Apr 6, 2014

Stitch wimp strikes again

Hello hello hello!  How did your weekend go?  Anyone still seeing the white stuff?  Today was sunny and wonderful, hopefully a preview of coming days.
I'm wimping out again and decided on another small and simple marking sampler.  Either of these.  One is under 7"x7" and the other is 6"x8" on 28 count.  Perfect.  Eliza and Ann Wragg are still on my mind and will be coming up soon.
 
 
 
 
 
I have this old PS design, The Fox and the Grapes from 1986 done on 14 Aida.  I want to stitch it on linen and instead of spending $4.50 on Ebay for the card, I will stitch from this piece.  They don't call me a bonehead for no reason.  But the symbols on those small cards are sometimes very hard to see and the stitchery isn't.  All those years ago, I discarded my charts (including the Scarlet Letter's) after completing so I doubt if I still have it.  This is easier to see anyway.
I also have a gripe to air. Most of my old charts are leaflets in plastic bags.  It irritates me when I have to remove the chart from the bag to search for the stitch count, and tightens my britches even more when there is NO stitch count.  I want to see the count on the front or back, not inside, so when I'm browsing I can compare sizes and what linen pieces would be usable.  Instead, I have a mess and most times need to count and estimate finished size.  Am I nit-picking?  Be honest.  I can take it.  Tomorrow, I am going through all these samplers and adding a note with this information so I no longer have to put up with these tight panties.  They've gotten tight enough on their own and I REFUSE to purchase a larger size.  I don't care if they cut off my circulation and make new varicose veins, I am not getting a bigger size.  As long as I'm complaining, I might as well throw in the floss.  I love GAST and other variegated threads, but since the beginning I have been using DMC skeins and pulled out what I needed.  So easy.  I do not like having to untie and re-tie, or wrap and unwrap, but I've decided they are too nice to forego because of that.  I am old and set in my ways, but I guess I will move them all to floss cards and get over it.
I feel very drafty today.  My hair used to be coarse, thick, and wild ~ now it is soft, fine and limp.  Damn hormones. Or lack thereof. I thought if I cut a little off the heavy back, it would take off some weight and lift it.  I grabbed the entire mid section of the back and held it between two fingers.  Unfortunately, I cut on the wrong side of my fingers.  There's a hole now.  At least the Walmart cut is now blended.
No word from the latest cabinet maker. Again. I was as accommodating as I could be, told him to use the wood of HIS choice, on HIS time....I was nice dammit!!!  When I asked for a feature and he stalled, I said forget it - no problem.  It killed me, but I was nice.  I'll give him until Tuesday to call me.  I know where he lives.
Geez.  Lots of complaining for a wimp, no?
Hope your week starts off good and gets better.
Stay safe, thank you for visiting!

Apr 5, 2014

The process

Happy Saturday.  Another weekend closer to summer.  Hope it's a good one for you.
 
I'll be stuck in my usual position, graph paper in hand, making no progress on unfinished house projects.  I've mentioned many times that Glenna's statement could not be more fitting .... indecision=paralysis.
 
 
I did sew Frances and Lydia in my usual finishing method.  The hanger, be it leather lace or hemp, will be attached later.  Except for ornaments, I don't like to sew the hanger in the seam since I am always moving and changing. 
 
 
 
 
 
   
I can add the hanger if I find the perfect cupboard for it, or unpin it and throw it in a bowl.  Hannah will be sideways as a reminder that we all have those days.
I was very surprised to find that Hannah only needed a few patches. For being 25 count and using black floss, I expected to see many carried threads. The letters are so close, it wasn't noticeable. This linen is so stiff it was very easy to square the piece before fusing the lightweight interfacing.  I really like Hannah against those two chosen fabrics and considered a sewing pouch, but I use my see through folders in a file for projects.  I love the bags, she's the perfect size, fabulous with the fabric, but I still resist.  Putz.
Another golf bag arrived. I used the plastic bag protecting it to encase the cardboard box and the brats have a fun tunnel.  They are protected from the wind and rain and are having a ball.  Bud and Missy are in there now, probably necking.   Now the process of choosing the next project begins.  Nancy Nurse?  Ann Wragg?  Eliza?  Another small?  More than that confusion is the linen dilemma.  Which color?  What count?   I really dread this process.  Usually something happens that determines the piece without much thought, but not this time.  Too bad.
My brother found a few pieces from Pat's stash that I was offering until I saw the shipping rates.  These are the old style Sudberry cheeseboards and a mirror.  I tried taking a photo of a straight scratch that is on the mirror but you can only see it at a certain angle which I couldn't photograph.  Doesn't matter. When I created a link for you to estimate postage, I saw that it's more than double the $5 price to CA for ONE.  Ridiculous.
So that's about it.  Dull dreary rainy days, but no snow.
Lots of chores today since the week was so busy so I best be moving my behind.
Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for visiting.
 
 
 


 

Apr 3, 2014

Winner

Hi everyone.  Thank you for the prayers and good wishes, once again, for my siblings.  My brother's results were good!  After hearing the results from the surgeon in the recovery room, I was poking fun at my problem, and he dropped his head and looked over his glasses.  Guess who he wants to schedule.
My sister is not in the hospital and started breathing better today, but this is the third time in four months and I am very concerned about the CHF. 
I was the grateful recipient of a fabulous package filled with the most wonderful fabrics.  Oh my.  I have this problem of hoarding fabric and I can imagine how much worse I would be if I quilted.  My gift was nothing I could purchase locally so I am thrilled.  On a trip to my county courthouse today, I stopped at the (one of two) local fabric shop and grabbed a few fat eighths.  Across the street in an antique store that looks more like a modern gift shop, I found another darning egg, an old wood spool, and a large square galvanized tub for $5.

I haven't started a new sampler and it may be Eliza Pomeroy.  Or not. 
Now for the scrambled random winner - Robin.  Send me your address Robin and Hannah will be coming your way. Thanks to all for participating!! 
Enjoy your weekend and thank you for stopping by.
 
 

Apr 1, 2014

Done

Hi all.  Just a quick post to show Hannah completed.  Since my tablet slipped out of the unzipped makeshift case, hit the hardwood floor and slid a few feet, making a pouch for it now using Hannah is moot.  And saying I found a cabinet maker may be also. 
 He is a nice guy, has been at this for years and does very nice work.  But he never heard of a rat-tail hinge, extended sides, or mixing door sizes in one unit.  I showed him this photo.  I don't know if the sides are called hutch, apron, extended, pain in the ass, whatever, he's never done them.  I then come home to hear a message from my sister that she is going to see the doctor because she is out of breath and fluid is once again building in her lungs.  My brother's message was that his doctor is squeezing him into the schedule tomorrow for a necessary scope and I need to take him.  Does the kitchen matter?

So here's flat Hannah.. 

and sack Hannah.
Who knows what her final resting pose will be.  She heard from the others that there is no such thing as FINAL in this house, nor rest.  You probably think it's weird to hang the sampler sideways but it's different and my other sack needs someone to hang with.  I think with some feathers and a few gourds, they would make a great primitive display from a peg, or rusty baling hook.  I've decided to move all the samplers to one wall in the new room whenever the chair rail is up and the painting is done.  Ed hasn't returned my calls.
 
 
The sun is out and it's finally warming here.
Enjoy your day and thanks for visiting!





Mar 30, 2014

Who wants Hannah Haines??

Hi everyone.  Got snow?  I do.  Several inches that will melt in a day or two, and I plan on celebrating it as being the last. 
I will be finishing Hannah in a day or two and since there is interest in finding this OOP chart, I thought I would offer it.  A little more border and one more line of stitching ~ decision time. 
Frame?  That would be nice.  My wonky style pictured it as a sack with an end flap and big black button, perfect size for my rulers.  And then I happened to set down my 10.1 tablet after cleaning the screen.  I've been looking for a pouch and this sampler's size is perfect.  But do I want a padded pouch for it or a stand?  A stand, which I haven't found locally since the majority are for iPads.  They are available online so maybe I will order and make the pouch to hold the tablet in its stand.  Or not. 
And here's some news - I think I finally have a cabinet maker!  After 18 months of waiting for broken promises from four carpenters, this gentleman named Dominic (my dad's name), is meeting with me Monday morning in his shop.  Here's the catch.  I can't have what I planned.  He will only make the three cabinets I purchased doors for, won't install, won't come out to the house for measurements, won't do the fridge cabinet, won't do the large corner pantry cupboards in the new room.  At this point, I don't give a damn.  I just want things back in order, painted, completed.  I will never get what I wanted or the changes I drew unless I order an entire new kitchen.  My cabinets are solid wood, I like them, I refuse to replace the entire lot in order to get a few additional.  If Ed can't come to help us, we will be doing the additional features ourselves.  Am I disappointed?  Yes.  But it's just a kitchen and I will accept what I have and let it go.   Right after I mail this sweet thank you note to the cabinet makers that failed me..
"Just want to thank you for telling me to purchase custom doors from my cabinet company in order to save you time and setup. Your dishonesty caused me to pay a load of shipping costs. I also appreciate your efforts to feign integrity by making promises you failed to keep. Your lack of respect for customers waiting months only to find out you now refuse their calls is unparalleled.  Since your business has reached the top of these negative ethics, your work probably reflects the same . I will be happy to tell others and encourage them to tell their friends, too.  Word of mouth is certainly important in any business."
Don't mess with Mother Menopause.
Anyway, if you would like to have Hannah Haines in your stash, leave a comment on this post, initials if anonymous, and Random will choose on Thursday at 8pm EST. 
Have a great day!!
 
 

 

Mar 29, 2014

Progress!

Good day to all!  I am loving my big needle and big linen while sitting on my big....!  Scarlet Letter kits began my journey into samplers, most were on 25 count, and they are still many of my favorite finishes.  I haven't used that linen for years but felt Hannah needed it.  And it's so easy and quick!  I am using Black Crow and Cinnamon GAST and have two fabrics that would be perfect if I want a zippered pouch finish.  On 25, it measures 10" x 3 3/4".  Lots of inquires about this chart, so............you know what's coming!!
 
Have a safe and fun weekend.

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