The grass is not always greener

on a sampler without a chart.  I'm lazy, I'm tired, the space bar isn't working all the time, and I want to finish this.  How hard could it be to randomly fill in with green thread?  I found out.  The 503 stayed, I'm building a hill with 3012 and topping with 3013.  I don't know why.  The sheep will be in place next and then I'll finish the grass.

Should the fence be there?  I could remove it easily, add the sheep, wouldn't need the grassy area as high.  SOOO close to finishing.  Have you ever loved a sampler but by the end, because of difficulties, lost interest completely?  

I finally gave in and made a dental appointment this Monday after we get back from Carole's follow up.  I've been in pain for weeks, unable to chew, need two root canals and new crowns.  His office doesn't offer a loan plan and requires same day payment.  We all have anxiety about dental visits, but my jaw locks easily and I panic.  These two are back molars and I'll be nutsy all weekend.  No one will notice anything different.

We've got grainy ice, wet snow, icy ice, ice balls, and freezing rain.  None of which are movable with a snow blower or a shovel.  Can't wait to see what we wake up to tomorrow.  Hope you're safe and well!

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16 little squares

 were done is six different shades of yellow and gold.  I even frogged the front of the house and used a lighter thread.  Nothing appealed to me.  Since colors were substituted with DMC, I didn't expect it it look like the chart photo which has a very different looking house. 

Very pale yellow was blah and not noticed on the house front, darker was too bright and out of place, gold was lost in the brown.  Back to the Paint program and I filled the windows with a shade darker than the roof.  Bingo.  I like this best.  Still not happy with the HOME in the grass but I'm not changing it.  Finished!  In a brief check, this may fit perfectly in a 4x6 frame.  Need to decide which finish would be best.  I do prefer tucks and hanging smalls, easily moved around.  I will meet her for two appointments next week but will wait until in person to give her.  Covid is all over the place, thank goodness the cases are mild, but no visitors unless a need.  

I have been contemplating a little giveaway for Valentines Day, also my blog beginning eleven years ago.  Since this sweet chart was gifted to me from a thoughtful stitcher, I think I will pay it forward and offer it to you next week.  If interested, stay tuned!

I may start charting Rachel's end tomorrow.  Poor girl probably expected to graduate but instead has been continually held back to repeat a grade.

Holding our breath regarding the ice and snow tonight, but we aren't the only ones and don't need to leave the house.  We'll be OK, hope everyone else will be too. 

Stay safe.

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Overstitching

 Not the endoscopic suturing system, nor the embroidery edge technique, but the easier way to change a few stitches.  Rather than remove a few that I would prefer to be darker or stronger, I stitch over them with the other color.  Removal with too many tucked tails and run threads on back results in a real can of worms at times.  I want to clean up HOME whether same thread or a shade darker.  One thing probably done incorrectly, was to stitch the word first because I think stitching around all four sides of a single causes it to lose distinction.  Corners are no longer obvious unless adjoined with same color.  But filling an area and counting to leave a single space would create a real issue for me.

This is not the 612 called for, I lightened to 613 for better clarity.  But I did the first cross base with the darker 470 since neither 612 nor 613 showed well on 471.  To prevent a solid block I alternated the second cross with both 470 and 471 and the variegation is subtle and I like it.  I'm thinking overstitch of the same 613 may do the trick and allow the word to show more.

Her appointment yesterday was excruciating once again, but we stopped at a pharmacy on the way and I purchased a tube of 4% Lidocaine.  The nurse applied it after removing completely blood soaked bandages (she take two anti-coagulants). We don't know how bad the extensive debriding would have been without it, she said she couldn't imagine it being worse.  Last week a scalpel was used, this week, scissors.  Another appointment next week, and we doubt she will be healed enough to rehab with a prosthetic in time for bluebirds.  We can bring her home for a visit when the birds are in the houses (she has three).

An icy mix starting tomorrow.  We may start deep cleaning before the painting that should have taken place a few years ago.  The cans were never opened so should be just fine.  

Stay safe and warm everyone.

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Stitching journal

 Hi folks.  I've looked at all the journals for stitching and liked one more than others, but decided to try my own.  I don't have Word or any of those programs, I just use Paint, started with Properties and sized for two 5.5 x 8.5 per sheet, wide left margin for punching.  Made 25 b/w copies at Staples for less than $5 which yielded 50 pages when cut.  Their copiers have heavy, bright white, beautiful sheen finish paper, so much nicer than my copy paper.  

I had two designs from online free clip art, and the oval printed more clearly so that's what I used.  Two 6 x 9 disc style (Arc) notebooks and mini punch would work well.  Very versatile since you can purchase larger rings for a very thick book, clear pockets, plastic tabs, dividers, and lots of other accessories.  A mini 3-ring binder would do as well.  I have Title, Designer, Started, End, Fabric, Size, Threads, Substitutions, Finishing, and Notes.  The dividers will be marked for Samplers, Christmas, Smalls, and Misc.  It's a shame I didn't start this forty five years ago.  But I had a mane of wild hair and plenty of estrogen.  Who wanted to be organized and efficient outside of the office?

This sweet 5x7 was a few bucks at TJMaxx and I am using it as a daily record.  It's a planner but each day has plenty of room for recording daily stitching progress, changes, notes, and obscenities.

Eyes were bad today so not much accomplished, but I did remove his breast color and change to 403, a little more apricot.  The house and bottom area will probably take some time but without having to count and continually check a wandering vine, maybe not!

Have a good Monday.  

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On the green

 Thank you!  The 469-471 I found as subs were for GAST and I couldn't find the big pit greenie (avocado) for CCW.  Online photos look very similar between the two and are very close to the chart's photo.  Bingo.  The 471 seemed too bright so just to take the edge off, I dipped a few strands in a little brown dye for a second and it's barely noticeable.  Seems to have quieted the shouting.  It looks great and I would never have considered it without your help.  Thanks!

I changed the 355 to 356 just to soften a little.  And it's so nice to hold a small project for a change. I know this past year has been distracting to say the least, but I don't believe I've ever worked on a single sampler (Rachel) this long.

No visiting this weekend.  Carole's nurse is positive now so I don't know when that will change.  I honestly can't imagine how they wear those heavy medical masks for the ten to twelve hour shifts.  No one, including departments that have no contact with the team, can be in the building without them.  After two hours I am gasping!  Monday's appt. hasn't been cancelled so I hope that doesn't change.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

 It's really hard on an already resized photo to do detail work in Paint.  Not sure if birds are even necessary but these look like aircraft aimed at the house.  

Even though more work than I expected, I do like this finish, basically easy solid fill of grass and hill, straight rows of fencing, minimal charting.  Yepper.  

Or should the fence be further back?  Mmmm..... no.

Both are messy because I didn't want to take the time to copy and paste the stitching so I just filled with color.

 This is how the original was charted.

We haven't been to Carole's facility in a while, and with residents around her and aides testing positive, the January 30 lifting of quarantine won't happen.  Before spewing, yes, everyone there is vaxed and boosted.  I hope she doesn't get it, I hope she can still make her appt Monday which is necessary, I am more concerned about healing after speaking with the nurse yesterday.  No N95's are in this area yet.  Good thing our Strategic National Stockpile has been storing over 750 million of them.  Following other countries rebounds and relapses, contradictions from agencies and self proclaimed experts, I still believe a medication is the only hope.  At the very least it would start a fight response rather than allow the virus to gain control during those days waiting for results.  And if the first few days - BEFORE symptoms and testing - are the most contagious, splain it to me Lucy!  I was tested (as many others) with negative results several times, but actually positive. Just my opinion.

Can anyone help with the conversion of Classic Colorworks Avocado to DMC? I've been searching and can't find it, already started with 3051 on the Bluebird design but I don't think that's it.  May not remove to change it but I'd like to know.

Have a great day.

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