Oh my, after my own heart, I love counted cross-stitch too. My hands have started bothering me just this year, but I finished one Christmas stocking and started on one for my greatgrandson, 10 months old, but hate to disappoint him, but it's on 18 count and it is eating my lunch. Just won't have it ready this year. Your work is simply beautiful. Sorry to hear about your fingers too. I have to use the glove on my right hand, got it at Hancocks. it helps a lot, plus 2 rapid release tylenol every morning. My mothers hands got bad from quilting so many years, but she was 93 when she died. I'm only 68, and I think this stuff has started way too early. But I keep plodding along.