The Magma is loaded

Greetings fellow menopausians, stitchers, friends, and readers.  Instead of browsing the stash I chose one of the last samplers I ordered.  She's not too large, simple, and monotone.  Perfect for taking to the hospital without all the floss bags of colors. 

Only question - should I use luscious 3857, or the gray that looks blue 413?  Eliza Laidman was Uniform Blue which is just like 413 and I really love it, but would I want another the same?  In a different room, yes.  So I have just one decision to make and probably won't until I pull it out to start.

 

 Start what?  Harriet Hazlin from The Sampler House.  This was stitched over one as a miniature but can of course be stitched over two as I will do.  Finished size on 30 count will be about 9.5" x 7.5".  Stitching on 32-35 count would probably make it perfect for a standard 8x10 frame.   I just thought of that but I already cut a piece off my Scarlet Letter yardage and that hurt.  Hurts bad.  I rarely frame any more but this could be added to my framed group.  Damn.  I don't know why but cutting linen is very distressing to me.  Maybe I should just take a pill and cut a piece of a higher count.

 

 

I put clear shipping tape over the Velcro tabs on the Magma.  When I was working on Isobel's ornament, every time I needed to get into the pouch the loud noise woke him up and aggravated me.  Folding the tape over to the outside works really well. 

I wanted to show that ornament finish but alas, it is hiding somewhere.  Isn't alas a goofy word?  Anyway, I'll find it when I have time.

 

Have a great week!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Burlap tree

Hello hello hello.  Just came home from errands and wanted to show what I found. 

 

 

I fell in love with this two foot burlap and rusty bell wrapped tree and wanted to create a large version for outside my kitchen window. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The large tomato cages were not working without wrapping them first with wire or twine to create a more solid frame.  The burlap was falling into the open areas.  Stacking several cages would help and using a heavy twine over the entire cage would also make a great outdoor tree.  Since it wasn't working and I have no time or patience to do it properly, I put it off for now. 

 

Then I ran into my local craft store for a quick browse and found this five foot grapevine on a better frame for only $12.50.  I can add more vines, twine, or wrap in burlap strips.  Clear strung lights on brown wire mixed in with thin grapevines will encircle the tree.  I think it will look great outside and hold up for years.  I don't know if I will work on it before I put it away or wait until next year.  Hmmm.  I could forget by then - best work on it now - maybe February?

 

Have a good day everyone.

 

 

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Mary Lamin's Sampler

I hope everyone had a great Christmas.
Ours was spent once again in a hospital room.  Never got to bake cookies, have a family dinner, wrap gifts, relax.
 

 I scheduled this post to appear Friday - it's the only thing I am sure of at this point. 

Right now I am at the hospital waiting for scope results. Christmas day 2013 was spent in the same hospital when Carole's heart failure began.  This year, it's her son.  We have no answers, they aren't sure of the problem, and sent him home from the ER twice before realizing there is something radically wrong.  Staff is short during Christmas week. We postponed the dinners to this weekend, but that has been cancelled.  She's very upset, not allowed to drive, not recovered from last week's surgery, so we're going back and forth to see him and helping her.  I don't even know what day it is most times but I know where the Ativan is!  His girlfriend is there when she can be and has been a big help. 

Mary Lamin's Lord's Prayer from Homespun Elegance.  I changed a few colors as I always do, and can't remember if I used 28 or 32 count.  I think smalls will be in my Magma for a while and I'll search for a few this weekend. 

 

 

Enjoy your weekend and empty those cookie trays.  I'll be back with another little finish of Isobel's free chart you can find by clicking here - The Primitive Hare.  Thanks for visiting.

 

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Greetings from the brats

Although our already limited Christmas festivities are postponed,

we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

 Enjoy time with family....

eat until you're stuffed, party until you're pooped...

and have a peaceful night.

Merry Christmas to all!

 

 

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Winner, Comet, Carole, Cats

How's the weekend going so far?  Mine started with Carole not being able to breathe again and it lasted for quite a while.  She has been OK since and is concerned as to the real cause.  This should not be happening.

 

I wanted to show you the other chart I got from Early America 1815.  Comet's Feather Tree.  You can find Jingle Bird and Comet on her Picture Trail site.  It may be closed until after Christmas but her contact information is listed.
 

 

I changed the stag's body, left off the date, and added a rusty star (clear nail polish on back).  Haven't had time to do the blanket stitch around three sides, poke holes in the heavy felted wool back for the leather laces.  Probably won't either.  Tomorrow is cleaning day at Carole's, then taking her to the hospital for labwork Monday, get groceries, make Nona's risotto or Baba's stuffed cabbage for Christmas Eve.  Platters and buffet for Christmas.  I just can't do more than that and our traditional meals will not be served this year.  Haven't even baked a cookie so for the first time in forever, I will have to purchase a store's cookie tray.  That's OK.  The food isn't what's important.

 

 Here's my newest problem.  This large mean cat will not leave.  I have seen him in the woods once in a while over the years but he is now invading their space.  This is Squeak cowering and trying to sneak away from him.  I chase him away but he keeps coming back.  A half hour later, I saw Missy fly by and found Bud with the yellow cat.  It ran away and I grabbed Bud and carried him into the house while being scratched to heck.  He's hurt.  Full of mud, yellow hair on his face, bleeding paws and leg, hasn't moved for hours.  I tried getting a closer look but he started hissing and growling at me.  I think they both are hurting.  How do I keep him away?  Nitzy is skinny and young, nothing like big Budman, and will really get hurt.  Squeak won't come in and the other two don't want to stay in.  I have a little antibiotic liquid left and I will start Bud on it tomorrow morning if I can hold him.  He's been in here for hours and still won't allow me near him.

And now for the drawing.  The winner is Sheravery.  I can't contact you so please email your location and address to me.  Jingle Bird will be winging it Monday morning.
Thanks again to all of you for participating.  
Welcome to new followers!  I hope you will enjoy visiting, and I thank you all for continuing the relationships we share through this medium.  I'm not a Facebooker, not on Instagram, and enjoy the blogland way of connecting with others and learning more about fellow stitchers and their lives.
I am more exhausted than I realized, and am unplugging for a week while preparing for the holiday.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas.
If I'm not back before then, best wishes for a wonderful and Happy New Year.

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Fly away Jingle Bird!

Spread your wings and find a new home.  A quick give away to you my friends.  Yes another.  Unplanned, but I want to o f f er a little gift of gratitude for your support.  I stained the bird with walnut dye because he was a bit too clean-cut for me.  He measures 4 1/2" square without the fringe. 

  I will draw a name Saturday evening at 8pm EST. 

 

 

Carole is doing well except for the pain.  The surgery took longer because they had to replace a questionable lead from the first implantation before adding the new third lead, change the generator/transformer in the unit, and this all took place before the node ablation.  Somehow, they burned her chest with an instrument but she is not allowed to use any medication on it because it is too close to the incision.  No driving for 3 weeks and wearing a sling on the surgery side for the same length of time.

 

If you would like Jingle Bird, leave your name, initials if no-reply, on this post.

Thank you all again!

 

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