Affluenza?

 

Are you kidding me?   Are we going to make up words to fit upbringing and allow young people to have absolutely no consequence to their actions?  I wonder if Judge Jean Boyd (Texas) would have let him off if it was her daughter or three other family members that were killed by a 16 year old who was taught that money means you are not accountable. It's not even a condition recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.  I'm sorry.  I just get more and more livid over the lack of responsibility in this country. 

 

Just wanted to tell you that there are four boxes shown on the box page, and they will be for sale Saturday morning at 10 am.   I probably will not post at that time so if you are interested, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.  OK?  I don't want to upset anyone again.

The giveaway is going very well by using separate pages!  I'll have to keep this in mind for future offers. 

That's all.  On fire from flash and anger.  A good time to go outside in 20 degrees and burn papers.  I don't have to worry about my hair getting singed this time.  It's like menopause threw another switch and my wild hair is all of a sudden, flat, straight, soft, and yucky.  What's next?

Some of you liked the brown jugs that were in the last post. Many of them have chips but several of my favorites are perfect.  It's time to make some changes and I want them in rooms where I can see them often.  Here's the collection.

My favorites are the two in the middle of the middle shelf, and the 3 gallon to the left of the basket.

 

 

  We saw Ed a few days ago and he is too busy to come back anytime soon, so I'll just pick up the crown moulding and registers from the floor and move them elsewhere until after the holidays.

 

I'm finally starting a sampler tonight and have three four five in mind.  Decisions, decisions.  They range from very large to small.  Small would be the better choice, but they are all kitted and ready.

Have a wonderful weekend and a safe Friday the 13th!

Thanks for taking time to visit.

 

 

 

Who wants a Schooler chart?

Greetings from once again covered with white crap PA.  Before I forget - to Kathy who requested info on the large Postman Santa - you are no-reply so I couldn't send a close-up.  But a larger photo and the source is on the Stitcher's Christmas page under my header.  Now.  Here's the confusing stuff.  I told you that Connie generously offered some of our favorite Schooler Santa charts to me and said to offer them to others if I had duplicates.  Well, I do, so I will.  Here's the catch - with that same spirit, you must pass the charts on to other stitchers when you're done. These are books 43, 53, 58, and 62.

I would like to have 4 separate drawings because many of you already have one or more.  Having you specify the book you would like won't help because Random may draw 4 names that want the same.  So I'm listing one book on one page.  Under the header photo, click on the BOOK # tab to see each one and leave your comment on the page of the book you would like.  Geez I hope this works.  If it doesn't, I'll start over with individual offers.  Don't forget your initials if you're anonymous or no-reply!!

 

In others news, I have an A&E and a lamb box left, and I think I will make two more and offer them this weekend.  I will do a post when they are ready if anyone is interested.

I got an email from Maureen in Canada, who used one of my pear designs to stitch (in silk) eleven different colors for her assistants' gifts.  Beautiful!  Thank you Maureen!

  I loved this design many years ago from Barbara Bourgeau Richards and had it custom framed, but am tired of it.  Still love the big hipped family though.  Pierogis and pasta?  Or Mounds bars?

 

And this is Niky's little free chart that I mentioned.  So quick.  I'm not sure how I will finish it.  And that's about it.  I have some other Santa cards to offer but it's too much right now so I'll wait.  I want to thank Connie again for offering these charts.  You will make several stitchers very happy Connie!!!  And remember - pay it forward.

That's all folks. 

 I got my little parlor cleaned out and found some of my smalls stuck in a basket.  Floss is all back in the floss box and linen (that was thrown everywhere) is ready to be sorted and returned to the drawers.  The only thing I never misplace is my Dove with almonds.  And my yellow car.

Thank you for visiting!

Enjoy the coming weekend.

 

Simpler...

but still too much.  And I left two trees in the attic!   My trees are small, the biggest is the six foot with the Santas, but it's still becoming a real chore to decorate them.  Do you follow the same scheme every year?  I think if I did, it would be a lot easier than changing things every year.  Next year may be fresh greens on cupboard doors and shelves, pomanders, no trees.  Who am I kidding.

 

This little tree was a tall alpine last year and I pulled the trunk off the stand, cut a foot off, trimmed the branches by several inches, and I like it now.  With all the PS Santas on one tree, I simplified the mantel this year.  Instead of spreading the other smalls around, I hung them from the large basket.

How?  These are all .... what the heck do you call little puffy things that can't hang ..... tucks?  Pillows?  Little puffy things? 

This is how I hang my stitchery because I'm always changing my mind and don't want to have sewn in hangers showing.  But for the basket, this was easier.  The safety pin is vertical and I can use the wire hooks which are easily bent to the height I need.  The further down on the back, the flatter it hangs.  Such an easy no sew way to allow changes.  And I'm all about changes.

 
 
 
 

I started stitching Niky's little free design that you can find here. So small and quick and cute.  I need something like that before I start a sampler.   I want to order her Primitive Christmas pattern too, but as usual, I procrastinate.

 I have all the gifts bought and finally found a cup holder for my cousin's wheelchair that is stable and sturdy, plus other accessories to make it easier for her.  I had everything shipped direct to CA so that's taken care of.

I can't wait until Frazier is back on at night and Lucy in the morning.  The new comedies are not funny to me.  I guess I'm just old, but their situations and constant mention of smoking weed are so gratuitous and really not funny.  Give me Frazier and Raymond and Seinfeld and MASH and Cheers, back when writers had talent and networks didn't have agendas.  I wish Hallmark would run Gleason's Honeymooners once in a while.  Yes, I'm old!

 

Thank you all for taking time to visit and welcome to new followers!

Hope your week is going well.

 

 

 

Santa tree

Hiya.  Regarding the prior post, I have no idea how the tiny bit of bleach will affect the floss in years to come.  I'm assuming it will be OK since it was just touched lightly, but you never know!  By the time it deteriorates, I may be gone.  If not, I'll stitch them again on linen.  So the correct answer to daredevil or stupid, won't be known for a while.  Stitching white after staining is the best practice, but these are 20 years old and I wanted to darken the light green fabric.  Removing the stuffing and dunking in cold water would certainly be a good idea, but I'm lazy. Anything other than a full rinse would allow the bleach to seep to the fabric.   But if I rinse them, the coffee stain will change too. Actually, taking them apart wouldn't be a bad idea because back then, I didn't use fusible interfacing and the difference between these and my recent finishes is huge.  I really prefer the structure and firm feel of the fusible and should do that.  Later.  And here they are with the others.

All Prairie Schoolers topped with a Mary Beale wreath, rusty stars and bells.

Unlit

 

With lights.

 

 Other than a few sprigs of greenery here and there, I'm done.

Thanks for visiting!

Daredevil or stupid?

Hiya.  I know I've made some of you cringe before, but this may top them all.  When I coffee stained my old light sage Aida Santas, I was happy with the change.  My first attempt and I got a little sloppy with the stain.  Just as with inkpad aging, a light touch with a brush gives more control.  I either dabbed or sprayed the coffee and made somewhat of a mess.  I'm still practicing with the inkpad and found that the first contact is very dark so I touch the brush to a scrap piece one time after swiping the inkpad and it works better for me.  It also came off for me with the stamp cleaner but needs to be washed or dabbed with a little soap so the cleaner doesn't leave a mark.  Getting complicated isn't it?  Well think about this!  Clorox!  Yep.  Here they are before...

And here they are after...

 

I did the whole group and although I love aging (not my own - my stitchery), I like to see contrast of light threads, especially on Santa.

 

Here's what I did.  Using a Q-tip, I lightly moistened the end, pulled the tip, cut off the excess, and rolled the fuzz for a tight end.   By not having a lot of cotton on the tip, it can't hold much liquid, and I had more control with it narrower. Then I dipped it in straight bleach, not enough to have it sopping wet, just touched it to the small amount I poured into the bottle's cap.  Very gently and lightly, went over the stitches.   Since they are raised from the fabric and the cotton tip is moistened, not dripping wet, the bleach didn't touch the fabric or spread to other threads.  I even used a toothpick that was dipped to touch the top of the stitch in areas like these..

I can see in this photo that I didn't get all the stitches.  They are so close to the fabric color that I missed them, but they're fine.  The cuffs and hems which contain reds and greens in these designs, did not change.  The tip needs to be twisted to tighten often so no stray fuzz touches anywhere else. I almost made a large error by not realizing that the bleach was on my fingertips every time I twisted.  But I caught that before I made any finger spots on the pieces.  So there you go.  Another reckless maneuver that came out well!

I had planned on stitching them again on linen but they were my first Santas, and are a reminder to the days when it was all new to me.  I've decided to hang them with all the others, including my recent finishes, one one tree instead of scattered on several.  That's tomorrow.  Being a reckless daredevil wore me out.

 

Thanks for visiting!!

 

 

A sampler and a song

Greetings to all!  I hope your weekend is going better than expected.  I have snow again so you know how crabby I am.  I did the sewing to complete my latest projects and then tried a little decorating.  Again.  And once this idea popped into my noggin, the engine started.  Decorate around the samplers and don't be concerned about Santas.  This is more me.

And I absolutely love this.  I took a large round mache box, covered it in one of my unframed pieces, filled it with dried fruits, and happy happy happy.  This is my gray tree.  All tin, or gray metals.

My other Schooler Santas were moved to the 3' tree in another room and I hung the heavy snowmen and Santas on the four foot. 
And my finish for the larger green Santa included a tassel for his hat and I added the recommended cinnamon stick bundle.

I woke up with a cold and plan on putzing with decorating the rest of the day.  Just when I put all the boxes away and decided not to do more, the samplers sucked me in.  Most of my smalls and unframed pieces are still packed away from the drywall dust but I will be tearing through those today.  I miss seeing Dorothy Allen and others. 

I may have three boxes for sale if Barb doesn't let me know by tomorrow if she still wants them.

And I received a fabulous package of Santa charts (some of your favorite Schoolers) from Connie.  Her generosity may spill over to you!  She asked that the charts I can't use be passed to stitchers that could.  More on that this week.

Thanks for the kind words regarding my cousin.  She and her sister live in Minnesota so I don't see them often.  She asked her sister not to tell us that she has been having some problems in the last two years and Pat honored that which is why we were so stunned by the news.

 With all the Christmas music playing, it's easy to have one get stuck in your mind.  Mine is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Sinatra, Taylor, Garland, Carpenter - anyone's!
I have my own version so hum the tune while you read my version.

Have yourself a merry little menopausal Christmas

Let your mood be blue

From now on, your hormones

have control and rule

Have yourself a menopausal Christmas

Make the yuletide fun

From now on, your emotions

tend to sharpen your tongue

Here we are in our olden days

Sane and youthful days long gone

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Now do fear us and move on

Through the years, we all will be together

If the mood allows

Hang a hormone patch upon the highest bough

And have yourself a menopausal Christmas, now

Here we are in the Santa line
With our wishlist in bold pen
Youthful dreams dancing in our heads
of tighter skin and estrogen

Through the years, we'll all become impatient

Fighting tears somehow

Hang a warning sign upon the highest bough

I'm having myself a menopausal Christmas, now

Back to decorating.  Maybe more later!
Enjoy your Sunday, stay safe, thank you for visiting.