Journal preview

Greetings.  It seems there is an error code that is not fixable when trying to change or add pages to blogger.  I've tried everything.  I listed a few journals for you to see under the Journals tab, which used to be something else but it was the only way I could post.  I may have problems listing them with the cart button, we'll see.  Right now I only have 8, the order hasn't come in, and I hope to know soon of the status.  I may stick to these four labels since the time and ink involved in sizing others is too much of a task for my horsed-out brain right now.  I've had several emails about this offer so I thought I would show you what's coming up.  I think the price will be $12 including US shipping.  Any more than one will outweigh first class and need to be priority so I can't combine costs.  No orders yet - just a preview.  Feel free to give your opinion, likes, or suggestions.  I'll let you know a few days before the sale.  Thanks!!

And if anyone wants to know what the sherpa thief opossum is up to, he has decided to make that box his home and takes the deer's bread inside it and dines.  It's warming up at night, downright balmy compared to a month ago, but the brats want to stay in.  I think I've created little monsters.  My brother said they can sleep soundly and feel safe inside, instead of being on alert when outside.  Makes sense.

 

Hope the new week will be a good one for you.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

My bowl runneth over

Hi all.  How the heck are you?  I think asking if you're ready for spring would be silly.

I want to show you what I bought today.

The biggest bowl I own!  This will hold a lot of stitched bowl fillers for sure. I hedged on the purchase for quite a while because it was split across the middle and glued, the lathe swirls are barely visible and worn smooth, and I wasn't sure if it was really old.  I'm not knowledgeable enough to recognize an antique from a newer piece, and the look is what I'm after not authenticity, so I guess it doesn't matter.  Someone used Danish oil or varnish long ago and I may sand it to a dull wood finish.  I knew it was large but didn't realize until I got home just how much more than my others.  It measures 17 3/4" x 17" across and 5 1/2" high.  But for $37.50, not bad?????

I'm working out the bag shape for my stitchery and am considering adding some vines to create more of the shape many antique colonial bags are.  But I've had enough of this piece so would prefer not to continue.  Trimming the edges in wool - is there a wool tape?  Do I make my own?  I don't want to.  I guess before this HP monster dies, I should search the web.  The new laptop will be ordered tonight and I'm all backed up and ready.  I insisted on Windows 7.  It wasn't that long ago that I had to learn it, hated it, got used to it, and refuse to do it all again. 

Time for a cup of coffee and a cookie a walk on the treadmill.

Have a great weekend - stay safe - stitch happy!

Thanks for visiting.

 

 

 

The end is near

Finally!  What a difference the outline is making.  I'm trying to imagine it as a bag with a scalloped top trimmed in brown wool.  I considered a wallet type finish using the horse part as the flap instead of the back.  I love the design as a whole and don't want to hide those posies and berries in a folded piece so...........probably a pouch of some sort.  Being so tired of this piece and all the split linen threads, I'm not sure it will be sewn into anything for a while.  But if I don't do it now, it won't get done.  Either way, you won't have to look at this l...o...n....g project for much longer.  It is pretty though!  Certainly not a sampler and I doubt if I will ever stitch another piece that is not. 

 

 

More snow and ice Wednesday night and I have to go to Ohio for another leg mapping this morning.  EVLA again next week and then I am switching to another doctor.  It's a long story.   And I'm really ticked off.

Another reason to look forward to spring and warmer weather is this little girl.  A less than five pound magician.  Get out!!! 

Squeak is sneezing and has runny eyes which is not good.  I can't get an antibiotic for him without them seeing him which is impossible.  Getting the meds into him would be also.  My brother will try contacting the lady he worked with before for strays and see what she suggests.

Stay safe.

Thanks for visiting.

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!