Lazy Daisy/Busy Bees

Hiya.  How's everyone?  Hot?  If you already know the Lazy Daisy stitch (which most of you do) and you're not interested in seeing the reckless stitcher's version,  you won't learn anything by reading further.

Lazy Daisy                                            Busy Bees                             

                                                                

 I tried to follow the chart's uneven petals.  Some times it's harder to follow a reproduction than a more complicated new sampler.  Remember the completed sampler I bought?  This is it.  Very nicely stitched on linen for only $25 which I thought was reasonable!  It was the only one she had (myoldejunque on eCrater) but she had tons of magazines and older books for crochet, knitting, needlework.

On to the laziness.

I start with my usual loop knot and run it under the floss of a stitch on the back.

Come up through the fabric leaving a large loop of floss and insert the needle back down into the same hole but don't pull the floss through.

 Bring the needle up through the fabric again with the same motion, in the spot you want the petal to end, making sure the floss is under the needle, not on top.

Now pull the floss but not so tight that you don't have a loop.

Secure the loop by going down into the next hole in the fabric.

 

Lazy Daisy - right or wrong. Then do it again.

 

 

That's it!

 

 

Between the air compressor coming on every five minutes and scaring the heck out of me, the nail gun, the saws, the dust, and the heat, I'm not in the mood to do much of anything.

I'll stitch more this evening. 

 I just noticed that the above photo on the left showing part of the house looks like the stitches are crossed in different directions.  So I kept enlarging the photo to see if that was the case.   I have the stitched piece right next to me, why am I straining to check the photo?  Anyway, here's a close up and they are crossed the same, but some being stitched horizontally and others vertically must be the illusion in the other photo.

They're almost done with the floor now and he'll be back tomorrow for the doorway and electrical.  His son came with him today and he may be the guy to make the corner unit since Ed doesn't have time.  We'll see.

I also have to apologize for not reading and commenting on your blogs.  With everything going on, I try to keep my free time for stitching and avoid the computer.  Except for Pinterest which gets me in more trouble than usual.

Take care and stay safe.

Thanks for visiting!

 

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Progress, but no donuts

Greetings!!!  First off, the cats want to know what that bright light is.  Sun!!!  Finally an end to the rains and humidity.

Missy feels pretty good about it.

Progress on the house project.  After waiting two weeks Ed is finally coming Monday to start the flooring so we had it delivered today.  We planned on bringing it into the dining room but the delivery man said it's over 2000# - don't do that!

We ordered 6-10 foot lengths instead of the smaller piece bundles.  We got everything ready for him since he is so far behind.

 

Also making progress on stitching.  These simple to do vines are on both sides and the bottom so I 'm getting excited.  I changed 3011 to 3012 in the flowers.  I saw a kit (can't remember which) that contained 36 count linen and a 26 needle.  Hmmm.  I thought that required a 28 needle.  So I went down to 24 for my 30 count, just to see how I like it.  I had quite a time of it trying to secure the floss ends on the back.  The needle was a little too large to go under the threads.  Back to 26.  If you take a good look at the house, you can see where I changed direction.  I use the sewing method and over the bottom window on the left, you can see how it looks like the rows are off a little.  I stitched vertical rows and the rest horizontal.  Yes I know that's another needlework rule that I fail to follow.  Been there before, and I run the eye of the needle, letter opener, bone folder, ruler edge, little screwdriver, nail file, my nail, laying tool between the rows in one direction and it usually solves the problem.  Strange isn't it, how the same exact thread and same stitch can look different depending on direction?  Sort of like the nap on velvet. Well I did it, I'm not sorry, and I'll do it again. The top windows were all done vertically between them and the very top horizontal.   OK, quit looking for more.

I was waiting for snap rings before I offer a few tags, and check this out.  The package (which are 89 cents for 2) states 1".  So I ordered 1" in bulk online to get them a little cheaper.  Here's what their 1" is like compared to the others.  Looks a bull's nose ring.  So now what?  Do you care if the ring is larger?  Should I quit offering the rings?  Do you use them? 

 

Oh my, I just had a hot flash and my head picked up like a buck smelling a doe, but it was a donut that I was looking for.  Damn.  I ate the last one.

And finally, in my stash tossing I found this.  I lined the inside of the tiny drawers with a heavy red cardstock and I plan on painting/distressing the piece, and adding old gold lettering in 24, 26, and 28 on each drawer for needles.  Sounds like a good plan, but I think I should put a few needles in and see if my fat crooked finger can retrieve them from these tiny drawers first.

 

I have to run over to my sister's and let her have my car for the day so I best be moving.

Thanks for visiting!

Enjoy the weekend and stay safe.

 

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Some progress is better than none

Hi everyone.  Hope your week started off great!  First off, I added two Ewe & Eye house designs, Goode Huswife's Sibley Hall, and Notforgotten's Halloween Queen to the Ebay offer.  I happened to find them in another file and the other charts I wanted to sell are still MIA.  Both winners of my kit giveaway have received them and were kind enough to let me know that they are pleased.  Thank you both!  Don't forget about Ann's basket drawing this Friday.

Eliza's house is completed except for the roof fill and I think I will use the 632 color as recommended.  I'm glad I changed the house to the darker yellow instead of the 3046 that you see in the eyelet and rice stitch border.

Satin stitched flowers on vines will be next and I'm hoping it goes fast.   Choosing the next project should be considered now since it will take me a while to decide.  Ed is coming Monday (finally) to start installing the floor but he is so busy, I doubt that he will be able to make the corner cupboard/pantry that I want.  Haven't heard back from kitchen guy but I've made a decision on the re-do.  I have no intentions to spend upwards of 20 grand for a kitchen that will be almost what I have now.   I contacted my cabinet manufacturer and they will ship the cupboard doors to me, to my specs, and I will have the cabinet boxes made.

We had torrential rains again last night and I think our garden will be a bust this year.  One of the reasons, is the gang of four.

They have never eaten tomato plants before, but hoof prints don't lie.  They seem to enjoy the jalapeno plants too.  I hate it when animals in my yard have bigger racks than I do.

The sun is coming out but I still can't sit outside because our furniture is soaked and hasn't been able to dry out with the humidity.  I'll do my 15 minutes of stitching and half hour breaks indoors with a bag of Dove chocolate to wash down the Advil.

Thanks for visiting - enjoy your day - stay safe.

 

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Going back home

No stitching.  Just sadness.

A moment of silence and a tribute to 19 young men.

 

  

Rest in Peace.

 

Not the kind of hot body you want

Greetings!  Hope everyone is having an enjoyable weekend.  I haven't been reading blogs or news or much of anything because my neck is being uncooperative and my hands are tingly.  Listings on Ebay took two days because of taking breaks.  This condition acts up every once in a while, and the pain and restriction doesn't allow me to look down, stitch, read, or computerize (new word?).  Not sure if that's a word, but I am disheartened to see that Merriam-Webster has not added menobrain, menomaniacal, hysterectobelly, or any other of my female related words. 

 Making two batches of cupcakes this morning for my and my nephew's combined birthday dinner went well.  He's 43, a Type I diabetic with an insulin pump implant, and a volunteer fireman.  I'm 62, a Type A personality without implants (but needed), and I volunteer my opinions.  I finally remembered to put the batter bowl in the sink when using the mixer so I had no tiny splatters on the wall to clean.  One batch is French vanilla, the other dark chocolate made with coffee instead of water.  Bakery purchased whipped cream icing from my freezer.  Never without that! 

 

Because some of you requested the Ebay date, I'll mention that they have all been listed and my ID is early-works.  You should find them here.  Not a lot, but here's what is offered....

Village Square - Mary Allen 1818 - Samplers Remembered
1809 Frances Eden -Handwork Samplers
The Ideal Landscape Sampler -Scarlet Letter
Charlott Steer 1836 -Essamplaire
Sheldon Hawks- Goode Huswife
Ann Green 1800 -Threads of Gold
Scrub Pine Sampler-Barrick
Exampler #10- Kingsland (1991)
Prairie Schooler - Home for Christmas (1987)
Prairie Schooler card - Amish Life (1985)
Happy Christmas -Notforgotten Farm
Medieval Angels-Mary Beale
Medieval Angel stocking card - Mary Beale
Sheepish Designs -Little Lambs
Allegheny Santa -Boyd (1988)
Tomten (Scandinavian Santa)-MaJor Presentations (1990)
Christmas Remembered -Leisure Arts (1987)
Christmas Gentlemen -Leisure Arts (1989)

I was very surprised to see that Ebay does not allow checks or money orders nor can the seller state in the listing that they would accept them.  Not fair.  What doesn't sell will be pitched posted here.

Our temperatures have been high and extremely muggy.  When you open the door it's like opening a sauna.  My flashes have been unbearable and I don't know if the weather has triggered intensity or the meds.  I am back to men's t-shirts and men's knit athletic shorts.  Long and loose.  Anything else sticks to my velcro body.  So this weekend I decided to throw in the towel. 

We had lots of unusable wood, limbs, and burnables so I just sat in front, fed the fire, and didn't feel any different.  I guess I was trying to tell my hormones that there is a force hotter than they are.  They scoffed.  And rebelled.

 

 

 

 

 

There's no way I can use any heat treatments on my neck because that also triggers a flash, ice packs make it tighten even more, and my TENS unit died.  It will eventually loosen.  I'm so anxious to finish Eliza!  The house is almost completed because fill-in stitching doesn't require constant head movement to check the chart.  I have my feet on the edge of the sofa, and the sampler draped over my knees to make it eye level.  Not a pretty sight.

That's about all I can handle for now.  I see that I've been blessed with new followers!  Welcome to all of you and thank you all so much for wanting to visit.  I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Stay safe..........and cool!

 

 

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Freedom and a coloring tip

Happy 4th!  Enjoy the celebrations and picnics, appreciate your freedom, display our flag, and be safe!

My marigolds are doing well in some places, and others, not so much.  Could be the weather.

We spent yesterday morning with the cabinet man and although he is excellent, I'm not happy.  On his initial house visit, he was OK with my plans that were to tweak existing and add additional cabinets, not replace the entire kitchen.  Now, he is telling me that an entire custom kitchen would be cheaper than just tweaking and is trying to convince me to rip out my cabinets and start over.   

On the way back home we stopped at James Creek and I bought this 18" tall wall cabinet for only $15.  I have some clean play sand and will paint, toss the sand, paint again, and scrape this for a more primitive finish.    I've changed a few things on Eliza's house and still can't believe I am enjoying the bright colors.

 

Stitching bud Carol gave me her tip for coloring the areas of charts that are difficult to follow.  Instead of using the highlighter pens which are limited in colors, she uses these colored pencils that twist to close and no sharpening necessary.  Great idea isn't it?  You can find them in different size packs where the Crayola section is, near the office supplies in Walmart.  Thanks Carol!

Don't forget to enter Ann's giveaway - link is at the top right.

Enjoy your day - stay safe - wave your flag!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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