Initial P with Suzani inspired embroidered background

P with Suzani style embroidered background (hand embroidered by Mary Addison)

During last week I worked on 2 of the 3 Christmas presents notable for their absence in the interchange of gifts over Christmas itself. All 3 daughters received sketches of their intended presents. The eldest renegotiated hers, whilst daughters 2 and 3 I think quite liked theirs, although daughter No 2 did specify colour where I saw only white.

Detail: P with Suzani style embroidered background (hand embroidered by Mary Addison

This Suzani style background for the P for daughter No 3 transferred from sketch to embroidery smoothly with no problems and was enjoyable to do. The second embroidered initial for daughter No 2 has not been so straightforward. She wanted colour, lots of bright colour and I’m not sure what I’ve done fits the bill – but I’ll save the post mortem until next week.

Detail:P with Suzani style embroidered background (hand embroidered by Mary Addison

Two embroidered initials in 2 weeks is good going for me and it’s energised me to design a couple more small projects long in the pipeline. So, inspite of the weather being unpleasant and January in England not being the most uplifting time of year, I find I’m in good spirits.

Detail: P with Suzani style embroidered background (hand embroidered by Mary Addison

Then wham, in the middle of the night, an unknown insect bites me on my right (sewing) hand. I wake, have a good scratch and go back to sleep. By morning my hand is swollen, itchy and painful. The only relief to be had comes from applying a small plastic bag of frozen peas which I bind round the hand with a large handkerchief. After a second, more uncomfortable night, swelling has increased and we suspect infection.  We set off to the pharmacist, my jaunty hand and frozen pea sandwich clearly visible as I clutch what I thought was a decent umbrella but which appears insubstantial in the face of storm Brendan. Trying to be good citizens, we call at the pharmacist, who takes one look at it and sends us to the doctor. Happily we get an appointment for the afternoon. I spend the rest of the day lying on my bed, making small demands (Heinz tomato soup is the only thing that will do at times like this) hand still glued to bag of frozen peas, which kind husband replaces when one goes soggy (we have several on standby in the freezer.) And all I can think of is how behind this is putting my embroidery schedule! …Two days of antibiotics and thank goodness I can sew again.  Small crisis over. Life is good again.

Sketch for P with Suzani style embroidered background (hand embroidered by Mary Addison

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10 Comments

  1. ceci
    Posted January 18, 2020 at 1:49 am | Permalink

    Yikes! Spider bite, perhaps?? It sounds so tropical to be bitten in January. I love the colorful embroidery; the sharp delineation cutting through the flower shapes is so dramatic.

    ceci

    • Mary Addison
      Posted January 19, 2020 at 3:53 pm | Permalink

      The doctor suggested a spider bite but who knows.
      Thank you for telling me you like the embroidery.

  2. Posted January 18, 2020 at 9:44 am | Permalink

    Ouch! I had an infected bite last year, and while antibiotics are a marvel and I wouldn’t be without them, I couldn’t think straight for the whole course, let alone embroider. Good to know you are through it and back to stitching. And delightful stitching, as well!

    • Mary Addison
      Posted January 19, 2020 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

      These things happen so easily don’t they – slightly frightening!

  3. Nella
    Posted January 18, 2020 at 12:29 pm | Permalink

    Oh dear, how horrid for you Mary. Thank goodness for frozen peas in an emergency eh? Used them so often when small children bumped themselves. Glad you’re better now. Beautiful, vibrant embroidery

    • Mary Addison
      Posted January 19, 2020 at 3:57 pm | Permalink

      I just hope no innocent person comes to my freezer and thinks how clever I’ve been to pre-apportion little bags of peas with just enough in to feed one person! Glad you like the embroidery. Thank you.

  4. Posted January 19, 2020 at 5:29 am | Permalink

    I was delighted to find recently that you can now get freezable gel beads in a reusable pack. Not quite as flexible as a bag of peas, but keeps you from finding yourself out of peas at dinner-time. We have been invaded by the new Asian mosquito, whose bites stay red and angry for at least a week.

    Lovely embroidery!

    • Mary Addison
      Posted January 19, 2020 at 3:59 pm | Permalink

      Must look out for those gel beads.
      Don’t like the sound a new more unpleasant mosquito; even the English type can rob me of my sleep until I’ve despatched them.

  5. Posted January 23, 2020 at 7:56 pm | Permalink

    Ouch! I’ve had spider bites like that. Hurray for all kinds of frozen vegetables and flexible gel packs and antibiotics. I continue to enjoy your stories and photos and am always looking forward to your next post.

    • Mary Addison
      Posted January 25, 2020 at 12:06 am | Permalink

      Yes, hooray for modern medicine, Katie.
      Thanks for making such kind comment.

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