Apr 28, 2013

Pear IX and fabric printing

 

Hi all.  Sick again from trying another Rx so no stitching to show.  I'm posting the new one under the Pear tab and wanted to show how I print on fabric.  I've tried the method of ironing the muslin onto freezer paper and it works, but I've had problems with the paper curling and jamming on occasion.  This is just easier for me.  The trick is not having the fabric in the top two inches of the paper since this is where the rollers first grab to pull it into the printer, and also not along the side edges. 
 
 
 I trim all hanging threads, position the muslin down a bit, and use the wide shipping tape across the entire top.  The bottom edge can be taped at the corners.  This is on card stock and the fabric has lightweight fusible interfacing on the back, but that's not necessary.  If you want to age the fabric, do it before printing.  I move the print down and do a plain paper print to check position before the fabric. 
 
 
 There are times that I want the backing to display an occasion's date or memory that is to large to stitch on a small piece, so this is my solution.  Colored print that matches the front looks good and I should have done this in a blue - but my mind failed me once again!  When sewing, I just put the fronts together and hold it up to a window which allows me to see both outlines to center it, pin, and baste.
If you would like to read the entire poem it is here.
Originally I stitched (680 gold) Never Forget in the light stripes, and had one leaf of navy/white stars fabric and another of red/taupe.  Looked nice, but not me.  But as I'm typing this...... never mind ...... too late.  I'll post both so you can decide.
Thanks for visiting - hope you like number 9.  Three more to go!
Stay safe.
 
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Apr 26, 2013

Winner!

Hi everyone.  This time, I put the names on folded strips and drew one.  It said Kathy.  I clicked her name and found her blog called Mood Swings!  How appropriate is that???  She featured the Spectacles Pocket from Primitive Traditions that I've always wanted and never remembered to purchase, and that fabulous scissor case from Barbara Bernard.   Thank you all for participating once again. 
After all the words and sentiments and starred and striped leaves, I decided to remove it all and change May's pear to my liking - plain.  Simple. Dusty colors. May is Memorial Day to me all month long.  The WWII generation has always had a place in my heart, and after bawling for two days of reading poems, I decided on bits of one by Eula Gladys Lincoln, printed on muslin, and used for the back.

 
 
It's smaller than the prior pears, completely filled with stitches, and goes really nice with my pinkeeps of similar color.
I'll list the poem, how I did the back, and the simple chart this weekend.
Do you remember my red boot story?  
 Once again, the township workers were driving by while I was in the driveway with these.  I just came from the cemetery after removing the candle from mom's birthday.  The grounds are very uneven and sopping wet, especially after yesterday's rain.  Seems I always have these cracked and disgusting boots on whenever they see me, even in the summer.  They already think I'm disturbed but at least I'm going down with red boots on.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Thank you again for participating in the offer, and I hope Kathy will be happy with the box.  And as always, thank you much for visiting!
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Apr 24, 2013

A better day

Greetings from a very wet Pennsylvania.  The bright side - it's not snow.  Yesterday was a day of mishaps starting with being rear-ended again by a distracted driver at a red light.  No damage, but any little head jerk sends the crazy bone feel back into my arms.  No numbness thank goodness.  Stopped at Giant Eagle to get my Slim-a-Bear klondikes that were on sale, and they were gone.  Rain check.  When I got home I decided to make a hole in the sofa's pile of floss and linen and didn't realize my tiny tiny needle sharp scissors were in the mix.  This was discovered when the point landed and embedded in the top of my foot.  When gathering the charts and papers, somehow they sliced me between the index and middle fingers where a bandaid is impossible.  The brats were sitting on the deck staring at the roofline so I assumed the woodpecker was tearing the siding.  When I stepped out onto the barn stone border and leaned a little too far to see, I tumbled into the soft needle pine tree which prevented me from hitting the ground.  As I composed myself and tried to pet Nitzy, he ripped the inside of my wrist trying to play with my bracelet's charm.  Need I go on?  You get the picture.  Any day I am still here to bitch is a good day but I was starting to get annoyed.

 Today made up for it all.  I received my package from Susan Hoover of Olde Threads.  She stitched Alice Trimble on osnaburg stuffed with sawdust and I am so thrilled.  I saw her work at my friend's home this Christmas and have watched her sales, hoping to nab something.  Anything!  Perfect timing because I love this design and the size.  Shirlee mentioned that she likes stitching on osnaburg also and I've decided to try it.  Love the look.  Now the sawdust thing - I have problems with.  When I stuffed a pinkeep, I had to be careful not to move it because a cloud of fine dust appeared.  Susan's could be thrown against a wall without a speck released!  Next time, I will try a double lining. 
 Check out these adorable tags.  I love primitive that isn't too cute or too grungy and these are just perfect.  I'm a happy girl!  Thank you so much Susan.   Mary Hazlehurst is ready at the framer.   AWARE (battered women shelter) was coming to pick up the dining set, dishes, tablecloths and other household items that I donated at Christmas and in my hurry to get home, I forgot Mary.  They have four beds in one room and it's really cramped, but are in need of a chest of drawers for the ladies' clothing.  I think I can find one for them.
No work has been done on what's-her-name because I'm still messing around with the pear. The basic design is the same in each but I kept adding a few words, changing them, changing them, changing them, and now - nothing.  I removed them!  Just couldn't make up my mind since I liked them all.
One other note.  My brother's black kitty - he was excited because he received a call from a girl wanting to take her that same day.  When the woman pulled up a few hours later, he recognized her from his security guard days at the hospital.  Severely disturbed and brought in to the psych ward often.  Her pets perish when she is held for lengths of time.  He donned a hat and sunglasses trying to disguise, made excuses, and she stormed out of the driveway and headed to our local shelter.  So sad, but this area no longer has facilities or homes for mentally ill who need supervision.
 I just accidentally wiped out the entire post - don't know what the heck I hit - but I found a remedy.  After the shock wore off, I hit the back arrow at the top of the post, and it all returned!!  I better stop before the day starts turning on me.
Have a great day - thank you for visiting!
 
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Apr 22, 2013

Thank you

Hi everyone. 
 Hope you are having a good start to an even better day.  Just a quick post to say thanks.  Your concern over my sister's situation meant a lot to me so I thought a little gift would be in order. 
I made a sampler box
lined it with a burlap postcard paper
finished it with my ratty looking paint style
and if you would like to enter the offer, please leave your name, initials, or email on this post only.  I will draw a name this Friday, 4/26, at 8pm EST.  I appreciate your words and visits and probably don't tell you enough.  Not being the kissy huggy type, it's par for the course.  But I want you to know that I really do appreciate your kindness and friendship.
A big thank you again!
 
 

Apr 21, 2013

For the online linen buyer

Greetings! 
 Looks good, huh?  I got it close enough, it doesn't have the hand-dyed variations or the stiffness of my original, but for small projects it's perfect.  This is an unbleached that I dyed because I am afraid to mess with the newest pieces.  They are already hand-dyed and not to be wet, so I may ruin it all by trying to dip in my colors.  I'm not sure what the plan will be for the last piece since its hand is too soft for me.  It's a beautiful fabric for sure, but I need to think about it.  I have many R&R hand-dyed colors and all are 30 count and fairly stiff, so I was puzzled by this softness and sheen.  If I would have printed out this information from Needle in a Haystack, I would have know.  But then again, I think I did and just don't know where it is. 
This information lists fabrics and their available counts, and what companies use which manufacturers for specific linens.  A great help to me because I can see which linen maker is used by each hand-dyed vendor.  The 28 count Rook I just received is very different in feel from the 30 count and checking this chart, I see that the two counts are from different companies.  The 28 count hand-dyed R&R is from Zweigart, and their 30 count is Northern Cross.  Since each has their own characteristics this explains why one is softer, and their base color would be different also.  This page lists the standard cut dimensions and the characteristics of the different linens.  Reading this told me which linen is soft, stiff, fine thread vs. thick, and really helps those of us ordering online that would like to know the hand of the linen.   I'm remembering now that I posted this once so I must have copies somewhere.  I'll print again and this time store the info in my floss box lid.  Sorry if I'm repeating repeating myself!
 
That's all I have this morning.  I already broke up two cat fights and my warrior ended up with a bunch of hair in his mouth, so I'm assuming he bit her really hard.  Honestly, I thought neutering would alleviate this but it hasn't at all.  He needs a pill.  Or maybe some soy milk for a little estrogen.  I can't get near this new cat and believe she is pregnant, or a fat male that someone dropped off.  Whatever, it does NOT want to fight, just eat, so I hid a dish in the woods which the crows are devouring.  I can't win!  My brother's little solid black is getting fixed in two weeks but we can't find a home for her or an agency to take her.  As all areas, they are beyond capacity.
Enjoy your Sunday, stay safe, and thanks for visiting.
 
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Apr 20, 2013

Wasting more money

Hi everyone.  Hope your weekend is going well.  No progress to show on ....????....what the heck is her name?  Who am I working on?  You know - the long one in the last post.  I'm so flustered I can't remember her name but I know what she looks like!   She's very long and the piece of linen I'm using for her was already cut, so I had to remove the top border and several rows of letters which took two evenings to do.  I would have had enough fabric to just move further down and start over, but not if I want a fringed bottom.  What's-her-name is all cleaned up and I started her once again, this time minus the top border AND - with the charted colors which is why I removed the prior stitching.  She'll be bright, but Mary Moseley surprised me when completed because I liked the bright colors, so I'll try again.   What has me upset is my second attempt at Rook.  The seller was very nice and scanned the fabric for me so I could see the color.  It looked similar, but you know our computers lie.  So I received it today, and once again, absolutely no where near my loved olive brown.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The bottom one is the first order, the top piece is the second.  This one is very pinkish taupe and not stiff or coarse like the others.  I'm done.  No more ordering online except for the basic neutral or unbleached.  I don't have a local shop but have a vast array of dyes.  Of course it won't be the same and I really didn't want to start this again, but I've wasted enough money.  It's no one's fault, it's just the way it is.  The seller included a small swatch of another color with my order and since I know for sure what it will look like, I'm ordering a piece of that color.
On another note, the cat that has been creating a problem here is sitting in the back yard staring at the house and it appears to have quite a belly.  Probably another pregnant young female.  Trying to help her with these other wild brats chasing her will be a challenge.
I worked up the design for the next pear this morning and will stitch it this evening and tomorrow.  Hopefully, it will look like I expect it to and I won't have to come up with another!
Thank you for visiting and enjoy your weekend.
Stay safe.
 
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