It takes crocheting a lot of samples to come up with workable rope patterns. I have some wonderful bead faeries who do a lot of it, but when it comes down to the wire, I need to see myself that what I have on paper actually works with the beads.
The agony of inflamed and swollen joints the last 5 months has meant that I haven't been able to pick up a hook. I had some bead crochet patterns, but then I'd see that maybe a change of one or two beads would make the design work better. It's hard to deal with the time factor that bead faeries need when I could do it in 15 min. or less.
Finally, after misdiagnosis, no diagnosis, Doctor head scratching, more tests and more than one specialists referral ... they are pretty sure that I have a severe case of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Why me, at my age, all of a sudden? Who knows . . . There are so many people out there who have this, live with it and manage it. I can do no less. Give me time to get this all sorted out and I hope to be back to beading.
The specialist has me on a modified, low-dose Chemo regime. It'll take a while to kick in -- about 10 weeks all told. If it works and the side effects don't drive me batty, then this bout of nasty arthritis should be pushed into remission. Thin hair and a weekly bout of nausea is a small price to pay to have my hands back again and to be able to walk more than a hundred feet.
I won't dwell on it, nor bore you with any of the details of what's working and not working. However everyone that's asked for future patterns, books, workshops and string-alongs needs to know why I've been so very quiet and non-productive. Getting old just isn't for wimps, is it? When I feel I can, the first thing I'll do will be a new string-along.