Too close for comfort

Hello people.  Menobrain struck again.  How many of you knew this was coming??  I started getting nervous about having enough fabric to complete this sampler so I stitched the border and held my breath.  The closer I came to the bottom, the more I realized an error.   Instead of the 15" as I planned, it's 15.8"  

Not a big deal unless you're doing something as daring stupid as I am.   In recalculating, as my GPS does continuously, that is the exact measurement for 27 - NOT 28 count.  You wouldn't think that one thread is so critical, but in a 212 stitch length - it is! 











So what are my options? 
#1 - I could leave it as it and do a very small hem instead of fringe at the bottom.
#2 - Stop the border design where the straight green thread is and instead continue the bottom row as a single row of stitches.

#3 - Rework the design to take up 12 stitches in order to keep the border design and have enough room for fringe.  WHAT?
#4 - Fringe the bottom directly under the border, trim the side fringe to match. 
#5 - Forget the fringe.  Do a small hemstitch close to the border, mount it on mat board, and frame it.

I'm not sure if it's important to have the same width of fabric (before the fringe) on the bottom as the sides, since the top will be hemmed close to the border.

I've come a long way since starting this blog.  Six months ago, one raging hot flash and this project would have been ash in the blink of an eye.  But I really like these colors and the easy stitch and have no intentions of not completing the design on this fabric.   






So while I ponder my options, I have another decision to make.  Chocolate?  Or pretzels dipped in peanut butter?

Thank you all for the emails regarding your concern over my doctor's lack of knowledge.  But really, she is great and I don't fault her for not recognizing this.  It's uncommon and temporary, and the radiologist even came out to test for herself after the tech sent the images.   She had not seen it before either.  Long story short, they thought it was the lymphatic system since it mimics an also uncommon condition caused by breast cancer, but it's an inflamed (for no obvious reason) vessel carrying blood.   Who knew?  

And the decision is made.  It will be a piece of chocolate, followed by peanut butter dipped pretzels.   As for the bigger decision,  I've already completely ruled out three of the options and am focusing on one.  For now, until further flash, it will be hemmed and framed on a mat board.

Thanks for reading, your concern, and your comments!  Later....

Cheap scissors and progress

Hello everyone.  I really expected to sit and stitch all day this week, but it didn't happen.  I only had an early morning doctor appointment and the day was to be mine.  Well, as usual, I have something weird.  It's never good when your doctor looks at you and says "what the hell is THAT??", but I already knew it to be nothing.  I googled it.  So I explained to her what it was, the name of the condition, that it is benign, but why I have it is a total mystery since I don't have the cause which is a serious condition.  Nevertheless, she sent me for testing for two days so my days of stitching on the swing got sidetracked.  I'm fine.  She is still baffled and not dropping the issue, but I have.  Going back to the hospital that put my dad through the most horrible weeks of our lives, brought it all back.  I was pulling my stitches so tightly, that I could see my wrinkled thighs through the stitching holes in the linen.  Which is what I have to show you...

 

I'm really enjoying this sampler.  It's a easy stitch, just enough alphabet, and the motifs are big enough to not be constantly changing needles for new colors.   If I don't have any other distractions and loosen my tension a little, I should be done this week. 

Take a look at what I found at Altmeyer's.  If you don't have one near you, it's a towel and curtain  and bedding store, some seconds, some not.  These were on the counter and I snatched two pair.  Sweet!!!

Here's how my rusted paint can is doing, and another that is new this year and just starting to rust.   If you save your cans, make sure you save the lids too.  You can tin punch designs in them, set them outside to completely rust (or spray paint them before they do) add candles inside and hang them on the 3' shepherd's hook with the lids on.   Hot glue the candle to the bottom or you can add some sand, but you don't have to unless you get really high winds.  Brand new clean cans can be purchased in most paint departments.

 

Husband - "where's the leftover salmon loaf?"

Stray cat - "I'm full.  Think I'll take a nap".

Have a good week everyone.  Temperatures are supposed to be diving this week.  Hope the stock market doesn't follow suit.

Thanks for visiting!!

New start...little finish

Hello everyone.  I'm sitting outside enjoying the summer which seems to be flying by.  Hard to believe it's August!   I loved that little "witch" chart from The Primitive Hare so I had to stitch it right away.  I changed the letter placement somewhat and moved the loop to the top.  Why?  I don't really know because I love everything about her design, yet mine is different.   Her idea of the snap clip is what I'm having so much fun with and I intend to buy a bunch in different colors and sizes.

 

The project I started is France F. from Sheepish Antiques, for three reasons.  One.  Ann Wragg is still missing.  I remember reading the instructions with parts I wasn't too happy about.  She may have sensed this and knowing my affinity for matches, booked out of here just in case.  Two.  The EB sampler I decided to start was also no where to be found.  By the time the new project was started, she showed up in the scanner where I left her from the last post.  Three.  I found this piece of linen and it is the perfect size for the copy of France F. that was on the floor under the hutch, living with the dust bunnies.   This piece of linen could be 28 count, and I don't know what the stitch is that I used on the edges, but since I try to come up with different ways of displaying samplers, this will work nicely.   Kind of putting the cart before the horse isn't it? 

 The sampler is about 15" on 28 count.   Of course I should stitch the border side to see if it will fit but will I?  Probably not. If I had doubt I would, but I'm sure it will fit.

 I don't ever remember using a lot of lavender in samplers, but that doesn't mean I didn't.  This shade of 3041 is very nice and I changed it to 3740 for the letters.  Just a little darker - I didn't want the flowers, border, and adjoining letters to be indiscernible.   It worked out to 16 threads on each side before the fringe - whew!

This is the border stitch and I will have to try my best to identify it (I'm a basic "x" girl) since I will have to complete the bottom with the same.  I plan on hemming the top selvage edge and running a wire through, curling the ends, and pinning to the wall.

Elizabeth Moor was also on the short list but the entire verse is over one, except for the first letter of every word, and there are lots of errors reproduced that won't be much fun.  Regardless, I really like the design and I love the verse....
"Time is fleeting, life is a span, make of youth the most you can"
and further down...
"Arise thou sluggard, go to the ant, consider her wars and be wise.




My favorite of her sampler..
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.
I think I may do this verse alone over two and have it finished to hang on a door or cupboard.  And I learned a new word.  Sluggard.  I was surprised to find it in the dictionary.

Remember my burlap basket ? 

 



















I'm dealing with a new stray female cat, and all her boyfriends.  I'm getting closer to her every day, and my husband wants to know what happened to the chicken that was in the fridge.  I hope to gain her trust before I run out of chicken.

That's it.  It's getting really dark out here and I need some treats so I'm heading in.   Other than a doc appt. I plan on sticking to my swing and stitching a lot tomorrow.  It's my kind of sampler - a little primitive, all simple cross, 28 count, easy to handle.  What more could I ask for???   Have a great week everyone!   Thank you much for reading.   Witch........over and out.

What's next?

Hello everyone.  It's a cooler day here in PA and I'm hoping that those of you suffering in the terrible heat are getting relief also.  The tree pros came out Monday and removed the downed trees, we raked for the final time, cut the grass, and now have to fill all the stump holes and repair the truck's damage.  Never ends!  All the fabric boxes were mailed by morning 7/26, and believe me it took a lot of tape to keep them shut!  After reviewing other international post pricing for packages, it was a deal.  Hope you will be happy!

I completed the sliding box and I'm liking it.  It can stand on the mantle...

Be used for storage to hold supplies, projects, remotes, or chocolate...

Or displayed as a framed sampler in a grouping. 

 I like this box idea!  It's framed but I can stand it and move it around depending on my hormones mood.

Lucy Redd is still my next big project, but since I love to be outside on my swing, it's a little too cumbersome because of its 23x21 size.  I don't hoop but probably should try it some day.  

Not the ideal place to stitch, but I love to be outside and had electric run on the post so I can plug in a fan (mosquitoes can't fly in a breeze), computer, or additional light.

Considering a smaller project brought me to Ann Wragg or this Sheepish Antiques...

and since I can no longer find Wragg, I may pull supplies for the EB.  Something about this one appeals to me, and something doesn't.  It may be the wallpaper which is detracting from the piece.  Mary Oldfield is another to consider being  less than 7" wide.

I recently had the pleasure of being introduced to The Primitive Hare.  Visit her blog and you'll find a really neat little free chart HERE.  I just love it and found lots of ideas and items to purchase.

So next time, you'll see what I chose.  I'll leave you with two of the growing kittens.  One from the litter has found a home, and we're still trying with the remaining.

I'm leaving soon to have the first of routine cardiology tests, which is why this post may have some errors - no time to proofread.  Not sure if a stress test will also be ordered this year, but I can tell you that a man came up with that one.   When I hear a woman refer to experiencing stress, it's never walking on a treadmill!  I understand that exercise can "stress" the heart, but endurance would be a more appropriate name.   Just my opinion. 

Have a good day all!

Winners and James Creek

Hello everyone.   FIRST - if you requested a box of fabric, please check that page to see whose name was pulled for each one.    You can email me samplersandsantas@gmail.com for my address to send a money order, check, or if you want to use PayPal.  Please send your complete address in the email also.  Winners in another country will be postage of $13.95, and U.S. will be $5.20 + .80 for tracking.  Let me know if you want the tracking or not, international tracking is unavailable.  I will fill out customs forms and hopefully they won't open the box cause it's stuffed!!  If you've changed your mind, decided for any reason you don't want the box, please let me know - I've kept the entries and have no problem drawing another name.   No need to feel obligated!   I feel bad that I didn't have enough for everyone and I'm sorry for that. 

SECOND - Hub and I went to Volant, PA to one of my favorite shops (click on) James Creek Galleries.

 Look how cool this is!  It has a separate lid and a nice deep box.  Wonderful distressed paint.  The whole thing is 15 1/2" tall.  And now for the best part.  It was under $30! 

This place has some high end furniture (go to their Facebook page and check out the first pic in the second row of photos).  The double Charlestown Buffet from JL Treharn is a knockout.  There are so many other items and colonial style goodies in all price ranges, most of them very reasonable.  LOVE this place.   They have everything you need to decorate your home.

Now for the reason I didn't do any stitching or work on the sliding box.

 Four trees down, debris everywhere, and my birch that shaded the house, twisted like a pretzel and will have to be removed.

 

I finally finished raking the entire yard this afternoon of the twigs and limbs.  One 40' tree was bent over sideways to about six feet above the ground and blocked the road like a gate.  It never broke or came out of the ground.  Weird.  It naturally had to be cut.  The rest will be taken care of by professionals and I'm sure it will cost plenty.  We have a $500 deductible, and the insurance will only cover up to $500 over that.  The rest is out of pocket.  After the last two days of working in sun of 95 degrees, I will pay anything!!  I was so drenched in sweat I thought for sure I'd lost a pound or two.  Nope.  Too old for this crap.

That's it for now.  After I recover, and get the fabric boxes done with, I will start something new. 

BTW - "Signs" is on.  One of my favorite movies.  That little girl is so sweet and the end is so good!!!  Have a good weekend and stay cool everyone.

One hell of a day

Good day to you!  Hope it's going better than mine.  It started off with a bladder infection.  I got an appointment with my doc and after giving my specimen, tried to close my pants and the zipper tab came off.  I tried pulling the zipper closed with my fingers which worked until my skin got pinched and as I yanked away, the thread that was in the area yanked too, taking the button it was holding along with it.  Thank goodness for safety pins tucked into wallets, and men's T-shirts that are long.  Yes, I buy men's T-shirts.  They are longer, looser, better fabric, cheaper.  I hate the tight skimpy t's for women.  Roll the sleeves up, put on some bracelets, and you're good to go.  So the pins held, the t-shirt covered the mess, all was well.  Until I got home and tried on the new white t-shirts I just bought at Penney's.  I had just gathered laundry and put on an old crappy bra since I was washing my regulars.  Standing at least six feet from the mirror and using a hand held mirror to see the t-shirt from the back, I see this black spot moving around my upper back.  OMG.  It has to be a big spider, of which I have an irrational fear.  I'm hitting my back with the mirror and checking and it's still moving.  I've got to get this shirt off and as I'm removing the shirt over my head, it disappears.  OMG.  It's in my hair.  I felt something moving at the nape.  Now I'm pounding on my head and neck, not knowing where it is, and actually getting goosebumps on a 95 degree day.   How do I get this dead or alive out of my wild hair?    Husband is on the golf course.  No one around.  I can't see the back of my hair close enough to check!!  The vacuum!!!  I wheel it around and use the hose to suck him out of my hair while hanging my head down.   When I was done, I looked in the mirror and felt a picture for my cousin was in order.  She always gets a laugh at my hair. 

And yes, my hair can stand up by itself.   As you can see, I am still in my old bra, not even thinking of putting on another t-shirt.  My mind is still on this creature I hopefully sucked into a crowded dust bag.   Hey - I hear the UPS man coming with my new jacket.  YAY!!!  I run down the stairs, answer the door, with this hair and this bra.   I guess I'm still having a problem with distractions and short attention spans.   Not as bad as this presentation, though.  I don't think I can ever top that scary sight.

I am thinking of using this little sliding box for my tiny sampler. 

  

I can keep remote controls, or tablets and pens, or a small stitching project in this box, and it can stand on its side and look like a standing frame too.  The box itself is 9" x 7 1/2" and the opening is made for a 5" x 7" photo.  This sampler is also made for that size frame so it fits perfectly. 

I will probably paint and distress the box instead of staining and sealing, maybe line the interior with something soft.  What do you think?   The way things have been going today, I will wait till tomorrow to start the finishing.  I'm just sayin'.

Have a good day - stay cool - be thankful for creature free hair.