Line-a-timers

 Are these or a comparable product still being made?  

Before I discard them, I have several yellow in four sizes and will be glad to send them.

Anyone?

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Scale

 This is way off!  

I thought I could use the box I already have to copy that door decor I recently saw.  I should have stood back to gauge scale before filling and hanging.

So I grabbed a basket until hubs can make one with a wider box, and longer back.   It should work for Christmas greens too, although I love the blue basket.

But it's too long for cornstalks, and although sprayed for protection, I don't want it exposed to weather for two seasons.

Hope you have a great weekend!

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Boxing

 I still have a set of paper mache from label days.  This fits perfectly, and the sampler's  bottom section would fit on the smaller box.

More of the piece shows compared to a drum, and I thunk this is a good option.  I have plenty to hang on cupboard doors, but completing the vibrant bottom section as it is meant to be, makes a beautiful sampler.  Still torn between two options.

If I continue on and complete the sampler, labels may be printed for the boxes.  Too perfect in size to not do so.

Rain, no storm.  Phooey.

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The beat of the drum

 may be too loud.

That's a tall piece.  The sewing gauge leaning on it is six inches, this is about 7.5 without the top.

The second part would be shorter, but this one is quite tall and I'm not sure I like it.  I could leave more margin at the seam adding some width which may balance its size.  

I think I will search for a small to work on until I have a decision.  Right now, as I have done to many other samplers, fringe the bottom, hem the sides, pin to a cabinet door.

We loaded a few corn stalk bundles in the car while yakking with the owner who was working outside.  We've purchased our corn and bird seed from there for many years.  I went inside to pay while feeling so sad for the kittens in the tiny cages waiting for adoption.  I was surprised at the bill.  We paid around 2.50 last year, this year double.

We may get a thunderstorm!  Haven't had any all summer, and when this one passes I will wash windows and decorate the front.  It is dark so soon now, and I'm mumbling obscenities.  Crabasses have an extended vocabulary of profanities.

Happy stitching!

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Drum?

 Getting closer.

I love the 3328 buds in this wide band, and am glad I used that color in the tail and a few other small spots.  The bottom section has more of this color.  Bottom section ..... or second drum?

I dislike stitching borders, will be crabby during that task.  Not a good time for decision making.

Enjoy the day!

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Mums the word

 From our fall Amish greenhouse, the biggest mums around.  My size 9 for reference.

For $10.

Chris asked me to find nice ones for Carole's October b-day, he wanted tri-color if possible.  They were all mauve, white, yellow, not ours or her favorite mum color mix.  So solid yellow and rust with one bronze filled the car.

One last note about the china (and crystal).  It's mine, not from family.  Mom had a set that was offered through a local grocery.  Each week, depending on total spent, a piece could be purchased for a few cents or free.  No idea how long it took, but she had the complete set from cups to platter.  It wasn't what she liked, but in those days you got what you could and were grateful. She did not want to bring them here and told my brother to put it all out for the garage sale.  So I don't have an inherited set to donate, just mine, but my friend has three!

Very close to requiring a decision on completing the entire sampler or ending with two drums.

Last week of September.  Damn.

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The box

I am liking the idea of a stitchery displayed on the inside of an opened lid with other goodies in the box.  I have a smaller one from HL that is hinged, perfect for a small sampler or other work.  Changing the box contents and stitchery for each season would be a fun project.

The large box I showed was from Mom's stainless flatware that we use daily, my sister has my older set.  This is Mom's silverplate exactly as she stored it.  Bagged with pieces of polishing cloth in each and it prevented tarnishing for decades.  I don't remember when she last used it.

My friend has had such a difficult time with her mom's house and contents after she passed.  I asked her ... if your mom came into extra funds, would she have kept these items?  Or would she have had no problem selling house, furniture, tchotchkes and getting new.  I could see the tension release in her face.  Except for the sentimental items, she knew her mom would have left most behind.  It helped her resolve the guilt of donating so much.  Our parents would have been over 100 now, and that generation went through a lot.  They held on to everything except when offering to someone else needing help.  It wasn't the dishes or tablecloths that were important to Mom, it was the pearl collar and necklace that was her mother's treasure, now mine. Personal things.

My friend is finally selling that house, and is realizing her mom would be happy with helping a young family fill their home with her things.  But it's not an easy task for some items.  No one wants china!  Every family is different.  Mementoes are so important to some, and others empty houses a week after a funeral and leave with nothing or only one keepsake.  Personally, I had originally kept more, and as time passed, realized all would end up in trash one day.  Finding someone to care for and enjoy items now, for me, is better.

Hawaiian sliders with turkey and swiss today.  Good grief do I love these babies.  Ham and swiss just as good, so many options.

 Enjoy your weekend friends.  Be safe!

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Another bad idea?

 I've seen the zippered boxes for hundreds of dollars, the small flat one with removble inserts for almost two hundred, and many other niceities that for me would not be functional.  The Stella in me requires usability along with visuality for purchases that pricey.   

Speaking of Stella, this box was one of two from her flatware.  I removed the dividers and holders, thought keeping it open and filled  with a display of needlework smalls and vintage sewing items would be sweet set on a side table.  Adding a sampler displayed on the open lid would be great.  Another option to keep in mind.  Or make note of since my memory fails me often.

The silver plated flatware is unwanted by thrift stores or elsewhere, just like china and crystal.  Not dishwasher safe, too much upkeep from tarnish.  I was told to discard the dinnerware in the trash, the crystal also since it cannot be recycled (crystal items have lead).  I read that the colored Pyrex bowl sets do also, but it's the outside only, no way to ingest, and extremely minimal.  We all grew up with those mixing bowls, used continually.  I still use them and have no concerns at all since I don't nibble the color off.  Pretty much impossible to do.  

Nice day today, on my way to the swing for a little warmth from the sun.

Enjoy your day!

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Where will it end?

 Once the next wide colorful band is stitched, a drum finish?

Stitch the bottom section which is similar in size to the top section, construct a second drum?

Complete the sampler and wrap a large vase?  Possibly but not probably.  But I did see a very tall mache box that could work.  Lid could be a fat pincushion or berries.

I just don't want framed pieces and prefer the display options of mobile finishes.  Hanging bags, drums, pillows.

The next band will take some time to stitch.  I thought I could decide during that time but not if I split it between the two drums.  

I'll make an apple pie first.  Sure.  That will help.

Enjoy your day.

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Late but lovely

 I babied, fed, protected these Mini Famous calibrachoa all summer.  And now, after fertilizer ended, they are finally becoming the glorious plants they could have been during summer. 

 Loads of summer blooms have been pitched and replaced with mums throughout neighborhoods.  Even baskets like mine and  larger are discarded for the fall flowers that are offered way too early.   I plan to keep these alive as long as possible, purchase one mum for the front, and attempt a door arrangement similar to what I've shown previously.

My ferns were great all summer and again this year, too large to bring indoors.  That span being filled by three is thirteen feet.

I completed the top border and the next band.  Tonight hope to complete the last two.  Motifs follow and then a wide band.

Be safe!

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Better

 Instead of the charted double two color balls, or my change to a single color blob,

I'm liking the simple blue cap change for this border.  

 End of season pepper surplus leads to frozen sausage/peppers in sauce with onions and garlic for sandwiches.

This mom lost a few babes, one left, from a very late hatch.  She and one other hen with late young are outcasts from the flock.  They follow, but eat alone and keep their distance.

Enjoy your weekend!

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Take it down a notch

 Greetings on another cold September day.  My furnace ran in June and September for the last two years, this one is no different.  Other issues have also contributed to my crabass claws getting sharper.  Tasks ( for others) completed, time to let it go.

Why am I surprised at the width of this sampler?  I know how to use a ruler, knew the measurement, yet it was not expected.  I know it's Sampler September, but I would rather it be Small September.  Ornament October?  Nominal November?  I'm plugging away at this, but it's on the verge of becoming a chore.

So.  I feel this border between rows two and three is a little too much and needs taken down a notch.  I tried changing to a simple single color blob.  The too light 152 was changed to 407 (M, V) which would be a better choice for the blob.  Or, remove it all and come up with a simple wide pattern.  I'll test that next.  

The peacock had a small area changed to blue and 3328 in his tail.

My sewing machine's gremlin left for a day, his little cousin visited yesterday.  I think it's afraid of me and acts up when it senses my approach.

Enjoy your day.

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Dark and dull

 Just like me with a tan.

I wish I would have changed 3777 during the alpha rows.  I love that shade of red which usually shows its strength.  The darker linen is not allowing that and I would prefer a brighter shade.  Contrast with the fabric wasn't a consideration since this color has been used so often, but obviously it matters.  

Too late.  I could have changed to a brighter red for the motifs, but I thought the stitches being grouped would be better.

Eye doc this morning, he confirmed improvement in the dryness as did the doc that inserted the Prokera lens.  Still bad, but better.  The colored drop they use to test dryness would usually be washed away if the patient has tears.  Well, I gave people a scare in Walmart, because unbeknownst to me, my lens sucked it up since I don't have the tears.

Hope your week is good.  

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Switcheroo

 The yellow C and J in second row are not showing at all.  Is switching with another color in the design really changing a color?  Don't believe it is!  I'm still using the called for, some are just taking a few more parking spaces while others are in the garage.

Still waiting for hubs to look at my machine.  We've been busy with Carole's appointments and meeting with her contractor for the siding.  He will look at our problems next week and possibly get to them before year end.  I still plan to remove as much drywall as I can.

They built this room on 4x6 corner posts and they twist with the seasons, actually tearing the drywall.  Not on seams, anywhere.  That's a lot of force.  The ceiling is also pulling up, and the wood corner posts installed to hide the huge open cracks there, has also split.

Our favorite zucchini meal again!  Slices baked at 425 for 15 or until soft, add sauce, favorite cheese, pepperoni or sausage.  Back in oven at 375 for 8 minutes or less until melted.  May try pepper jack with no meat next.

Hope your weekend is swell.

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Oh my

I have a black wooden box a little smaller than this, almost donated.  

T.H.I.S.

Oh my.

If mine is not long enough, another project!  Yes!  A colonial bean top and long neck!  

Hope Woody Wood****er stays away from that corn.

And since the contractor has decided to take a larger several month job, then a year off to hike, we will be removing the drywall and trim and doing this ourselves.  Yippee.  Can't wait to tell hubs.

Kielbasa and pierogi tonight.  Ah yes.  This will drop a few pounds.

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Unbelievable

 I have not changed a thread color!  Yet.

But I did dip the Legacy linen THREE times, from pinkish to greenish to tan.  Dyeing to mottle is different than changing the hue.  Difficult with darker linens and I don't want to do it, need to put those together in a pouch and ignore them.  My favorites are PTP lighter linens and two very small pieces from Lakeside in both hand and color.  One is the 11x19 piece that is actually 11x9 and seller would not offer resolution.   I can see why this color is so popular for samplers.  The other is Vintage Autumn Gold at 8x19, gorgeous.  I love the feel, soft but not wimpy, refined but not shiny, body without stiffness, and none of the crinkle wrinkles that refuse a hot iron.

  Impossible to find those fabrics online and disgusted with taking chances at what ordered fabric will look like.  My tablet is so completely different than viewing the same site's photos on my laptop.  One is very warm in tone, the other very cool.  Whichever is correct does not matter because it won't look like either!

 Can you tell I am not feeling the love for a needle?  A slump has been hovering for some time and choosing fabric for projects contributes greatly.

Jane may be the best option for now, letters are interesting, motifs are not complicated.  About 11x11, but still larger than I'd prefer.  This design could easily be halved to create a drum of each section.

Scan's quick look did not show any clumping or hardening which is good.  Radiologist's report will hopefully be the same.

Have been working at Carole's, hubs has not had time to check sewing machine yet.

Hope your week is going well!

Thanks for visiting.

Love,

the perpetual crabass

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Jane Plews

 Probably.

Fabrics are such a chore for me.  I'm envious of those that order all the different color options and use them without modifying.  My favorite is PTP Legacy for this project, 

although the xJu may work.  Originally quite green on a taupe ground, I of course dipped it.  

Have several pieces of Hogbristle and this is the only F&R that I dislike.  It seems to have an undertone of purplish gray throughout and I don't care for that.

So Jane will be next, more than likely, but less than positive.

Hope you're enjoying the weekend.  

Be safe.

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How long is too long?

 Hello people!  

We went to the Amish stands for corn and Candy onions, decided to continue on and visit Volant.  Have not been there for a long while.  James Creek and a favorite kitchen shop left years ago and there aren't many shops I wish to see now.  An antique store is where we usually enjoy browsing, and I found a basket there that was very reasonable.  Damage to one corner, this is the painted/dyed very stiff weave that I remember from years ago.  No idea what the center handle is for but liked the odd style, close to 3' in width, $20 was a great price.

Also found a wooden pear, its metal stem and leaf will be painted and I may even paint/age the pear itself.

Now for the question I have been meaning to ask for months.  What length are your threads?  I've seen many flosstubes mentioning 18".  Really?  Doesn't it shred more easily from the number of times in and out of fabric?  I use 9" or 12"!!  Does anyone use those lengths?  What is your favorite?

Mark made two winders for me, one at 6" for one cut, and the other at 9" for two cuts.  I have never used silk, no idea how so many pokes and pulls would affect it.  But cotton DMC still shreds on its end using 12" so I must be doing something wrong.

Please let me know your preference and why, have not heard this addressed on the videos.  Thanks!

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