Much better

When I was mixing Rit colors to create the shade I want, I saved the dye baths in large glass canning jars.  They last forever.  For a small piece of fabric or linen, I can stick it in the jar and shake, or add some to a spray bottle.   Much quicker and easier than another mess in the sink.  I used the soft brown all over and the greenish gray around the edges, then a light mist of it over the brown.  Poured the sprayer back into the jars and I'm done.  Much better.

I didn't want to give you the impression that I am critical of my finishing, I just don't care.  Really.  Why is that?  I feel I need to make excuses for destroying a piece for the sake of appearance which is not what most needleworkers do!   When I want a really aged piece, I'll run it over with the car if I have to.  I'm not that drastic with larger samplers (thank goodness) but smalls are usually bullied by me.  So what do you think makes a piece look older?  I should think about this before starting a project with that goal.  I guess first off, coarse dark linen which I failed to use here.  Most of the antique samplers have fine and high thread count linen......am I correct?  But that scares me. 

I think the only sampler I have that looks older to me, is Eliz Laidman in GAST Uniform Blue.  I really really like the look and it only needed a few stains, darker around the edges, and overall light aging.  If I would have used 3768 or 930, would it have turned out as pleasing?  I'll bet not.  So the threads also make a difference.  I'm considering pulling out my flower thread and testing the results of that matte look.  This isn't rocket science - we all know that the fabric ground and the color of thread would certainly change the look.  But it's hard to visualize the completed piece, just as I thought 3011 would be perfect for Harriet.  It isn't. 

I wasn't going to tell you but I will.  I tried Krylon Matte Finish spray #1311 on stitchery.  It dulls the shiny but also protects from dust and moisture.  Since most of my projects are not protected by glass, many smalls lying around are being handled, I wanted to test it.  If I could remember which pieces were sprayed, I could determine if it worked.  I think I showed it before when I used it on shiny braid trim to dull it.

 

Since giving away or selling lots of charts I knew I would never stitch, my stash isn't overloaded.  But I realized that I have very little in kit and ready to go.  Maybe I should take the time and get the linen and threads ready, keeping in mind my vision for the completed piece.  Not throwing linen rolls all over and making myself nuts trying to chose a piece every time I start a new project will be a big time saver.  I just have to grow up and cut into that yard.  Damn that hurts, but as a reader commented - I can always buy more.  It's hard when you can't see the browns of the unbleached, raw, natural, for each has its own shade.  But I have my dye jars, walnut stain, and leftover coffee.  How much easier this will be!  Just chose a design - the rest is in the  file, the linen drawers will be lighter, and less chocolate will be needed.  Husband picked up Carole's meds and while waiting, came home with M&M peanut butters.  Gone in a day.  I wish I could control myself.

 

I  found that the new verification for comments isn't necessary.  I don't prove I'm not a robot and the comment posts anyway.

 

Baby it's cold outside!!!

 

Have a great day!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Done...

with disregard to proper sewing and measuring,  lack of respect for the stitching, and reckless use of sandpaper. 120 grit.  I created a few broken linen threads to mimic worn areas, roughed the fabric, tore some floss, and I'm still not happy. I think the linen is too light for the look I wanted.  There was no time to look through fabrics when I left for the Clinic.  A complete dip in a darker dye will probably help, and next time I want it to look old, I will use 535 or 844 instead of black. 

 

I'm on edge as I have been for quite a while, waiting for the phone to ring, which it does regularly.  I see her number on the screen and wonder what I will hear.  Six more weeks!  That restlessness and anxiety makes me careless and unfocused, but I would have treated this project the same even without the stress.   Menopause did me wrong years ago so I can't blame it on my sister!

Enjoy your day.

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Aging ungracefully

Greetings!  Got snow?  We do along with everything else.  An attempt to scrape the driveway of the ice/snow layer was once again delayed because - it's snowing more.  So I thought I would bug you instead.

Before a boring bunch of photos about aging again, here's Half Harriet.  Although 3011 is one of my favorites, it wasn't working for me on this sampler. 

 

 So I decided to stop in the middle and do the project in two parts.  The bottom section is the same size as the top part so I plan on moving down the linen and finishing in dark red or black.  Both will be longer skinny pincushion/pillows and the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.  Two pieces hanging together or in a bowl, same size, same border, different colors, one is the stitcher's attribution the other the alpha. What is the correct name of the part of a sampler showing the stitcher's name, location, dates.  Attribution since the work is attributed to her?  I have searched many times for the correct reference/word of various parts or the anatomy of an antique sampler.  But since they are so individual, maybe there are no definitive terms.  Border, dividing band, motif, verse, that's the extent of my sampler vocabulary.  Anyone? 

I worked on aging Lori's design and thought I would show what I did, and ask for any tips or methods that you like to use.  The first thing was to tone down the bright green floss using a small flat brush and my ink pad.

 

I also tested the amount and intensity of the ink on the brush in the excess linen margin, then outlined the entire piece on the corners and edges.

Using my walnut stain/dye that I keep in the fridge, I flicked the brush to spatter overall, then brushed it on areas where I wanted a stain.

 

I prefer the stained areas to have that darker ring around them, and found that by dropping water onto the center, it will spread the walnut out and create it.  You know what I mean?  Like this....

Then it looks more like an actual stain to me.  This is more than I usually age but I want the pouch to look old, like it was well used.  I can just imagine the looks from friends with white furniture and modern interiors. I chose the fabric and will wait until the hot flashes take a break before I attempt to sit at the sewing machine.

  I know this blog has focused on those events and the crap that comes with menopause, but they have actually become less frequent and less intense.  Until the torsades episode in August.  I truly believe that it, and the 9 shocks needed, is what caused all of these other serious heart problems.  Everything went nuts since, and the flashes returned.  Rather than take a chance of the machine flying out the window, I will walk away if one strikes and keep a bag of Dove handy.  They were on sale after Christmas for $2.50 so I bought 20 bags.  Six are left.

 

Thanks for visiting - have a great day.

 

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Note to Kristen - I know what you mean.  My classmate became so violent, unreasonable, hallucinating, that he attacked nurses, hurt himself, became unresponsive because of the amount of meds needed to calm him, and did not recover.  He was a pastor, gentle, kind, loving, and did not deserve to leave this world in such a state.

The week

Hello everyone.  This afternoon, Mark came back to the Clinic to bring both Carole and I home.  She had all the preliminary tests for the surgery, and needs to be seen by the surgeon on 2/12 before they will schedule.  Up to this point, they have decided on the TAVR surgery, which is using a catheter to insert a new valve, sort of like a stent.  The valve is pulled through one of three sites, encased in stent-like material that is expanded with a balloon once in place without removing the old valve.  Huge difference in recuperation and procedure, offered to older patients considered high risk for open heart.  I tried to talk her into the traditional but being put on a heart-lung bypass machine is something she can not deal with, not after the "simple" procedure disaster this summer.  Instead of the usual 40mg dose of Lasix, she is taking 80mg twice a day.  Very rough on the kidneys and we are hoping they can withstand the abuse until she goes in.  She is somewhat better without the excess fluid from the heart failure but we don't know how long that will last.

While there, not sleeping and living on unbalanced meals, I spent quite a bit of time stitching.  I started and completed Notforgotten Farm's Pennsylvania Pillowe and plan on aging the fabric and making a pouch.  I used the charted colors, and added an additional key under the numbers.  Harriet was also worked on but their lighting was so off, and my green looked putrid.  Just couldn't seem to work on it. 

 

 I had my tablet there and couldn't believe how strong the color was on my blog page compared to the computer screen.  I took a video of the tree that fascinated me and can't seem to load it here for you to see - I'll keep trying.

 

Did you ever hang a sampler and like it less every year?  I have a few times.  Some of my favorites from years ago still are but some that really appealed to me in the beginning, are fading from favor.  My recent finish of the interesting and primitive Mary Lamin from Homespun Elegance is really catching my eye more than I expected and I've moved her a few times.  I'm sure it won't be the last.

I can't wait for my head to hit my pillow, my body a real mattress, and get a full night of sleep.  I'm really exhausted and I can see the next several months will keep me busy.  This kitchen will never be completed and to be frank, I've lost interest.
I don't know if I mentioned it, but Carole's son received good news on the biopsy.  He is still not well, can't speak without coughing to the point of choking and losing his breath.  After seeing a specialist the other day, he found that his vocal cords are damaged from throwing up acid/bile for over a week while being sent home from the ER time after time before being admitted.  The doctor that insisted on admission, is the same that transferred Carole to Cleveland.  Why the cardiologists did not see aortic stenosis on her echocardiogram at 0.7 is beyond me.  Same hospital for both cases.  Thank God he transferred her and admitted Chris.

I'm off to bed.
Have a safe and peaceful Sunday.

Thanks for visiting.

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We have a diagnosis

Hello all.  I made it to Cleveland Clinic, with a speeding ticket, and several where-the-hell-are-we incidents.  On a four lane road in town almost bumper to bumper, going along with the traffic speed, we were singled out going 40 instead of 25.  Well so was everyone else!  That bitch in the GPS was not cooperating with the route we wanted, and retaliated on the way home when it took my husband an hour off course.  But he made it home.  I'll be here for the week, go home on the weekend, come back next week for her aortic valve replacement surgery.  If all goes well, she will be in ICU for 3 days and then another room for 4 more.  I'll have to get a hotel for those first three.  The doctor is 99% sure that is her problem.  The echocardiogram done here was vastly more detailed from the one at the prior hospital several days ago.  There, they told her the valve was not bad enough to be treated at this point.  Good thing we came here.  But.  She had all these other procedures and surgeries, being told they would fix the problem (they were sure of it) and none did.  She is concerned of going though such a major and serious operation, only to be disappointed again.  Being that it's Cleveland Clinic, we are pretty sure that won't be the case.  I am in awe of this place.  I went down to the main floor and walked around, found a Starbucks, Subway, McDonalds (sweet tea, baby!) food, and shops.  And a relaxation area with pianos and a swaying lit tree that just calms you in a minute. 

For mom, we had the tall bubbling fish tube with lights.  You can control the bubbles from slow to fast and watching the little fake fish slowly move in the bubbles always calmed her down.  This tree did it for me.  I want to take Carole down to see it but she is having a left heart catheterization tomorrow and another involved test Thursday.  Maybe in the evening when less people are milling around.

I brought my stitching and will work on Harriet but also started Notforgotten's Pennsylvania Pillowe.

Have a good one!

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The 5 am phone call

I took an Ativan last night about 2am to calm down and help me sleep.  So when I was awakened at 5am this morning, my head felt like a watermelon.  She was being transferred to Cleveland Clinic, two hours from here, by her primary care physician.  He had been on a holiday vacation, just got back, and contacted the Clinic when he saw her this morning.  After the mild weather for the last month, today is frigid, windy, with a layer of ice from days of rain beneath a layer of snow.  Mark will take off work tomorrow and drive me there, I will stay at a hotel that has shuttle service to the Clinic.  I understand that area will be getting 5-8" of snow and do not want to be driving myself.  By the time she is admitted, sees a doctor, tests are reviewed, I doubt anything will take place today but if so, he will leave work early and we'll go.  I've done online research every evening and the doctors here seem to have the same conclusion.  Sudden and severe heart failure which is why she is unable to breathe with movement or lying down.  I believe that the torsades incident and being paddled 9 times damaged the heart and it's worsened ever since, even after the drastic AV node ablation that we now know was not necessary. We are cautious in thinking they will be able to help her.  Her tears and fears of dying are making me physically ill, and I need to suck it up.  I may be a bitch but I'm also an emotional wimp, and watching my Dad gasp for air for weeks is being replayed with her. 

 

 Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.

 

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Edit - she just called.  Her room is better than a hotel, full sofa, two recliners, tables, cupboards, beautiful bath, and I'm invited to sleep on the pull out sofa.  She is very impressed with the nurses and doctor already.