Stitching journal

 Hi folks.  I've looked at all the journals for stitching and liked one more than others, but decided to try my own.  I don't have Word or any of those programs, I just use Paint, started with Properties and sized for two 5.5 x 8.5 per sheet, wide left margin for punching.  Made 25 b/w copies at Staples for less than $5 which yielded 50 pages when cut.  Their copiers have heavy, bright white, beautiful sheen finish paper, so much nicer than my copy paper.  

I had two designs from online free clip art, and the oval printed more clearly so that's what I used.  Two 6 x 9 disc style (Arc) notebooks and mini punch would work well.  Very versatile since you can purchase larger rings for a very thick book, clear pockets, plastic tabs, dividers, and lots of other accessories.  A mini 3-ring binder would do as well.  I have Title, Designer, Started, End, Fabric, Size, Threads, Substitutions, Finishing, and Notes.  The dividers will be marked for Samplers, Christmas, Smalls, and Misc.  It's a shame I didn't start this forty five years ago.  But I had a mane of wild hair and plenty of estrogen.  Who wanted to be organized and efficient outside of the office?

This sweet 5x7 was a few bucks at TJMaxx and I am using it as a daily record.  It's a planner but each day has plenty of room for recording daily stitching progress, changes, notes, and obscenities.

Eyes were bad today so not much accomplished, but I did remove his breast color and change to 403, a little more apricot.  The house and bottom area will probably take some time but without having to count and continually check a wandering vine, maybe not!

Have a good Monday.  

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On the green

 Thank you!  The 469-471 I found as subs were for GAST and I couldn't find the big pit greenie (avocado) for CCW.  Online photos look very similar between the two and are very close to the chart's photo.  Bingo.  The 471 seemed too bright so just to take the edge off, I dipped a few strands in a little brown dye for a second and it's barely noticeable.  Seems to have quieted the shouting.  It looks great and I would never have considered it without your help.  Thanks!

I changed the 355 to 356 just to soften a little.  And it's so nice to hold a small project for a change. I know this past year has been distracting to say the least, but I don't believe I've ever worked on a single sampler (Rachel) this long.

No visiting this weekend.  Carole's nurse is positive now so I don't know when that will change.  I honestly can't imagine how they wear those heavy medical masks for the ten to twelve hour shifts.  No one, including departments that have no contact with the team, can be in the building without them.  After two hours I am gasping!  Monday's appt. hasn't been cancelled so I hope that doesn't change.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

 It's really hard on an already resized photo to do detail work in Paint.  Not sure if birds are even necessary but these look like aircraft aimed at the house.  

Even though more work than I expected, I do like this finish, basically easy solid fill of grass and hill, straight rows of fencing, minimal charting.  Yepper.  

Or should the fence be further back?  Mmmm..... no.

Both are messy because I didn't want to take the time to copy and paste the stitching so I just filled with color.

 This is how the original was charted.

We haven't been to Carole's facility in a while, and with residents around her and aides testing positive, the January 30 lifting of quarantine won't happen.  Before spewing, yes, everyone there is vaxed and boosted.  I hope she doesn't get it, I hope she can still make her appt Monday which is necessary, I am more concerned about healing after speaking with the nurse yesterday.  No N95's are in this area yet.  Good thing our Strategic National Stockpile has been storing over 750 million of them.  Following other countries rebounds and relapses, contradictions from agencies and self proclaimed experts, I still believe a medication is the only hope.  At the very least it would start a fight response rather than allow the virus to gain control during those days waiting for results.  And if the first few days - BEFORE symptoms and testing - are the most contagious, splain it to me Lucy!  I was tested (as many others) with negative results several times, but actually positive. Just my opinion.

Can anyone help with the conversion of Classic Colorworks Avocado to DMC? I've been searching and can't find it, already started with 3051 on the Bluebird design but I don't think that's it.  May not remove to change it but I'd like to know.

Have a great day.

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What's in my mini Magma?

 Bluebirds!  I'm using the same 36 count that was excess on Rachel and converted the overdyed to DMC.  Well, best that I could.  I have enough disappointment in linen ordered online, no need to add threads to it. Some have been perfect, some totally goofballish. 

Rachel is napping in my large Magma.  I finished the white outlines and bands, checked for any stitch omissions (found two), over one corners complete, over one row revamped and also complete, and beast be damned.  I don't know why, but it's not working and the more I need to remove a misplaced stitch the more the linen suffers.  And why am I focused on a cow?  Sheep!!  Regardless of critter, they will be too large in scale for the house but that's fine too.  I'll figure something out.  Maybe a few birds, fence, yadda yadda.  I'll get back to her when I know what I want.  The lastest idea is too much work and way off Rachel's original.  A fence with hills done in the grass color with grazing sheep, may look distant and more appropriate.  But I want her DONE so whatever is the quickest while appealing to Queen Crabass, is good enough.

My right hand is failing me when a grip is required.  So this tiny cast iron pan from the dollar store is great for candles.  Flat and level for even large size, a handle which is easier for me to hold  Rubber bands are around most large/round items to offer more grip but doesn't always work.

Not going to mention the two feet of snow and frigid temps.  But I will say that it if you are offering to shelter a stray or feral,  a styrofoam hut and a tarp works great from wet and wind.  This is from HD or Lowe's and if I remember ... 8x10.  I wrapped sides around a small table first and folded the excess beneath the top, tied to hold.  Tarps are a great option even used on two saw horses with a board over top.

Stay safe.

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Boom. Part 3

 Well.  It's snowing again. But we made it home from Carole's appointment before the roads were too bad.  I had to leave the exam room. Needless to say, that incision/wound is worse that two weeks ago, six weeks after surgery.  They had no injectable lidocaine or numbing topicals and I told them to search the building.  It's quite large but outpatient surgery is down the hall, and you have no lidocaine?  Both nurses were wonderful and after a trip upstairs, came back with 2.5% cream. My eyebrow tattoos were done with 5%.  The scalpel and debridement was done across the entire leg, deep and wide.   Stitches removed but they never closed the wound initially and there is a wide recess.  Her shrinker and preparation for the prosthetic is delayed another (at least) month and she will be seen every week by the surgeon.  They aren't happy with the result after how well her other leg healed, but concern is not serious yet.  Well it is for me!

I woke Rachel for a word or two at times, and yesterday went better than expected so I continued on.  Placement is off in several places, not that noticeable, and don't give a horse's hoof.   The focal points are the grapes and large rice stitched center for me, not the over one.  

I saved a few white areas for last to prevent soiling from handling, but the large blue flower on the right side needs corrected first.  I thought it was good but after filling with white edges, nope.  Easy fix.  But that beast will attack me again.  If I did the 310 outline first it may help, counting these tiny stitches and numerous rows is very difficult.  Letters are much easier than a massive blob.  Rachel will nap again until I decide, but at least three problem areas are completed.  None of the cows in my charts are size or appearance appropriate.  

Just checked radar, snow until 9pm.  

Yippee ki yay.

Stay safe everyone.

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Dear Anonymous,

 Petey is a feral cat that I can't handle, treat for fleas, or trap for the vet.  He has a heated house inside of a wooden house that we built for him.  He eats great food, and always has fresh water.  This "abused" pet is happy in his house, yet leaves for hours in the cold which is his choice.  I can touch his head for a few seconds before he bolts or swats but no one else can get near.  I have two that spend most of their time in my house, ready to rip me to shreds.  No intention of bringing another in that fights with Nit, attacks Missy, has ticks on his back, and I'm certain fleas also.  If you would like to attempt capturing this fifteen pound male, you'll need prescription medication to knock him out which I can't get from a vet (best administered with a dart gun because he will smell it in his food), take a chance with human meds that may kill him, and have antibiotics on hand for your cat bites.  Three months of various bait treats and familiar locations using a large trap failed.  Let me know when you're coming, I would really like to de-flea and de-worm him.

I agree with you regarding animals/pets outside, it's heartbreaking, but sometimes it can't be helped so we do the best we can to provide shelter and warmth, food and water.  

There is a great number of gullible hateful people currently infecting this country that label and attack people on assumptions rather than facts, the vast majority of them hypocrites.  I have no doubt your concern for animals is genuine, and not hypocritical.

Have fun folks!

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Size does matter

 Kitting the next three projects forced me to organize young and old fabric. Twenty eight count from forty eight years ago, to the forty count of my seventy years.  Maybe.  We'll see.

When deciding on fabric count for a new project, the size of it will many times make that decision easy.  The full eighteen inches of a quarter is hopefully enough.  The overdyed linens are smaller, I guess shrinkage from the process, so we're down to seventeen.  But measuring first is obviously warranted if it's a close call.  This piece looked a little smaller to me compared to the others I was folding, and it is.  One and a half inches to be exact at 15.5.  So expecting a project to fit on my quarter yard piece without measuring the linen first, is not wise.  Too bad, because I've never done that!  But I will now.  Minor change in size, but could certainly make a difference in margin allowed for mounting or whether your project will fit at all.

I'm glad I started marking the selvage edge with the count a while back.  Too many times I've questioned what the count was but now I know.  Except for a few that I may sell, I mark all fabric before storing.

Rachel will be finished eventually, your comments in fact had me place her back on the tray.  We're having a stare down.  DONE with black floss, and may attempt a word or two a day in the 610.  The second row of the left box has one word higher than the rest.  I based placement of the third row on that word, so it is now two positions higher.  Not a big deal since the final row does not need aligned with other stitches, but that second row is a thorn in my side.  A real bitch to frog over one let alone have black floss so fat you can't see the stitch.  

It is frigid here, but not as much as others I'm sure.  I am thrilled with the heated water dish I found for Petey.  We were constantly going outside to break ice from his bowl and refill. This is a one quart unit which was not easy to find since most are quite a bit larger for more critters.  It's working great.  Almost zero and no ice!  Thank goodness for heated house and bowl!  

Stay warm folks.  I feel like a popsicle.

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Take a nap Rachel

 Sleep with the frogs.  Like a temperamental child, you have charmed, delighted, soothed, energized, and then slowly became uncooperative, moody, and difficult.  You've won.  Throwing in the floss.  If you were much smaller, less detailed, and my lighter had butane, poof baby.  Poof.  So sleep well my beauty.  I will not allow you to frustrate me enough to abandon my needle.

Mary Bell, Bluebird out my Window, and Jean Donaldson 1826 will all have fabric pulled today.  Jean will be last since she has a fricking border with color changes and I need a simple project right now.  Anxious to see this 8.5 x 13.5 on 40 count sampler whose details are hard to see in the photo.  Something tells me the unique elements and motifs will not only be enjoyable, but stunning.

Have a good one!

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Got rice?

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Boom part two.

Finally.  After two major changes and two major frogging sessions, boom.  Done.  The first time, narrowed the lower case letters to one space between instead of the two I originally stitched.  It didn't look proper compared to the tighter letter placement above it.  That change was a real improvement.  

The next frog removed the second row.  Rachel's God save America was in this section and I thought using her words would be a better option than my numeric section, so ... adios.  Her words were done in black since that was the original color, and it helped balance the black in the corners.  Using capital letters required removal of the single row of dark green completing the outline of the center section.  Removing the bottom blue row and inserting the green again is not necessary. 

Hope to finish that left corner and find a cow.  And I can say that I will not do another that has this much over one.  The two corners would be my limit, but the revamped section plus the beast, bird, and berries are weighing on my mind.

  I always read and study sampler charts/instructions when first received, but Rachel was many years ago and I failed to repeat.  Just like failing to recognize the rice stitch areas, but I would have caught that had the chart showed them differently. 

No sun on the snow but the glare coming in the windows is very very disturbing and I am having more difficulty with my eyes today.  But this evening, I will work on that fricking corner.

And if your medication, supplies, various items on trains never arrive .....

Have a good one.

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A plan

The lowercase alphabet beneath the larger is over one, done in black.  Na-uh.  So what can I do?  I tried only God save America over two but there was too much space above and below.   I ended with just lowercase over two stretched to a second row, numeric over two.

Charted and ready to go.  Since black was charted for this area, and it would work well with the few words in the corners done with it, I decided not to use it.  You thought I was going to say the opposite!  I have a good reason.   Over two, those threads would be dramatic and not as delicate as over one.  But since they were charted in one color, I plan to follow that, maybe 3012. 

Got snow?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

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Boom.

 The black stitches are such a mess compared to the 610, will need a few tweaks.  This area took SO long that I'm contemplating changes to the other lettered areas.  I haven't yet found a bovine to fit, wondering if I attempt the tent stitch beast a third time and need to remove, if the linen will suffer irreparably.  But I must say, viewing the entire piece, those corners of tiny stitching are very attractive.

Looking at the border outline, 36 doesn't offer as much coverage as I expected.  Can I handle 40?  With the Dazor, yes, but my new linen is mostly 36.  Good enough.

Snow isn't here yet, but it will be shortly.  Crap.

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I get by with a little help from my friends

From comments, I'm not the only one disappointed in DMC 310.  I have quite a few Sullivan skeins, but no black.  As for silk, I know nothing of the brands, thickness, shine, plies, so would be ordering blind.  Switching to 610 is working nicely.  

But the biggest help was from a reader that emailed .... get this ... my own diagram and instructions for over one stitching.  I have been looking for it!!  It was a post from January 2020 and since I don't label, could not find it.  She wasn't sure which online site she saved it from and said it has helped her.  Imagine my delight when her thoughtful email gave me exactly what I was searching for.  More goosebumps?

The intersection's top linen thread will either be vertical or horizontal, which determines the direction of #2 to #3, preventing the floss from slip sliding away.  So much easier for me, and working out swell.  I will continue as long as I can manage regarding my eyesight.  

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2020/01/over-one-epiphany.html

Hope your weekend is safe.

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Twisting

 Not the dance that us oldie but goodies remember from Chubby Checker (but will be humming his great work all day).  Before we leave for a sister visit, I am giving Rachel's over one a second cross.  I'm not proficient with over one on 36 count but managed several areas on recent samplers with only obscenities to deal with.  None were DMC 310.  The twist is loosening on each of the three skeins in my inventory even before working with it which makes it sloppy and heavy.  What I've completed so far is fine, but it's a PITA to keep them even.

 This is a new six inch long thread that was pulled through the linen just a few times and look at the difference in the unused strand from that cut.  Doesn't take much, even handling will loosen it.  I will stop for another skein on the way to our visit, maybe JoAnn's to try Anchor.  

Remember when I offered two separate bags of every DMC color?  That was foolish.  Intense hot flashes fried many brain cells and common sense is sometimes lost in distractions and fog.  But it's not a big deal, I can always buy more.  Before I became connected to online stitchers, I thought I had a damn good inventory of charts, threads, linens.  What a mistake that was.  I am amazed at the amount of stash and supplies that most have, like comparing pre-school to a Phd.

Back to Rachel, I will try a new skein of 310.  I may need to change to another color and if problems persist using a full cross, removing the current stitches will be very difficult.  I have the Bluebird project ready, but concerned that if I put Rachel aside, she will stay there.  

Leaving you with Chubby's The Twist playing in your head all day.  Personally, Let's Twist Again is my favorite but after visiting his recordings, Limbo Rock will have me stepping high today.

Stay safe!

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Two great finds

 unrelated to stitching.  Well, not really.  But first, my nephew is one of those male shoppers that buys somewhat of a .... well .... goofy gift.  So I take over to make sure it's appropriate, would be used, and what I tell them to like.  Yes, I do.  If it's something they do not prefer, I talk them into it.  Anyway, I spotted these on my infrequent social media visits, and told Chris it would be a perfect Valentine's day gift for his mom.  She made angel pins for several years, she wrote and I designed/printed cards and verse for them.  This is from silverplate flatware and one of many options.  She will love it.

And after watching Lori's video about her planner, (cards, tags, pens, and do-dads also), I wanted one but wasn't going to spend that much.  

I started thinking such an item would be a good training tool for procrastinators.  Things I "plan" to do, usually are not accomplished near the expected time, or at all.  A notebook that tells this putz  - this is what you need to do today - may help.  I would feel pretty good about completing a task.  

All the books to keep track of linen, charts, completions, changes, are never followed for too long.  This cheap yet very nice planner has plenty of room in day sections to also use as a stitching book of days.  Ready?  $6.23 at walmart!  The paper is quality, heavier than others, bright white.  And three pages of stickers included.

 So on the way to see sis tomorrow, I am getting one for her.  She could keep track of therapy, appointments, days and hours of aides, symptoms and duration.

Beginning of each month has a page for goals.  I don't have that many, but I can be excessive in description to fill the page.  End of month offers another blank page for notes, which will probably read ... failed to complete items on goal page.

I'm hoping I can follow through and become organized and efficient.  I haven't thought of what to line up, when, how to express it, which page, so I'll do it tomorrow.  Or Saturday.  Maybe Sunday.

I can at least enter daily stitching action.

Hey.  It was only $6.23.

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Throwing in the towel

 Good grief.  Although the majority of the stress from previous ten months has waned, some of course, still remains.  And I know it's not important compared to crises, but losing my hair has also continued to be a daily anxiety.  Should that interfere with stitching?  

When menoemotions return, your patience is limited, and hissy fits occur with minimal hesitation, yep.  I've tired several methods including adding thin stabilizer beneath, I am struggling.  Why should I?  Not being even close to a purist, I've changed many reproductions and will do it again although this one will be more difficult.  

One more attempt at the bottom areas by doing full cross over one rather than the two direction tent.  It's not that every letter's thread fails, but the concentration to accomplish is not welcome.  Once I understood the under/under method, over one became much calmer, and I'm hoping changing to full cross with be the answer.  Now about that beast.  Lots of tent fill, started twice (once with recommended two threads and once with single thread) and I've decided to chart him over two.  If I cannot, that beast will become a cow.  Happens to the best of us.  Nothing charted yet but I feel it in my sugar craving torso, and I don't have a problem or feel guilty changing Rachel's work.  

I am so anxious to finish this project.

Have a good day.

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Gifting

 Hi everyone.  Sun is out, wind is blowing, my a** is freezing.  And look what I received this weekend from my recent chart winner, Jan.  Holy bluebird.  Gorgeous fabric, the green of which will be the backing and ruffle, threads, and a thread puller which I need.  I certainly never expect a reciprocal gift after a giveaway and yet this is so appropriate.  My sister mentioned as we spoke of winter that she hopes she is home by spring to watch the bluebirds out her window.  She has several houses, they nest yearly, and those beauties are her favorite.  Arriving shortly after that comment was this WTNT chart titled with her hope!  And at the bottom, the word home, which is her other hope.  Do you have goosebumps?

I don't plan to mention this to her, you never know what her situation will be in a few months, but it will be ready for her.  Thank you so much Jan, you had no idea when you chose this chart how appropriate it would be.  Again, thank you.

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Over one with two

 Na-uh.  By the time I get to the beast's back, the linen will never lay flat.  This is 36 count and the instructions are for two floss threads over one linen thread and it is crowded, uneven, and distorted.  In just this small area of one leg, it may be difficult to see, but the linen is arching around the outline as if being stretched/pushed out.  Not something I can do well. 

 I also can't railroad over one so threads are quite bumpy.  I tested an area in the margin using one thread, much better.  So all the two thread over one motifs will change to one floss thread.  Unless I find a way to chart them into basic over two stitches.

The placement of these motifs in this bottom area is not clear and I will search instructions and the chart again to see if there is a mark.  When a new chart arrives I study it all, but when actually stitching, I do not which is irresponsible.  Without Krista's comment on IG, the rice stitch failure would not have been caught.  Aligning the beast to the edge of the 3013 will leave one linen thread, so I plan to look at this later today and mark starting points for all three motifs so I don't get frustrated.  Not really important since I'm usually reckless, but I want this done without any issues that may stall a finish.  People that lack decision making skills like myself, will waste a great deal of time "thinking".  Pick a mark and move it along!

Time is flying isn't it?  Snow melted, rain today, frigid for days after.  Oh yippee.

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Rice a Ruining

 I know it's bad for you, but I do like Rice a Roni even though I've never been to San Francisco.

But this is rice that's 'a ruining!  I do believe the worst is over and I am continuing with less trouble.  

I outlined 4 squares on the chart to represent each rice stitch because I had a very difficult time discerning where one ended.  Messy, but I also colored the adjacent symbols and it did help.  The DMC 422 is quite pale and hard for me to see on the linen.  I ended up first doing the full cross over 4 threads to make sure I had correct placement.  Once the base was in place for that row, I did the additional corner crosses, confident that the frogs were napping.

This area was removed twice previously, and the rice frogs made the linen limp and stretched for holding a stitch.  So I used the Best Press twice to size and give body to the linen.  It helped, but I feel a little stickiness and its scent is noticeable.

Everyone loved the flannel pillows, but the wheelchair's extension has changed from the wooden board to the chair's attachment which is much lower.  They weren't enough.  The bag her rolled twin comforter came in was perfect.  I used a bag of fiberfill, drew it closed, and it's a fat bolster shape that raises her stump high enough so the knee isn't bent.  The small flannels are perfect for reading in bed.

Have a great weekend folks.

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The tube

 It's only been a few weeks since I handled them yet I was baffled as to why these tubes were in the Christmas totes.  Takes a while, but eventually, it will come to me.  Bingo.  The wrapping paper rolls have a wider opening for the denser trees, but these feather style can use the kitchen wrap rolls.  Wrapped in muslin or protective paper, I have several large samplers rolled on the wrapping paper size and smaller projects on the others.

Got several loads of clothes dropped off last night, she "needs" them today, so I've been busy.  I managed to sew the 12 inch pillow cover and the flannel choice was a good one.  

It doesn't move.  I really like this pillow form because the cover has a small zipper allowing fill to be removed if too much loft, or more added.  Great feature.  I removed about 1/4, gentle padding is all that's needed.  

I used the same envelope method as I do on smaller stitchery finishes.  This has a longer overlap since it will get a bit of use.  If I have time before we take the ride to her facility, I will get the 12 x 16 done and can adjust the fill while she is in the wheelchair.

Breaded pork chops with worcestershire and leftover kugel for dinner.

Have a good one!

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Today's project

 Greetings!  Carole got the brace (prevents contracture after amputation) off her right leg during daytime, but still needs some soft support on wheelchair and also for the left which ends at the edge of the seat and is still sore.  I've been using a 12 x 16 pillow as lumbar support in my chair and thought it may be a solution to the cumbersome large bed pillows she is using.  

Mark drove me to JoAnn's this morning and in addition to the 12 x 16, they had a sweet little 12 inch.  All on sale, grabbed both.  These sizes should be perfect!  I also saw 40 off on flannel material so I got a yard of a gray with pastel hearts and I think this fabric will stay in place better, no slipping.  I dyed the vintage crocheted/embroidered pillow cases pink and pale blue so this pattern is perfect.

After seeing glimpses of samplers that will be released soon, I decided one will be my gift from anonymous.  Fell in love with the antiques shown, and can't wait for the chart.  Been waiting for something special, did purchase the WTNT Santa I wanted so I'll have a Sampler and Santa as a memento of her thoughtfulness.

Hope your day is going swell. 

 We've got cold temps blowing in with high winds.  Big change from having hair so thick they were barely felt, to so thin it feels like being slapped in the head.

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