Minor purchase, major happy

Hi folks.  

Had dental work done Tuesday, still swollen and bruised but feeling better.  Advil is my choice for inflammation and pain but I'm only permitted to take Tylenol.  Worked well enough, the worst is over.  Stitched a little last night on the berries, made minor changes in placement, but should have studied it more before starting the project.  It's fine, will finish soon.

Because of the enormous cost of the continuing dental work, and the sort of slump I'm in, no haul (as they say).  But I saw a project being worked on IG, loved it for a while, so ordered it along with two others.  Very reasonable price and shipping from Everything Cross Stitch.

Here they are...

Elizabeth Williamson

Crowsfeet Stitching

Hannah Mary Schofield

Crowsfeet Stitching 

Antique Sampler Fragment 1834

Cross Stitch Antiques

Also WDW Mascara for the raven I plan to stitch.  It seemed to be mostly black online, GAST is a disappointment too often.

That's it!

Be safe, enjoy the last week of June!!!

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Remembrance options

Just a few items I've researched and saved for holiday and anniversary remembrance on family headstones. 

The monument shops have these vases and a few options.  Most times at higher costs.  I have them on my parents' stone and purchased the plastic liners.  I can fill and secure contents at home (the vases are installed permanently with stone adhesive) and then switch the liners on sight.

Very few are very thin for limited bases, and I've seen a striking brass or bronze with tall willows and grasses, a few flowers.  Striking. Obviously the style the person loved.

This first one for stones is called Accent Keeper, found online.

Another option when ground cannot be used is this heavy duty hook.  Can be attached to top or back, attach wreaths or other decor, just adjust length and clip to hook. Three can hold garland across top.

Grave sites that have no flowers or special remembrance or tribute, does not at all mean they are forgotten.  But some of us feel better, offering a little reminder that we honor their memory.  One at my family's is like a showroom of beautiful live flowers, statues, verses, shepherd hooks, solar lights.  He sits there every day and reads, his wife was his world.

Enough!  Just thought I'd share a few items for those interested in memorials without ground contact.

Stay safe.

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Berry progress

 

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Pics

Stones in place, need to pot plants and fill with gravel.  Barn stones encircle the house and deck so kept that look, and wood wouldn't allow the curve.  A lot cheaper and cleaner than having the concrete removed for such a small area, much more appealing than a slab that always needs power washed.

This is the summer arrangement used on Carole's grave, a change from the floral saddle secured to the stone's top.  The number of headstones that have saddles since I added hers is quite high.  This product is a two pack of heavy, height adjustable posts for in ground, with coco lined baskets that attach.  Simple and a great price for two.  I inserted stems into foam and secured with a zip tie.  Thinking of a solar path light to slide over the second pole, keeps it up from the reckless cemetery mowing.  Find on amazon or walmart.  I used Walmart since I could return to store, no free return on amazon.

And here's my changes to the strawberry.  Love it.  

And this is the only oil cloth yardage I have locally (hobby lobby).  Half the thickness of what I purchased at JoAnn years ago.  Should have stocked up when they announced closing.  Vinyl tablecloths do not hold up outside, my previous piece of oil cloth lasted years, until the raccoon climbed it.  Tootsie's house beneath.

Doctor was her usual self .... "you need a cardiologist because you have a lot going on".  Thanks doc, I didn't know that.  Thought you could get me in sooner or at least give your opinion of how serious this is.

I have to mention this.  Hubs was on a golf trip and as always, the majority of them are using weed during play.  One, a heavy user (and local teacher), had a variety of gummies.  Hubs friend, used to weed, asked if he could try it.  Yes, but he warned that it knocked him on his ass for several days, DO NOT ingest more than a small bite.  He ate half.  This was three weeks ago and he is finally up and around again.  He missed the entire weekend of golf, could not move and thought he had a stroke, in bed for days. Couldn't eat, every test possible given, nothing showed.  He may golf this week but is so very weak, it's iffy.  The new strengths are nothing to mess with.  One of the group uses daily and has turned into a paranoid screamer. Can't tell him that weed can make you paranoid, it doesn't affect everyone the same especially if on medication.  The only gummies I have are my vitamins and Natrol melatonin!

Have a good day, stay cool!

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Just another day

That's what birthdays become when family is reduced to only a few.  But I never was a big b- day celebrant.  Friday was good, Saturday was unnerving and am seeing my pcp tomorrow who will hopefully get me in to cardiology sooner.

But I did smile when I received Brenda's card, another dimensional beautifully made card.

Starting a new stitch today, decided on the berry series Strawberry by HOD. Changes?  Of course!  The greens should be as the blackberry project since the tops should match.  But the berries will be the called for red, just different pattern.

I will add the sepals and stitch the berry solid as this test berry.  Rather than add a few black stitches as seeds, I will add tiny black beads before constructing.

See those tiny dots in the lawn?  Baby turkeys!  Previous years we were entertained by dozens, but the very cold and wet spring has taken a toll.

Enjoy your day folks.  Be safe.

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2025 Finish #14

 

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Close

Stitch the border at top and bottom, find a red button for the holly berry instead of stitching, and this quick and easy project will become a finish.

It rained three times today and became quite warm.  In a few days, we will have temps in the 90's for a week.  I knew we would go from furnace to air conditioner in a matter of days.  

I've been having around 10,000 views daily, checked the posts seen, they all have the word o f f e r in title or body.  

Hope all is well.

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Dragging

 Really.  In everything.  Exhausted for no reason!  Not the heart, been monitoring, more like a bug.

Trying to kit a few smalls, another berry (thinking of changing to bittersweet), and worked on one Christmas piece.  But I started over, didn't like the light thread.  The called for was too dark for this Aztec red linen but my choice is too blah.  

So starting again with a light gold, better (difficult to see in photos).  The red for the border was very cool on this linen so I plan to use 3777, warmer red.  That won't be easy.  Same color thread and linen is brutal to stitch.

I don't like coverage on 36 count, two threads was quite messy.  But red on red on 40 would not be possible, 36 will be a challenge.

Looking online to check in stock large pots for the hostas.  Tried the two local DIY stores and couldn't manage browsing.  These two bad examples are what the small potted hosta spot will be.

Curved border of barn stones

or straight border of wood.

Either will hold about 7" of various size stones, pots set in them, not on top.  Won't be hard to blow debris, and once these large sized plants fill in, most will be covered.  Looking for Bedazzled mini hosta, love that sweet plant.  I have the impatiens to fill the tub.

Rain was light yesterday, won't be the case today.  Can't believe my birthday is here, closing in to end June!  AUGH!!  

Have a great day.

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Concrete garden

Hi folks. 

Sitting on my swing before rains start again.  Can't do much else.  My v-tach (ventricular tachycardia) is getting higher than usual, in addition to pvcs, pacs, and probably a few more acronyms. I am monitoring and will visit the ER when the beats are concerning.  Moved up new cardio doctor appt to 7/8.  Office called again today to ask where I want to go in PA for my testing.  I told her I am done with them, this test was to be asap three months ago and despite my calls, no one scheduled.  Finally got the NP to check into it and now telling me I don't have coverage there.  INCORRECT.  Spoke with my insurance, no calls from that office were in my file, I have coverage, I called the facility, I have coverage, yet they don't believe me and insist I choose elsewhere.  I know what my Italian Aunt Kay would have told them and gestured.  

Have no wool or fabric that is similar to the odd green in the berry so I will have to order online and mention the dmc # in that range.  I don't like that the top row of stitching isn't level around the berry but that's what the shape dictates, right?

 I want to show you my brainstorm.

This area of concrete is extended from the walk along the deck.  Small area, dull, always filled with blown tree debris requiring frequent cleaning.  Too expensive and messy to remove a small portion.  So the plan is to border completely across with 4x6 or barnstone, fill with various sizes of washed gravel around large pots of hostas. 

The center area will have a small metal stand to hold one of my galvanized tubs, which will be filled with shade annuals like impatiens.  

Won't that look great?  From a plain concrete cubby to a lush colorful spot.  Border wall, 5+" of gravel, lush large plants, flower feature, bingo!  I think it's a great idea.  Found large square pots which will be down 5" into the gravel.  Can't wait.

And to make this post even longer, here's some of my flowers.

Enjoy your weekend.  Mine includes a peanut butter pie.

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Cover to recover

 We had to replace pepper and tomato plants in the garden, and now those are failing.  Again.  My flowers are suffering, mold is seen on the bottom stems, and I decided to attempt a makeshift cover.  All the hanging baskets were moved beneath the plastic, I am hoping they recover and dry out.

Did not have time to do a decent job because the break between showers was short.  It's been the month of May, and now into June.  At the most, five days of six weeks were sunny and dry.  The forecast is for a few nice days the end of the week.  But if there is ANY pop-up or narrow band of showers, guaranteed they will be over us.

I'm a little nervous about my dental visit Tuesday.  Antibiotics have not helped at all, and the lymph glands and entire side of my jaw are involved.  What the heck?

My berry is constructed, ready for a hat.  

The disabled vets are coming for Carole's power chair.  High end, raises to eye level, reclines.  It will be very difficult to have that bright yellow chair leave her house. 

Stay dry and safe folks.

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2025 Finish #13

 Many changes on 36 count Heartland. 

Nowhere to purchase velvet or wool felt except chancing color online, so hopefully my wool pieces will yield an option for the berry's top and I can final finish this. 

Will I stitch the blueberry and strawberry?  Time will tell. 

 My eye that had the detached retina surgery is causing several types of distortions at times and needs examined very soon.  I tripped and my arm went into the edge of a square wood post preventing a fall, but the scrape removed an extensive amount of flesh.  After two weeks, they are pleased with healing progress (hydrocolloid patches are a blessing) and no further treatment is needed.  And tomorrow I hope to get in to the dentist to find out the cause of intense pain in tooth and jaw.  All things that are minor and treatable.

My flowers are drowning, and another day of rain with possible storms tomorrow.  Yippee.  Our limited warm season has already been shortened.

Stay safe. 

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Little changes

What do you think?

Adding sepals to the large berries?  I like it, thought they looked bare like the bottom berry, and just a simple thread helps.

Anything wider or larger was too distracting.

Thankfully, soon to finish.  I became antsy working on the last several projects and don't know if it's because of a slump, or veering away from marking samplers.  I know the larger samplers stitched previously would not be tolerated, but even smalls are at times frustrating.  Maybe the last eight months are consuming most of my brain capacity.

I hope you're having a good weekend.

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The berry

Moving on with color changes and such.

Blackberries are black, but I think this 154 looks pretty good.  

I don't like to stitch this type of project, but it's small so I will.  Alphabets rarely need to be constantly chart checked, this does.  But I love this berry series.

From a moody crabass,

be safe, be well, be happy.

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Testing

 One...

every other stitch

Two....

alternate 154 and 310

Three...

solid 154

Bingo.

I changed the leaf colors, stem color, and berry color.

Of course I did.

All three berry designs are a little too bright and cheerful for me.  I'm moody and I expect no less of my berries.

I'm also fickle so will probably regret the changes later.

Have a cheery day!

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It will be .....

This sewing bag.

But wait, too large, I'll do a berry.

........

It's small and I have three designs.

But wait, an error in placement could screw this up.

..........

I haven't done a sampler in a while.

But wait, I thought it was to be small?  Just because the letters are widely spaced doesn't make it less stitching.

........

I really wanted to do another floral which hides errors.

But wait.  I enlarged and still can't read the symbols comfortably and I can't find the basket's symbol in the legend.

...........

 Damn.  

What will it be?

Got an email asking if those containers with fruit and veggie contents need to be refrigerated.  Yep.  They keep them fresh longer but as usual, in the fridge.  

Bye.

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Berry saver

Hi folks.  It's June.  Any day now, we will be able to put away the heavy jackets, boots for the mud, and shut off the furnace. 

I wanted to mention this product by Rubbermaid (FreshWorks) for storing veggies and fruits.  Several sizes and the only way I've found to keep them fresh for days.  Strawberries never last for me and the vinegar bath and other methods failed.  I tried the blue apple but it didn't really work as well.

Peppers, lettuce, spinach, any veggie.  The first rule is to not wash any item until use, unless dirty from the garden.  If storing a longer time, I dry the inside of the container from the humidity produced when excessive.  Peppers (unwashed) last quite a while.  

The berries are the opposite of most regarding humidity which rots them quickly.  I remove from packaging, dry off if wet, and set one or two layers in these containers.  A paper towel or similar is laid over to absorb any moisture from the container. 

 This is the bottom layer that I moved to a smaller container and added the fresh lettuce to the larger one.  Look at them!  It's been six days.  Keeping them dry works!

 And since I make this every morning and sometimes for an evening treat, I'm happy to have found a storage solution.

 No stitching yet, trying to choose a small project.  Once again, finding the right piece of linen without cutting into a larger piece is the main problem.  I need to kit, as I've said before but failed to do.  My fingers are numb and when not, are aching from painting.  It's finally done, the matte poly is on the backsplash, and this 3" x 24" deep cutting board slot is done.  Saved the worst for last!

If you want to see a stitcher that tackles the larger reproduction samplers without hesitation, check the latest nerissasstitchinglifestyle video.  Her work is amazing. And on Instagram, check out inspiredbymichellerea post of what her needle touched in May.  Yoi.  Without inspiration from others, I wonder if I would still be stitching.

Have a great week!

Thanks for visiting.

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