And again, Maud

 I saw short Maud in the pile for final finishing, and decided to remove the very light pink letters and stitch with a darker shade.  Also changed her name to dmc 902, and plan on attaching matching poms trim around four sides.

The light green is ghosted but will probably stay.  She's such a small sampler, I should have stitched the entire piece.  Maybe again with my color choices.

Three rows are complete on the BBD design, hope to finish soon.  The plan is for a small drum.

Here's what I did with a very large zucchini that everyone loved....

Cut into about 1/2" thick slices, lightly salt and let them sit for thirty minutes to an hour on toweling.  Quick rinse to remove extra salt and leaking.  On sprayed foil in single layer, bake at 400 for around 20 minutes or until softened.  Remove from oven and top each with scoop of Ragu Simply sauce, Italian blend shredded cheese or mozzarella, several pepperoni slices.  Return to hot oven for another 8 to 10 minutes.  Zucchini pizza rounds.  Really good.

August 30 is the season premier of Expedition Bigfoot with  Mireya Mayor on Discovery.  And the end of summer.  

Stay safe everyone.

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On second thought

Fits the narrow space perfectly.  May stay here.

Plastic chair glides are nailed to the bottoms of all outdoor wood pieces to elevate legs a bit.  Prevents the wood from leaving stain marks on the deck and also from water being absorbed into the leg's open grain.  For cast iron stands that will or already have rust, styrofoam from a grocery tray is cut to protect the deck from its stains, waterproof so no moisture contact.

The end.

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Two things

 What I have started...

the smallest sampler I can manage ( BBD 2009) ......

and what we made.

This was the base of a large lift top child's desk we have no use for.  The matching seat bench for the desk is at Carole's, and after adding two old decking boards I found, she can use this outdoors as a little bench for the kids or to decorate.

Hope everyone is doing well.

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Irish Sampler and finish

 Just wanted to mention if you are interested in the sweet Irish Sampler, Wyndham has #1 and also #2 on their ebay site https://www.ebay.com/str/wyndhamneedleworkscats.

This is what #1 looks like, my favorite of the two (which I have but unable to locate so had to repurchase).   If I remember correctly, those three large flowers are queen stitch which will not happen.

  

This is #2.

Sweet!

They have books and some Needleart and Embroidery magazines also along with a good selection of Nostalgic Needle charts.

Finished.  Backstitched for a sewing line since this heart has angles.  I like this look, so I may allow it to show along the seam.  A mattress finish was preferred, but too difficult with the deep center.

Happy weekend.

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Removal angst

 Hello stitchin' buds.  

I bleached the linen, soaked for almost 30 minutes.  Much better.  The threads of the outline lightened so slightly that it's not noticeable so I did not need to start over. 

Been busy with zucchini breads (lemon, death by chocolate, choc chip spice) and don't plan on making more.  But also and finally got around to donating clothing and items that are not being used.  Feels good to rid excess, but also hurts a little.  My sister is one that holds on to things (coats/ clothes she loved) that haven't been worn in over 10 years or more.  I hold on to items I got years ago when Macy's was Kaufmann's and I attacked the 80% off rack.  (The mannequin incident was at JCP, not the rack attack mentioned.)  Even back then, only needing a few pounds off to fit properly, I expected to one day wear them.  If it didn't happen when only 5 needed dropped, it ain't gonna happen for 35.  

More needs to go, simply because they aren't needed.  I wear the same capris, jeans, dress (recent addition and more comfortable in summer) and the rest sits there.  So some items from Carole and more from me finally made it to a thrift store.  But no one will take my china and crystal.

These are two of the charts I'm considering, but certainly not all.  I haven't completed Rachel yet, not going well.

Over half of August is gone and I need to recognize that yes, I missed most of summer because I couldn't walk, but I can now.  And some cannot.  Some know it's their last summer.  Some will never have their pain lessen.  Suck it up, go buy a larger size of the old lady full cotton briefs and wear them with gratitude.

Enjoy your weekend.

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While I'm thinking

about the next project, this freebie from Stone Street  Stitchworks will be a quick stitch.  

Another in this folder is Schoolhouse Primer Lesson 1, very small sweet piece.  Is this my working copy and the chart is in the pile, or another freebie from her?  I have searched online and haven't seen this 1798 sampler by Mary Graves, or is it not a repro?  I do believe it will be next, but you know how that goes.

I stitched the red sampler from BBD (Ooh la la book) on 36 count with flower thread because I wanted a prominent texture, but the heart is on 32 count.

Enjoy your day.

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Daily visit

Most days several times.

Very soft meows make me think she wants to be friends.

She will lay near me when I'm on my swing and watch for my movement.

Full belly nap, but only after she sits in front of her filled dish demanding Lil Shakes tuna to be added.

.

And then she disappears again.

Without allowing contact.

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Determined

 to get Rachel finished.  Not surprised that I forgot about her since my memory has declined.   Not sure what will be out to pasture but I've been searching and so far, nothing.  

While looking in the only two books I have left, I saw this casket panel and thought it would make a sweet drum.  On 32 count, three inch high and ten long.   Higher count even smaller so probably not an option.  Sectioned into three small ornaments?

Also saw this design.  Nice.

No more zucchini breads for the freezer.  We've found friends willing to take several.  Hubs made a wonderful stew with sausage, zukes, diced tomatoes, small sauce, onion, beans, chick broth.  Very tasty.  Tomorrow, sautéed diced onion, garlic, then topped with sliced zuke until soft, add several beaten eggs with salt, pepper, parmesan.  Cover until eggs are cooked.  Can't be bad!

The rains we've been having caused the Sweet Millions massive tomato plant and cage to topple onto the hot pepper plants.  Today, stuffed hot peppers for the freezer to use all from the broken plants.  

Have a good day folks.  Mine have been consumed with thoughts of a friend in her final days.  

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The all day man who should have been a cow

 I tried.  The cow attempts were wonky at best, and cramped in the space.  So a man filled in.  

And took all day except for a quick ride to deliver food to siblings and find fresh corn.  The backs of my projects are rat nests but this little guy could shelter an entire colony on his backside.  

I plan to add a few sheep and if over one is necessary for proportion, so be it.

This is how Rachel is charted, 

and my version so far.

I was searching for the tiny Chums chart and checked the Magma, where I found Rachel cowering in the pocket.  Remember her?

I was unable to manage the over one beast and decided to change that bottom with a fence and pasture.  Failing to chart the entire change led to problems, and she was set aside.  Time to finish, hopefully the sheep and a few birds won't take a day each.

Enjoy your weekend.

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S.S.H.

 Sarah Stewart Hardman 1824

NeedleWork Press

I vowed to not be enticed into another big girl, and that's my plan.  But during my previous attempt to work on several projects at once, a few were started.  While considering the next project, I looked through those kitted bags. This one has the type of border that defeats me, but that was not the reason for a pause.  

The DMC conversion for the border's flowers is a stickler. You'll notice in the chart photo how deep some blossoms are, but 838 seems too brown for my taste.  

These are the three called for.  

I think the 779 would work with two others I am considering, 3857 and 632.  Options for the lighter shade (3826) could be 407 or 3772.  The only color to be changed for sure is the 838.  Once decided, S.S.H. will be ready whenever I feel like tackling a few more stitches in the border.

That won't be today.  Too many things occupying my thoughts that would interfere with concentrating.  The border will be a tough one for me.  Some day.

Enjoy yours!

Don't you love it when I fuss so much about color?

And such an enormous difference in display between the laptop and the tablet.

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Better.

 Changed the tail to the 640 used throughout with 301 in the center.  I really prefer this softer look.

  Now I'm done.  I know it's a small project and these minor changes are .... well ..... minor.  But once sewn into a drum, it's forever.  And I don't want to question if I should have tested an option to what bugs me.  No questions now!

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Drum roll

 Finish.

Here's the border change, bird switch, and circle beneath left crown with stitches I added.

I want to thank you for helping with the tail color.  I stitched with all blue just to test, it detracted for some odd reason.  Honestly, after the fill even with 301, it's too much.  The softer 640 in the project would be my preference and I may change to it before drumming.  Maybe solid 640 with center stitch of 301.  Yes?  YES! 

So grateful for this gift, thank you D!!

Four hours at the dentist yesterday, everything went smoothly.  Two teeth redone, two more to go, and I can feel the improvement already.  He is not charging me for replacing the misfit crowns from the lab, just the root canal.   This was necessary because the continual trauma from misalignment caused an abscess, in turn requiring the rooting.  He makes crowns in his office, perfect adjustments, I will not use a lab again.

Enjoy your day!

Thanks again.

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Opinion please

All that is remaining to stitch is the top border, but I would like your opinion on changing the 301 shown on the left tail to the 502 shown on right.  I thought that soft teal would be nice in the tail, but with such minimal color throughout, should I add another or be consistent with 301?

What do you think?

A few comments were made about this Oaken linen not appearing dark.  Here it is against white paper, darker than you would think!  Some photos taken under bright light may show it lighter.

I had to purchase a new laptop and got a deal on a basic Dell.  Sure hope I can set it up and have email delivered properly.  I am missing loads!  Some I get, others not, and at various times.  Missing quite a bit.

Have a good second week of the last month of summer.

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Switcheroo

 How are you all?

I'm very upset about August's arrival, but some of you are excited about moving closer to Fall. 

So what have I switched in this piece?  

At the top tail of the right peacock is the same bird as is at the top left of the large center motif.  I moved the bottom bird to mirror the top so they flank the center.  The foliage to be stitched in the vase to its right will not interfere.  

The crown and bird positions were switched and I like it.  It fits better in that space, the bird was a little crowded.  The circle beneath the crown in the middle left may be changed to something else. I also flipped the left bottom crown to replace the year. 

Linen was cut to accommodate the entire chart so I can stitch the alpha if I choose.

Will these changes really matter on a drum?  Of course not!

Close to finish!

Have a great day.

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Hold that spew

 Never ending conflicts. 

There is no doubt that this latest action, will create a disastrous situation in coming months.  But the person in charge of that action is oblivious.  I will need to walk softly or better yet, walk away.  It may be dry, but my mouth has excellent spewing power.

So.

I'm fairly sure a double checked border will replace the top alphabet row.  Nope, I am sure.  The dmc 301 used sparingly throughout as the only color, may be changed.

I had a "wing" at the corner of my upper eyelid from a liner tattoo many years ago.  The tiny line at the lash base was barely noticeable and faded long ago.  But that wing, still there.  So I went to the artist that did my hairless brows and asked for removal.  Sure.  It will only take a few seconds at a time, total maybe fifteen, so no Lidocaine cream would be necessary.  Uh huh.  OMG.  Excruciating fifteen seconds.  The method for such removal is the same as the needle injecting pigment for a tattoo, except saline is used in place of color to flush out the pigment.  It will come to the surface and create a sort of scab in a week.  Swelling and bruising is as bad as a black eye.  I am ordering Arnica bruise gel and Dermend to be picked up with a grocery order.  Love the convenience, hate having to pay with a card.  NOT a fan of credit, I don't like paying for something I used weeks earlier!  

That's my bitchin' for today.  

It's always something.

Enjoy yours.

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