Beards

Greetings.  How's 2014 treating you so far? 

 While putting the Christmas decorations away, I got a laugh from these.  I painted them over 20 years ago and found a likeness to today's reality stars.  In fact, I think one looks like Phil!  I rarely painted cute Santas.

Then I moved on to wrap this Mosey 'n Me design for another year.  My SIL stitched this (she loved purple) and I don't remember if I showed you how she displayed many of her seasonal stitches.  Hemmed bottom and sides, top hem stitched to hold a thin dowel rod, hemp cord tied to the edges.  For any size piece, this is a really nice method for seasonal wall display without the expense of framing.  Some she lined with muslin, others buckram backed or interfaced, and some with no backing as is this piece. 
 I wanted to show you his beard.  I like this look!  It's fuzzy like Kit Kin, Whisper, or something similar.  Love the eyebrows and little bead eyes.

We are freezing here - much of this area of the country is also.  The cats are snuggled down in their thick pads and sherpa but came in to have a bite.  Missy is so quiet and quick.  I had to remove her from my craft closet and I don't know if the wild will ever leave her and her son. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can pet her to some degree and pick her up when need be, but not without a fight.  I don't know what she hit but one of the three scratches turned half my wrist black and blue.  I rinsed and applied Neosporin so I'm not concerned.  My wrists and ankles are fat enough without swelling but it never fails - that's where I always get bruises.  
So how am I doing on Two Horses?  Not good.  I'm stuck.  Should I continue or change to a lower count with 2 threads, or consider doing the design over one?  WHAT?  Did I say that?  Yes I did.  For some reason I want this piece small so I just may attempt an entirely over one project, even though I avoid any designs with even small areas of it.  At least I will have two different counts started so if over one hits the firepit, I can always pick up where I left off with over two.  It's possible I can handle it because lately, mood swings haven't been dramatic.  Until today.  As I was putting my sweet little trees away, covering them before moving to the attic, the menowitch appeared.  These trees are not easy to find so I am careful when handling.  That is, until their little branches are in the way, sticking out and catching on the cover, poking me in the face, frustrating me until I want to rip their little arms off.  The ornaments are not individually wrapped or carefully packed.  They were shifting around in a large box as it was being thrown into the attic, smacking into the trees, causing them to fall like dominoes, and there they were.  Little green arms sticking out.  How quickly I can go from a fairly nice person to a vindictive witch.  But I've only had one snarky day this year which is pretty good.
 

Hope you're enjoying the weekend. 

Thanks for visiting.

A dizzy broad

  Hello to you.  If you're waiting for an email reply, I'm a little behind.  I lost my equilibrium which happens every so often, but am fine today.  Gives new meaning to As the World Turns.  I would rather experience pain than be dizzy.  Antivert knocks me out but really helps.  So here I am.  With another decision! 

First off, look what I got from  Michelle at Fanatics's!  Remember my gourd spoons and bowl?  Well looky here.  Don't you love this gourd vase?  I do.  Lots.  Thanks to Michelle for such wonderful and personal customer service.

 

While I was playing with it, I was holding Random in my hand, ready to take it upstairs to my sewing room.  (I was afraid it would be accidentally packed away with the Christmas stitchery.)  As I stood admiring my vase, I was sort of wringing and rolling the folded sampler, set it down to adjust the berries in the vase and voilà!   Instant decision!

This will make a fabulous drum pinkeep!  Never attempted one before so I will be searching online for tips.  It will be 5 1/2" tall and 3" across.  Perfect!  NOW I like this design and think it's fabulous for this type of finish.   Strange how it came about, but I actually made two decisions in two days so this year is off to a great start.  Well... not in everything.  But missing two days of exercise in the year still isn't bad.

 

Thank you for still being concerned about Carole (sis), and she is still doing fine.  Sodium intake drastically reduced, her water intake is limited to 32 oz per day, she has lost almost 10# in one week.  She got her car back, but once again the luge track driveway is glimmering with ice.  We got hammered with snow again.  Regarding her A-fib, I received an email from Steve Ryan directing me to their site with loads of answers and information about this condition.  How nice of him!  If anyone is interested you can click here to go directly to the site.  As for my young cousin who has entered a nursing home, she is waiting to go home.  It's not going to happen and we are still stunned and sick about it. 

I started Two Horses and am not happy with it.  The single thread over two on 35 count doesn't have the coverage of two threads on a lower count.  I changed the horse color from 938 to 3031 and can't distinguish the mane and tail color from the body.  Not sure what I will do.

 

Until then, have a wonderful snow free day!

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

Should I keep it?

Happy New Year all!  Hope everyone enjoyed the eve in their favorite way.

  I'm finishing my morning coffee with a stomach ache from too much Panettone.  Since the Mounds bars incident(s) I have gained quite a bit.  Exercise and I do not get along since I am out of breath within minutes, which means I really need to get in shape.  So my plan is to start and stick with it and I'm doing pretty good. 

So far this year, I've only missed one day.

Went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and fell in love with this galvanized piece at 50% off.  I like industrial along with my usual primitive taste, but I questioned my purchase once home.  The tag will stay on until I decide.  Since you already know how indecisive I am, you would certainly understand why I am the Queen of Returns.

 

 

On a dresser or night table?  In my craft room of no more room?  Mixed in with some treen pieces?  Rust it?  One decision was made this year!  It will be Two Horses.  I started it on 32 count and decided I would prefer the piece to be smaller and 35 is the highest count I have.  I don't even know if I could stitch on 40. 

 Some of my 32 counts are so thick I can't get the needle through easily so they are out.  They shrunk when I was dyeing/drying and are really tight.  Others have that weird weave that I've shown before - thick/thin threads.  I only see the thick, not the thin, and for some reason my eyes are seeing diagonal weave.  I look for little square cubes when stitching over two threads but can't envision that here.  Confusing to stitch on (for me) and the needle has difficulty coming up through when using the sewing method as I prefer.  The needles that had really sharp points are gone since I kept pricking myself.

 

I have several smaller pieces of 35 count but only one is the shade I'm looking for.  I'll start the design over (yes I changed a few colors) this evening after my family leaves.  Yep.  Pork and kraut in the crocker - cats in the chairs - snow on the ground - more on the way. 

 

Enjoy the first day of 2014!

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

 

 

2013 in stitches

This may be all of them, it may not be all of them!  And of course, they are not in order as to finish dates. As I looked back to find the year's projects, I saw my Interview with a Stitcher and don't even remember doing that!  Now that's scary.  The funeral procession photos of the firefighters lost in that horrific incident made me stop and remember them.  I also looked at my Pinterest album of needlework and found samplers I would like to stitch or an antique I would love to re-create in my own way, and once again, forgot about.   How much I would be missing if not for technology!  But I would give it all up in exchange for a sharp mind and good memory. 

 

Best wishes to all of you for a very good 2014.

Thank you so much for taking time to visit with me.

Whether you have a blog or just read them, we all participate in some way and bring knowledge, experience, inspiration, encouragement, and support.

Thank you.

 

Random

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective, lacking any definite plan or prearranged order; haphazard.  This definition of random pertains to much of my days.  How's yours?  Ending the year with relief that it's over or sorry to see a good year pass? 

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS - SHEEPISH DESIGNS

 

Here's the completed sampler with subtle ink aging.  I'm still not crazy about it but once I folded it back to framing size, I think it's more appealing.  I may look for a basket or box to use for display but if not, will frame the piece.  The initials and date areas were filled in with motifs and there are quite a few color changes.  I like the way the upright cross (a.k.a. my lazy queen) looks! Certainly different than my usual sampler project, and I would prefer motifs in a larger piece mixed with more verse or letters. 

 

Haven't chosen a new project yet. So many samplers I'd like to stitch and so difficult to decide on one.  Right now, these two smalls are in the running.  Always wanted to do Two Horses and the SL Miniature is so different.  It is to be stitched over one which finishes at 2 1/2" x 3 1/4".  Can I do that?  Probably not.  Over two threads would be double in size, still small. I think it will be the horses.

 Lots of returns and bill paying today, doc visits, and such.  Tomorrow will be a little shopping and apple pie making for a visit with my aunt.  My sister will have my car again but Mark is off this week so I still have wheels.  It's time for me to start working on the kitchen and order my sink, faucets, stove, and counter top.  I sure hope Ed will be around for the finish carpentry skills needed but I'm not counting on that.  The cabinets will be made in the next few weeks and that damn Pinterest has me thinking about more changes.

 

Enjoy the last day of 2013.

Thanks for visiting!

Note to Paula - I can't reply to your request - you are no-reply.  To answer - yes I will be doing more boxes and if you would prefer to place a small order, please email.

 

The Queen and I

Greetings!  Thank you once again for your concern about sis.  Her fib left, came back briefly, then left.  My mom had her dual chamber pacemaker "installed" during her fib which never stopped.  That chamber's lead wire never did get a chance to work!  My brother is plagued with this and has meds to control the episodes which usually work.  I have brief episodes and my sister's are lasting longer.  We're a fib family.  Fluid in the lungs and the inability to get enough air is terrifying, especially to a claustrophobic patient.  But it also brings back dad's panic and terror in the horrible two weeks he slowly suffocated because a pulmonary specialist didn't recognize a pulmonary embolism.  Enough. 

As you know, the Queen and I do not get along.  I've tried, believe me.  But she is stubborn and demanding and the two of us just can't make it work since I'm the exact opposite, regardless of what others say.  In this sampler, there are only a few queen stitches but I chose to make up my own. 

 

The square cross can't be substituted for the distinctive diamond shape so I just made an upright cross over two.  I tried that shape by overlapping threads but it was too thick and I kind of like the way this looks.  I've never come across a design that utilizes this stitch now that I'm thinking about it.   I have a Scarlet Letter project with a border completely done in queens I've been avoiding.  I guess this would work and go rather quickly.  Usually I try an eyelet stitch in a diamond but I didn't want to bother here.  Why?  Simple.  I don't like this sampler.  There.  I said it.  Be it the bird, the motifs with colors that didn't make sense (and I changed), or the entire piece.  I just don't like it.  It's finished and I will add some aging and ink for definition of the light threads, but I doubt if that will change my mind.

Mary Ann Hoover from Essamplaire was on Ebay tonight and with 30 seconds left it was $10.00.  YAY!!  I put my bid in and it wasn't even accepted because $45.55 was entered with a few seconds left.  Damn.  Isn't she a beauty?  Even though there are several areas of over one, I was smitten.  It's available as a kit with silk threads, but I never purchase kits.  Don't like working with silk and I prefer choosing my linen.  I will be browsing their site again after this.

 

Tonight I will think about the next project.  I decided to leave the other Santas for next year so I can have seasonal pieces to work on.  I could pretend I'm contemplating large sampler, small sampler, a small stuffed, but who would I be kidding?  It's usually what hits me in the final hour, or what I find on the floor under a piece of furniture.

I hope this final weekend of 2013 was enjoyable for you.  I'm not a big fan of New Year's Eve.  Never did party except for get togethers at a friend's house and don't do that anymore either.  It's just changing a number to remind us we are a year older.  Yes, I'm a stick in the mud, as they say.  My stick is heavy from Christmas cookies and the mud is getting deeper.

Stay safe - thanks for visiting!