Heft to my weft

Greetings!  I know it's the start of the weekend, but I didn't know the month.  When I listed the anniversary offer, I hadn't yet flipped the page on the calendar so I thought Valentine's Day was this Monday.  Wrong.  The drawing will still be Valentine's Day which is not until Thursday.  Good thing the doctor's office called to verify my Monday appointment or I would still be in January.

 

I started going through the RandR charts, Essamplaire's new order, and also Scarlet Letter's.  Do you have any idea how much time I can waste reading each chart, looking for those nasty over one stitches, Queens, and counting blocks when the stitch count isn't given?  The heck with it. 

Mary was still lying there and a close by piece of linen was the right size.  This Bargello or Irish stitch is easy.  I did have difficulty with the start position of the black floss.  When you are doing a straight stitch in each hole, where do you start the adjoining cross?  I thought it would be in the next hole but then the cross was not lined up with the over two backstitch in the border.  So I magnified the sampler from SL's website and it looks like the cross enters the same hole.  That makes sense since all the crosses use the prior stitch's hole.  What a putz.

 For once, I'm using all the correct colors and the linen is the coarse heavier weave that I enjoy.  I like heft to my weft.  The pieces that I have no desire (or ability) to stitch on have very thin threads or a thinner weft and I really can't see them even with magnifiers. 

This piece is the 25 count Scarlet Letter hand dyed green from years ago.  It has a bluish green warp and a yellow green weft.  I had trouble stitching with it and dyed it to a much darker green.  Didn't work. 

You can see there are still two different shades to the threads and for some reason, this throws my eyes into a tizzy.  White fabric in my lap or a lamp setting on the floor makes it worse.  I just can't see the vertical threads, and fabrics with a sheen are even worse.   It wasn't until I really studied the pieces I'm not comfortable with that I realized the reason for my difficulty.  I can tell right away if my vision will adjust to see the over two threads for stitching.  Whether it's a particular type of linen or just my aging eyes, I don't know.  Even if the dye is exactly the same on all threads, some seem to disappear and all I can see is one direction.   So the thick thread rough and ready linens are my choice. The mystery linen I'm working on is perfect for me. Sending a small piece of the texture and colors I like to a shop would certainly help them determine what would be best for me.

 

As for this computer, I am avoiding being online because of it.  I changed my settings to Classic Windows style, got my tabs back to separate listings in the bottom bar, shut off that ridiculous screen filter, changed the log on screen, but regardless of the touchpad setting changes, this constant clicking is insane. I click away and nothing happens, I don't click and tabs appear, pages scroll, I lose my place, I highlight text and sometimes it won't delete, and I hate being online now.  My labels - what a fiasco.  The photo gallery is a mess. Small changes from Vista are huge headaches for me with photos.  Find it if you can, then click to edit, do it again, another view! And why can't I have a desktop icon instead of right clicking?  Clicking seems to be a fixation.

 

That's the start of my weekend.  Hope everyone is safe.

Thank you so much for visiting with me.

Enjoy your weekend and stitch with gratitude, for two working hands, your sight, and your ability to be productive.  I think of my cousin in CA every day and what she lost from her devastating stroke. 

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Third R&R finish

Greetings from Nitzyland.  What a wacko cat.  He's been running full tilt back and forth, jumping into snow piles, digging like a dog, sneaking up on his mom and dad, and attacking his catnip pole.  Boxes are sliding across the deck, benches bumping into the house, sounds like someone is trying to break in!  Anyway,  I wanted to show you Mary Moseley.  The linen is the coarse 28 count that I like and it never photographs well for me.

 

 I haven't decided (big surprise) on where to keep her but does it really matter?  She won't stay there for too long so why do I bother?  What surprised me, is that I love the bright color.  Usually I change the floss to muted shades but I'm liking this contrast.  Maybe Eliza Pumroy should be done in the charted colors.  If I could find her, I would check into that but I can't.  She was started, floss dyed with gray to tone it down, and she's obviously hanging with the other girls that are missing.  Mary in several poses....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't the brighter colors look nice for a change?  That means my last order from the Essamplaire will be stitched as charted.  The designs are all bright and I planned on doing a gray dip, but maybe not!  That of course, will depend on my mood at the time.  My mood was not good when stitching the over one numerals at the bottom.  Regardless of instructions, my thread disappeared constantly.  As long as I continue choosing primitive reproductions, my errors and lack of perfection won't be an issue.

My little tool was invaluable when turning under the edges to press. SO much easier to set the width instead of measuring.  Time to choose another project which won't be easy.  Another R&R?  Mary Hazlehurst?  A larger piece?  Search for Eliza?  Too many things on my mind that really need attention.  All the remodeling projects are top priority and I don't know how to handle this inability to make decisions.

The wood flooring needs to be chosen by the weekend and we'll be running around looking at options.  He is really against the pine but my biggest problem is finding lengths.  Even the local mill has bundles with pieces ranging from 12" to 48".  Requesting 5' lengths doubled the price, 8' tripled it.  You should have seen the look I got when I said I wanted to use finished plywood cut into 12"x 8' strips for the bedroom.   So confusion will reign for the coming days.

I'll leave you with a snow covered  Nitzy taking a break from beating up his fish.

 

Thanks for visiting.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

 

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An anniversary is a'coming

Greetings from snowy Pennsylvania.  Not much.  Just enough to aggravate me.  Nitzy (short for Nitwit) loves it.  Since all three love cardboard boxes, I open the flaps and tape them at the corners so they have a deep box to play in.  Some are completely covered with large plastic bags and taped to stay dry.  My deck looks like inventory day at Wal-Mart.  

So here's the deal...my blogging anniversary will be February 14 and you know that means another offering.  I clicked on my blog archive and went back to the very post here.   One thing about that post is not true.  I was ashamed to admit it in the beginning, but I DO eat treats and chocolate while stitching!  I guess I've come a long way, admitting to a multitude of needlework etiquette failures through this last year.  I continued reading and saw that some finishing methods changed as did my attitude about stitching properly.  The only constant has been menopause, my love of samplers and santas, and I still have trouble cutting into a full yard of linen.

  My side bar shows 16 giveaways in these two years, but I can't remember to always label a post and I think there were more. 

 This one will be for the tissue box, since I received so many nice emails and comments about it.   I can always make another for myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's dark brown with a tiny bit of red, some dark blue, and natural wood showing through the primitive paint finish on  1/4" wood.

 If you would like to enter for the drawing to be held Valentine's Day at 5pm EST, please leave your entry in the comments on THIS POST ONLY.  No-reply must leave email or name and initials.
 
I want to sincerely thank you all for the friendship and help through blogging these last two years.  I was so afraid to start, and now so glad I did.  I seriously doubt that I would have started stitching again without feeling this connection to others who share their needle's work and inspire many.  For us gals without a shop, your blogs are our source for new items, and old ones we've missed, ideas for finishing, along with the sharing of your tips.
So again I thank you, not only for your visits with me, but for inviting me into your stitching realm.
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Mary Haslehurst 1776

Hi everyone.  I received my SL order and wanted to show you this unusual sampler. 

 

 

None of my pictures are clear so I apologize, but it seems every piece of computer related equipment is becoming menopausal.  I didn't know it can affect inanimate objects. 

 

 I was intrigued by the top of this piece and knew the stitches would be specialty, but I wanted it before it is no longer available.  Has this happened to you? 

Thinking the chart will always be there and one day it isn't?  When I purchased Eunice Birchard it was only a matter of a few months before it was removed from the catalog.  So glad I purchased when I did.

This top zigging and zagging is done in Irish Stitch, a straight stitch over 4 threads offset by 2 threads to create the pattern.  Easy enough - that I can do.

The sides are very strange and consist of cross, stem, satin, with a blue stem creating the scallop outlines.

The bottom is another story.  Freehand stem stitches all the way.  Lots of instructions and I hope I have the patience!  It's a relatively small sampler (7x11 on 28 count) and each scallop is done separately, so this is a good project if you want to try something different.  I'm talking a good talk but I have to say, the more I read it, the more I'm wondering if this stitch wimp can handle it.  I really like to buzz along with my alphabet and not have to constantly check the chart so this is really on the opposite side of comfort for me.  But I have it and will certainly give it a try.  Most all of the samplers were done by very young girls, but this all over the place piece could very well have been an older gal.  Each scallop is different, the top zig zags differently on the opposite side, the stitches change constantly.  She obviously couldn't make a decision.  Hmmm.  Menopausal?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Stay safe.

Thank you for visiting!

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Computer weary!

That's exactly what I am.  Greetings to all you readers, stitchers, bloggers, and friends that helped calm me during this week of frustration.  Thank you.  I'm pretty upset about the funds wasted on repairs for the completely dead laptop and since it sounds like a baby's rattle, recovery isn't possible.  If I owe you an email or you made a request, my mail is gone.  My settings were to have all mail forwarded with no copies left on the server, which I am changing today. I've learned backup needs to be constant, not every few days.  It took me two full days to get the printer recognized and all the forums and live chat help couldn't come up with a solution.  I wish I would have taken notes as to what I did, but it's working - for now.  Then it was the cameras - Canon no problem, the older Kodak was a problem.  After a week of this and a bottle of Advil for the neck, I thought - grow up girl.  With all the people dealing with heartbreak and illness, you're whining about a computer??  I always tell myself this, but sometimes it's just human nature to want to complain. I still hate 7. 
 So I ordered three charts from Scarlet Letter. 

First off, here's my progress on Mary.  She's brighter than I usually stitch and quite colorful for a small marking sampler.  I'm using unbleached linen but I probably worked it over with bleach and dye at some point.

Its wrinkles are deep and you can see they are not coming out with pressing.  I always press the design face down on a thick washcloth but not the fabric around it.  I should have removed the creases before stitching since smoothing them out in the stitched area will also flatten the floss.  Really not a concern at this point since Mary will probably be displayed without a frame and I like the primitive style, but I should still do this before starting projects.

 A few things I found on distraction breaks.  This manicure set was my mom's and I may change the inside to hold needles.  Or not.  Sometimes it's best to leave a remembrance piece as is.
 

I also found this old spool of silk ribbon that has paper lining between the wraps.  I have no use for something this nice!

 

I made this tissue holder...

And when I opened the door to check on the brat cats, this tiny guy came in, scared and shivering from the bitter cold.  Smart owner had phone tags on him, stupid owner lets him outside without supervision.  Stupid owner came to pick him up.

Faye posted her finish of the Remembrance chart and you can see her lovely pouch here.  And if you're interested in floss storage, check out Three Sheep Studio here. 
 This weekend I will be stitching will changing my mind continuously about the wood for our floors.  We currently have ash that will join the new floor in several places.  I planned on pine, and although many people were gracious enough to answer my emails about their pine floors, saying it holds up well, several said every chair leaves a mark.  I certainly don't mind a beat up floor but for a dining area, I'm wondering how it would hold up with heavier guests sliding the chairs in and out.  Right now I'm thinking wormy red oak or ash.  But we all know that until the wood is nailed down, that can change.  As my husband says, why bother making a decision - I'll always want what I didn't get.

Thank you to all for visiting with me, welcome to new followers.

Stay warm and safe this weekend.  I hope to catch up with reading since I've only caught glimpse of a few blogs this week.

Enjoy your weekend!

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Winner and loser

Good evening everyone.  I am announcing the winner of my fabric, posting the pear, and calling it quits for several days. I am the loser because I am on the rotten Windows 7 laptop and is the most annoying and messy operating system I've ever used.   You guessed it - my newly rebuilt Vista died again.  Lost it all.  My photos and files that I worked on recently were not backed up because I never thought a sudden crash would occur right after an expensive rebuild.  So it took me a little longer because I had to start over with Random to enter everyone again.  PARSLEY!  You are the winner.  I  found another piece of linen that is soft and I don't care for so it will also be in your package.  Please email with your address Parsley and I will mail right away.  Thank you to all for participating.  I was so surprised at the number of entries! 

 So before I throw this one out the window, I will show you my second start on Mary Moseley.  I changed the linen to a darker shade for the lighter floss and have only changed one color from the original. 

 

And here is the February pear.  Hope you like it.   I will list it on the Pears page once I get around to a new computer.  Good grief.  If 7 is this bad, 8 must be worse.   I can't stand even posting because nothing works the same.  I'm showing this early because chances are, I won't be back until the week's end.  If you stitch this on a lighter linen, use a darker blue for the bird.

I had to rechart the pear and do the colors from memory, so if anyone finds an error, please let me know.

Until then, stay safe, keep stitching, thank you for visiting!

Hope to be back soon.

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