to my husband!

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Monday, October 4, 2010

A sad day

I have spent the last few days trying to get caught up with my blog reading and although I haven't commented on all the missed posts, I have read them.
It is with a heavy heart to find CC of Lace 'n' Ribbon Roses no longer in the blogging world, she had had a terrible fall breaking her pelvic and was recovering from it when she was in and out of the hospital with different ailments. Her passing was September 5th.
CC will be missed, she was a very special lady whom loved and collected Sunbonnet Sue like I collect Raggedy Ann, she even posted several Ann transfers especially for me.
You can find a final post by CC's son here Lace 'n' Ribbon Roses.
C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Friday, October 1, 2010

I'm Back

It has been a long haul in my battle to be cancer free. I had more than one complication while in the hospital and spent 26 days under their care. The primary thing that happened was the re-connection of my colon came undone from one staple, that one staple cause a battery of problems. I had to have a re-connection surgery, and a follow-up surgery to be sure my abdomen was all cleaned out. Somewhere in there I was moved to ICU for an irregular heartbeat.
This is the flowers my younger sisters sent me, the peach rose was gorgeous. The picture really didn't pick up the vibrant. Not only did I have a nourishment bag of food by IV, but insulin to counteract the high sugar content. I had days....I mean days of vomiting which prompted me to ask for a stomach tube so the acid from my belly could be removed.
My stairs to my front door was decorated by my employee and his wife. I got this photo right when I came home.
I had a ride to another hospital so a abdomen abscess could be drained and finally a fissure developed in the surgical area which set me back another week. The doctor made it clear that all the setbacks had nothing to do with the cancer. It snowballed from the disconnection and so I shouldn't think of it in terms of the "C" trying to beat me. Ha!
But I'm home now and everything is on a upswing. I'm going to try to get back to my schedule of postings but I also want to play it by ear, some days will bring weakness and I tend to relax (sleep) rather than doing alot.
A bouquet from our company supplier.
Happy October. C&G Design


Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.