Is it over?

 When I near a project's end, I want it over.  So I think Lizzie is just that.  Her name to the right of the house was to be one row higher but I didn't notice that on the chart, of course.   To possibly make the shorter vase less noticeable to me, I added an extra stitch to the top of the ds in Peddie.  Not sure if I will go back for the vase.  Maybe.  Or not.  

I changed the two birds in the bottom area to a bright teal instead of tan.  Didn't stitch all the rows at the bottom.

Lizzie will be added to the group hanging on the ladder, and may become a sewing bag.  On 32 count she is 6.75" x 9.25".  Similar to the Nash bag size I planned to narrow.  Maybe two close in size would be nice.  Where do you display a 10" wide bag?

Hope your day is peaceful!

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Line up !

 Once again, a study of the chart would have been beneficial.  For stitchers that prefer to follow reproductions, not necessary.  For a putz like me that has issues with symmetry and alignment, necessary!

The roof worked out perfectly since prior notice would have created the same result.  If I saw on the chart that one vase was shorter, I would have added to it so they were both the same height.  As soon as I finished that row and looked at the piece, I saw it.  And once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it.  Certainly not unusual in a repro, nothing needs changed, unless it bugs me.  It bugs me.  It's not an error, I followed the chart.  But I prefer things balanced.

So I will remove and add the extra row.  The bottom area is single rows of the colors used in the sampler.  Nine of them.  Any bets on how many I actually stitch?

Quite a few errors and frogs in Lizzie as with all, but I mentioned the ones that I should have noticed.  I assume too often that the count in the border design repeats, the motifs are same right and left, the house elements are centered, when I should be verifying their count in case I need to adjust.

The Prokera treatment is a huge uncomfortable lens containing amniotic membrane to heal and create cell regeneration on the cornea.  A few days in each eye, I hope I can tolerate it.  There are other treatments including grafts for severe conditions/injuries. 

Nutroll was great except for the dough flaking when slicing.  Never had this happen before, yeast (cake type) was very active.  The rise was too long?  Too short?  Next time will be a few poppy seed rolls or bolbalki.  I used to make the dough and poppy seed mix but now purchase frozen bread dough and canned poppy seed filling.  Some recipes do not use boiling water, but ours involves a quick dunk once the bread balls are nicely browned and cooled. Oooooh baby.

Hope your weekend goes well.

Thanks for visiting.

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The very very fine house

was poorly constructed.  Once again, I stitched without careful study of the chart.  Who knew the roof was narrower than the house?   If noticed,  I would have changed it to exactly as I stitched it anyway, aligned with the house side.  Lizzie wouldn't mind I'm sure.

 
I counted the motifs off of the chimney which is two stitches off, and never checked the placement with the row above.  Another mistake.  It's a stroke of luck that there is room in the design to move the motifs to the right.  No harm done!  Whew.  I should be finished soon.

On May 8 I will be given the Prokera Lens which will cause blurriness and then days later it will be removed and the other eye will receive one.  No stitching for at least a week, maybe longer, and I am hesitant.  No harmful effects with this amniotic treatment, but I have such reactions to the ordinary!  

Making nutrolls tomorrow.  Finally.  And once again, the florals on my leggings will become very large blooms.

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The house that Lizzie stitched

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I must say,

Lizzie has been such an enjoyable stitch.  

No problems, minimal placement changes, few color changes.   I tried the red outline of hearts, no.  I stitched the final initials in red to match the row's beginning, no.  Instead, subbed 738 for the outlines and kept the charted color for initials.  Even after removing the red option and stitching again, no frustration.  Good grief am I growing up?  Say it ain't so!!

Truth be told, this is just an easy, fun, cheerful design.  Not sure what classifies as "cheerful", but it is.  

Previously I sold several stitched samplers, received emails that they were priced too low.  How do you decide on a price for an unframed piece?  Considering selling to get funds for the dental work, which is obscene.  Sadly, they would be a very small fraction of the cost, so maybe not worth it.

Ice balls and rain now, heading to nursery for a few shrubs.  Umbrella or helmet?

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Too much?

See those hearts?  I'm stitching the third with dmc 434 to be outlined in 612 as is the first heart.  

I considered changing that outline in one and three to red.  But there is plenty of that color throughout, probably be too much.  (I just noticed in the photo that I failed to stitch the period after TT.  Lizzie loved punctuating!)

The alpha and initial rows are completed (that's a huge family!) and soon the house will be started.  I changed the very ghosty 3782 to 612 and don't like either in the house.  I do like the darker 3011 sub in the vase, maybe 738 or 3046 for the house.  Light, but warmer than the dull 612.

There has been frogging galore, and not once have I cussed at the shredding and breaking thread.  Never had that problem in decades of stitch removal until 36 and 40 count.  Could it be because of continuous friction through a smaller hole?  I think so!  My single thread lengths are only ten inches, but the wear on that strand, especially during tugging for removal, may be the reason.  Ya think?  Even my old double gold band skeins shred, and that same skein over years never did on my lower counts after countless hissy fit tugging.

Hope your weekend is going swell.  Heavy heavy rains today.  The gutter is packed with the maples' bud droppings and overflowing like Niagara.  I tilted the wheelbarrow beneath to catch and shoot the water into the yard.  Quite noisy, but not offensive, reminds me of summer downpours.  

Be safe!

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Lizzie progress

 Loving 32 count and the coverage.

Enjoy your day!

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A new needle

 The brand?  I don't know.  But ouch.  It's even piercing the bandaid!  The eye is also an issue, snagging the thread and preventing a smooth pull.   

Putting all the needles in my case was not a good idea and I don't want to test each one so all will be removed.  I made this years ago, several wool pages, always planned to stitch a few more.  The basket holds the new packets.

 Tried many brands but failed to note differences, will do so now.  I do have new packs and will add a strip of tape to the backs for comments.  A new case will be sewn with pocket pages to hold them, only preferred used will be on the wool pages singly.

Hope your weekend was pleasant.

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Lizzie on the weekend

Hello people.

I plan to work on Lizzie quite a bit this weekend.  Did what I could outside in the warm weather but without the landscaper and load of dirt, can't go any further.

 Lizzie has a row of herringbone, an easy stitch, but I managed to do it differently.  No clue as to why.  The next dividing band was to be running stitch, three rows.  I chose only two, three looked crowded.   The instructions show Lizzie stitched with two threads on 36 count, which would create an even chubbier texture, but I am using two on 32 count.

Love love my new table.

Request for the ham and scalloped potato recipe.  I use Taste of Home's Never-fail-Scalloped Potatoes.  My mandoline slices them very thin and I use low sodium uncured ham slice diced.  Sometimes I will increase the butter and flour and milk, and also omit cheese.   Oven at 335 because I use glass.

Hope you all have a nice weekend!

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Boom

 Busy afternoon!

More aged and beat up than appears in the photos.  Old screw holes, discoloration, worn out wood, exactly the look I wanted.  Fifty four inches wide, thirty one high without backsplash.

Not sure if or when I will add a spatter of chipping paint, maybe a few spots on the legs.  

This was to be set on the front deck for summer with flowers, but I love it enough to want it in the back where I see it out my window.

Old decking recycled into more projects!  Do we have enough for another?

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All systems go

 Removed the 730, replaced with 3011, changed the 3862 (top row E)  to 612 (X second row), and it's full speed ahead.

What else?

Drew plans for a modified potting bench to preferred dimensions and he is using the old decking to construct.  We have enough for another similar for the back and a four foot bench.

Leaving the darkened wood, no sanding, and hope to splash a few spots with deep turquoise paint topped with chipped white.  

Found healthy ferns at Lowe's, 2 for $24 which may be the lowest price this year so I purchased.  I was surprised at the price of spray paint!  Used to pay 3.98, now 8.98.  A few were a dollar less but crap colors.  The can of inverted marking paint for the landscaper that never shows was 9.98, in pink.  

Warm and sunny, Carole has a friend visiting, she was wowed by the changes in her room.

Enjoy your day!

Thanks for visiting.

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A good option

 Lizzie was started on 32 count PTP Legacy with two dmc threads.  All colors except two.  The 3782 is too light and will change to slightly darker.

The 730, one of the colors that I dislike in any project, is very close to 3011.  Difference is in the yellow hue and after stitching and trying to accept the 730, will remove and replace with either 3011 or 3012.  Both suitable.  

The detached end of the band is the 3011, not a noticeable change, but not as harsh.  Softer green.  This will be a nice project, free of my usual nitpicking now that this easy option is settled.  One error so far and there it will stay.

Warm weather, meeting Carole at cardiologist this afternoon.  Routine appointment but she is uncomfortable in any office/waiting room alone, feels vulnerable.  I'm assuming her massive chair will maneuver the turns and doorways.  She should use the manual wheelchair during visits but can't push easily on carpeting.  We have limited workers everywhere and they don't accompany patients as before, just drop them off at the door and pick up when they can.

Scalloped potatoes and ham last night.  Using a measured recipe now, so easy.  

Have a sweet day folks.

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Hello Lizzie

 Charts printed without issue!  So I tried two others and they did not.  Someday, at some place, they will.  Mary Gibson from Haslemere Museum prints all text but no chart. 

Lizzie will definitely be started soon, and I really think the flower thread will create the look I desire.  But color matching is impossible with its limited selection.  So I pulled the DMC and plan to work on 32 count with two threads.  I may try a 40 count with one thread but don't believe it would result in the primitive texture of the original.  We'll see.  I need two colors and will get them at HL on Tuesday when I meet Carole at her doctor visit.

Since I kitted several large projects, I am constantly looking through their threads for colors needed for other projects.  I do not buy new DMC for every project unless it's needed for several kits at one time.  So I finally wised up and added a note listing the floss in each kit, no more searching the pouches or opening the charts for the legend.   If any skeins are removed, I can note the number and add back when I work on that project..

I cut a plastic bag and attach with clear packing tape making a pocket on the outside of the pouch for chart name and linen size, now I have the floss listed.  Why didn't I do this before?

No one asked me to prepare anything for Easter.  The plan was in place but Matt's out of town mother requested their presence Saturday.  Without going into detail of that story and relationship, and what is happening with his kids' mom and her new live-in drug dealer, there was too much going on.  No time to prepare a dinner, so I offered to make the Isaly's ham and sauce sandwiches and buy the sides.  Carole made one crock pot side and the grape dessert, it was such an easy and no-stress meal.  Will this be her last Easter?  Mark's?  Mine?  Anyone else?  We never know.  I learned something too late after my aunts passed.  Regardless of the work, inconvenience, it's only a few hours or an afternoon, minimal sacrifice of time.  I won't have the regrets I now have about other family that I could have, should have, why didn't I.

It's April.  And already almost two weeks in!!  Holy hot cakes.

Hope your weekend was special.

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Staples!

 Hi folks.  Hoping Staples will print these three charts for me today.  I didn't see the copyright symbol (or I missed it) so we'll see if that is the reason the others won't print.  Maybe one will be the next project! 

Ohhhh Lizzie.  Your chubby threads are calling me.  GT flower thread?  Wool?  I haven't read through the chart and hope to study them all this evening.  I am old school and for some reason, scrolling doesn't allow info to sink in deep enough.  A real help in viewing the chart though!  The texture in these antiques is very appealing to me.

I'm sure the stores will be packed today and I will be adding to the chaos.  The dinner for Carole's family and grands was planned to be prepared by them and as usual, well..... let's just say I need to come up with a simple meal for eight.  Because of limited time and old lady fatigue, most sides will be cold and purchased, and something shredded or sauced will be put on a bun IF there are any left!!  Easy peasy.

Wishing you a Happy Easter.

Enjoy the holiday weekend, whatever you believe.

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Short Maud

 Done.

I started stitching her age and date, and that extra row was enough to make it a little too large for the finish I envisioned, so frogged it was. The drum is still considered, but a sweet little pincushion with fussy edging is also.  Since seeing vintage and antique needlework on IG  with some razzle dazzle, a beaded hanging edge trim may be fun.  Perfect little sampler to mix with berries and drums in a bowl, I'm liking short Maud.

She lived to be 93 and passed away in 1971.  I was 20 and causing problems at work!

Be safe folks.

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Two days off

 but stitched this evening.   And I am quickly falling out of love, or starting a slump snag.  I am considering ending this after Maud's name and turning into a small drum.  Maybe tomorrow will be different, but today feels like a snag.

Temperature was very warm, I worked outside, overdid.  Is that a word?  Lots of moss and weeds around peonies and irises.  Moved the rhizomes to a better spot, edged, added mulch.  Very small area and the only place soil is plantable since sand was dumped there in order to pass a perc test.  I decided to add two perennials and left empty gallon pots where they will go so all I have to do is remove them and plop in the new plant.  That way, I avoid digging a mess later and can spread mulch now.

I couldn't finish the whole area, so pulled a chair from the basement, my most comfy wooden one.  Deep seat for my long legs, perfect curve for back support, writing table attached, enjoyed the breeze and warmth.

Thursday is Carole's again to finish the closet shelves.  Last two attempts were cut short by power outages.

Hope everyone is safe and well.

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April fool

Not funny.

Another Saturday working at Carole's and 70 mph winds sent us to pioneer days again.   Not only her house, but ours and thousands others.  Two layers of sweat clothes needed, no water (we have a well), oil lamps and battery candles. They closed the highway we use, the two roads that offer access to town, and we had a nice ride several times a day to find ice for the coolers.  We are back on now, others waiting until tomorrow.  If it wasn't for the state road needing reopened, we would certainly be in that group.  Workers from across the state were still here from the prior outage which helped tremendously.  I think neighboring Ohio towns, especially Hubbard, were affected just as bad if not worse. 

We tried a new "save the food" method and was surprised that it worked.  The perishables that did not fit in the cooler stayed in the fridge, and we used a 7# ice bag set in a metal roasting pan on the middle shelf.  Purpose was to catch the melting ice but it became essential in actually lowering the fridge temp.  We went from 50 degrees to 42 in two hours.  We also filled the veggie bins with loose ice and added condiment jars and whatever would fit.  It worked beautifully.  Half the ice in the coolers had melted and the fridge ice, hardly at all.  So glad we tried this!  There were no generators in stock here, they sold 38 in the first hour at Lowes.  I do plan to order one online.

This is Maud.  Redux.  I do not like that word.  Notice how she repeated the color pattern.  Two gold, two red, two pink, two blue, two green, two brown.  Maybe common in samplers and I never noticed.

This is how I stitched in the dark.  LED headlamp strapped onto my Dazor.  Better than my head!  Every slight movement moved the light and made me dizzy, much better on a stationary object.

Anyway, trying to stitch with natural light showed the 816 to be that shade of lipstick that has a cool tone.  So I removed along with the ghosted green and tried several others.  The chart calls for 221 and I returned to it, liked it, and decided to use two strands on the wiggly band even though this is 36 count.  That is the feature that drew me to Maud and I was not going to be happy until it mimicked the chubby look.  Eureka!  Perfect.  I have DMC here, no wool as Maud used, and I did not want to use 28 count.  Thought about 32 but it's hard to rummage through linen with a flashlight.  I changed the 524 green to the awful 3348, but on this linen in this piece .... perfect.  Who knew?  The 524 is KL in top line and 3348 is uv above the wiggle, just enough of a change to be noticed.  Two threads are only used on the wiggle, so far.  Much better in person.

We have quite warm temps and the day will be consumed with once again, sticks and limbs pick up and burn. Here's a peek at the larger shelf we installed after removing the dresser's mirror, and the file holders that are working great.  More items to add to the shelf but for now, these large heavy (and handy) oil lamps are in a safe place (the shelf has a lip).

Hope to catch up with all I missed for three days, still need an email program!

Hope you have light and warmth!  Be safe.

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Maud revisit

 And then there's Maud.  Again.  I'm OK with the thread colors after realizing I can't recreate the original.  

That red is now dmc 816.  The others were even darker as they should be, but not showy.  Changing the linen solved that but caused the other brights to ghost somewhat.  I think a thicker thread would be the ticket, two strands on 32 count.  But what I'm doing now is good.  Unless I decide to test the 32 count.  Any bets?

We will go to the fabulous Italian place for veggie ranch pizza slices, take one to Carole, and do the work we had planned for yesterday before the wind storm hits. She has been sick since the four days of a 50 degree bedroom.  Cough is choking, along with a cold.  Keeping the head raised on her bed, but mobility is only with her chair.  I will dig out my spirometer and make sure she uses it several times a day.

Hope your weekend is peaceful.

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