Aging ungracefully

Greetings!  Got snow?  We do along with everything else.  An attempt to scrape the driveway of the ice/snow layer was once again delayed because - it's snowing more.  So I thought I would bug you instead.

Before a boring bunch of photos about aging again, here's Half Harriet.  Although 3011 is one of my favorites, it wasn't working for me on this sampler. 

 

 So I decided to stop in the middle and do the project in two parts.  The bottom section is the same size as the top part so I plan on moving down the linen and finishing in dark red or black.  Both will be longer skinny pincushion/pillows and the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.  Two pieces hanging together or in a bowl, same size, same border, different colors, one is the stitcher's attribution the other the alpha. What is the correct name of the part of a sampler showing the stitcher's name, location, dates.  Attribution since the work is attributed to her?  I have searched many times for the correct reference/word of various parts or the anatomy of an antique sampler.  But since they are so individual, maybe there are no definitive terms.  Border, dividing band, motif, verse, that's the extent of my sampler vocabulary.  Anyone? 

I worked on aging Lori's design and thought I would show what I did, and ask for any tips or methods that you like to use.  The first thing was to tone down the bright green floss using a small flat brush and my ink pad.

 

I also tested the amount and intensity of the ink on the brush in the excess linen margin, then outlined the entire piece on the corners and edges.

Using my walnut stain/dye that I keep in the fridge, I flicked the brush to spatter overall, then brushed it on areas where I wanted a stain.

 

I prefer the stained areas to have that darker ring around them, and found that by dropping water onto the center, it will spread the walnut out and create it.  You know what I mean?  Like this....

Then it looks more like an actual stain to me.  This is more than I usually age but I want the pouch to look old, like it was well used.  I can just imagine the looks from friends with white furniture and modern interiors. I chose the fabric and will wait until the hot flashes take a break before I attempt to sit at the sewing machine.

  I know this blog has focused on those events and the crap that comes with menopause, but they have actually become less frequent and less intense.  Until the torsades episode in August.  I truly believe that it, and the 9 shocks needed, is what caused all of these other serious heart problems.  Everything went nuts since, and the flashes returned.  Rather than take a chance of the machine flying out the window, I will walk away if one strikes and keep a bag of Dove handy.  They were on sale after Christmas for $2.50 so I bought 20 bags.  Six are left.

 

Thanks for visiting - have a great day.

 

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Note to Kristen - I know what you mean.  My classmate became so violent, unreasonable, hallucinating, that he attacked nurses, hurt himself, became unresponsive because of the amount of meds needed to calm him, and did not recover.  He was a pastor, gentle, kind, loving, and did not deserve to leave this world in such a state.