Frogging season part 2

Hello everybody.  You won't believe it.  Well....maybe you will.  Before I get to the floss dilemma, I want to wish you all a celebratory but safe 4th.  My old 8' pull-down style flag is pretty faded so I moved it to the deck and got a new one. 

The pull-downs are always too long at 8' but I like the style.  Why did it take me years to  buy a 3x5 and fold it back?  I don't believe cutting to create the other style would be considered defacing,  but mine is folded and stitched to the back because I may change my mind and want the full 3 x 5 size. It's a perfect fit for a door and here's the end result. 

Here's my old one hanging on the deck.  I love the way it looks at night.

On to the floss.  So what happens to the sampler threads over the years?  Fading if in light, dingy and dirty from age.  It wouldn't become a warmer shade, more of a ..... gray.   Rit's pearl gray?   Possibly.   Oh no!!  I'm dyeing again!  Half of these skeins were dipped as a test and I'm anxious to try the others. 

There is a good possibility that I will stick with the original thread colors and dunk them into the dye.  I still may have to change a few but this could be the answer to future projects too, instead of wasting time pulling other colors.  I was wondering if after graying the colors I should do a quick bleach dip to get a faded look, and then decided it isn't worth it.  Never thought of this before so between the folded flag and the floss aging, I'm either on a roll or way behind the wagon.  

Thanks for your visit and have a safe holiday! 

Frogging season

Hiya.  Hope you are staying cool and safe!  Lots of stuff happening and I hope the worst is over and everyone has come through unscathed. 

We finally got a little rain yesterday and these positions should tell you how hot it is. 










She slept for hours like this!

Eliza is not going as well as I had hoped.  Not only did I have to remove and restart twice because of positioning, but as I did the alphabet, I realized these beautiful bright colors were not sitting well.  I've seen designers use the original bright colors and also offer the faded versions created by time.  So I thought I would stick to the same color family and choose a more subdued version.    The charted skein is top and my choice beneath.  Those colors in the top border are charted and I decided to not remove them and see how they fit in.  Alphabets and another border, still not happy.  Is there a tutorial on frogging?  And how did that term come to be? 

I have always removed the thread from the top instead of using the Lift 'n Snip. 

I've only had one mishap with those but it seems to take so much longer to remove the threads and I have a mess to clean up.  I guess it's up to the stitcher which she prefers since both methods are favored in certain areas.  I used both (for variety) since I've done it so many times already.  But if it doesn't feel right or look right to us, better to take the time to remove and get what we want before going any further.  Maybe it's the 32 count that looks more refined and smooth compared to the rougher 28's I usually use.  Maybe it's the color of the linen that isn't warm or dark enough.  Something.  I may end up going back to the original colors on darker linen and have a very nice sampler that isn't my style, or cut down on the number of colors and stick to the ones I prefer.  I hate to change the linen but a few letters with these colors on another piece wouldn't hurt.  Look at the time I've wasted already!   Better grab a small freebie or another Santa while I'm thinking.  I am determined to stitch her and don't want to change designs.  We'll see. 

I also want to mention that I downloaded a program to check for spyware and ads which seems to be throwing a lot of emails into the junk pile.  I rarely check it but did recently and found that even some comments (which are emailed to me) end up there.  If you emailed a question and I didn't get back to you, try again!  I'm sorry if I missed you!  I guess I better change the settings to not delete or block any messages.

Leaving you with a picture of the babies.  The mid day raccoons that I've been feeding (all moms) have now brought the babes out!  One big momma has FIVE little ones.  Yesterday one came running up to me and I had to get that bread out quick!  Several of my brother's friends trapped and removed their mid day visitors so I doubt if the babies survived.  They are coming later and later in the day and some not at all now that the babes are out of the nest. 

I'll be working outside today and thinking about what to do while I'm on the tractor in the dust ball it creates.   Hopefully, something will click and it won't be a bone.

Thank you so much for visiting and have a wonderful week!

p.s.  Ever since I scolded spellchecker about not having menobrain or hysterectobelly is its database, it quit working.  Please excuse any spelling errors until we reconcile.

The boys are back in town!



Eliza who?

Pumroy!  Hello all.  I chose the underdog!  Actually, I pulled threads and chose linen for both and may work on them at the same time.  Something is drawing me to her but I've already had to remove all the stitching in the top border.  Did she run into Lucy up there?  Although the wonderful chart has the stitch count, I couldn't find the total height and width numbers and I counted wrong!  Starting in the middle, I worked my way right and it was fine.  Left, not so much.  There was a fabric margin but not enough for comfort.  Will I be adding my own stitch count for borders in future charts?  You betcha.  Why didn't I think of this before, especially since the reproductions almost never have matched borders.  Here is the fabric - 32 count Lt. Mocha Belfast (doesn't look it but it had the original shop tag), and floss - which are much brighter than I've ever worked with.  I love the samplers rich in colors on light ground but they're not my usual stitch.

I think this is going to be an interesting piece to work on and I like the fact that although it is close to 30" long, it is narrow so rows are quickly completed.  If you want to see more of the piece and photos of the original, visit her blog here and scroll down to almost the bottom. 

 Another reason I chose her first is after reading Eliza Jane again, I realized the four sided border is Queen stitch.  Because I've never been able to do that stitch properly in addition to it being my least favorite, I'll have to work out a substitute but Pumroy is ready to go!

 
 

So there will be only one queen around here and unfortunately, it's not me.  It used to be, but now it's Missy - see her under the flowers with her royal attitude?  

And I thought you would like to see the last of the BOAF boys.  Major changes. First off, he is charted for a gold metallic coat, which I changed to DMC 783.  Stockings and cap were to be a bright yellow and orange,  I used the red 304 and green 989.  I've been seeing quite a few of these on Ebay and this gold one went for $8.50.  Not bad considering some of the prices recently.  So my set is complete and I can start looking through the Prairie Schoolers for a few others.  That's it for me.  It's going to be very hot and humid here for a few days, and my heart goes out to the western states with the devastating fires, and Florida's flooding.  Those fires are so upsetting to us animal and nature lovers, and having to quickly evacuate and lose everything to a fire is horrific.  I can't imagine how the firefighters can deal with the temperatures plus the additional heat from the fires.  Have a safe weekend and I'll talk to you soon.  Thank you so much for visiting!

It's official - 61!!

Hello young people.  That includes youthful old people.  Two things before stitchery talk.  My friend Patti, who many of you said a prayer for, gifted me with her beautifully stitched patriotic ornament and a round box with one of her label creations.   I think she should start selling!  You also see Ann's gift (which I've moved many times) with the jar filled with my chewable calciums.  Great way to keep them handy, and I keep taking the basket off because I love looking at the perfect weave.  To fill the spot I originally placed it (and may return to) one of my boxes fits pretty good too.

 I'll be done with Santa soon and need to chose a sampler so here's my choices.  Both of which I think would be excellent projects after my struggle with Lucy.  The majority of my reproductions are from The Scarlet Letter, but these two new purchases are Threads through Time.  My oh my.  I'm sure you already know how wonderful these instructions and diagrams are.  Huge easy to read chart with stitch counts circled, colors noted, quirky areas outlined.  Eliza Pumroy has more types of stitches than I expected and lots of borders, but with this type of help, I think I can manage.  What do 'ya think Lucy? 

 The Eliza Jane Stiles isn't as large but is still a 4 page graph with very detailed written instructions including areas to pay special attention to.  Those areas that I usually assume are repeat stitches, which technically they become, because I have to remove and repeat.  I just realized they are both from young girls named Eliza.

This really made me happy - both graphs have the stitch count of each section of border!  See the numbers circled?  And areas that could create errors also circled.  My kind of graph!  This is why I'm feeling pretty good about starting either.  If I have more problems right from the start, I'm not sure if menomaniac will appear.  She looks like me, but I can't trust her.   I'll make my decision and choose a linen tomorrow......oh no.  The linen drawers.   Count?  Color?  Cut it?   The Pumroy colors appear pretty bright so I'll pull everything first and there's always the possibility of changing a few.

That's it.  I'm ready to close with a photo of my doe eating one of the dozen hot dog buns she consumes daily.  So I did the spell-check.  Menomaniac is still not in there.  Neither is menobrain or hysterectobelly.   Who do I write to about this?  As far as I'm concerned, these are actual conditions more identifiable than the slang currently being included in our dictionaries. 

 Hysterectobelly is REAL I tell you and ask any woman over 50 if she knows what menobrain is. 

I'll stop now.  Have a beautiful Sunday, stay safe, and thank you so much for your comments and visits.

A winner!

Hi everyone.  First off, Random.org chose Melissa as the basket and hook winner.  Congrats!  Please email me with your address and choice of natural or dark and I'll get it in the mail ASAP!  As I was working on the Santa, I was thinking of other ways to use this as a stitchery display.  Santa looks good and the basket could be filled with greenery.  A floral design and filled with flowers hung on a door.  A Halloween piece filled with curly willow.  A wide linen band with a name....oh just stop it.  Second, thank you all for the birthday wishes.  It's almost over!  Third, Gold Santa had an accident.  It seems his boat was two stitches off course and the frogs jumped in and sunk it.

After the frogs were gone, I wondered why I just didn't add two rows of green and make it a bigger boat!  Oh well, we're back on track. 

I wanted to show this shepherd's hook.  This is how mom liked her hooks - a grapevine or ivy garland wrapped around it.  We cleaned out the shed and I found this one.  This looks great in the fall with a garland of autumn colored leaves and a pot of bright mums.

I'm done.  Have a great weekend and thank you again for the well wishes and birthday wishes.  Much appreciated!  Thanks for visiting and to all who participated in the offer.

Show and Tell

Hiya.  Just wanted to show a few pics so I'll try to keep it short.  Jill at Purple Peacock stitched my freebie with some changes and I love it.  I never saw a rocking pincushion before!  And check out the scissor pocket on the back.  Is this cool or what???  Looks like a peacock needle minder at the top too.  Great job Jill!

Here's Malabar finished into a pillow.  And my haul from this morning.  Sorry to say the Olde English Shoppe is closing and now offering 30% off so I was glad to visit them this morning and grab a few items.  The top wall unit and small right are theirs along with the darling strawberry.

 

The two wood boxes are from an antique shop in Volant that I visited for the first time.   I left James Creek (with a basket of course) and she said go across the street and up a little to the yellow house.  So I left the shop and started walking in this heat and barely made it up the steep hill!  I really need to get in shape.  What a wonderful shop - a little bit of everything and lots of vintage.  Cottage House Antiques. 

Then I stopped at the Quilting Bee in New Wilmington and got a few fat 1/4s.   James Creek is having a Colonial Festival Saturday with Kathy Graybill, Michael Treharn, Ginger Cazan, Black Horse Floorcloths, a blacksmith, colonial cooking, rug hooking and more.  This is the monster basket I came home with.  You can see how large it is compared to the one Lucy was in.  I was a happy girl.  Unhappy about a wonderful shop closing, but happy with my cheap self for actually making purchases.  I promised my sister I would get new counter tops for her kitchen and bath (bad timing with mine being done) so I was trying to pull the purse strings tight.  Well, some times pulling too tightly causes breakage.  Hey.  It's birthday month - let 'em rip!

But let me tell you.....that wasn't the end.  I came home to find this on my doorstep.

 I couldn't believe it.  Ann from 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets (Hole in the Basket Primitives) had sent me a birthday gift with the sweetest card, telling me how much she enjoys my blog!  ME!!!  I was stunned when I opened the wrapping.

STUNNED!  Look at my gifts!!  I adore this pillow with its satin stitched spools, and love this design.  The mason jar basket couldn't be a more precise weave.  She actually fits the basket to the jar so well, that it doesn't fall off, but can easily be removed.  Look at the inside, the bottom, and check out that roping detail on the edge..

The amazing thing - how perfect it is for my new display cubby!  I planned on running a wire across the front of this and Ann's gift is absolutely perfect for it.  Plus, look how nicely the pillow fills out the smaller box I just bought along with my new strawberry.

Man did I hit the jackpot today.  Ann, I can't thank you enough for your generosity and your work is fantastic.  Such attention to detail and perfectly done!  Here's the back of her piece and Malabar, we both used the envelope method.  She made it special with buttons, and I lazied out with a row of stitches.   I'll be back tomorrow night with the winner of the offering.  

If you want to see more of Ann's work, check out her Etsy shop here.  Believe me, you will not be disappointed - superb quality.

That's it for show and tell boys and girls!  Enjoy your day!