Shaker Cat anyone?

 

 

Good day to you.  I have this little 1985 chart from Cedar Hill - Shaker Cat - and after being scolded by many readers about burning charts, thought I would offer it instead.  The chart is a single card, instructions on the back.  If anyone would like this project, email me (top right column).  If more than one, will chose randomly. 

And speaking of cats, still cold, still snowing, still inside.  Driving me nuts.  Missy ignores me when I call her so I don't think she would mind me changing her name to Midge(t).  She is so tiny. The yellow cat is here every evening and eating the dry food left for Squeak (three days missing).   Bud and Nit are just as aggressive, even though they are neutered.  Bud was older when we trapped him so I didn't expect that to change much, but Nit was snipped at 6 months so I'm surprised at him.  My brother said neutering doesn't change them if they are territorial.  Hmmm.  I'm neutered and have the hysterectobelly to prove it, I have "issues", I get aggressive and snap at people.  I am not a bitch.... I'm territorial! 

 

I wondered why I kept finding loose cloves from my pears and things being moved.  Now I know.

 

Thank you for letting me know I am not alone in my feelings of the future.  I will be 64 this June.  My maternal grandmother died at 64 of a massive stroke, my mother had a massive stroke at 64 and survived, forever changed.
 

 Stay safe.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Hidden away

Hiya.  How many of you have a display or corner for enjoying your Christmas stitchery all year long?  My friend's mom used to have a tiny bedroom with a television atop a dresser, one large comfy chair, and a large corner hutch.  The wallpaper border had some red in it, the large chair was red piped in tan, and the walls and hutch were filled with her Christmas stitches.  It became her stitching room, the dresser drawers held her linens and threads, and it was a place she retreated to even when she wasn't stitching.  When I entered the room, I didn't feel it was Christmas, just a cheerful room.  I've considered doing a display in my sewing room but there is no organization or plan at this point.  Maybe one day?  The other bedroom is filled with fat quarters and fabrics in a chest with the rest strewn about.  Every year when I put these pieces away to be hidden for 10 months, it's a real shame.  I love these guys!  But once again, their room is not ready and my procrastination skills continue to be honed. 

 

These are the pieces that were never even put out this year.  I kept thinking things would settle down and we would feel like celebrating the Holiday and would decorate then.  Today I decided it's time to pack them.  I don't use tissue paper around them because I usually tear through the box to see if I have that design or gave it away.  This year I tore everything apart looking for the cardinal pillow, finally went back to the blog to check and yep - gave it away!  I need to keep a notebook.  My sister in law had every single piece she ever stitched, fabric color, count, thread, date, and where it went.

 



So with sadness, I packed them three layers high, ending with the larger pieces on top,

and then realized I didn't even finish the three designs I made in 2014.  Before the box is put away, I should do that.  Never got around to stitching a few more of Pineberry Lane's free design that I just adore, but maybe it's best to save it for next year.  Hopefully, next year will be the first time in three years that everyone will be healthy and not hospitalized!

I know it's morbid, but am I the only one that wonders if I'll be here next year?  Will I get to enjoy my Christmas projects in 2015? Whenever I put away seasonal clothes, I wonder if I will be pulling them out again.  I know they won't fit but that's a different story.  I've been packing away capris every year, expecting that next year I will be thinner and get to wear them.  But the spread between the sizes grows larger just as my rear does and my addiction to sweets is worse than ever.

 

I haven't started Abe yet because I want to finish Harriet.  I chose my favorite 632 for the red.  Anxious to get these completed and move on. My side is killing me and I can't get comfortable to sit for very long.  Probably pulled a muscle or something.  I took an adjustable padded strap off a travel bag and plan on strapping Carole in tomorrow.  She's never come out of the chair but it may help the bounce when I hit a bump.  Should get a standard wheelchair instead of our transport type with those small wheels.

Enjoy the coming week, stay safe and healthy.

Thanks for visiting.

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Grainy videos

This tree at the Clinic can be seen from one end of the large lobby area, on the wall of a wide walkway.  It is a moving image that changes for seasons, projected from the ceiling and about eight feet tall.  The video is grainy when loaded to Blogger, full page is worse.  Too bad - looks great on my tablet!  My favorite is the winter tree.  Why such a simple distraction fascinated me is easy - I don't get out much.

 

This is a close up of the detail, the autumn tree.

 

 

In an adjoining sitting area, they have images of fish projected.

 

 

 

Carole's doc appt. went as planned and they are watching her closely for congestive heart failure which is the greatest danger during the wait time before surgery.  Remember when I rammed the pavement bump and almost flipped her out of the wheelchair?  Mark was pushing her through the snow and when he hit the threshold of the doc's door - deja vu.  After wetting our pants from laughing, he had to wheel her backwards to get over that obstacle.

 

To Jean Bee (no-reply) - that pincushion was purchased.

To sheravery - you can purchase all Threads of Gold charts including Abe at Em-Lis website.  Abe is not shown but you can call or email to order.  Did Jingle Bird arrive safely?

 

Enjoy your weekend!!

 

Thanks for visiting.

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Another new small

Hello people.  Hope you're safe, warm, and dry. 

Trying to visit new followers from Bloglovin or Google+ is frustrating.  Am I doing something wrong?  Are there no posts or photos to see?  I was always left out in school and I'm beginning to feel that rejection again.  Anyway, I did find another blog - Scattered Seed Samplers, loved her latest design, pictured here from her Etsy site.
 

So I ordered it along with Thread Heaven.  Never heard of it before, or any other thread conditioner except for the beeswax that Miss Notforgotten recently posted about.  I added it to the order and will test them both.  The reviews of Thread Heaven are that it is .... well.... thread heaven.  I don't want "nice" or "elegant" but it may help with my eyelet and satin stitches that are usually lumpy bumpy threads of tension.  If it's a sort of silicone treatment, would it protect the threads from accepting dyes or stains when I age the piece?  That would be nice for Santa's beard.  We'll see.  It makes the thread glide smoothly, lay flat, no tangling, perfect for all needlework, quilting, embroidery, yadda yadda.

My next project will be Anna Eliza Abe.  It calls for Soie D'Alger but I would choose my own pinks anyway so I'm not bothering with a conversion.  Already know I want 500, 501, 503, 950, 3064, 3772, 632 and whatever else I think will work.  Not a fan of pink at all, but I like the series shown here, and I wish there was a little more intensity between them.  You can barely see the difference.

We're taking Carole to her local doctor this afternoon and I have to stop at Rite-Aid and replace the M&M peanuts bag.  I not only ate the peanut butter bag he bought for me, I ate the peanuts bag he bought for himself.  Maybe that's why I hate pink - like pink on a pig - me.

 

Stay safe!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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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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