Pear finish and playing with pumpkins

Hello everyone!  What a beautiful day yesterday!  Very warm and sunny and wonderful.  Today is similar but the forecast is not good.  I had my first round of leg injections yesterday, finished my pear, and played with pumpkins.  Remember the flowers in my galvanized tub?  I decided to fill a few with pumpkins around the swings. 

 I still hate fall. 

I finished the pear yesterday and wanted to show you how I did the template for the shape.  This one is larger than the last design and needed another template for backing.  Here's what I do - even though you already know!

I either use a pin to outline the shape onto a paper beneath, or my fingernail or a stylus to transfer a crease.  I only do one side and then fold the paper to cut so that each side is the exact same.   

Holding it up to the light allows me to check the shape and also center the interfacing before fusing.

I'll say it again, these envelopes to hold interfacing with the instructions clearly shown, have been the biggest help for all my sewing.

 After sewing, I use soft sculpture needles to move the stuffing to the areas that need adjusting, and especially the closure.  The needles are really strong and work well.  I know - you know this.

I didn't use the Mylar since this size is standing nicely with just the interfacing on the linen. 

 So here's the new design that I will post for you the beginning of November.  I sure hope I can do one each month, and not run out of ideas.  I've already thought of the next two, but not sure how they will look since they are completely different than this style.   My friend thinks they are good enough to sell! 

And a few photos of the kits having a snooze in the sun.  Shameless, aren't they? 

I better get out there are get those leaves blown since it's clouding up quickly.   I didn't receive my new charts yet so I'm picking something from stash later today to start stitching.  Have a wonderful weekend - thank you for visiting!

Stay safe and stitch happy!

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OOPS!

Greetings!  I doubt if anyone is making the roast with quick gravy today,  but wanted to let you know that I forgot to add the 1 tsp. of  Paprika that also goes in the wine.  I changed the copy and am listing the corrected version.  Blogger used to allow a post to publish new after editing and changing back to draft, but it isn't working so I thought I better do another post, just in case.  For those of you that aren't crazy about mushrooms, they are not noticed at all in the soup or gravy.  Really.  And - I found another spot for Mary Oldfield.  I guess I have to explore every possibility, don't I?  She's back on the cupboard but I really like this option for a change.

Thank you all for the well wishes, surgery went fine.  He did upper and lower this time. My ice bag is ready and I'll be stitching for a while after I blow the leaves.  Again.

Here's the correct recipe.  Talk to you soon.

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Dinner with gravy and pears for dessert - EDIT

Hello all.  Just wanted to show a few pears, a pear preview, and the recipes I mentioned.  I put the recipes in a jpg format so you can right click to save or print. 
Edited -Sorry!  I forgot the 1 tsp Paprika in the wine for the last recipe.  Copy is corrected.

 First off, Ariane from Les Petites Croix D'Ariane sent me this photo of her pear. She attached a charm to the top and hung it with ribbon - so sweet! And I pulled open my glued seam of the first pear with a little tug and re-seamed (new word) with additional stuffing. The finishing of Anneke (My Pretty Corner) that I showed in a prior post is what I tried to mimic but it's not quite as nice as hers, but better than I had originally sewn.

And this is a preview of what's coming the beginning of November.  Oh did that hurt.  November.  What the heck happened to October?  Or September?  The winter months better fly by as fast.

I'm waiting for my 8 new charts from Essamplaire and hoping they arrive in a few days.  I would have started a new project if it weren't for my changes to the pear.  Just like my kitchen design, I keep coming up with another layout or different color.  This one is the final, and of course, what I wanted in the beginning. 

The real pears are in need of cloves and starting to shrivel a bit so I better get to them tonight.  I've been asked quite a bit about making the dried studded pears and this is it.  Simple.  Bosc pears are all I've ever used, whole cloves, and leave a space between for shrinkage, usually a little less than the size of another clove.  Set them on wooden skewers in a plastic something-or-other and check every few days.  As they start to shrink, they become soft and you can sort of form them to shape, including flattening the bottom to sit properly.  At the same time, press in any cloves that are coming out.  It takes a while to dry completely so don't expect this to happen in a week or two.

Here's the two easy gravy recipes.  I've used a roast instead of the short ribs, but shorts are best.  Made the night before, you can put the liquid in the fridge overnight and remove all the congealed fat the next day.  If it doesn't work to click on the photos to print, I'll try again later.

   That's it boys and girls!   Gum surgery on the other side tomorrow so I'm packing my mouth with goodies tonight.  Hope you all have a great day. 

Welcome to new followers - thank you to all for visiting. 

Stay safe and stitch happy!

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Berries for boxes and floss storage

Greetings to you.  Leaves are falling and I enjoy the workout of pushing that heavy leaf blower, but need Advil for my leg after.  Lots of appointments for the next few weeks to complete injections on the right one, and the laser surgery on the left.  Other people have so much more to deal with in both time and pain, that my situation is nothing more than an inconvenience.  Our married friend passed away several months ago and now his 37 year old son died.  To deal with losing a husband is enough grief, and to add the loss of a son is inconceivable.  She certainly could use a few prayers sent her way. 

Still no boxes!  Not even the tall single rounds!  I'm playing with what I have here and tried this idea on the small rounds.  I had planned on attaching pincushion tops and berries to a few boxes for something different so maybe I should get busy on that now.  I could use up the odd sizes while waiting for the shipment.  My question - do I leave the strawberry unattached or glue to the lid?  Is one enough, or two?  I think one is better.  I worked for days on these antique snippets and sure hope I get the boxes to put them on!   There's no way to get perfect clarity on the antiques, but they're pretty good. 

 I have Sampler Pear III done but need to stitch it.  When choosing the floss, I encountered my usual problem.  Look at these two. 

Now I certainly don't fault DMC for this since my floss goes back 20 years or more.  But what a difference it would make if I charted my old shades and someone used the current. 

This is my floss box - and yes, it is actually a cardboard box!   It's the template so to speak, of the wood one I plan on making.  I keep it in the bottom of my stitch hutch.  But I also have a bag of the complete set of the older DMC that I was to sell on EBay (decided not to) and another system that has new and old.  It's my warehouse.  When I can't find a skein that may be ????? , I go to these business envelope boxes kept in a wicker bin.  Clearly marked and I really like this envelope storage for extras.

I plan on posting the two easy recipes for beef and gravy this week.  SO good and SO easy.  I made this Pepper Butter with the Hungarian wax peppers we had left from the garden and it is one of my favorite condiments.  Spread on a sandwich, with chicken, kielbasa, good bread, you name it.  Fabulous. 

So that's it for now.  Instead of running out to squirt the woodpeckers (the original angry birds game), I am pounding on the windows and sure hope I don't experience a hot flash while doing so.  Replacement glass is very expensive and I finally have the left wrist's brace off - certainly don't need restriction on the right from pounding damage.  The wrist is still swollen, but one day I was putting on pants without the brace (I didn't sleep with it) and twisted it the wrong way.  I heard and felt the outside joint snapping before, but this one was huge, and it helped a great deal.  On the mend now!

Thank you so much for visiting - hope your weekend was great. 

Welcome to new followers!

Stay safe and stitch happy.

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Here we go again!

Hiya!!  Mary is completed, and now the decision making begins, as usual.  Where will she hang?  She will fit perfectly in an 8" x 20" frame but I'm thinking ..... no.  I like her in these positions and a frame wouldn't work.  On the door of the recently made large cupboard..... 

 on the side of the same piece which is more visible from other rooms.

 

  And another place that doesn't make sense and I've never seen before, on the front of an open cupboard.  Several walls work well too, mixed in with other samplers.  But her colors match the new cupboard, and the blue basket on top of the hutch.

 I didn't hem this sampler at all, just used my fingernail to follow a linen thread while pressing with the other finger.  Linen folds and finger presses perfectly.  After that, I pressed with the iron and there was no need for hemming.

 Because of the length and lack of width, it was rolling somewhat to the center and the edges wouldn't lay flat.  So I rolled my pressing cloth and centered it beneath the sampler.  Not touching the linen, I just allowed the steam from the iron to penetrate and that did the trick. She will be moved over and over and I'm just using push pins which enter the wood easily and no marks can be detected because of the wood's distressed finish.

The ground is soaked but the sun is appearing now and I need to blow leaves again - it takes hours to do the entire yard.  Love my Little Wonder!!    I'll leave you with a few shots of the culprits.  The red on one tree is amazing, and you can see the front yard has red, orange, yellow, and another still green. 

 Off I go.  I may be back tomorrow with the new project and another little box set for your opinion.  I'm surprised that many of you like #3 - I thought the favorite would be #1.  I checked with the store again and they have no idea what the problem is, but they aren't getting boxes of any size.  Yikes.

I received an email from Françoise and she sent me a photo of my free chart that she did in a variegated thread - thank you Françoise!!

Another email asked about the first pear design.  You can find them all by clicking on "freebie" under the Labels in the right hand column.

Thank you for visiting - have a great weekend - stay safe!

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Still with Mary and online shopping

Hello everyone.  I finally opened the computer I purchased in February and it is Windows 7 which I absolutely hate.  The new color "filter" changes the tone of everything, and all webpages are one font, even my blog.  I transferred my files, including my emails (to a VERY cluttered mail program), and now new mail is going to the new computer every time I open it, but I'm still using the old one and wondering where my mail is.  That's Marly 61 fault, not Windows 7.  Scrolling on the touchpad is ridiculous and tedious with constant tapping and even then doesn't always work.  After taking it in to Staples, I found I'm not the only one with these complaints.  I'm wondering if I could find someone to wipe out the Windows 7 and install Vista in the new one.  Between that and helping my homebound aunt with some personal needs, I've not finished Mary. 

 I did remove the gold letters and border and started filling them back in with 611 and 632, and completed the bottom portion.  After making lots of color placement changes in this design,  I'm having second thoughts about changing all the colors on Pumroy so she will be on hold.  I'm choosing a few smalls to work on, and maybe a smaller marking sampler.  I placed an order today for 8 more simple and small samplers of that type.   Why???  Because I have quite a few larger projects which I love but may never have the gumption to stitch.  I like marking samplers, am more comfortable stitching small to medium less complicated designs, and want a variety to chose from.  Plus the Essamplaire is having their October sale.

I wanted to bring up two sites that I had bookmarked and forgot about until recently.  You may be familiar with both or maybe not too impressed, but I have limited shops here and these items are something I haven't found locally.  The first is amazing with holiday pieces and click here to see a fabulous array of Halloween choices.  The site itself is Christmas Traditions.  What a selection of artists and items! 
The other is Kruenpepper Creek.  They have 2013 calendars from Simple Life, Of Purpose and Spirit, and Primitive Days, this great heart bracelet, 44" jingle bell garland for $6.50 and mini bell garland for $3.50, some primitive wood items, and just a nice selection and variety.  Oh my goodness, 2013!!  Y2K was 13 years ago!  I was still hanging on to my 40's.  Doesn't that grip seem to get weaker with each passing year?

  

 I found several items I liked and ordered this key box (sale-$15.75) and the toilet tank basket.  This basket comes in single tissue box sizes also. Computer issues make me buy things.  Sorry I feel a need to show purchases but I'm old and this is exciting to me.  I almost purchased this box, too.  The drawer must be very small but I like it. 

 I'm sorry I haven't been answering emails or reading many blogs.  Just been busy with leaves and Aunt Helen and the demon computer. It's frustrating, which when combined with my impatience, may cause a computer rocket to fly out the window.  Good thing plastic and metal don't burn easily.  So I'm going slow and taking breaks to prevent destruction. 

If you want to check out the Sampler Boxes page, you'll see a few new sets that will be for sale soon in case you're interested.  I haven't got to the 4" and 6" single rounds and want to offer all at one time.  I am still waiting for a supply of boxes to come in.  I would appreciate your suggestions on which boxes are your favorites. 

My Little Wonder leaf blower is working full time and giving me some much needed exercise.  Good thing because I'm making one of our favorite recipes today.  My husband loves gravy and this recipe makes the easiest and tastiest and I have fresh red skinned potatoes for mashing.   

That's about it!  I'm staying home today so I can get a few projects completed and in the mail, catch up on housework and chores, and hopefully get some stitching in.  So anxious to complete Mary and start something new!

Hope you're having a great week - stay safe - thank you for visiting.

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