Ready to choose L

 Charming little sampler.  Glad I stitched as charted (so far), but did omit the single black threads George used to cover short ends in spots.  I may go back and add, not sure.  

The dividing L bands and border is all that's left.  The border is off one thread, not all the way around, but unsure if I will do that.

I surprised myself with this project, did not expect to finish.  Carole has been on my mind 24/7 for several weeks, distracted at times, another reason I am leaning toward smalls.

Here's my figs popping.  More tiny little bumps are appearing, I may get two dozen!

Found the glass cubes in the floral accessory aisle at HL and the blue ones at the $1 store.  A shallow dish with water to the top of the cubes allows bees to land and take a drink.  Used much less this year, but our garden has very few flowers on peppers and tomatoes for bees.  Not a good year at all.

This dish has a latching lid with handle for pastries, goodies of all sorts, and perfect for taking to a gathering.  I purchased several along with the high lidded one for layer cakes at the Dollar Tree last year.  If they aren't returned, not a big loss. 

A young motorcyclist was killed up the road, traveling on a long open stretch of road with one intersection.  His tank exploded in flames when he collided with the car that turned into his path at that one intersection.

  

Hope your week is peaceful.

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L is for .....

??????? 

I figured out from the photo that the - in the key is the A on the chart, but several dividing bands are L.  No L in the color key.  

Chart photo L shows as a pale creamy yellow, not a problem choosing something similar.  Oddly enough, except for slight changes because of visual issues, I'm actually following the chart for once (when two symbols are off).  Also leaving the sampler's charted errors.  Well, most of them.

I was not wanting to work on this after the first row, but am more interested now.  Thankfully.

Have a good start to another fleeting week.

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Slow but steady

Needed 3859 for the pale pink. The called for 4611 silk equivalent is dmc 407, could not see well enough.  This is darker, but not enough to change the feel of the sampler.  Still difficult on this darker linen.  

Thought it may be higher than 40 count, but is not.  I check count by running stitch over two.

Why not 36 count?  Not interested in framing and want smaller finishes.  And this scrap was the perfect size so cutting a larger piece was not necessary.

Hot today!

My fig trees have tiny little bumps!  I think we will finally get a few fresh figs!

Enjoy your weekend.

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Yoi

My neighbors growing up had a girl named Georgina, and a block down was a boy named George ( called Georgey).  His mom corrected anyone that spelled it Georgie, because that to her, was the female version.  She survived the Holocaust, her tattoo was deeply embedded in her arm, and we all respected her.  Hence, Georgey boy.

My eyes are quickly worsening, and forty count in a darker linen is very difficult, especially with similarly colored threads.  Yoi!!

The called for 612 and 613 did not show well on a lighter linen or this one, and VERY difficult to see when stitching.  I had to move down to 610 and 611, better, but not ideal.  This linen scrap is the right size for Georgey.  Cutting into a larger piece of linen (for me), is as objectionable as ketchup on a pancake.  So this color of ????? will be tolerated.

As Edie mentioned, an action by George was not.  This is the story included in this chart from R&R Reproductions.

After years of peace that followed a decade of intense miserable disgusting nasty mood-altering sweat fests, hot flashes are back.  WTH?  And my long awaited visit with a new cardiologist yesterday, was a big letdown.  

Hope you are having a good week as summer, that just showed up a week ago, flies by.

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Georgey boy

The two old R&R charts that I hesitate to sell are George Eisenbrey (age 9) and Elizabeth Moor.  George will be my next project, very simple, 4.5 x 5 on 40 count.  Time to stitch and pass on.  

Elizabeth has a load of over one, larger, but the verses are why I'm holding on.

"Time Is Fleeting Life Is A Span Make Of Youth The Most You Can"

"Arise Thou Sluggard Go To The Ant Consider Her Wars And Be Wise"

"Virtue Alone Has That To Give Which Makes It Joy To Die Or Live While Vice Can Only That Supply Which Makes It Pain To Live Or Die"

And the sampler itself is very appealing, so hopefully I'll have the desire to stitch it one day.

Have a good day.

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A perfect fit

 While scrounging for a piece of wood in the basement, we found the brass rack that hung above the stove years ago. Forgot it was once there and it fit perfectly within the trim.  Hubs made it long ago from 3/4" brass pipe so it's quite heavy. 

Will find some copper or other utensils/items to hang, just what was needed in this spot.  And I really like the aged brass with the cupboard's black hinges and other black iron accents.  

I'm debating what to do with the charts I want to sell since I will ask for a 123stitch gift certificate instead of paypal.  Not sure I can do that on the FB selling sites, may try IG if they don't sell here.  Some are from 1990s and hand drawn, may not be of interest.  Some are new.

A week has past in July already!!  Good grief.

Thanks for visiting with me, be safe.

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2025 Finish #17

I like it.  Will be a soft finish with edge trim.

Why, if I like the sampler, won't I stitch it?  Because I have lost desire to engage in larger projects.  Even though not really large compared to others, it is to me.  This was easy to reduce in both width and height. 

The new charts recently purchased will be pushing my limit, I plan to start one and see how it goes.

 Have a good day.

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Anne Hughs 1852

Started long ago, soon to be an abbreviated finish.   I love this, wanted to stitch those birds, and may choose to do one as a small, from Quaint Rose.  The house and vase were done, not much left to stitch.

But I can't do the entire project.  So, working on the small motifs around the house, the bottom, and will finish as a 6" pillow with some sort of trim.  

Hope you had a nice 4th.  The blasts were downtown miles away, but I felt them in my floor.  I have never heard any as loud, and it was TWO hours continuously, the last 15 minutes were the floor shakers.

 I am, as we all are, distraught over the loss of life in Texas, and cannot imagine what those parents are going through.

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The trio

Ready for a hat.

 Almost.  The felt I found that matches the green is not wool, but no one cares.  Right?

The real issue is the blackberry bugs me.  A lot.  I realize this shape will be off but this is too much.  Can taking apart and starting over offer a better result.  But no one cares.  Right?  I want to hang them as a group (need to locate rings for the top), and that alignment won't be noticed.

I added two flowers at the top of the strawberry and it made the top line more even.  

Aren't they gorgeous?  

Enjoy your day!

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2025 Finish #16

Color changes of course.  And I didn't add all the floaters.  Only two were stitched at the edge to fill a gap (five were charted there).

Look at the bottom point ....

and notice how that light flower shows here.

Added a tiny smudge with a light brush from my stamp pad and blended out.  I didn't think it would be noticed otherwise and the point would appear naked.  I've done this often and if it looked obvious, I used it elsewhere in the mottling.  Most in this instance will be within the seam.

As for the kitchen, the fan is a Braun unit meant to be installed in existing cabinet or built in.  I couldn't find a complete hood unit that wasn't at least 20" deep.  

We cut out the surround we made to fit the addition.  Primed, ready to paint.  And the bottom of the cabinet where the fan is installed will be papered.

Two other features I like in my small kitchen is the cutting board slot,

and the rack cabinet above the fridge.  Our cabinets were never changed since building, just sanded, primed, painted, moved around. (Too lazy to paint the original oak inside this cabinet's doors.) 

I turned a small old box on its side to hold salt, pepper, and sugar.  The backsplash panels behind the stove have three coats of water based matte polyurethane.  Nothing sticks, wipes like glass.

The little fan I use is no longer available but there are many others on Amazon.  Most are listed as baby or stroller fans, not all have lights.  Mine lasts a very long time on a charge and was around $9.  

This post is a lot of stuff isn't it?  Sorry!

That's all folks.  

Hope your week is going swell.

 

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Closing in on finishing

for both. 

The steam from a test pot was caught and pulled in, just a few inches solved the problem.

And as I said .... love.

Also love these adjustable fans that I bought Carole and her great grands two years ago.  This one is hers, was to take to the hospital since she was overheated, but didn't make it.  Very quiet, hang, sit, swivel, 3 speeds, and 3 levels of light.  Rechargeable, perfect for a stroller, and a personal fan anywhere.

It's July.  Are you kidding me?

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Tired of waiting

for Scott to return.

So .....

Got it?

The amount of stickiness we found when painting, led to a solution to direct more airflow into the exhaust.  This fan installation is shallow, not the standard depth, the fix will make a big difference. 

As soon as the poly dries, fingers crossed on the install.  Already have the valance cut out, ready to go.

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Love!

So glad I decided to finish this series.  Loving this one.  No changes except for thread colors.

We stained the deck today, breaks and plenty of Tylenol with a water chaser.  Done.  

Now I can stitch this evening and this berry should not take long.  Easiest of the three for me.

Be safe!

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Last one

Enjoy the weekend.

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2025 Finish #15

Quite a few changes.  Added the sepals, increased space between second and third row, left off the majority of floaters, added more to the top section, changed flower centers.

The light flowers were added to the top in an effort to align edge.  Not sure if I failed to construct properly, but the front area is much lower when sewn. The pattern offers a template which I used.

The black seeds .... nah.  Just seemed to add clutter.  

Will I do the third chart of blueberries?  Not sure.  I would really like an orange/bittersweet berry but don't know if I want to bother reworking the chart.

Continue to be surprised at the aftermath of this single root tooth that was loose (until he tried removing) and without infection.  Yoi.  She failed to call in my script for antibiotic, good thing I have leftovers to take.  As with most offices here, open three days a week and closes early.  Not in till monday. 

Enjoy your day folks.

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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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