My God-wink

Hello people.  Are you having as warm and sunny a day as I am?  My garage floor will be cleaned of the gravel, salt, and road spit from this long snowy winter.  Tomorrow, snow, and freezing rain are forecast but today, working outside will be a blessing.  This post has nothing to do with stitching, just a note of how sometimes, things fall into place perfectly.  My MN cousin that is in a facility because of early dementia, loves butterflies and the color pink.  I always felt that those who believe they are not heard or can't understand why they are not in control, benefit from writing their feelings in a personal journal.  While returning a pair of shoes at TJMaxx, I decided to use the restroom at the back of the store.

 As I passed through the aisles, I couldn't believe what I saw.  A beautiful, soft, pink journal and next to it, a note card of gold glitter with a butterfly in pinks.  Who sent me down this aisle to see them?  They could not be more perfect for her.  I got a chill thinking she must need them or I wouldn't have been led to them.  When I got home, I used a thinned coat of ModPodge over the glitter (which isn't dry yet in this photo) so it doesn't end up everywhere, and I will include a little frame in her gift box.

 As I laid the items on the table, the sun came through the window and hit the card.  Oh my.  It turned into a glorious sparkle of many colors and is just gorgeous!  The colors change with each angle and we've all seen this before, but I held it and turned it and watched the colors change like a little kid.  More importantly, it made me smile.  I hope it will do the same for Sandy.

 

Wishing you a day filled with color and sparkles,

a smile and a God-wink.

 

 

 

 

 

Dirty books

Happy Monday, if that's possible.  It is. 

 Any day we are still here to complain is a happy day. 

I've had these fabric covered journals for years but their bright fabrics were too much.  Yesterday when trying to rid the house of clutter, I came across my pan for dyeing with the Rit bottles inside.  My journals were on the pile of .. I want but don't use.  Hmmm.  I mixed two dark colors and started brushing it on.  Didn't work.  Remember the sofa I want to dye and haven't yet?  The protective sizing on most all fabrics needs removed in order to accept the dye.  I mixed a little Dawn with water and sprayed the sofa, and had to do the same with the journals.  I still plan on testing a taupe shade on the back of the sofa.  After the fabric dried, it worked, so I brushed on the dye, dapped excess, and put them in front of small heater to dry quickly.  Then I used the Ranger ink pads and rubbed them over the edges of the fabric and the papers.  Dirty little books.  As I said before, if you don't like to dust and aren't a great housekeeper, primitive is the way to go.  No one knows if your items are supposed to look dusty and dirty, or if they actually are. 

 

 

 

The large red one is the color these all used to be.  The covers are pretty sturdy and didn't warp much because of the quick drying.

 

Not very interesting but it's all I got because I'm still in a horse race.

 

  

I talked to CA yesterday and Marcie is up and walking (difficult with the right side paralysis), talking, and doing well.  Her sis Cheryl is also a patient now.  She developed pains Friday, they found her EKG to be abnormal and her catherization is today.  Their brother had his first heart attack when visiting us 10 years ago.  I guess it's a given that everyone in my family will end up with a heart problem.

 

I'm off to the races!  You have no idea how badly I want a match. 

Have a good start to a great week ~ thanks for visiting.

 

 

 

 

Damn big jeans

Good day all!  Hope your weekend is off to a good start.

Our weather was just gorgeous Friday, and we stopped at Kohl's to see if they had jeans in Long length, a size up from my current size up.  I wore a lighter weight jacket but added a scarf for the chill.  I managed to walk out of the dressing room with a giggle, but what occurred inside, could have easily ended differently.  If it had, the following article could have appeared in my local newspaper. 

 

Officials were trying to piece together what happened to a woman found in a Kohl's dressing room.  Several pairs of jeans, in what appear to be a larger size, were found scattered on the floor, yet she was wearing no pants.  A scarf was wrapped tightly around her neck, drenched in sweat.  Her jacket was pulled half way down her arms in what appears to have been an attempt to remove it.  Officers investigating the case have seen similar scenes take place during what is called a "hot flash".  This condition causes some women to remove clothing in a quick nonsensical frenzy, grasping, tugging, tearing, until cool air can reach the skin.  The woman resembled a local resident that police encountered a few years prior, wearing red rubber boots and carrying a hatchet.  They concluded the investigation and released the following statement ... Hopping on one leg because her fat ankles prevented easy removal of the larger size yet still tight jeans, the flash developed.  Trying to rip off her clothing, her arms became stuck in her half removed jacket making it impossible to release the scarf which was snagged on the jacket's button and tightening with every move, until she choked herself, passed out, and fell into a heap in the corner.

 

It didn't go that far.  I didn't pass out.  And thank goodness the other rooms were empty.

If any of you are wondering what happened to the prior post, I offered linen for postage and deleted the post when it was gone to avoid confusion.

I have to tell you what happened last night.  My raccoon buddy came to the door for bread and while throwing a piece to her, I happened to see the opossum in one of the cat condos.  I tried everything to get him out but he wasn't budging.  A half hour later, the cats were hunched up and watching something so I went to the door and saw the opossum outside of the box with the sherpa pad in its mouth.  He was shaking it wildly like a dog with a toy!  Then he started walking away with the pad so I grabbed a broom and a pair of slippers, following him at a fast pace on the slippery lawn.  It was dark, but I could see the pale sherpa moving toward the woods.  He tried to pull it under a barrel but couldn't so I smacked the broom against a tree and he ran a few feet away.  I grabbed the pad and left him there but felt so bad!!  Maybe it was for a future nest or he just wanted to be warm.  So I'm making a box with some flannel bedding and will leave it behind our shed.  I sure hope he doesn't come back for the other six pads.  The little thief.

I wanted to show the flower I enlarged.  I'm pleased with it finally!  Pretty good, huh?  The original stitches must be very small because I can't get that much detail.  I still believe the background is entirely stitched since most antique wallets are, but mine won't be, nor will it be finished the same.

 

 

Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes.  So far so good!!!

 

  

Enjoy your weekend.

Stay safe.

Thanks for visiting!

 

When it rains...

at least it's not snowing.  Hello people.  Hope you're all doing well.  I had to ask Mark to hide the matches, just in case a hissy fit consumes me during this stitch. It has taken me three nights to remove that center wiggly leaf, even though it was not fully stitched.  I'm ready to start it over and have been stitching some of the light outlines for a break.  What a difference they make.  And since the 500's are gone, the entire piece looks better.  The right side flower change in size is much better and although I still love this, I am so tired of working on it.  I know if I stop for a short time it will turn into years.  That's just how I stitch.  One at a time, and never look back.  I guess thinking about other issues doesn't help with concentration and that's necessary when trying to recreate from a blurry photo. 

The recent sudden death of my cousin's husband was bad enough, but I got a call this evening from Cheryl, his widow.  Cheryl's sister Marcie is the cousin I posted about that had the massive stroke and they are very close.  I held a giveaway when she was finally released from a nursing home and returned to her family. As soon as I heard Cheryl's tone I knew something was wrong.  Marcie had a massive heart attack shortly after the reception following the funeral.  Here's the strange thing.  Her toe had been bothering her and it began hurting so bad that she had her daughter transport her to the hospital after the dinner.  As they left the ER, she vomited, slumped, and was making a gurgling sound.  Still in her wheelchair, her daughter turned it around and pushed her back into the ER.  She had six bypasses done that night and would never have survived if she was not at the hospital for her toe at that exact time.  Is that strange?  Has Cheryl's husband become Marcie's angel and made sure she was there?  Cheryl said if her sister died the day of her husband's funeral, she would have to be buried too.  Marcie is talking and coherent, the docs are amazed, and if no infection or clot develops, she will go home in 10 days.  And here, my brother's lungs are not responding to treatment and he had more tests done today.  My sister is still out of breath but no worse, and doing fairly well. So there's more on my mind than usual, just like many of you that have family concerns.

I haven't had the time to look for a new computer, and I am receiving four of every email, many sent to junk folders but aren't, and the spam from this blog is overwhelming.  So I am closing comments for a while to see if it stops, but you can still email.

I'm sorry for not keeping up with everyone but my attention and focus is elsewhere.  I can't tell you how many bags of Dove's dark almond have been inhaled consumed this week.  I had to buy jeans in a larger size.  Not good.  Even with the larger size, there is no room for the stocking I need to wear after more leg surgeries in two weeks. 

So I'll be back in a few days with I HOPE the finish.  I have a few ideas for finishing and may need your help in deciding.  And in answer to some emails, yes, I will be offering the journals soon.    Until then, stay safe ~ thanks for listening.

 

A new journal?

Greetings.  A quick post to ask for your opinion.  The paper mache journals that I label have been out of stock for months, and I believe the new ones will be smaller but the cost larger.  If they ever get them in.  So I came across these in limited supply and wondered if this type with the attached pen and spiral binding would be appealing. The paper is not lined and they measure 5 x 7 including the pen.  Your thoughts please!

 

The last several mornings, I found the back room jail where the cats are held to be empty.  Somehow, they are escaping and roaming all night but can't get back in once they are out.  It better warm up soon! 

 

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

What a week

Hello hello hello. Hope all is well! We brought Carole home yesterday and she will have the cardioversion done in 3-4 weeks after meds to reduce the clot danger. She is still getting fluid in her lungs and this could be partly due to kidney problems. So we wait. Thank you again for your prayers and well wishes. We got a call from cousins in CA that one's husband died suddenly from the same symptoms for which Carole was admitted. Of course that increased anxiety, and added sadness. He was a great guy that was so much fun and a perfect fit for the family. His wife is the sister of Marcie, my cousin I posted about that had the massive stroke.

 

Not much stitching this week. I did manage to remove and re-stitch all the flowers and now they are softer and much more appealing. To me anyway.

What's left? Enlarging the left flower, finishing the right, all the white outlines, and changing the center leaf to the blue series.

 

I know I will receive emails telling me that I am way too peculiar particular, but when you've put this much time, effort, and study into a piece, you want to be pleased with the result. The 500 series doesn't look bad, but I want the 920's and think they will look a good deal better.  It wasn't until the colors were stitched into this teal linen that I could see how they worked together. The other issue was trying to keep it narrow while still trying to follow the original. I couldn't use the same branch angles fearing disproportion and now that it is near completion, I could see that the left flower is off in size. To tell the truth, at times I considered selling it because I am SO tired of it and I'm sure you are also. But I think when the white outlines are in place, I will love it. For some reason, whether it's the new needles, the linen, or me, these stitches are some of the worst I've even done. So uneven. The floss of the first half of the stitch keeps bunching up when I finish with the top cross, I'm still splitting linen threads all over the place, and I don't care. Never have I really been concerned, and never will I ever have, stitches as perfect as those we see in Kathy Barrick's models.   Using white floss is the only time I really railroad or put extra effort into nicer stitches. But color gets to me. So I'll be plugging away again and hopefully have a peaceful week. Except for this.....
 

And also because my second HP laptop is dying after 1 year and 1 month. I've been having problems and am now getting warnings of imminent hard drive failure. I will never buy another HP laptop. I haven't been reading blogs or viewing Pinterest except for a few minutes one afternoon and hope to catch up in the next few days.   I ran CHKDSK and it tied up the computer for four days.  My old old laptop with the new hard drive will not open blogger or Pinterest and I don't have my email accounts set up.  I'll be switching everything this afternoon.  If you're in western PA, look out for a hurtling laptop.


 

Wishing you all a stress free week ahead, and a peaceful Sunday.

Thank you for your good wishes and prayers, and for taking time to visit.