PS Santa Winner

Hello stitchers!  Here are the results from Random - love that word.  So appropriate for menomoods.

Sharlene from Sharlene's Stitching Site is the winner. Send me your address Shar-these guys are coming your way!

Now a few notes about the Needle Keep.  First off, you can attach the magnetic strip directly to the interior's fabric and lay the ribbon over the top if you prefer.  This gives a little more grab, but you can't slip the needles under the ribbon easily.  I've made them with the sticky side to fabric running the width, and used the ribbon running the opposite way (like a wide "H") to hide the strips's ends.  Best grab of all since there is no ribbon between needle and magnet.  Don't use the strip on both top and bottom if it's not covered with ribbon, or matching fabric (my favorite).  I also use simple fabrics since prints and light colors make the needles more difficult for me to see.

This is my favorite pin cushion that Carol gifted me. I just love this fabric so much!  And the crushed shells inside.  To make sure the stitched side (Christmas) is protected, I made a little cover for it and used the ribbon to secure.  I didn't want to tack it on with stitches and mess up those perfect x's on the seams.  If this were a plain fabric cushion, the magnetic strip could be placed between the ribbons.

Now for the anniversary offer.

One year today!!   I realize that many of you are very accomplished stitchers with preferences for supplies, others want to try something new, and then there are the wimps like me.

So how better to please everyone than with a gift certificate?

You can chose fabric, chart, thread, accessories, buttons, pins, you name it!

I can't decide which online shop to choose, so I will be back later today with several choices - you pick your favorite!

  And a kitty update - I kept the little devils in my large dog crate with a litter box and padded bedding for 3 days.  Yesterday they were released and you should have seen them play!  They were so happy, even in that white crap.  Junior turned out to be a male and mama has been sitting and watching for him all night.  He hasn't returned.  This was a costly visit, but well worth it.  And yes, I am scratched up again, but it will heal.

Be back this evening...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Needle Keep Free Project

Hi all.  Just a quick post during a raging flash.  I posted a project on the page titled Needle Keep (under the header).  I'm soaked and want to get outside in the cold for a few minutes so this is really quick.  Here's the finished piece...

 This is the inside.  The chart and the instructions are on the page, so if you're interested, check it out.  I would like to post more but I really need to get outside.   I really appreciate the support, friendship, information, and needed help over the last year and I hope you like this project as my way of saying THANK YOU!!!   I gotta get outside!!!!

LATER!!!

The border patrol

Hiya.   I've been finished with the body of the boat people sampler, but can't seem to cross the border. 

Elaborate borders such as those seen on many a sampler blog are very appealing, but I have trouble with them.  I prefer doing an alphabet and very simple border working from side to side, not top to bottom.  I hate that.  And this is how clueless I am - why didn't I remember from 20 years ago to turn the piece upside down, rather than have a bunch of fabric in my way to the right?  It's easier for me to stitch and scoop with bulk on the left.

Lots of heart designs floating around for Valentine's Day which reminded me of a box I have stashed.  It was purchased 20 years ago or more and I'm not sure if it is from Sudberry.  Thickly padded mount for the needlework and a heavy beautifully constructed box.

 

Along with this box, I found two Sudberry pieces, both still wrapped in packaging.  I may sell the tray.  And the heart.

  

I wanted to start the needlepunch Tulip Heart.  JoAnn's had an Senior Discount day so I decided to get all the floss I needed before I order a punchneedle.  Well, with my patience, this project is not going to happen.  First off, the floss list calls for #3021 which isn't in the pattern instructions, and 2 skeins of #3033, also not mentioned.  For a first time puncher, having doubts deters me.  I read and re-read, and it's probably just a misprint and won't affect the design, but these days I just give up rather than investigate.  No patience. 

The discovery of this huge difference in DMC dye lots, 640 was for the Tulip Heart, discouraged me also.  I understand there is always a slight difference, but DMC's usually isn't even noticeable, let alone completely different.  You can see the labels and yes one is older, but some days, I just don't have the wear-with-all to deal with any issue that doesn't go smoothly.  Hence, the bonfires. So the Overshot Heart will be the small project, along with finishing Black Santa, and working on Lucy.  I'm having trouble doing more than one project at a time, and didn't stitch on Santa after starting Woodlawn.   I'm preoccupied with a few very distressing situations, which could account for being unsettled.  Now here's the good news. 

Are you ready??

Right now, this evening, in my garage, in a carrier, are two female cats!!!!  I got 'em!!!  I feel terrible.  They are so afraid but I covered the carrier and hopefully they will stay warm enough and tomorrow at this time, be done with surgery and back here.  It has to be done and I dread the thought of what will happen at the vet's with feral cats.  

I'm done.  I should be back with the finish before the drawing.  I made a decision about the 14th's offer, and it's basically letting YOU make the decision since I can't make a decision, except to make the decision that it would be best for you to do that.   Yep. 

Thank you for visiting and to new followers - a big personal thank you.

Be kind to critters, keep strays out of evil hands and take them to shelters, use locked pens instead of tie outs.  Kiss your furbabies for me!

Santa offer

Hello people!  I wanted to get the Santa offer up and running so here we go...

Three Prairie Schooler Santa designs.

Prairie Schooler Old World Santas I (#80) and II (#88) plus the adorable Kris Kringle (#62).

Click on the photos for a closer look.   Leave your request to be included in the drawing on this post only.  The deadline will be 2/13 at 8 pm EST and the drawing will be 2/14.  Don't worry about being the first or last request since the Random generator mixes everyone together.  Doesn't matter where you live!   I decided not to try two offers at one time.  Maybe you younger snots can handle it, but I couldn't wrap my menobrain around it.  We will see what pops up on the 14th after the drawing.......

**********

I found a few more sites that have conversions so here they are...

The first is here, which is offered from The Drawn Thread on NPI to DMC, Dinky Dye to WDW, and others. The second is here for WDW to DMC from Crab Apple Hill.   This one gives two to four DMC colors for one WDW which gives you a really good idea of the lightest to darkest hue of the variegation.  I realized that some of these are not up to date after I posted them yesterday so the newer colors we may be looking for aren't available.   But I'm not giving up and will continue searching!

I will be completing the body of the boat people sampler today and hope to finish the border shortly after.  I like it, but it is kind of weird!   Excuse me now while I run outside and flail my arms screaming at Woody Wood******.  Have a great day and talk to you soon...thank you for visiting!!

Thread conversions

Hi everyone.  Just a quick note about a site that has really helped me with my thread choices.  In addition to these three designs, I'm thinking of stitching Sarah Brooke from Scarlett House, but since I never use a light linen, how would I know if the thread colors I need to order will look OK or need to be changed when I have no opportunity to view the items together?    I want Crescent Colors for Sarah and the only way would be to throw the DMC equivalents on the linen I decide to use.   I searched and found a site that helps with this which you may be familiar with.  I had searched many times for conversion charts but bookmarked this one since it has so many thread types.  The site is here, Cross Stitch International.  Scroll down to see conversion charts for a multitude of threads, and also click "convert colour numbers" to view Needle Artworks Inc. listing of threads.  All are listed by manufacturer, and clicking on a particular thread will bring up the color numbers and names within that group.  You can print these out as a chart to keep a record of your thread inventory.  Really neat site!  So I now have the conversion of Crescent Colors to DMC, Weeks Dye Works, and Sampler Threads, and can determine if the original colors will show well on a little darker linen, or choose a DMC color and find the equivalent shade in the thread of choice.  Certainly a huge help since DMC is readily available as a comparison.  Another I found for the GAST and DMC is here.  You may have other sites that I'm not aware of, and since so many of us have limited or no access to local shops, please share with us!    I have an old chart that offers two color choices, one for light linen and one for dark. 

As for the Greek Stew requests, the recipe for it is long and detailed, I keep changing it, and it's not the traditional that you will find online.  Carrots have to be glazed in butter and sugar, potatoes cooked separately, yadda yadda.    Mine is a royal pain to make. 

But I did make Calico Beans to take to a birthday party and it's another family favorite as a one dish meal, side, or take along.  Everyone has made or consumed this recipe at some point but they're all a little different.  If you want the recipe for this, it's here.

That's it.  I wanted to post these sites in case someone like me - didn't know where to find such information.  I know they aren't the same colors, but at least I can see if the blues are bright or purplish, if reds are orange or brownish, just to get an idea of the tones.  I'll be back with the offering in a day or so.   Thanks for visiting!
Edited to add - I just started checking for the colors I need and the Crescent Colors aren't up to date since what I need isn't showing.  Another site for conversion that may be helpful is here.

My underwire is rusting

Geez.  I had a few weeks of not so sweaty sweats, even after eating an entire bag of chocolates, and then yesterday....whammo.   Drenching, soaking, makeup running, palpitation producing, grab a towel flashes.  I don't have a boulder holder.  Mine is more of a pebble perker, and it's a good thing the underwire isn't metal or I would have rusty pebbles.  Enough of that crap.  On to stitching.  Well, more than that.

See that little gold vase bottom left?  Guess how many times I ripped and redid.  Two?  Four?  Nope.  SIX!!  No problems or frogs with the entire bottom until that vase.  Then the square before the alphabet had one side done three times.  Now you know why I'm not further along.  I'm really liking the color change to 632.

  I took one of my oldest samplers apart and take a look at how bad the inside glass was.  Look at the clean spot!!  Isn't that amazing.  No wonder I'm always saying that framing behind glass obscures the stitching!!  My glass is filthy! It sure looks great on the wall now.  Surprisingly, the rag was not yellowish which would indicate smoke and some pieces were framed after I quit.  

I've decided what my year anniversary offer will be - Samplers and Santas!  The first will be several older sampler designs, more challenging (with instructions for learning new stitches), and an introduction to silks kit from Kreinik.  The second will be Santas, offering three Prairie Schooler leaflets of the man in red.  I will post about it in a day or so with photos as soon as I decide how to have two offers at the same time.  Some of you may be interested in the santas only, or samplers only.  I need to think.  This is what helps me think ---- stash of a different kind.

Do you remember when I thought that 50 calories were burned walking up and down steps?   Well I still keep the chocolate upstairs in my craft room cupboard , even though I found out it would take 20 minutes of those steps to wipe out one piece. 

We've been having such wonderful weather and it was warm enough the other day to wash the car in just a sweatshirt.  This is the menoride. 

Can't remember where you parked?  No problem.  Not sure which of those silver mid-size is yours?  No problem.  At which store in the plaza did you park?  No problem.   The menoride - no longer will you look foolish wandering the parking lot in tears and sweat.  You know exactly where you parked with one glance.  I looked at this car on the lot and said "what goof would be seen in that?"  and then two weeks and 49 flashes later this goof drove away in that yellow bomb.   At the time, I was taking care of mom and couldn't leave her for too long so it served me well, saving time and frustration.  And now, I need it even more!

I also scrubbed an old tool box that I had planned to use as a display.  I wanted to stand as shown here, and install shelves on the right side for smalls, and hang a long piece on the left lid side.  It's in such bad shape that I probably won't.   And here's a pic of a deer munching on a hot dog bun.  No one believes they eat white bread!

I also wanted to remind you of another wonderful freebie from The Primitive Hare here, and she is also having a fun contest here. 

So I will be back in a few days with the offer. Wait a minute.  Many of you are accomplished 40 count stitchers with impressive stash and probably won't be interested in these charts.  And since many of you are like me and not interested in fancy stitches and "nice" looking pieces, you may not be interested either.  Hmm.  It's not easy to think of designs that would have wide appeal.  A sampler box instead?   Maybe that's too primitive looking!   Once again, I confuse myself by the end of a post.  Or not.  I'll be back in a few days with the offer, whatever it may be!

Thank you much for visiting with me -

hope your weekend is a great one.