Just A Little Note

Well, I have finished my last quilt for a little while.  You see, I'm having a total hip replacement on my right side on April 6.  I find myself excited in a way because of the horrendous pain that I am in on a daily basis.  I have tried to sit and sew but I can't seem to be able to find a comfortable position.  I try to work around the house but I can hardly walk because of the pain in my hip.  To top it all off, I have been diagnosed with RA in my LEFT ankle.  Watching me walk is like watching a comedy.  I have fallen so many times within the last couple of months that I am bruised so bad it looks like someone beat me up.  

On the other hand, I'm going to be honest.  This surgery scares the heck out of me.  The only other surgery I have had is arthroscopic 2 years ago on the same hip.  I was home the same day.  They (the doctors) tell me that this surgery will last about 75 minutes (could be 90) and that I will be in the hospital for 3 days at least.  I haven't stayed the night anywhere in over 3 years.  I went to a information type class last week about this surgery and the restrictions are just about worse than what I am going through right now.  They tell me that I won't be able to bend over and have to keep my hip no less than a 90 degree angle.  I have been paying more attention to things in my home that I will have to change because of these two restrictions (there are more, these are just the ones that concern me the most).  My height of my bed is about the only thing that I have that is close to being correct.  Everything else, like my chair, tub/shower, and most important, the toilet, are too low.  Now I could purchase the things that would make these a little easier but they cost a fortune.  The nurse and physical therapist that talked at this class seem to not care about how much these things will cost US.  For me to get all the equipment that they recommend, it will cost us almost $1000.  That's about what I make right now in just a month.  I really don't know how I'm going to do this but I guess that I have to find a way.  

I've got some new projects lined up for after I get home from the hospital since I won't be able to sew for a little bit.  I'm going to go back to making my beaded ornaments that I use to make years ago.  Here are a couple that I had made my mom before she died.  They are made using the Delica beads.

 



 Now, I do make these to sell however they do take me 2 to 3 weeks each to make. You might think my price on these are high but because of the time and materials that I have in each one of these, I'm only paying myself 50 cents per hour when it comes down to it.  The cost to purchase one of these (an I'm working on a different pattern all together right now) is between $85 -  $100, depending on the pattern and colors.  For instance on the price of supplies, for silver, costs me $10.45 for 5 grams and the one I'm working of right now takes 14 grams for one ornament.  The one right now is an Iris and it has 17 colors.  I will post pictures of this one when I am finished.


Well, speaking of working on this ornament, I better get busy on it.  Keep checking back to see this one when I'm finished.