Feb 8, 2026

An inch

I tell my physical therapist to make sure all this stretching will not add an inch to my height.  I have slouched for decades to fake being two inches shorter and now they're pulling me out!  But that unhealthy position is a big part of my back issue today.

My berry lost an inch and is more attractive, balanced. 

Now ....



Before ...

Maybe this alien looking, swollen head berry's height is what made it look off to me.
The more I see this, the more I love it.  I think Becky should release this as a big berry.  

I think I'll search for berries stitched in a Quaker design, maybe adapt some motifs in my puny stash.  The alphabet shown yesterday could have a nice floral or vase motif added beneath to shape for such a finish?  I don't like the short and squat designs, more like the Berry Basket series from HOD.  It's a thought while I fight a slump.

Puppy Bowl today.  Hope they have highlight reels.

Enjoy your day.
Be safe.

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Feb 7, 2026

More wasted time

Hi folks.  Hope everyone has power and warmth.
Who is planning to watch the Olympics for two weeks?  Or specific sports in that time? Who is planning to waste time starting projects they lose interest in?  Raise your hand.
Mine is waving at full height.

The recent berry construction is being done over.  I like the leaves, not the stem, and the berry itself needs to be shortened a bit.  Tacky glue is easily removed with water, had no issues disassembling and removing any glue.

Decided to try Mary Spinney's interesting mid section, but without multiple colors.  Love this quirky gal.  But as much as I like this sampler and thought more subdued threads would be fine, it's not working out.  Why?  Linen color?  Maybe.  As is, fine.  But adding other colors, no.  Several rows of lower case alpha removed, bands also.  Enough.  Move on.
 

School busses, delivery trucks, newspapers, all without interruption.  US mail?  Two deliveries in ten days.  That second delivery was a glorious box of chocolates along with another hand made card from Brenda.

Planning to choose another stitch, found a few smalls on IG, one is (kitted) quite costly with a box I do not like at all, another with subscription (patreon).  Moving on, lots of things to chose from.  Isn't the number of designers and style options amazing?  It's exciting to come across those not known/seen before.

A can't find my 4.0 magnifiers. ?????  When searching for others, trying to see the strength is difficult.  So I set the label onto wet clear nail polish, let dry, added two top coats.  Made labels for the others I was sure of, so much better.  I use three different strengths ... reading, stitching, sewing machine.


Hope your weekend is enjoyable.
Be safe.

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Feb 4, 2026

A wasted day


Hi folks.  After two days of sitting in facilities for nephew and brother, I spent today at home.  Many of those hours were used for the berry topper, and wasted.

No green looks even slightly appealing with this thread color.  I used the gray/green fabric in the previous post, sewn into leaves with wrong sides together.  Faint blue pattern, the right side was too strong.  But then I tried for the top and am not pleased with the wool stem.  I know .... good enough.  No it's not. 


 I'll remove, keep those leaves, add a round cap of the same fabric over the top to hide the  center.  Love the thread color, but didn't test green with it.  Any other monochrome berries or pears in the future will have topper chosen before stitching.

My unnerving palps are constant now. In a few weeks we will have a place that offers PET stress testing.  New, no false positives, 3d image of heart.  But no treadmill, the medication that makes your heart act as if you ran a marathon. Not fun.

Hope all is well.

Edited to add.  I just read the story about the Ross Farm in PA losing all their sheep and lambs to a horrific fire.  She also lost her son end of last year.  Heritage and rare breed sheep is her wool business from what I understand.  My heart will ache for those sweet animals for some time.  Visit her website  https://www.therossfarm.com/ to donate for rebuilding or to purchase her yarn. 

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Jan 31, 2026

What a pile


I have some larger samplers needing frames, mid sized also, but a pile of smalls to be finished.  In a bottom drawer, I found two bags already finished.  Why am I stitching more?  I'm hoping to stitch berries since that configuration is scarce.

Until then, I have Chloe and Hannah to play with.  Chloe, in my mind, is perfect as an unframed antique primitive piece.  I envision it pinned to a cupboard door, sort of wimpy.  The colors shown on the chart are from both sides, I chose the brown thinking it would appear older.  But the turquoise is fabulous.  ?????


She is bigger than I want to stitch, but so spaced out there probably isn't as much work as it seems.  And one that would hide errors quite nicely.

Hope your weekend is a good one.

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Jan 28, 2026

I need a hat

for my berry.

The part that gives me fits, just can't get it right whether using four different templates or DIY.  I have rings so they can be hung.  Or not.  But they need a good hat first!

I wanted this about the same size as the Berry Basket series, but it's larger and that's ok.

Ain't it purdy?

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Jan 27, 2026

Before the berry

This would be a great heart, fully see the pattern, but a berry it will be.

Wanted to show where I cut off the pattern for a berry shape in case you want to stitch this.

Hope to construct tomorrow.

Be safe.

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