Learning to use overdyed

Good day to you.  Weekend going well?  Mine started early Saturday with the sounds of chain saws and shredders.  Eight of my huge ash trees are dying because of the Emerald Ash Borer.  Too bad our yard is still a swamp and the trucks are tearing the crap out of it.  But I have to say, whenever we need to hire someone for outdoor work, I luck out and get really good looking young guys.  Hard working too. 

 

I don't often use overdyed threads, mostly because I never see them and ordering that type online is a shot in the dark.  When I got Harry Tyler's Lion from Heartstring, I purchased several skeins of the Uniform Blue.  I love that design and really want to stitch it, but every time I pull it out, the alphabet pulls me back.  Maybe that will be the next project, I'll order more blue.  Anyway, since I'm not familiar with overdyed stitching, it never occurred to me that my way of starting a new thread would be wrong.  Well it is.  Now that I have two sewing methods for full stitches, I though that would be all I had to change.  While working on Eliz last night (using two threads on 28 count), I noticed that one end was very dark and the other very light. 

Certainly not the color placement it should be.  How could I get the light to dark variance when they are both in the same stitch? 

 I have always used the loop method when starting a new thread - folding over one long thread, two ends into the eye and then through the loop behind the fabric to secure instead of having tails.  No can do!  When I fold the thread, the shading doesn't line up and it just doesn't work.  Now I will use two single threads from the same piece and the varied shades will line up, the stitches will reflect the variance.  You know what I mean?  Of course you do, but I hadn't a clue.  But of course if I see a piece that when folded, lines up with the shading, I'll use my loop.  I'm set in my ways and do NOT like change!  There's a difference between experienced stitcher and knowledgeable stitcher.  I've been stitching samplers for over 30 years, but still lack many of the tricks, tips, and basics.  I'm still learning. 

On my way back from my injections Friday, I came across a farmer selling dried gourds he found in the barn's attic.  This was what he had left and wanted rid of them, I got a good price.   Their dried skins are still on, not cleaned at all, and I haven't decided if I will or not.  Maybe just a good brushing with stiff bristles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You saw the inside - this is the outside of the finished fridge cabinet.

I also wanted to mention that if anyone would like the Sampler/Antique Needlework Quarterly but shipping outside the USA is costly, you can get the subscription digitally for $21.97 here. Access to two years' prior issues included. You can print the charts or view them on the screen while stitching, even enlarge them. 

 

So that's it boys and girls!  Oh.  I'm sorry.  According to a school in Nebraska, we have to be gender neutral.  No more ladies and gentlemen or boys and girls.  The kids must be addressed as purple penguins or campers, and not line up as boys and girls - instead, by their preferences such as Summer or Winter, bikes or skateboards.  And what if the kid likes Fall?  Or doesn't bike or board?  Aren't you excluding them?  I'm tired of hearing about agendas instead of education.  Just call them KIDS or CHILDREN instead of making the majority feel there is something wrong with them for being who they are. They are also rethinking gender bathrooms and locker rooms. Make one gender neutral and leave the current set up for those kids that are uncomfortable without privacy.  I don't know how an 8 year old would feel, but as a 63 year old, it's confusing ME!!

 

Have a great week purple penguins!!!

 

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A new start

on 28 count natural linen as the original, with Gentle Art's Uniform Blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.  Eliz: Laidman from Threads of Gold. 

 

 

 

 

 

And the top of the fridge cabinet with dividers.  I didn't paint the insides of these doors because, well, I'm done.

 

Have a good weekend!!!

 

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Mary Spinney arrived

with several rows completed. The Ebay description stated such but I didn't know the extent, and I wondered if I should remove and start fresh, or continue.  Comparing the piece to my samplers, I can see the difference in stitches. But after putting a few in of my own, not noticeable at all.  Mine are just as bad!  The linen is just too open and I can't get a uniform flat stitch (this is nothing new-just thought I'd pretend that it's caused by the fabric).  The top gold band is missing two rows but I don't care.  My very first reproductions were done exactly as instructed but I was young and impressionable.  Now, I do what makes it easier and enjoyable to reach my goal of the early style I like.
 

 

 

Love the olive color of the linen but that's all. The kit states 30 count, another page states 28, and it feels like 25.  Sheer enough to see the lettering on my keyboard.  I don't mind the lower count but I like thicker threads in the fabric. You can't run a tail two stitches on the back without it being very noticeable.  See the thread hanging from the stitches beneath the V in the first photo?  Still glad I happened to spot this when searching for Mary Monier, which I didn't win (it sold for $38). I have several pieces of R&R's 18th Century Sea Glass (♥!) I could use instead but they're 13 x 18 and may be too short.   Although I love these pastels on the green, the more I see it, the more I think I want the Sea Glass 32 count with more neutral pastels.  Why am I never satisfied?  I guess my age is showing.  When I got to the stage that doctor appointments became my social life,  I started to thin out possessions that are nice and I used to love, but no longer want to settle for nice.  I want what I want.  Nice is great but spectacular is better.  I still may continue on this linen as it is, but the thought of the other will nag me.  We'll see. 

Right now I have a tummy ache from a bag of Mounds. I can't pass up a sale! There won't be any candy left by Halloween. This happened last year and started the weight gain of my personal mounds.  I need help.  And after pushing the 200# leaf blower, I need the brace back on my old knee.  They have greatly improved but one spot is still painful.  Oh.  One more thing.  I found a bunch of Santa cards and thought I gave them all away.  I'm sure I mailed to the winners - did everyone get theirs?  I want to start painting boxes for sale and should start keeping records.  In a very large binder.  Fluorescent orange binder.  Taped to the TV.  With brightly colored duct tape. Glow in the dark duct tape.  And a flag.

 

Enjoy your day!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

 

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Miss Eliza

Finished!  Stitched during a lot of stress and anxiety with color and motif design changes.

Eliza Ann Pomeroy

The Goode Huswife

32 count Copper Penny linen

 

 

Up and downs of Ebay

Hiya.  I forgot to show my latest Ebay win.  YAY!!  Doesn't happen too often.  She is Mary Spinney from the Examplarery.

I never saw this before (that I can remember) and it's just my style.  Usually there are lots of photos of reproduction samplers when you search Google Images, but not this time.  Very surprising to me because I think it's a great piece.  Sometimes the bids are reasonable and other times, ridiculous.  I sold Mary Slatter a while back, she is offered often, and take a look at the difference in recent prices.

On 7/23 sold for $5.49 with free shipping and the paper faces, 9/4 she sold for $99.99 - on 9/12 a 99¢ offer did not sell - on 9/19 she sold for $26.51.   I've listed charts that I thought would get a good price and I got stomped.  Recently a BOAF Gold Santa went for around $7.50.  Not bad considering many went for much more.  I have my eye on several others and am surprised at some of the bids (so far) on antique pieces.  But you never know until the final seconds, or you forget completely and aren't there at that time to up your highest bid.  Hopefully I'll have a few more to share with you this week.

I'm spending the afternoon cleaning sis's house and waking up with a sore throat means I have to stay away from her.  That will work out fine though because she doesn't want anywhere near dust rags, vacuum cleaners, mops, glass cleaners, and all those tedious annoyances.  Her bedroom looks like an auction house.  Good grief woman!  There are so many bottles of lotions it's mind boggling.  I take a few every time I am there and so far she hasn't noticed.  The nursing home will get a large batch to pass out as bingo prizes along with anything else I can pilfer.  Most all of it are gifts from her many many friends.  You can only use so much and the older we get, the less we need.  Unless it's for a pastime or hobby of course.  When I was working, I suggested we each choose a charity to benefit from our exchange gifts but not one person agreed with me.  I threw a hissy fit because everyone was doing very well and there were others in much greater need.  I insisted my gift be given to animal welfare and in their quarterly newsletter, instead of listing the donation "in honor" of me, they listed the donation "in memory" of me.  The really sad thing - when I brought it in the office to show them for a laugh, the young people did not know the difference.  Since they didn't know that in memory is for deceased individuals, I didn't take it personally.

And look what's out of the family room and in the kitchen!  Mark made the runners and plywood cutouts will slide into them for tray dividers when the varnish is dry.  Lots of cookie and baking goods storage!  The doors will go on, and the fridge cabinet is finished.  Soapstone will be installed in three weeks and we have the area above the stove and next to the fridge to finish off with trim.

 The open shelf can be cut out to accommodate a higher fridge in the future if necessary.  We're used to throwing stuff on top of it so a few wooden bowls will hide our bad habits.

 

Have a wonderful week!!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Organizing!

Greetings.  In continuing the floss storage post, I thought I would show a craft room that will make you sigh. 

Julie, if you read this, I tried to contact you before featuring your posts but I get nowhere when I click your email button.  Julie's blog, I'll cross that leg when I get to it, showed her craft room back in 2009 which is more organized than any room in my home.  You can see it all here (take a peek).  Happy to see I'm not the only one that needs a fan.

 

But if the room isn't enough to make you swoon, take a look at her floss storage.  The post about this enviable project is here.   I'm so sorry that I didn't keep all the old storage drawers that my dad kept his nuts, bolts, and nails in.  They were much heavier and deeper than today's lighter versions.  You can find them in big box stores or online here. Everything is being made so much cheaper, yet costs so much more.  I gave the bakery clerk a look the other day because the cake and sour cream donuts are so tiny it's ridiculous.  Same price of course.  They were regular size last week!  Calculating our Consumer Price Index is so deceitful.  Our "basket of goods" example several months ago included steaks, fresh asparagus and broccoli, oranges, apples, pineapple, a gallon of milk, turkey breast from the deli, sliced swiss cheese, multi grain bread.  A few months later our basket of goods, because the prices had risen and we weren't buying the same items, had high fat ground beef, canned beans, frozen broccoli, canned fruits, half gallon of milk, processed bologna, processed cheese slices, white bread.  Well let's see....the second "basket of goods" costs about the same as the other so our numbers look pretty good.  Based on what we are buying, what's in the basket, not the same exact item from month to month, yields a much better report than the other two methods of calculation. 

Was off on a tangent but I'm back on track now.  I haven't mentioned it in quite a while but YES my hormones or lack thereof still flip a switch every once in a while.  Sometimes I look around and ask "who was THAT?"

Another great idea I saw on Pinterest is the shallow stacking drawers from The Container Store here.  Using the zip lock bags you can store a ton of floss by number and have the number sequence labeled on the drawers.  This 12 drawer unit on wheels is $139.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It also comes in a 4 drawer unit with dividers, great for speciality threads, at $49. They have other options too but I like these units because of the stacking feature and these two do not have lids for each section like the 3 drawer chest does.

 

There's always the bobbin boxes and tackle boxes and multitude of containers that we can use, but I thought these were a little different.

 

 

I just heard the wind and looked outside to see HAIL!! At the same time, several shots rang out in the woods. Hunting season. I better call the brats to come in.

Gotta run!!

Thanks for visiting.

 

 

 

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