Mary Beale wreath

Hi.  Sadness seems to be the only emotion I'm capable of right now so this post is to show the steps of the piped finish and not much else.  Once again, please don't think I'm showing this because I know more than you.  It's more of a reference for me and others can point out flaws in my methods and teach me other ways.  This was done on 28 count and perfectly fits an 8 inch round frame.  I may look for one with an easel back to set in a display, to see if I prefer it outlined with a dark wood. 
I purchased piping instead of making my own.  A plate was used to create a template an inch larger than the design.  Holding the linen and template to light, I centered and pinned, then outlined in chalk pencil on the right side.  Medium fusible interfacing was used on both front and backing, but the front was cut smaller since I didn't want it in the seam with the piping.

Holding the raw edge of the piping to the outline, I sewed against the piping with a zipper foot and basting stitch.  As with any piping work, I opened the tape and cut out an inch of the cord, turned under the raw edge, cut and inserted the other end to meet inside.  Folded the open tape over, pulled the raw edges to tighten around the inserted piece and sewed the overlapped end. 

I turned the seam allowance edges to the back and checked to see if the design was centered and made any adjustments to the piping. The backing was lined up and sewn to the front following the stitching line I created when attaching the piping.

I cut the thickest quilt batting to fit, and cut the mylar at least a 1/4" smaller than the seam lines with a hole in the center for sewing the button.  Originally I cut it the same as the batting, but when the batting puffed the piece, the mylar became too tight.  I rolled the mylar to fit inside, then slid the batting onto each side of it and adjusted by inserting a ruler to smooth it out. 

I didn't like the covered button because it didn't show up at all so I just looked in my button box and found a large very odd dark brownish green that went well with the colors in the design.  That may change.  I didn't want the hanger the same as the piping and will use a heavy twisted hemp that matches the linen.  I sewed a muslin prototype before deciding on creating a center hole for a true wreath, but it was just too small and piping was too crowded.  I left the bottom area open for turning and the mylar really allows a nice curved finish, same as I use on the pears. 

I also received a wonderful stitched gift in the mail and will show you next time.  I haven't figured out the fringe application yet (prior post), and Leanna was kind enough to offer the Larkshead Knot as a possibility.  Sure looks like it, but this seems to be a continuous stitch.  I hope to figure it out soon because I'm liking it more and more.  That's it for now.

Thanks for visiting. 

On the fringe

Hello people.  How's everyone?  Remember Mary Beale's wreath that I just finished?  Well I found it yesterday.  It was under a piece of velvet that was used to create two strawberry pinkeeps which were to be included with three sizes of rusty bells and a pack of red jingles along with a few Mary Beale ornament cards and a clove studded pear all nestled in a sampler box for the Christmas giveaway but the box couldn't hold it all so a larger box was needed which caused the contents to be removed on the verge of an impending flash demanding a trip to the bathroom leading to the misplacement of the strawberries and subsequent unsuccessful searches frustrating an older but sometimes very nice lady who decided to instead offer a gift certificate and unfortunately caused another misplacement of a special stitched piece in the melee.  So now she will be finished with a medium green piped edge.  I'm still very uneasy about cutting an opening in the center.  Flashes either embolden me or enrage me, neither of which are good when in the process of a tedious sew.  If I have warning I can walk away, but it's usually a sucker punch.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I came across this little pillow I received years ago as a gift.  It used to play Christmas music but the hickey must be broken.  Fringe and braid and cord are not finishes I use but I have to say, I really like this one.  She seamed on the outside and then fringed the linen to include it with three colors of floss on each side, and it's an edge I may have to try.

  

I'm sure it's not difficult and I can find instructions online.  Looking at her stitches, I can't figure it out.  Too much chocolate I guess.  And King's Hawaiian rolls.  I have no idea what design this came from.
 My taller Christmas tree finally has lights today and I love the look. I will do the other tonight for sure. Primitive and sparse unlit trees have their place and I love both looks, which is why I have so many trees. These lights are from years ago and are faceted glass giving a real sparkle to the tree.

This tree is still available through WebeChristmas and called a Bristle feather (fake) with stiff branches.  Yesterday I saw a 3' fake feather at Hobby Lobby for $25 - not sure if their 40% coupon works on trees.  The branches were a little too long for me but I've always snipped and taken "trimming the tree" literally.  I once removed every other row of limbs, shortened the remaining,  and then wrapped the trunk with burlap to create a more primitive look.  The large open areas created space for stitchery, stuffed animals, dolls, toys, fruit baskets, or electric cars.  I didn't want the tree anymore so it didn't matter.  The better quality large trees were donated. 
That's it.  I'm off to sew.
Greetings and welcome to new followers! 
Thank you all for visiting and enjoy your weekend.
Stay safe and stitch happy.
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Your Christmas offer

Hello everyone. The sun is out and it ain't snowing. But my pants are tight and my roots are showing. Hey. You can't have everything.

But I did get another little tree done and bought more red bells! 

Decision made....

I decided on an offer that doesn't require packing or standing in lines at the post office, plus, it gives you the option range of primitive to elegant! 

Please leave your name on THIS POST ONLY to enter a drawing on December 19 at 8pm EST, for a $25 gift certificate at your choice of one of the following online shops. No need to tell me your choice until you are picked as the winner.

Down Sunshine Lane

Anita's Little Stitches

The Cottage Lane

123 Stitch

That's it! 

Thanks for participating - make sure you leave your name if you're anonymous and your email if you are no-reply.

Thanks!

Stuck in neutral

Good day to you.  I've been spinning wheels but going no where.  This lack of decisiveness along with procrastination can really slow me down.  Well, halt is more like it.  I've been putting off stringing the lights because it is not a favorite task of mine at Christmas.  I haven't found a sparse or more primitive looking pre-lit tree and too many friends have had a section of lights fail after a year or two.  Besides, my attic looks like a forest now. 

No lights, but I did combine my Prairie Schoolers on the 4 foot tree that is usually hung with old ornaments.  I bought more rusty bells in the larger size plus a few bags of the medium, and the little 3 foot may end up with nothing but various sized bells.  Red jingles were brought in for Christmas in a perfect size for ornaments so I bought a bag of those too.  For some reason, I'm just not into as many trees as I usually have but I'm still grateful for finding the last two at the end of 2011's sale.  Really not easy to find a sparse tree with stiff branches around here but I've managed several over the years.  Here's what I do to ornaments that I don't want hangers on.  It's the easiest way (for me) to convert from bowl filler to tree hanger.  You can knot each end of the pin to the back or string through and knot once at the top.

I'm not sure if anything else will get done, other than the dark chocolate cupcakes with whipped cream icing that I've been craving.

I am definitely having a giveaway and can't decide on what.  Gift certificate is where I'm leaning and will decide tonight and post tomorrow.  I need to put all the decorations and boxes away, bake my cupcakes, and start stitching. 

So with that, I'll close.  Thank you and a big welcome to new followers.  It seems since the computer fiasco, I just can't get back to my routine with blog reading and all my settings have changed.  Not to mention my loss of bookmarks and favorites.  That's what really hurt.  I train easily so I should manage a new routine soon, get back to my old favorites, and enjoy checking out all the new ones.

Thank you again!

Be back tomorrow with details.

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Decorating!

Hi everyone.  First off, in answer to a few no-reply emails, Postman Santa is from an old Leisure Arts book "Christmas Portraits" usually found on Amazon.  The little stag pillow is a freebie found here from Helga Mandl.

I'm finally getting around to decorating and am avoiding the light strings.  They have a habit of turning trees into rockets exiting through windows.

So I started with the fireplace and wanted to do something different this year.  My Prairie Schoolers will be hanging from my little tree with large safety pins but I didn't get around to that yet.  Thought I would see if ideas come to me when posting just like the stitching decisions.  So here's my new cupboard that is the same depth as the mantel. 

I'm liking it for now but things change continuously around here.  I'm anxious to stitch a few things so maybe this year I will leave well enough alone and move on.

I received quite a few emails about the shelter.  The program we have here is wonderful.  There are undisclosed locations of furnished apartments that women are taken to.  They are allowed to stay there rent free for a year while they look for a job or make plans for living arrangements.  At that time, if donations come in for additional furniture, they can take those pieces or the ones from their apartment that the donations replace.  Someone comes to pick up your household items and clothing in order to keep locations secret.  Every item is appreciated right down to a crock pot and flatware.
 

I have to tell you this purse story. I went to JCP and found a nice pair of foot treads (winter shoes) for my nephew's son, but forgot they had emailed a 20% coupon to me that morning.  While browsing I spotted a purse that was just to my liking, and knowing how I always procrastinate, made sure they had several.  Mark and I went to the store after his work day, got the 20% back, and could not find the purse I saw earlier.  I stood there, stared at the shelves, and couldn't believe they were gone since the displays were completely filled.  I wandered in circles around the purses about a dozen times, browsing....staring....intensely searching, and hunching over more with each pass to get a closer look.  It was like someone moved my food dish.  Man, I hope there were no security people watching me on video.  "Hey!  There's that messy haired woman again!  Look at her - bent over and sneaking around like she's looking for a bug or a mouse.  Twenty bucks says she'll go another round!"  Never did find it.

I also wanted to mention that a giveaway is coming up. 

Thank you for visiting!

Wishing no one moves your food dish.

Stay tuned!

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Finishing dilemma

Hiya.  You know I'm not one to make decisions.  And also that those long awaiting decisions are never final.  So what do I do with the Beale wreath?   I love this wreath but a beautiful formal looking finish isn't me.  This design is not something I want to age but I also don't want fussy.  Fabrics are limited to JoAnn's selection of which there are none to my liking.  I have several upholstery samples that may work, but I'm not happy with them. 

  One is a beautiful iridescent shade that matches the DMC 356, but not enough to make a bias piping and it's also too elegant.  The tone on tone stripe is my favorite, but I don't want striped piping.  The heavy nubbed fabric has several colors from the piece but it's really too rough looking.  So let's change from piping to braid.  Ick.  I don't like braid.  So shiny and formal.  I know you can make it from DMC but I never have and don't feel it would be heavy enough.  But it's still an option.  Hey.  Let's do something reckless.  My Krylon Matte spray that I use on my printed labels is also used on silk flowers and artwork so.......let's see if we can take the shine off the braid.  Yep.  Left is natural light and right is lamp light.

The only color I found is this odd greenish gold.  Gold is too yellow, red is too bright, green was emerald, and on and on.  These 355 and 356 colors are not red and nothing looked good, plus the greens are all different so this was my choice.  The plus is, a piped edge can't be removed but the braid sewn by hand can be.  Now I'm not so concerned about the edge because I have that option.  But what an odd color - so what about the backing?  This afternoon I will be digging and tossing linen trying to find a matching piece.  I think it's the only solution.   If I make a braid from the 356 or any of the bottom's thread colors, it would look the best but I don't want to mess with that now.  Or maybe I will.  Or not.  Depends on the mood.  You know what?  I will look it up, learn it, and do it.  Damn.  With which color?  I knew hoped this would happen.  Many times when I'm typing a post, things become more clear and everything I've done to that point ends up a waste of time.  So just ignore everything written above.  Linen backing, DMC braid.  Or piping.  Hey - if I don't have to worry about it matching the backing I can pick a fabric for piping.  Here we go.

  Another decision.  My Christmas fun has always been to drop a $10 bill behind a youngster that looks unhappy in a store throughout the weeks in December.  Then I would quietly tell them that they dropped their money, or found some.  The look on their faces was a gift!  Well, the last year or two is much different and you can certainly tell the changes in our society.  I've decided to stop.

I plan on giving a solid maple dining table and chairs to a family at the battered women's shelter, and someone else will get the complete set of these old Poppytrail dishes. These women leave the abuse with nothing and must start over.  My mom's beautiful wool coats and jackets are still in her closet and I can't seem to let them go.  But I must.  So someone at the shelter will also receive new coats.  And mom's new shoes that she never got to wear and I've kept, will go to the nursing home for someone that needs comfort shoes they can't afford.  But as I type this, the tears are telling me I may not be able to do this!  But I must.

I plan on doing some inside decorating today, maybe hanging garland to hide the wires and studs. 

Enjoy your weekend, stay safe, bake something!

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