An eye opener

While watching Stitching in the Barn's video featuring Kay and her lovely home filled with samplers, I learned that the Dazor lamp company offers add-a-lens for their circline model.  Purchased separately, it is added to the bottom and attached to the two screws as an additional lens.  A 5 diopter lens can also be purchased and installed in place of the standard 3.  Another realization was that wearing +4.0 glasses (which is the diopter or curve) does not mean 4x magnification (it's 2x).  Who knew?  You and my husband, not me.  

Wearing magnifier glasses in conjunction with these lenses is a little tricky.  This 3 diopter lens alone is actually better and clearer than my Foster Grant 4.0 glasses.  Looking through the lens AND wearing the glasses, required me to pull the lens closer to my face and the linen closer to the lens.  Without the glasses, I needed to hold the linen further from the Dazor and had crystal clear excellent vision.  Their lenses are optical grade distortion free glass.

This is what it looked like through the glasses at a normal distance, much larger, totally blurred.  The closer I got to the Dazor, it became smaller and clearer, but I had to also bring the fabric closer.  I couldn't get the linen weave any larger with the glasses and changes in position than using the lens alone.  I am so confused.

My husband is very smart (I'm the smart-ass) and he failed to explain this to my satisfaction.  I don't get it.  Doesn't matter, I'm just surprised at the clarity from the light and 3 diopter lens.  I will first try stitching with just the mag light and no glasses.  My test was on 28 count, later today I will pull a piece of 35 and see how it looks.

From Dazor's website, here is an example of looking through the 3 and 5 diopter lens and also a chart showing the distance from the lens required for clarity.

Looks like a 5 still allows plenty of room for stitching with 8".  The field of vision gets smaller as the diopter rises also, but still enough to see surrounding stitches.

So that's my lesson for the day.  Month really.  I don't have an good spot for the Dazor but will haul it down here for now (it is quite heavy) and still order the Brightech.  Why?  Because I don't like the imposition of the large Dazor stand in my small rooms.  Since I will be using the other brand most often, I want to make the right decision but JoAnn does not have a 5 for me to test.  Right now, it sounds like the best option since I would like to stitch on higher counts.

I hope what I've learned and posted here helps someone who is thinking about a mag light.  At 68, I feel foolish but also get excited when I learn something new.  Problem is, I won't remember it next month.

************************

Question

Hello stitching buds. 

 I am asking for your input and help in choosing a magnifying lamp.  Another flare up, and I have been struggling with 28 count while wearing 4.0 glasses.  Over two has become over one or three and I am running in place and getting nowhere fast.  

Many recommend the Brightech and I like the flexible arm model.  The 5 diopter, what I think would be best, requires the work to be held closer to the lens for clarity.  The 3 diopter at only 1.75x may not be enough even with my glasses if I want to use a 35 count.  Does anyone have the 5 (2.25x) and is it hard to stitch because of the proximity to the lens?   Or would the 1.75x be enough with my glasses?  I would appreciate your opinions!!  

Thank you.

***********************

A motif a day

keeps the slump away.  The larger vase by the tree, heart, a purple dog, a green dog, and a small stag (or unusual creature).  Hopefully I can continue this way so I don't feel overwhelmed.  My next decision is whether to move to the right or continue down the left.

I laid my book of floss bags in a plastic bin and it's like a Rolodex and easy to use since I am not moving it!  This bin is a perfect size for the Magma, floss, glasses, the large piece of linen, and everything else I need.  It's portable and accessible.  And when I throw the lid over, no curious cats can enter.

These new bags are a royal PITA to open which could just be my hand issue, but I came up with a solution.  By folding over a piece of tape on one side of the top, it makes it much easier.  The tape doesn't allow the plastic to stick together and I can slip my finger in to open.

I've been seeing different styles and types of thread catchers or whatever they are called.  Some are wool, others felt, and a few quilt batting.  Mounted to mat board or lined with soft fleece and foldable.  All great options.  

When using my sewing machine, the cut threads seem to be everywhere so I looked for something simple that could corral them.  Without gluing, sewing, or additional fabric, this small piece of felted wool was perfect.  Michael's and HL carry rolled pieces of this, some quite thick, and I cut small squares in various colors for the ironing board, sewing table, and stitching spot.

That's all I got!  Hope the last weekend of January was good.  Onward  to spring!

***********************

Slowly I stitch

Step by step.  Inch by inch.

Step by step.  Inch by inch.

*************************

It did help

but unfortunately, only after I screwed up.  When I sewed my row to help with alignment, I started it at the edge of the grass.  Why?  That wasn't even close to the edge of the graph.  So using it to count down and start my motif section where it should be worked perfectly.  But counting in from the edge was a huge error.  Thank goodness I caught on two birds later.  It looked odd, and since I'm not referring to the finished piece photo, I didn't realize it at first.  I was so happy my method worked and I didn't have to be concerned with the errors above, I just hummed along in ignorant bliss.  I altered this photo to show where they were initially,

and this is where they are now after the correction.

Can you imagine what would have happened had I not caught this and positioned the other motifs off of them?  Holy crabass.

My floss bags on large ring have been a mess, even though in numeric order.  So I moved them all to the booklet style and that was another mistake.  The rings are extra large but there is too much floss in my bags, or too many colors.

So it stays open all the time, but I guess that's OK.  What am I doing wrong?

As a last resort, I plan to move the bags to the stand Mark made for me and honestly, I would love to make these to sell because they are very nice to use.  This one is the short version but the very tall one is better because it secures beneath your seat cushion.

We drove to Boardman today to browse the huge selection of golf shoes at Gold Headquarters, and I wanted to visit the With Needle in Hand shop.  For the third time, this clueless old lady failed to check their website for hours.  They are closed on Tuesdays, and I should have remembered that from the last two failed trips!  Oh well.  Mark got his shoes and we stopped at two Italian stores and came home with pounds of chestnuts to roast, the last of holiday figs, and aged Asiago and Fontina that are not found locally.

This happened today.  First of all, this sweet cat is the one being driven away and attacked by Petey, both have injuries to face and ears, possibly elsewhere.

And then there was this.  A show of dominance?  An exercise in tolerance?  There was no fight, and Nitzy blocked the exit a while, then went inside the shelter when Petey left through the back.  That poor boy looks inside the door several times a day and wants to be a part of the brat pack.  Missy still will not accept him at all.  I found a pile of what looked like angel hair pasta on his patio area and realized he is loaded with round worms.  I called the vet for an OTC liquid to add to his food and explained what I saw in the vomit.  He won't prescribe anything for worms or a sedative because he hasn't seen him and I can understand that.  There are online products that may offer some help.

My sister was in Urgent Care yesterday, she has cellulitis in her toe and foot.  Being treated with antibiotic and hopefully this will take care of it and it won't lead to a more serious treatment.

Pretty soon, it'll be February and onward to spring.

Thanks for visiting!

*************************

This should help!

Hi folks.  Spending the weekend at home because of weather, and I came up with what I hope will help me with the motif placements.

I started at the bottom of the grass and highlighted the graph into five rows.  Using a bright thread, I wove it into the margin matching the graph.  This should allow me to check the position of the motifs along that left edge.  It's difficult for me to see the linen threads and I am very unsure of myself.  Counting off of them will be much easier and I can be more confident that my placement is close to the chart.  

I've been using my new Oxo duster, and these old bentwood stools took only minutes.  They were always a PITA because of the tight curves and this duster took care of it all.  Happy dance.  I've been looking for new stools for quite a while but since we have only one furniture store and they have ... well.... nothing that I like, I am forced to order online.  I don't know about you, but I prefer placing my rear on the seat to test comfort and not have to assemble, but I have no choice. I guess cushions can always be added.

I sprayed a lot of the Feliway on a mat inside the carrier, and Bud handled the vet visit much better than before.  He did cry, but only a few times and actually laid on the mat instead of pacing.  Even at the office, he was afraid and anxious but not like before.  I hasn't worked on their favorite napping spots in the house, but I do believe it helped in the carrier.  We are trying the tiny cut of Valium to get Missy manageable but there is always a chance it will have the opposite effect.  Carole took Valium once and felt like she wanted to crawl up the walls.  We'll see.  He's on an antibiotic and his heart is not doing well, so we are also to give him 1/8 of a 81 mg aspirin every three days.  No more.  That is very difficult to cut into such a small piece.  He should start to feel better in a few days.

I was gathering fabric to make my own little thread catcher/holder, and found uncut corduroy to work really well, as did velveteen.  I was working on a pattern to make one with two sides, two colors, one for dark threads and one for light.  Not sure I will go any further.

Hope the weekend is going well!

Corner doors

Hey!  Just wanted to show a few tiny corner units that I think are really unique.  Extending Grace is a lovely shop in Hubbard Ohio and I saw this on their Instagram and FB page featuring their offers, so I did a little searching and found other examples on Pinterest.  

Have you ever seen this done?

Cut an old door in half with a miter or straight cut, add some thick shelves, and what a great unit for a small corner.  Never saw this before!   But if we find a door and try it, I have to remember to cut one side shorter by the thickness of the wood so when it overlaps the other half, they will be the same depth.  Our table saw does not have an extension so cutting this length on a miter would be tricky.

Getting ready to head out onto the bad roads with Bud.  He remembers the carrier and is hiding.  This won't be pleasant for him but it's necessary, he needs antibiotics.

Thanks for the suggestions on Ann.  Haven't made a plan yet but I need to soon because I can't do any other motifs until I figure out if all will need to be moved.  I'm thinking that should be the case, and I can go back and correct the culprit later if I choose to.

Have a good day!!

*********************************

Full blown crabass

Yep.  I am.  My testing is complete, seeing the doctor this afternoon, another (the third) slow developing auto immune disease is confirmed.  Slow developing.  Sure.  Full blown high numbers within months, just like the other two.  I don't care how many nurses post their opinions on FB, I have three doctors, a law firm, and thousands of patients that have been compensated for developing auto immunes from a vaccine.  The odds?  Extremely low, one in one million estimated, but not everyone associates or recognizes it could be the cause.  Guillain-Barre is the most common, and happened to Frank's mom.  Again, the risk is extremely low.  But am I ticked off?  Furious.  This not only affects me for the rest of my life, it affects my health coverage and drug coverage. 

I'm not the only one feeling poorly.  Budman is sneezing, very bad eyes, I am sure he has a respiratory problem.  We're taking him in tomorrow morning and unfortunately, the spray I bought to calm them is not helping.  This is a mobile vet, and he will come here to check Missy and (hopefully) Petey.  I am taking photos to show their size so he can determine what portion of a Valium pill is needed to calm them down so he can handle.  He will also pass the photo on to other vets for a possible ID.  Petey is doing fine, slight limp, his paw injury drained and he's back to himself.  But he does have some other injuries from fighting.  He sits and watches the birds, does not even try to hunt, and I wonder if he has been declawed.

My eyes were bad yesterday, but my errors are making it difficult for me.  I am used to a row of alphabets!  My first error was leaving a row off the chimneys, raising the house.  When starting the second page on this side, I spotted another.  This (butterfly?) should have one row between it and the grass.  The motif was split between two pages but I stitched it entirely from the first.  What the hell did I do?  It was not as charted, the eyelet areas were wrong, and when I frogged the top part and stitched correctly, it doesn't fit.  I had to leave off the top row.  To match/balance, I left the bottom row off too. 

And here's the math question for you so I don't have to interrupt my pounding sinus headache for something productive.  How many rows do I need to compensate before stitching the green parrot beneath?  Three seems too easy an answer.  Can't judge placement from the tree because that was a mess and may not be proper either!  I think my best solution is to frog the entire butterfly (again) and start over.  Leave two spaces beneath that funky grass and I should be OK.  It looks easy to be off when motifs are all over the place but I'm concerned that starting with three rows may lead to a disaster by the time I reach the bottom area, I'm sure there will be more. What say you????

*************************

Over one epiphany

Hello people!  I'm stitching the over one!  Slowly, but making progress.  I remember Barbara sent photos of how she stabilizes this type of stitch with a loose weave gauze on the back side.  Do you think I could find something similar to use in my mess?  So I am following the notes and tips that I've received from other helpful stitchers.  And it took a while for me to realize the easiest way to remember the rules.

What finally drilled its way through my thick skull, is the intersection.  That's all I need to see in order to lock the stitch and prevent that disappearing act.  My 1 and 2 cross is always the same direction, the loop behind runs the same as the intersection's linen thread.  If it's running horizontal, my thread from 2 to 3 does also, same with vertical.

Since the sewing method doesn't work with letters, I am doing one full stitch at a time.  If the end of the prior stitch would be the beginning hole for the following stitch, 1 and 2 are reversed but they are always top right bottom left.  And if I am wrong, please tell me.  I won't yell.  I had written instructions that I followed before which I saved, will look for this evening.   My biggest issue is forgetting what to do, which direction, the back leg, but this simplified it for me since it applies to one stitch at a time.  In fact, this may be what I did before, but do not remember.  One of the benefits of forgetting, everything seems new.

This brain breakthrough does not mean my stitches are neat, even, or acceptable, but since I can barely see with magnifiers these tiny PITA messes will not be noticed.  But they aren't disappearing behind the linen!  I did have to frog a few and that took longer than stitching.  The H is not as charted and will stay that way.  I wasn't paying attention.

I wanted to show you how you can change the look of a project you see online if you'd like to use a different color linen.  This Merry Wind Farm reproduction of Ellen Spedding uses linen that I don't care for.  So to get an idea of how it would look with a light beige or tan fabric, I saved the photo to Photo Gallery and used the fine tuning option, changing the slider for color, tint, and saturation.  I can now see if the change would be to my liking.  I tried a light gray too but prefer the beige.  

Last night, I was shot out of my chair by the most awful screaming.  It was Nit.  The newest orange/white stray that Petey is after was at the back door.  I never heard anything that loud and terrifying from a cat.  I chased it away but he/she has been hanging around, eating the deer's corn, and checking out Petey's houses.  I don't want another, and I do NOT want him hurt by mine.  I can't imagine what the neighborhoods in town are like where ferals are such a problem, the fights have to be vicious and there is no help for the injured and infected.  This may be mating season because this morning, there are two other cats sitting on the deck looking in.  Missy.  She is spayed, but that doesn't stop them I guess.

Hope your week is going well.
Thanks for visiting.

Just saw a comment that offers another thread catcher mat.  She is currently sold out.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/cattycrosstitches/sold

**********************

Have you felt it?

Wow.  As I told Jennifer who was so kind to email me with this information, I need to find a smaller rock to live under.  Have you all heard of Bitzy Bobs?  There is a felt thread holder on Etsy from ThatsSoKellyCo called Bitzy Bob.  It comes as a single pad (Basic), larger open pad (Cutie), snap closed in three sizes (Bitsy Bob 1, 2, and Biggie), and customs in your own fabrics.  You can keep your left overs or short pieces in these popular items, slip extra felt pages into its bag to store with a project.  There isn't much available right now, but you can browse her Sales tab to see prior offers.

With the floss cabinet hubby built, I don't want to go into another storage method but I have seen some really good options from you.  I do plan to get the cards/drops with the large hole to try.  They can be stored in these same Floss Away bags.

Thank you Kelly for the video link showing how to pull a single thread from a thread drop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiqK1YdZ37M&feature=youtu.be
Didn't know they were called drops.  And didn't think that pulling just one thread would be possible, assumed the six strand would be pulled out and then separated.  I really feel foolish for not knowing but when your friends have no interest at all in needlework and you've been decades without a shop, does that warrant a pass?  Or with online options is there no excuse?  Flosstube has opened my eyes to many products and do-dads.  I think Laura has more floss ring tags than I have bracelets (love them) and more stitching bags than I have shoes (in my lifetime). 

Petey has an injury to his paw, probably a fight because he was really messed up last weekend.  Dirty, matted, muddy.  He hangs here all day, must have happened during the night.  I can't get as close as I was before, he is obviously more cautious.  We are giving him additional cans of food and going out to talk to him, today he came to the house and although still limping, seems to be improving.  He is being tolerated by the boys from a distance, but Missy is afraid of him.

That's all folks!

Hope you have a great week.

************************

I was never a hippy

but I do love fringe.  Nice heavy, thick, neat fringe.  Not the wimpy pieces that I carry on my clothing in various places.  Why after all these years do I have no idea how to keep the floss lengths from adorning my arms?  Many of you use bobbins.  Some use thread cards, hornbook styles, decorative woods, cut shapes, hand painted, corner squares with holes, a nice selection for those that know what they want.   You lucky people.

I remove the skein from its bag, pull a length and cut, and it's that piece I am using that has never had a rightful place during a stitching session.  I find more pieces on my clothes, the floor, the washing machine, than I do when needed!  No matter where I put it, it ends up on my sleeves or side.  If using a bobbin, I guess you wind it back on and secure in the slot, but I've never liked them.  Using these cards would require the skein to be cut, does a strand pull out nicely or tangle?  The cut piece would be looped back on?  But then I have to sort through the ring again to find the color or remove/return that thread card, opening and closing the large ring clip ... a lot.  Too many times for my aging crooked hand.  But so is opening and closing the zip lock bags.

Strawberry Lane on Etsy

Snuggly Monkey on Etsy.

What do you do when using cards such as these?  I would think having many threads on one and close together would be a hassle trying to add it back.

From Tristan Brooks

Although I don't want to change from using skeins in a floss bag, I can certainly see the advantage of switching to these.  This hole seems large enough for ease of use and there is a second tiny hole for the 6 strand that is now a four strand waiting to be used.  Those are the pieces that hang from me, become play things for Missy when they hit the floor, and send me into a search every time I need another thread.  I think I will order a set or buy the pretty ones and punch another hole.  They will fit into my floss bags, I can quickly see if a thread has already been divided, and the zip bags will only be opened to remove the cards and then returned when the project is complete.  At my speed, maybe twice a year.  But will I be able to grab the thread and pull it out of the loop with these fingers?  Testing will begin soon, there will be quite a bit of color changes in the next pages of Ann.

What do you do with that piece once you pull a thread or two out when stitching in hand?  What should I have been doing with it for the last 40 years?  What simple solution has eluded me?  Should I just throw it over my shoulder?  Well, yes, you twit.  That would work.  Why did it take all these years and this post for it to come to me at the very end?  What a putz.

**************************

Ann progress and Amazon

Hi folks!  I got my dust wand order and I must say I'm pretty pleased.  The OXO has the nicer fibers and will certainly clean my black chairs with ease.  It's flat and bendable which allows it to slip through closely spaced back spindles and stair railings nicely.   I plan to order a replacement head for it and think it is the best of bunch.  

The other has very fine fibers and the long head bends to any angle for the flat top of bookcases or cabinets.  

There are two heads so I bent one completely in half to make a short and wide duster.  The wand extends a long way and is very sturdy, no bending!!   I do like the OXO better but for the price, will keep the long one with the wand for dusting along the walls and cobweb corners, and out of reach spots.

 I know the Oxo will wash well and I imagine the other will also, but of course, no dryer since that removes the static charge the holds the dust.  I still mist the dusters lightly with water which is probably not recommended?????  Will test with and without on the black chairs.

The shaver I received did a fantastic job.  I purchased the electric because battery units I've had slowed down quickly, and for the price (including two replacement blades) it's a steal.  I'm ordering another.  I much prefer shopping locally, but when there are no locals, I plan to use Amazon which I've mostly avoided until recently.  But I need to be more careful and check merchants.  The foot deodorant for Matt (a common brand) is coming from across the pond.  The delivery date showed a week to three weeks, that should have tipped me off.  I also won't order anything that is not free returns, but I do have a local Kohl's that will return and pack for free.  Catherine mentioned that she was refused a return by Kohl's, now I want to check with mine.  Maybe only items shipped from Amazon are allowed?  The suppliers (like the overseas deodorant) that ship from their stores may not be included?  Anyone know?

After almost two days of not being able to focus near or far, I did some stitching on Ann.  I plan to do the over one as eyesight allows.  Making an appointment with the specialist today.  My eyes are getting bad too quickly and I highly doubt it is from the medication that can cause damage since I am on a low dose.  But I need to check.

 There is one motif left on the far right and I would like to add the other sampler before I start it to make sure it is properly placed.  I don't trust my counting.  Lots of purple in this one which is not evident in the color photos.   I'm glad I started at the top and counted off of that area rather than the tree.  Since I had problems with it, it is not as charted and some motifs do not line up.  I don't suspect there will be a problem since most of the elements can be moved a few threads.

We're very cold but there is a warm up coming.  We're both dragging our butts because the virus is lingering, not enough to be sick, but enough to be crabby.

Hope your week has been good!

Thanks for visiting.

******************

Except for over one

I am close to finishing another page.  The angel, a few small birds, another crown.  There will be an empty area beneath the large heart where another tiny sampler will be added, still not sure if I want the same color linen.  But should I work the over one line now, save it for the end, or do a word at a time?  

The full line is placed between the second and third row in a dark brown.  My reasoning is to start it, see how it goes, and set it aside for later if I have problems with vision or frustration.

Cleveland trip was without incident and I changed her next appointment to just before noon.  We left at 7:30 and there was a lot of traffic which makes me nuts (even though I am in the back seat with dark glasses on).  Next visit will be virtual for only $35 with the pharmacist.  That's less than the gas and parking plus no driving!!  

Happy gal!!

So is this one.  The slightest chill, rain, or wind, and she becomes a house cat that won't pee for 18 hours.  The tiny little spitfire.

Happy first Monday of the year.  We're getting closer to summer!!

******************

Return shipping info

For those of you with Paypal accounts and not familiar with their return shipping refunds, here's how it works.  You first have to activate that service.  If you made a purchase with Paypal before activation, I don't think the offer will apply.  But once activated, if you need to return an item with a flat fee label or costs you paid yourself, click on Activity.  Locate the purchase you are returning and click to open, scroll down and then click Request a Refund on Return Shipping.  Follow the instructions and upload the applicable receipts and invoices.  They will let you know in a few days if you are being reimbursed.  This procedure is the one I follow, and it works.

To activate the free service, click this link.  

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/returns

Log in and activate!  You can use this up to 12 times a year.  I only did once because most of my items have free return shipping.  Surprised to see Kohl's taking any return to Amazon and packing, boxing, and mailing for free.  I can't believe the number of people using this!!  Both stores I frequent had to set up a separate counter because of the number of returns.  I saw large upright vacuums, furniture, piles of clothing, and other large items brought in to the store without so much as a bag.

I ventured out today, first time since being ill, and purchased a new laptop for a good price.  Then to Walmart for a few essentials in one trip.  As usual, a loud and foul mouthed slob was berating her little girl, another was screaming at a crying baby to shut up, another was dragging a crying two year old by her arm while threatening a beating.  I. just. can't. stand. it.  And if you want one of these disgusting females to attack you, try to nicely ask if you can help.  The only thing they know is violence and screaming, just like the majority of young reality shows with their physical fights.  Can you get arrested for accidentally bumping into someone and it sets off your taser?

*************************

The only pole I will dance with

And the valley breathes a sigh of relief.  Greetings folks.  Several of you asked about the duster and after browsing Amazon, I chose this option to order (they all look to be the same actually).  My current is shorter with a heavier strand which is fine, but I think the small strands would actually catch more dust.  So for the large one with extensions, this bendable is my choice, but I plan to order smaller/shorter ones also for more delicate dusting and easier handling for smaller items.  This unit comes with two heads.  Even if every speck of dust is not picked up, the result is still less time, less pain, and better result than using my crooked hand.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082D9P2Z1/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A28A4CVNUTIZG0&psc=1

 The smaller OXO brand with replaceable head are probably at Target and other places, also getting this one.

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Microfiber-Duster/dp/B00940DV6W/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=oxo+microfiber+duster&qid=1577991832&s=hpc&sr=1-4

I have to mention that I am becoming more aware that so many products offered online and especially the clothing sites, may list their address in the US but the product is actually shipped from China.  For a return, it would cost more than the item.  Two firefighter hoodies that were ordered before Christmas have still not arrived, and although "returnable" is listed, I would have to ship to China.  The US address is only an office where the orders are routed through a computer.  It isn't easy to find that info either.  Several FB ads for really nice sweaters do not have an physical address when visiting their webpage. 

I listed my Dad's harvest soup recipe on the recipe blog, click here if you'd like to try it.  My potatoes were Yukon so they are yellow in the photo.

Once again, Petey, at midnight.  Will not allow me to get near him yet.

I am considering a PRP injection into my lips.  The tight binding dryness is driving me nuts and with no other options, I may spend a ton of money to try this.  They are shriveled to the point of nonexistence. Topical products provide some relief but this is not chapped lips.  The dryness is inside, the cells, the tissue.  Anyone ever try PRP for any reason?

We're going back to Cleveland Monday, praying for no snow.  Routine talk with a pharmacist, that's all, no doctor or testing.  She could do that here but still has not chosen a cardiologist since ours has passed away and his replacement left.  I can only try my best to reason with her, can't force her to be more responsible.  She had a brief TIA when here for dinner, right side of her mouth dropped and she could not pronounce words for about 15 seconds.  It's why when asked if I have children I answer YES, an 81 year old.

Have a good day.

******************************

Starting 2020

Hope you celebrated the beginning of 2020 in whatever way you desired.  Personally, the last day of the year has never been a big deal and is my least favorite holiday.  

Mark is making soup, I packed away all the Christmas stitcheries for another year, and I discovered a slight problem with Ann Hicks' fabric. 

Since the linen is large to handle I decided to finish the width before moving down the piece so I could trim the right side excess.  It was badly crumpled from the spool huggers so I pressed the sampler for a fresh start.  Oh boy.  This was a very large piece of linen the exact color I had planned to use for Ann, inspection was not considered.  

Now that  it's pressed and trimmed, I see the fold line and two marks that line up.  I thought they may be from my hand but the larger one is too low, the distance between too great. The spool huggers were there but I can't imagine why they would blemish the linen.  Oil leaching from the plastic for a long period?  I have no idea where the linen came from or if I dyed it myself, so spot cleaning is not a safe option.  

As for the fold line, I will touch it ever so lightly with the fine chisel edge of a brush lightly dusted from a Ranger archival ink pad.  I tried it on the backside (the left side of the box) and it looks pretty good.  Touching the entire line isn't necessary, only to interrupt it.  That section will be motifs, not a row of alpha, and I will wait to see where the line is visible for touch up. 

Because I am known as a reckless stitcher, have washed completed pieces, thrown them in the dryer, deliberately stained and aged, this will not upset me much at all.  Somehow it will work out.  If the soiled (?) areas show, I will add a few lighter ones throughout, and the ink should take care of the fold line.  Hoping to kick this into high gear without any eye or hand issues to slow me down. 

Time for Harvest soup and ciabatta!!  I signed up for Curiosity Stream for only $12 a year (sale ends soon) and found the app on my Samsung TV so we can view it on a large screen.  I think!  I can't believe the apps available and don't even know the whys and hows of using them.  I do need to learn and plan to this year.  Ear buds, phones, apps, Alexa, videos, I want it all!!

Have a nice evening.

Petey is watching.  This bad boy knows what room you're in and will make sure he's visible.

***************************