Moving to Miami

I will probably move to Miami, FL because there's a hospital there that make the bariatric surgery with Medicare. I got tire of waiting here in PR and at last they told me that my dr is not yet affiliated to Medicare, so they won't make any surgery with Medicare yet. But they don't have an idea of when this could be possible. So I started looking on the net for drs. and found severals. Up to now I got an answer from the Miami HOPE Center and I think I'll start the process with them. Now to find apartment into my money range. That's another story. *sigh*

I signed with BeautiControl a few months ago and though I made it for personal use I think I can make some money selling the products. This will help GREATLY into the moving to Miami. So if you can lend me a few minutes and check my page I'll appreciate!

http://www.beautipage.com/wallysosa/

Tatting on Car

I haven't been around a lot because of the pains I have been suffering for almost 2 months. But thanks God and my dr the pain are less and I was able to go out with my family just to drive around the interior of the island. I think we drove like 2 hours without stopping and I started to get bore because I didn't bring with me my tatting bag. So I took some curly ribbons from a gift someone made to my sister Letty and I started finger-tatting a very simple heart.















But what would I do to help with the joining? I asked mom if she had a toothpiker and she found one and it worked like a charm! I was able to make the joins.
















Here is the finished heart. Tatting with curly ribbon is interesting but I don't like how the picots look like and it was difficult to manage the tension of the stitches. But anyway I spend a few minutes without boreness. :-)

Day one of the "Festival de la Palabra" (Festival of the Word)

I got an invitation for an International fair of writers celebrated this week in PR. Only 5 artisans are participating and it's very exiting! Today was the 1st day. Well, actually, last night was the 1st but I couldn't go at night. So this is my official 1st day. :-)

Because is an event about writers and books they ask me to bring bookmarks. So I spent the last couple of weeks tatting bookmarks. Made around 30. Today I sold 7. May be is not a lot but for me is a triumph! This is my first time in an event like this.

The event is from 10 am to 10 pm in an antique square building with a huge plaza in the center. It was constructed as a jail in the Spanish Colonial Era. A very pretty building. Tomorrow, hopefully, will post some pics. I forgot the camera in the luggage with the tattings on the trunk of mom's car. But is secure...

My feet hurt and are swollen, my back is killing me and I'm so tire I can't sleep but I'm happy.

A Swedish - Chilean Cat!

Have been a "blah" kind of week. It's not fun to discover that for my first 40th BD I'll be on the red again. Nothing new here. But this time is more stressful because of the problem with my meds and the health insurance. *sigh* But I won't go there again...

Anyway, arrived from Walmart just now and when I went to check if Netflix sent my movies I found an envelope from Sweden! WOW! BTW... No Netflix yet. :-(

Inside the envelope came a nice card with this cutie pie inside. It's from Isa @, one of my students from the Spanish Tatting Group in NING. Isn't it cute? I love it!!!! It's a felt oval with a stylish cat and around a dainty edging in silver thread with black beads. It measures like 2 inches tall. This surely makes the rest of the night a bright one!

Thanks so much Isa!!!!

Now to my corner...

Lovely lunch with Aileen

Guess with whom I met? With the famous "Wicked Tat" from Singapore. Isn't it cool? Aileen has been visiting Puerto Rico to see her "better half" and I called her to see if we can meet at Heirloom's in Caguas. Heirloom's is a cute LYS that I often visit to buy some threads and go gaga over the embroidery sewing machines. My dream is to have a awesome embroidery machine, one that goes over $700 and does almost everything with just the touch of a button. But unless I find the elusive Birthday Fairy or win the Lotto jackpot I'll keep dreaming.

In the photo from left to right is mom, Aileen and me.

Anyway, to our surprise, the shop was close. Today is holiday (Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day) and most of the places close the day before and probably tomorrow too. So instead of spending the lunch at the shop gazing threads we went to a nearby restaurant to eat Puerto Rican food. Aileen loves "Mofongo" :-) That's a ball of mashed green platains with a lot of garlic and bits of friend pork skin bits. I get mine often without the pork. We talked a lot and laugh and we exchange some gifts even. I wasn't expecting anything but Aileen surprised my with a small bag full of goodies.


Aren't they cool! I got threads, page ups, a wood needle case, keyrings and magnets from Singapore, a teddy puncher, the cutest and smaller folding scissor I've seen, a chinese knot keyring and one of Eileen's paper clip of a butterfly in a pretty variegated blue. Ah, there's a bag hanger that will be used a lot! I'm all the time throwing my bag on the floor! :-p

Though the time was short, we spent a very lovely lunch. Tomorrow Aileen is returning to Singapore. I wish and hope one day I can return the visit to her. Thanks a lot dear!

I'm back!

I'm back from my short vacation. It was too short. Only 4 days. I enjoy it a lot. Got tire of the swimming pool and even got a few minutes to tat and made 2 bookmarks, one stayed with the woman that cleaned our room everyday. :-) It was really fun to stay in a green hotel. Now I have to rest my hands. They have been feeling numb for 3 days now and even tatting is hurting. None the less last night I made a medallion with a big pretty oval rock. Will take a pic later and post it.

TTFN!

Uses of SSSR

Lately there have been a lot of discussions about the SSSR (Single Shuttle Split Ring). I learned the technique through Bina, Dora Young and Karey. Three very different ways in achieving almost same results. But what is this technique good for? Apart of making split rings with a single shuttle I have been using it to climb up from a round to another in a work with 2 colors, obtaining the one color split ring, like Tatting Chic explained and Jane Eborall diagrammed.

Another use for this is to make split rings alternating colors. This works better if you have a Pelc or double bobbin shuttle. It can be worked with 2 shuttles but prepare to be patient because you have to use the shuttles together and then separate them often.

Other use for the SSSR is to hide ends without having to cut the threads and then use a needle to sew them or to use the Magic Thread. This way you are encapsulating both ends into the last ring, if the work finish in a ring. I'm working in a similar way to end the chains; but not good results until now.

I have lost a lot of photos where I used this technique, so during the week I'll be working on the samples again. *sigh* At least it gives me a push to tat.

A note apart... Thanks to everyone who have wished me well and sent prayers. The last MRI shows no problem on the bone. That is a good news on that side, because it means that I won't need a hip replacement soon. But there's still the mystery of what is causing the pain, some days so bad that I can't get out of bed for long time. Now I will have to go to a neurologist to see if it's a problem with the nerves. OF one thing the rheumatologist is sure; the Lupus is causing all the bad aches and symptoms. Mean while I'll keep taking Percocet to diminish the pain and "Happy Pills" to combat the depression.

Sorry I'm not arround...

I haven't been arround lately because I don't feel well. The pain in the hip has return and over that I'm going through one of my depression state. ALready taking max doses of antidepresant, pain killers and other medicines and it's not fun.

Have lost all the energy. I even pass the days just staring at the shuttles and books but no inspiration or desire to work in anything.

Last visit to my rheumatologist he told me that he suspect of avascular necrosis of the hip, due to the Lupus and DVT's (Deep Vein Thrombophebitis) and years of steriods treatments (and over doses) for the asthma and lupus. So now what? Hip replacement? Goosh! I hope not. I had a MRI yesterday and the results will be ready tomorrow and then visit again the doctor Monday. The next 3 weeks are already full of doctors appointments. *sigh* Just when I was thinking things were going to be better.

But no, I can denie that things have revert. Also I'm loosing again most of my hair, specially the back of my head and a little of the butterfly rash appears everytime I go outside (even with sunscreen). The heat is driving me crazy, even if is less hot than in Egypt. Above all this problems having my husband away and also with depression (the death iof his dad was to hard on him) and having also money problem is not helping.

I have some exchanges pending and an order of two from my shop also pending. Please give me another week to see if I can get out of this. I'm feeling even numb. There are no words to describe this...

Just a quick note

Hi all! I'm writing just a quick note because I haven't blog in awhile. I've been feeling really down. Guess it's because doctors are adjusting doses and medicines. Always happens this. I hate this but it's something I can't control.

I have been crocheting a top for mom. Her 60th BD was Monday but we made a surprise party on Sunday. I'm half way through the top.

On tatting... I finished my bookmark exchange, but need to post about it. Received 2 of the 3 bookmarks. Kersti told me that the 3rd is on its way. Also made the motif in this post. I haven't finish it. But got stump on how to finish it, so it's on the UFO pile for now. I love to play with long picots.

Also I have seen that people are interested more in a newsletter rather than a book. I think I'll jump ahead and will do it. Have plenty of patterns to fill newsletters for a few years. lol I have to practice more diagramming the patterns and take better photos of the finished items.

I got a new package of threads. I got the C-lon thread and it's super! I like it. It tats very crispy and the colors are very pretty. Got 7 colors: black, green (light olive shade), 2 shades of purple, sienna, brown and ecru. The size is like a perle #12.

As you see I have plenty of ideas and things going on. What I lack is an uplifting mood... May be a couple more days of resting will help or I'll need to call my shrink to evaluate the "happy pill" dose. *sigh* Thanks all for been there!

Public Apologize

I want to publicly apologize for a mistake I made a few days ago. I posted on my Etsy the barefoot sandals for sale without asking permission from the designer for it. I always ask permission to a designer when I'll sell something that is not my design but last week having migraines and asthma constantly it slipped from my mind to ask permission.

I, myself, am a designer and I know how it feels when someone post some of your own work without permission or without giving credit. I don't pretend to imitate anyone either. I think I have my own style and those of you that have my books can notice my tatting style.

Anyway, I already sent a short apologize to the designer and it won't happen again.

On another note... The Etsy shop is not doing well anyway so I will close it at the end of May. All the inventory on the shop, the sales will go completely to the LFA. I'll keep the free webshop.

Lupus Awreness Month and Sale - Please read and share

This month is Lupus and today in specific is International Lupus Day. Here is a very interesting article about this illness that is not commonly known thus over a million of American (specially women) suffer from it.

Public Lacks Awareness of Lupus and its Life-Threatening Complications - May is National Lupus Awareness Month

May 6, 2009

Most women likely can describe warning signs and health risks associated with breast cancer and heart disease, but according to a recent online survey relatively few are aware of another potentially fatal disease that disproportionately strikes young women between the a

ges of 15 and 44. The disease is lupus.

Although more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus, the public mostly is unaware of the potentially disabling and life-altering health effects of lupus. According to a national online survey conducted for the Ad Council, eighty percent of young women in the United States say they have little or no knowledge of lupus, yet eight in ten new cases of lupus will develop among women of childbearing age.

Lupus develops when the immune system goes out of balance, causing it to become destructive to any major organ or tissue in the body, including the heart, lungs, ki

dneys, brain, skin, and joints. Its health effects include heart attacks, stokes, seizures, and organ failure.

May is National Lupus Awareness Month. Now in its thirty-second year, Lupus Awareness Month is observed to disseminate medically sound inf

ormation about lupus, increase public understanding of the physical, emotional, and economic impact of the disease, and provide support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. As part of Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Foundation of America and its chapters, and nearly 100 lupus organizations from around the globe, will observe May 10 as World Lupus Day, to highlight lupus as a worldwide health issue that affects people of all races and ethnicities.

Here in the United States, lupus is two to three times more common among African

Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than among Caucasians. While lupus strikes mostly young females, males and females of all ages can develop the disease.

What is most troubling about the lack of awareness of lupus is that early diagnosis and proper medical care often can help to prevent or reduce serious health complications, such as heart attacks, strokes, seizures, miscarriages, or kidney failure. That is why public recognition of lupus signs and symptoms is so important to the public -- awareness of lup

us helps save lives.

Recently, the Ad Council launched its first-ever national public awareness campaign on lupus. The campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH).

"The new Ad Council campaign addresses the critical need to raise aware

ness among the public about lupus, and ultimately increase early diagnosis to prevent the life-threatening consequences of lupus," said Sandra C. Raymond, LFA President and CEO. "We are pleased to be the founding partner with OWH and the Ad Council for this significant campaign."

The goal of the new campaign is to improve early diagnosis and treatment of lupus. The disease can be difficult to recognize for several reasons:

• young people may assume that their health problems are temporary,
• symptoms often come and go and change over time, and
• initial symptoms of lupus often are dismissed as nothing serious.

More than half of the people with lupus suffer from symptoms for four or more years before they are diagnosed.

Early warning signs of lupus can include sudden and persistent joint and muscle pain, overwhelming fatigue, skin rashes on the face, scalp, and arms, hair loss, and persistent fevers. The new Ad Council campaign message, "Could I have lupus?" urges individuals who may be experiencing symptoms to ask their doctor about lupus. The LFA

website, lupus.org, has a symptoms checklist that individuals can complete and take to their doctor to help determine their risk for having the disease.

The LFA also has launched a new education series of booklets and fact sheets in both English and Spanish, and enhanced its network of health educators to assist people who are seeking information and referrals to local services. Working with renowned l

upus experts, the LFA has compiled the latest information to answer questions about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. The Foundation’s nationwide network of chapters, affiliates, and support groups also will be conducting outreach activities to raise awareness of lupus within local communities.

Additional information about lupus is available through the LFA website at lu

pus.org. To obtain free information on lupus symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options by mail, call the LFA toll-free at 1-888-38LUPUS (888-385-8787) or contact the nearest LFA office. A list of offices appears on the LFA website.

###

About the LFA

The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. The LFA and its national netwo

rk of chapters and support groups operate programs of research, education, and advocacy.

Also to commemorate the awareness in Lupus I have a special sale on my Etsy Shop and Web Shop. From each sale during this month 40%will be donated to the LFA. Please go and cooperate. Each cent, nickle, dime and quarter help the LFA in the search of a cure. Why I'm making so much emphasis? Well, there is a LOT of awareness and campaigns about Cancer but not about Lupus. If you sum all the deaths caused by heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, etc., you will have the total of people that die and have complications with Lupus.

For those of you that don't know a lot about me. I was diagnosed with SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematous) in 1996, having to quit my job as an Oncologic Nurse. But the symptoms of Lupus go way before 1996. For my High School graduation (1988) I already lost most of my hair and strange strong pains in my joins. My Lupus went on remission around 2003 but this spring (feb, 2009) it came active again. Lupus has affected my heart and liver, my hair and skin (though not as strong as with my cousin). In my case Lupus seems to be hereditary because me, a cousin and an aunt suffer of Lupus. In fact my aunt die 2 years ago on Father's Day due to Lupus complications. She was in her early 50s.

RIP 2007

Just a little note

Hi everyone!

I arrived safe to mom's house. I got her by surprise because I did't tell her that I was coming. lol I spent a nice day in NY also. Everything went smooth. Now I need to charge the camera, the iPod, the GameBoy and me.

*Yawn* See ya later!

Off I go!

Well my dears, off I go. In a few hours I will be leaving Egypt (again!!!) and will be traveling for the summer to Puerto Rico. I'll be offline a few days because hubby will keep the computer and I'll buy a new one once I reach PR. I'll miss you all. Please behave as good as you can, have lots of fun doing (fill blank) and blog away! I will be taking tons of photos, as usually, from the moment I departure from Egypt until I reach home.

See ya!

Look what I got!!!

After my colorful breakfast yesterday I went out with hubby. I separated around 200 LE for my "tatting fix" this month. I deserved it after a month and a half of pain and crabbiness. So after convincing hubby to go to the Al Husseiny area (on Feb 22 there was an explosion in that area) we took the buses. I was feeling in a very good mood and even took my camera to snap some views from Cairo. Love to take photos of the old buildings and surrounding area. Hubby was thinking that may be the area was still closed but no, it was full of people! You see, this is the oldest market area in Egypt. A lot of building have over 100 years, even a few over 300 years!!! But the area I like to visit is the textile area. There are streets packed to the maximun with fabrics: silks, cottons, oraganza... You name it, they got it! Also threads and beads. There's a shop that we always visit to get the threads and most of the beads.

On the top photo you can see all the loot! lol I got a lot of seed beads, some heart beads, leaves beads, 2 hanks of rayon/cotton thread and little baggies. That was in a shop. Here is a bigger photo showing the hearts and leaf beads. Aren't they gorgeous?! I wanted to get hearts in a shade of green, but the money was almost gone and I wanted to look for "coins".


After we left with the huge bag of all the pretty beads I told hubby that one day I saw a smaller shop down the road with more threads and beads and I wanted to see. Just to see. Yeah, right! ;-) I found the coins I wanted plus more! OMG! It was beads heaven! lol

You can see in the photo that it's covered from floor to top with beads bags. Each bag is like 1/2 kilo and the price is very good. I only got the little coins and some large sequins to play and make earrings.

After that we return home. Not before falling in the street 2 times. I guess my legs were weak from resting in bed for too long. But I didn't care about the fall. I was happy with my loot. :-) And hubby was more happy because he saw me smile. Isn't he the sweetest guy?

Well, time for me to play! See ya around...

Before go, just a lovely photo of Al Ahzar mosque in the sunset...

Very crappy day

Today is really one of those days that is better to stay in bed. I have only slept 3 hours. A sandstorm star ted early night and now is very strong. So all the flat is closed, except the small window in the bath and kitchen (they're interior windows). That means that the apartment is getting hot. We don't have AC or fans yet. *mumble, mumble* Add to that that I can't find the TV remote and this kind of TV you MUST turn it on from the remote. Anyway, with this weather probably the satellite won't work. The pain on the hip is still there, like a pesky reminder that YES I have Lupus. At least last night fever is gone. I finished a choker/necklace that I started last night and my hands feel numb. So yes, it's a crappy day for me. >-P

I'll breakfast now, take my medicines and will try to sleep.

But to finish this post with a happy thought here is a motif I tatted a few days ago and didn't post it. It's from a Spanish tatting booklet called "Maravillas en Frivolite". It's not yet done completely. I need to make a beaded tassel for it but run low on silver beads.

New Tatting bags

Aren't they the cutest mini bags? We got them on a "dollar" shop, just that here they're "2.50 LE" shops. :-) I'm getting addicted to this kind of shops. Where I'm living now they are several of them and it's "dangerous" for me. lol Don't get scare. I say it's dangerous because each time I go out to walk (to make exercise) I can't resist entering in one of these shops.


This is the small opened. It has a snap closure and I can easily get 2 shuttles and a small project inside.



This one is my favorite! It's bigger and have 2 compartments with individual zippers. So I can place inside a lot of tatting stuff. It has a wrist strap so I can use a side for tatting and the other to carry my papers when I go out instead of carrying my backpack. I don't use purses or bags. :-)

I have to give credit to hubby, who was the one that spot them on the shop and told me that I can use them for tatting. I think I educated him good in matters of tatting. lol He even wants to learn to tat. Who knows if we can become tatting teachers in Arabic! But there's a problem... I won't share my shuttles with him! *VBG* Well, may be a couple...

Some Tatting and Nursing

This year didn't start in a good way. Hubby has been having problems at work (he and his brother have own business) loosing money when a partner stole some money. Then a car accident that, thanks God, nothing really bad happened but lost 2 weeks of work. Now me been sick again with the Lupus and last night he arrived home just when the online tatting class was going to start with a scrapped leg; all the right chin scrapped really bad. *sigh* So the nurse in me jump in action and I cleaned the wound and bandage it. I have almost forgotten how good it feels to be a nurse. I was an Oncology Nurse and was passionate about it. Worked only 4 years because I was diagnosed with Lupus back then and had to stop working. After all the dressing and care he broke into tears and told me of other things. But I know God will help us. Now he's sleeping the "extra" minutes (it's 5 am!) and I'm planning of a good breakfast for him! :-)

I managed to make Ellen new bookmarks. On the online tatting class we're going to have a monthly pattern with Ellen. I think all of them are going to be small cute motifs to attach to paper clips. This month is a shamrock with 4 leaves. I love them!!! When I was a girl there were a mini field of clovers in front of my house and I used to sit in the border and look for a 4-leaves one. lol Never found one, so now I can tat it.

The one on the left was tatted mostly with her instructions. A center ring, then the dimpled rings joined to the small picots on the center ring and then the chains around. I made a short josephine chain for the stem. The one on the right I used a SCMR and then chained around. Also added a stitch to the dimpled area of the ring and an extra stitch to the chains. I used an Italian thread (can't remember the name) that is like a size #40 and the green is El Beida #12. I don't have the Italian thread with me. Only a half filled shuttle. :-( BUt even with the half filled shuttle I think I can make a small field of clovers to remember the one that I had when I was a girl.

Thanks Ellen for such delightful pattern!

Preparing for a long, long night

I haven't make much in the last couple of days. Hubby came home and yesterday we walked a little, that caused the pain to goes up again. I'm noticing that it's stronger on the mornings. I wake up almost every morning crying from the pain. But after the pills cocktail and breakfast it starts diminishing.

I just finished the beaded motifs I'll sew into a headscarf. I was going to make an edging but I'm running out of beads of 2 of the colors I used on the motifs. So I'm not sure if I'll use only one color of beads on the edging. And because tonight I found that the satellite has a "Fox" network and they will transmit the Oscars live I'll spent all night watching TV and sewing the motifs. *VBG* The ceremony will start at 12 am, Cairo time.

I'll show the headscarf as soon as I finish sewing.