White Snowman Doll and Crazy Quilt Winter Purse

First, I'd like to say thank you friends, for your kind words of encouragement.  I know at some point, I'll be off this medication and past the debilitating withdrawals.  I know the day will come when I feel human again.  Just don't know when that'll be and that's the hardest part of all this.  For now, it's a one day at a time thing.

I finished up on my white Crazy Quilt Snowman Doll:

One of these snowmen is already spoken for.  I don't know which one yet and I might keep one for myself because I just love them!  I'll get them sewn together in the next few days and then I'll post most more photos.

For now, I decided I needed a new purse.  This is a block that I sewed up earlier this Summer:

I loved the lady image.  I'm not even sure where I found it.  I think it's on one of my vintage image CD's.  Anyway, I sat on the floor in my little supply room yesterday playing with my laces and trims and decided that pink accents would work nicely with the background.  Are you surprised?  LOL!!!  I just love pink!

Anyway, I'm going to try to do this purse in a little different style.  I love Pat Winter's Boho Bags so I may do this as a flap with lots of lace and fringe around it.  First I have to get it stitched.  When I'm done with this one, I think I'll make a purse for my sister.

I was going to start on my Winter project, the Peacock Crazy Quilt that I posted last week.  At the moment, it seems a little overwhelming to me.  I'm sure it's just because I don't feel great right now.  I think a new purse will be nice.

Pink and Blue Crazy Quilt Snowman Doll

As many of my long time blog friends know, I'm in the process of trying to get off the Zoloft that I've been on for the past few years.  Although I don't care to talk about the horrible depression that I went  through 3 years ago too much anymore, I have to tell ya'll, these withdrawals are killing me.  I really don't know how much more of this I can take.

I'm down from the 100 milligrams that I was on in the beginning to about 18 milligrams a day.  The process is so slow and it has to be but I often wonder if I will ever feel good again.  After all these years, it's really hard to hang onto that hope.

I'm doing my best to focus on my stitching.  It's always been my #1 coping skill.  I finished up my Pink and Blue Snowman Doll yesterday afternoon and have started on my 5th and final Snowman Doll which is all worked in white.  Here's the pink & blue one:

I had planned to do some sewing today but I'm not sure I feel good enough to pull out my fabrics.  I guess I'll see what things are like later.  Honestly, I could lay on my bed all day and watch Food Channel.  That's so not me!  Where's that motor on my ADD butt?  I know it's there.  I can feel it in the background but the side effects and withdrawals are dominating.  Why is this stuff so addictive?  And why don't they make antidepressants that aren't addictive?  And why don't they make a pill to get off this stuff?  They have a pill for everything else!  Arggg.....

Ok, I think I just needed to vent for a few moments.  I keep looking at the clock thinking, ok, another hour and 1/2 and I can take that pill and then I'll feel better.  Yep, that's the medication talking.  Then I get these thoughts that go, "maybe I can't get off this stuff.  Maybe the depression isn't gone yet.  Maybe I still need this stuff."  Withdrawals will drive a person nuts!

I have my Dr.'s permission to drop the dosage again when I'm ready.  I'm just holding out until this trip to "withdrawal hell" passes.

Well, that's where I'm at at this moment.  I keep telling myself, I made it this far.  Like the song goes, "hold on for one more day."

Victorian Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls

I just finished photographing my latest litter of Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls!  Without further adieu, here they are:

 Enjoy the photos!  I'm going back to stitching on my Snowman Dolls now.

Blue Snowman Doll

I had a wonderful time with Linda, my student yesterday.  I taught her a variety of embroidery stitches including how to work with my Waste Canvas technique as well as basic Silk Ribbon Embroidery stitches.  For lunch,  I made homemade creamy Chicken & Rice soup, homemade rolls and Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies.  YUM!

I had some stitching time last night and finished up on my Blue Crazy Quilt Snowman Doll:

Is he too cute or what!!!  I have 2 more to stitch and then I'll be sewing them together.  Can't wait to see what they look like!

I'll be taking photos of my Christmas Cat Dolls this afternoon so be sure to stop back and see them!

Little Pink Snowman

Here's my little pink snowman doll:

This little one is complete.  As you can see, I added a lot more beadwork and lots of sparkly snowflakes.  My next snowman doll is blue! 

In other news, my Christmas cat dolls are complete!  I'll post photos of those in the next day or so.  And wait until you see what my mom is making!  Christmas Crazy Quilt Pillows!  Lots of crazy quilting to come!!!

For now, I can't wait to sew these snowmen dolls together and see what they look like!  I might crochet little scarves for them.  And I want to do little stocking caps for them if it works out.  Stay tuned!