Where's the fringe !?!

I wanted to final finish.  Found black trims ... no fringe.  I will sew and stuff anyway, add the fringe when I get it.

I received a small order that included old reliable Winter Brew, and newer Sugar Cream Pie (almost white).  And these two small samplers.

Haven't ordered anything for a long time, not happy about the new larger cuts.  So I don't get those!  I like the heavier feel of PTP, not the silky shiny lighter weaves.  Placed a small order (for 1/8 yard cuts) on Etsy, two light neutrals from FOAW.  I have their Affogato and the fabric feels right, but it's really green.  Is yours green?

Chris is going back to work today.  His employer's covid policy is two days max.  He works 12 hour shifts and doubles because they can't find new hires that pass a drug screening.  Manufacturing in a steel mill requires full attention and response time to prevent serious accidents.  No tolerance.

His son's GF, the trash heap, went to the hospital and sat with Chris's GF during the testing/exam.  I told him it's another ploy to guilt him about making her leave.  Doesn't matter, she's been told for a year, hasn't gone yet.  To clarify, he went to two different hospitals, neither honored the request for covid test.  It wasn't until they were out of ideas for diagnosis and she found out it was never given that Dr. complied.  I called the first hospital's ER dept. and told them their arrogance exposed other patients and cost him three days of treatment.  She said "okay".

Soon to be gone ....

Have a good weekend.

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Chris update

I actually made a decision.

When in doubt, I usually set the work where it may be displayed.  In my hands under my nose isn't the same as ten feet away!  I pinned the gray, loved it up close, but not at a distance.  Lost with other Halloween finishes so I chose the 782.  I did it, but still question it. 

Almost finished with the stars, hope to final finish with black fringe today.

As for Chris, the cats are all outside except for a few kittens.  The carpeting and furniture was removed a few months ago, no more excrement.  But kittens keep coming.  The garbage dump that she is is still living in my sister's bedroom.  I can't get into this, need to calm down, because after last night .... livid.  

Tuesday, one ER did three different CT scans, two xrays, and every blood test possible.  He should be glowing from radiation.  Finding nothing they gave him an ativan and sent him home.  So weak, he couldn't drive.  His girlfriend asked about a covid test upon arrival, was told it was "premature".  Asked again when discharging, said his lungs are clear.  (So were my brother's and mine with covid)

Thursday, getting worse, short of breath, she takes him to her hospital.  Demands a covid test, tells the EMT and nurse to put that in their report.  Another three CT scans with contrast, xrays, blood work.  They don't "work" with previous hospital to get their images or test results.  Lungs, abdomen, chest, heart, all clear.  He can't breathe, getting weaker.  Nine hours later they are scheduling a head CT.  She is asking for answers, asked if he should do another covid test tomorrow.  Doc said, "we didn't do a covid test".  She blows up and asks why a simple requested test wasn't done.  He gets snarky, then tests, covid.  And they still do the head CT!!! Another two hours in the er.  Radiation from SEVEN ct scans.  Everyone at both hospitals, visitors, waiting room, exposed.  A simple f-ing cheap test could have saved him three days without treatment, many hours of his time, a boatload of cost, and others from being exposed.  Both hospitals were overloaded with patients. And both times this test was requested at intake.  I am positively livid.  He is on Paxlovid today with an inhaler and very sick.

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Spice

I'm liking some moon spice for this bird.

The gray is nice but when I tape this to a cupboard, it doesn't even attract a stink bug.  The called for thread may be ideal, but absent from my stash.

Using one of these catches my eye.  

Classic Colorworks Autumn Spice

Dmc 782

Dmc 3829

This week ...

 my implant bridge is in and the gray of the metal post shows through

I didn't get my knee injection because of the sjogren's

I didn't get my CT scan because of a staff error

I didn't get my minor surgery today because it will take longer than thought

Chris has been in er twice, coughing, breathless, testing negative, they're stumped

Been a good week.

I thought about trying a home made recipe for pumpkin spice latte.  Not wanting to open a can of pumpkin and only use a bit, I got this.

Have a good Friday.

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What my brother found in the woods

Thrilled!!  Huge!

His neighbor told him that original owners threw all sorts of outdoor items behind the house, not very far into the woods.  It's where he found the vintage cast iron sink I have.  A huge concrete birdbath also, missing the swan that once sat on the rim.  Otherwise, very good shape.  

When he asked if I wanted a vase he found, I expected .... a vase.  Not this!  It's the same as mom's which we've restored from breakage.  I now have a matching one.  I leave as is, chipped layers of paint.

 I don't know if I would ever find the bottom pot/base but can use some sort of stand.  It survived half buried in dirt for 60 years or more.  I told him to take another walk back there!

I didn't get my CT scan after waiting many weeks.  It was so difficult to sit in that waiting area.  We met Carole there every two weeks when the amputation wasn't healing.  Hubs conversed with the transport team while I went into the exam.  I thought after two years this would soften some, but it's more intense.

My doc office ordered a routine chest CT, not cardiac, not the new scanner.  So we wasted a beautiful weather afternoon, and I have no idea when they will reschedule.  The cardiac technician only does this scan on Thursday mornings.  All the office staff left or retired when the office closed along with their affiliated hospital.  It was months.  The new young staff is not as reliable as their prior generation was.

It's a sign of the times when you say "you should see the pot my brother gave me", and they ask if it's buds, gummies, or liquid.  And a sorry state when you smell it in public places and offices because they can't be without it.

My gummies are vitamins.

Decided on a gray moon, keeping that design moody.  

Be safe!

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The rock

Two options.  

Since I can't check actual shades of overdyed threads, I hesitate to order the called for.  Moon is WDW Spanish Moss and does look dark in the photo.  Should I order or sub a gold?

The rock looks like my WDW Flatfish but the Onyx won't show well.  So do I use WDW Confederate Gray as shown, or should I change to Dmc black for the year?  I believe the black is sharper than Onyx and would create enough contrast.  I like the gray but may be too light, the date would be really prominent.  

Seeing my photos posted usually helps with these silly decisions.  Gold moon would be out of place as the only light/ bright thread, so the gray would balance the piece.  

'Ya think?  But the moodiness of this design drew me to it, so......

Wait.  The moon in the gray, and stick with Flatfish, date in dmc.

Just what I need, a third option.

Cardiac CT this afternoon.  Pleasant ride and a great Italian diner on the way home.  Of course, not enjoying it there, bringing it home.  

Ortho yesterday and no cortisone injection was given.  From my symptoms, Sjogren's progression or flare was diagnosis.  He said to come back in three weeks and possibly get the knee injection then.  For pain, they can't increase the meloxicam with my heart meds, recommended Tylenol daily.  Doesn't that adversely affect the liver?

Have a good day.

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The reading list option

 Go to your blogger Dasboard. Layout. Right sidebar listing -Add A Gadget. Scroll down and choose Blog List, choose Recent posts, choose 5 or 10, icon or more of the blog, save. Your blog reading list shows up in order of new posts at bottom right.

To view all of them, click show more.

... boom.

Your list is already in your account, you don't have to enter them.  Click on the blog you want to visit and it takes you to the latest post.  At least until they get this corrected.

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Done.

This is a 5" box, I recessed the lid.

 

One thing I dislike about this design, the right side's letters (xyz) are charted at an angle and it looks like they are crooked.  Too late, but I think a black mini ricrac peeking out the edge would be nice.  I may be able to insert if it's tiny, but I'm not ordering online.

Blogger has another glitch, no remedy yet.  Our reading list hasn't updated since Thursday.  They know, working on it.

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Put a lid on it

Approaching MID September.  What?

Just a tip on making a lidded box finish.  Pain in the pancake isn't it?

This is easier.

A simple dollar store or craft store paper mache box is perfect.  Rather than mounting your work to the flat top with edges needing a trim to cover, flip it.  Cut cardboard to fit inside the lid and pad, mount your work to it.  Insert and determine the height you want it to be, cut and glue more cardboard to raise the piece to that level.  Edges are inside, trim isn't necessary if you don't want it.  You have a recessed finish!  Glue the lid to the upside down box bottom.  Done.  Not a usable box, but your work is displayed.   If you want to use as a pincushion, you can pad heavily for good depth rather than add more cardboard to raise.  Of course apply a stain or paint to the box before starting.  

When using shaker with those "fingers", set the lid with box on its side, on the fingers, and adjust until it stands on its own.  Then insert and glue your mounted work to be straight in case you'd want to display on its side.

I'm ready to lace/glue the stitchery and insert.

Love him!  And can have him displayed flat or standing.

Have a good day.

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A box it will be

I have several left over 5" Shaker boxes, why not use them.

 Not mounted or filled yet, I plan on trying a 4" with lots of padding to see if it works.  Once this is filled, margins will of course be greater, may be enough for the smaller box.

Sewed these for stuffing, not finished, probably a ribbon and mini jingle bell border.  The BBD may stay unadorned, seems it may be too fussy.

There is a chart, Boo To You, basically the same as these series of charts .  I may wing it and change the snowman head and bucket on my own.  No border, just him, lime green and black checked pants.

Working on Midnight, 36 count Marbled Hazelnut.  I don't like 36 but love the linen color.  It's a silkier feel, not at all what I prefer.  At all.  Nope.

The countdown to the day we lost sis started.  

Have a good Friday.

Never forget.

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2026 Finish #22

Able to upload now.  

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You knew I would change it.

I don't like dates unless in a sampler, and I have that balance issue.

The bottom area is off, left side is sort of bare.  I moved the broom up a little and the handle down.  Added the doodads to fill.

Box or round frame?  Depends on the mood!  

This is just taped around a bowl.

40 count of linen I love but it's mystery

WDW Onyx for bird

DMC 3021 for alpha

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Soon

 About 4.5".

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Almost ready to fly

Soon will be fully winged!!

Love this.

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Loosen up

The WDW Onyx was my preference, so I thought loosening up a bit would help.  It did.  My stitches usually (always) have tension.  Whether because I don't hoop, or maybe because I use the sewing method, they are a bit too tight.  Being conscious of this allowed me to slow down, the stitch to relax a bit, and coverage is good now.  That made enough of a difference for dark thread on light fabric.  Never considered it before, but probably why I have always had issues when using black threads.

Crabby because it's September, happy because my project looks good.

Can't have it all.

I've been dealing with a bug for days that requires close proximity to a bathroom.  Our 56th was Saturday and we stayed home instead of the usual long ride through cow/horse areas and a stop for frozen treats.  It's what I prefer over people and public.  Also planned on making the Bacardi rum cake for our visit with friends (her mom's signature dessert) that I hope will take place tomorrow.  

For you Fall lovers, Labor Day is probably celebrated as its beginning.  Summer lovers dread it as the end.

Be safe!

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Thinner?

Yes please.

But not in my thread.

This is 40 count, a thicker weave, and I'm not pleased with the coverage.  Dark thread never does offer great fill but this even feels different.  I gave the wrong info previously.  I didn't choose the GAST, my two options were both WDW.  Decided on Onxy but the second choice Charcoal also felt thinner.  

This is WDW on the left and dmc 3021 on the right.  The twist is also different.

This is the GAST on the left and dmc 3021 on the right.  Same twist, same thickness.

Hmmm.

My GAST option is Sampler Thread's Black Crow, really black.  I considered the raven in this but feel it might be a bit too harsh.  Black may slim my butt, but not his.

No LNS to check other black overdyed but may browse a little online.  I have two WDW Mascara skeins and one is a bluish black, the other softer.  A shot in the dark as always!

Have a good Sunday.

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Love this

Is anyone else unable to get Hobby House online?  Trying for two days, unavailable.

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Even with minimal stitching, I can tell this will be better than I expected.  I recessed the lid of a shaker box for it, but I'm leaning toward a round frame.

Starting the raven, and even though the brownish GAST goes perfectly with the alpha color, I've chosen the darker GAST that has a gray/green in the variegation.  Once his head is done I'll have a preview of my choice. 

Labor Day weekend.

Good grief.

It's freaking September!!  My season is gone!

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The betweens

My work always looks messy when I have to fill in between stitches.  No matter how careful, the stitches aren't very uniform.  Not even close, but good enough.  I love this linen, color and texture.  From long ago before I started noting count and color on edge.

Not as heavy as PTP but close, very soft light neutral.

Truus, I had no idea.  Thank you for the information.  I was aware how Sjogren's can progress and affect lungs and other organs, but not the brain.  I did online research and it explains why I have been feeling as I do.  And why I have been making so many stitching errors on simple charts.

Back on the only med the rheumatologist said may slow progression.

We're hot here and it's rumbling in the distance.  Maybe this one will catch us, we've missed the last five.

Be good!

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Midnight Ride

  I didn't final finish the BBD yet but plan to soon.

 Next .... two.

I went back to Midnight and honestly, did not like the blue/gray/purple sky I dyed for it.  Just .... I don't know, does not show up in photo for your opinion.  It's very subtle...  maybe try again later.

This Midnight Ride has only three colors.  My GAST is Charcoal and Onyx, called for is Onyx (alpha) and Garden Gate (raven).  DMC 3021 for letters and either of the GAST for the raven is my reverse choice.  I would prefer the raven be darker.

Have loved this design for years, finally ordered it.  I don't know what the linen is and am so disgusted about not choosing in person.  I really dislike most of what I get because of pink or green tones.

So it's a start!  In the 90's today after wearing fleece for a week.  Garden is done, very bad this year.  No change in the situation, and my brother has been showing signs of dementia for some time.  I fear for myself, symptoms of aphasia are creeping in.  Cardiac CT in two weeks after waiting a few months, possible aneurysm seen on aortic arch during echo.  Never ends!  Which is great news.  If it ends, so do we!

One of my absolute favorites, much simpler than other zuke sweets.  The coffee can be a cup of instant from the dollar store if you don't drink coffee.  Nuts can be omitted.  Any dark chocolate mix is fine.

Enjoy your day.

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