Hello people. Summer is finally here after several days of very warm temps. I've been doing a little stitching outdoors on the swings, hard to believe it's the middle of June already since the furnace was still running two weeks ago.
During one of my parents' visits to relatives in MN, mom went to a market place where an older gentleman was selling his wood works. She fell in love with this whirligig loon, and it stood proudly in their back yard for so many years.
The wings are held several inches away from the body, all wood, and I've never found another like it. We finally repainted it, made a replacement wing for the broken one, and are surprised at how well this has held up for over thirty years. The body rotates with the wind so you never know which way it will be facing. Prominent against the green background between the two black swings, welcome back loon! I've missed you.
As for stitching, the chart I made up has been changed five times, I think it is ready now. Of course the chart wasn't changed until after I stitched that area. Looked good on paper and I wanted it wide and low but my mojo was pooping out and I kept downsizing.
For some reason, the 822 has been shredding like crazy. Even when removing only one stitch, it would shred when pulled out. Tried another skein and it is doing the same thing. I'm using one strand on 35 count. Still not pleased with the 1776 numbers but close enough.
I'm following my big house method of fill by doing the first half of the cross horizontal, and then completing the cross vertical. Really nice fill that way without seeing "rows" and the back is very neat and stable on a stretchy linen. Turning the project upside down for every other row in order to use the sewing method in the right direction is a lot of flipping. Hope to finish this soon, and it may be even smaller by then.
Hope your weekend is going well!
Thanks for visiting.
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14 comments:
That loon is fantastic! Hard to believe it's decades old.
Btw Marly, I got a weekly new products newsletter from a needlework shop, and saw a design that is right up your alley. It's called the Lydia Cary sampler. Not sure which designer, but it's perfect for you.
Just love this piece, Marly. Just finishing your last
Old Glory and will be ready to do this one...What a treat
for filling the July Fourth basket.... Is it the DMC that is fraying?
Their quality has gone done for quite some time ... I feel fortunate
to have a cabinet of "vintage" DMC skeins that are strong and lustrous.
That loon is marvelous...would buy one in a NY minute for the garden...
That loon ornament is SUPER COOL! I love the history of it, and that you've refurbished it. I completely agree that it has striking contrast against the foliage--thought just that while looking at the image.
Love your Mom's loon.......you did a wonderful job of restoring it. Enjoyable and memories all in one. So nice next to your swings.
Happy Sunday.
Charlotte in Va.
The Loon is super! Great work on restoring it. My Goodwill poodle find from a few years ago needs a paint fix up. I am going to have Madeleine fix him up. Then seal him so he lasts a long time outside.
The loon looks wonderful! (can I ask what kind of paint you used? we need to restore a concrete skunk who's lost most of his color)
The colors, both floss and fabric, for the 1776 are perfect - too bad the 822 is being a problem. I always tell myself it's the dye that makes one color seem thicker/fuzzier/snarlier ... probably hogwash, but I like to think there's a reason.
Your design looks really nice, Marly....I'm a row stitcher myself and just recently found out that if you are using hand-dyed floss, you should complete each "x"..duh...I never knew that! I don't like stitching with one strand...it makes me crazy for some reason. I just don't feel the weight of the the thread, therefore, I make so many mistakes...
I love your whirligig! We had one in our yard for years and then a windstorm took it down...it's fun watching those little wooden wings go round and round!! Have a great Sunday!
I love when you share tips like how to fill in. Thank you for that. I thread my needle like you do now. :<)
Like your loon, nice addition to the yard.
That loon is absolutely delightful. My mother-in-law absolutely adores whirligigs and has many of them scattered throughout her large yard and garden.
The design you're working on is lovely. Sorry you're having a tough time with the one color of thread. --Andrea
Love the loon! Stitching is lovely!
I had the same problem with DMC thread, wonder why that happens? Once in a while you get a skein that does that. Love your stitched piece.
I'm back from all my wedding travels and am trying to catch up on blogs, Marly! Looks like you've had a busy few weeks (as always!)...
Gosh, that incident with JCP is ridiculous--who knew there was such a thing! Thank you for enlightening us. I hate making returns (but then, I hate shopping, too, so it doesn't happen often). But, with all the shopping you do for relatives, there is no way to avoid it.
Love the loon refurbishment! I do love loons as they always remind me of our family vacations in Canada each summer when I was growing up. Their calls are so haunting...
The Loon whirligig is a delight to see... I hope you enjoy it for many years to come! It looks like a perfect spot for it in your yard. By now you have finished your 1776 piece and I am sure it is perfect! I'll get to that post sometime today! :/ Hugs!
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