Not enough to go round!

Greetings to all.  For those of you caught in another blizzard, I hope you are safe and warm.  We are freezing and will be all week.  How does the wildlife manage in snow that is burying them?

 

So the heart - I was going to go round after reading your comments, but there isn't enough linen left on the one side to sew and I can't make the circle smaller or the design would be in the seam.

 

 I'm trying this shape as a hanging bag.  I'm making my template by folding the paper in half and cutting so both sides are the same, and then tape and adjust to the project until it looks centered. 

I turned the piece over and outlined the template with chalk pencils or quilting markers that are removable.  It's a little close so instead of stitching on the line, I will use my fat presser foot along the outside edge which will move the seam over at least 1/4".  I could cut the template a little larger couldn't I?  The fusible interfacing can be done after sewing since I couldn't see the template if I added it first, or I could fuse it to the lining instead.  You can see that I ran one long thread around the back to do the single 822 stitch on the berries.  Pat (my extraordinary by-the-book SIL stitcher whom I miss) would scold me.  And I would say "get over it or don't look".  Hey.  Berries.  I think I didn't finish this design.  There are little single stitches that go along the vine and I forgot about them!  I doubt if I will be sewing this today anyway but I do have the fabric choice in mind.  I'm not good at bag making/lining so I need to make sure I am in the right frame of mind before sitting at the machine.  I like this one too much to throw out the window.  Heck, it's probably frozen shut anyway.

I have to color my hair today.  Usually I do the front and side areas where the gray is heavy, really don't see it elsewhere.  Got a short haircut a few days ago.  The back is very short and tapered, no longer covered by the longer hair above.  She asked if I ever look at the back and I said no, why should I?  It's always been a wild mess so why bother?  Well, because the back is solid gray.  WHAT???  Yep, there it is.  I look like I fell backwards into a can of silver paint.  Picking up Chris from the hospital after his tests soon, and then taking Carole for more bloodwork.  I'll wheel them to the car backwards.

 

Have a good one.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The shape of things to come

What to do, what to do.

 

 

First choice

 

Second choice

 

 

A distant third

 

 

 

My scientific method of copy paper cutouts.

I changed the berries from 926 to 3740 with 822 centers for my dark linen.

 

This is Lori's free chart found here on her blog.  Make sure you check out the stumpwork photos of her latest post too!

 

 

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Finished is not forever

Hey.  What's happening?  We're getting closer to spring, that's what. 

Hope the weekend is going great.

 

I had a pillow of this design from Homespun Elegance displayed for many many years.  Loved it.  Then as my tastes started to change, the buttons bugged me.  So did the Amber linen background.  Once one of my favorite linen colors, now I hate it.  It looks great in certain designs, but not with my other drab linen pieces.  When I was on my dyeing binge, nothing worked to rid the red cast of the linen I had left, for some reason the dye rinsed out completely.  Maybe because this piece was exposed to light and air for so long, it reacted differently, or maybe the Dawn dish soap helped a little.  Anyway, I cut off the buttons and realized there needs to be something stitched in their place, and it was a little larger than I wanted.

 

 So I decided to remove the stitched line from the button areas, put a dab of fabric glue over the cut floss ends on the back, and sew it smaller.  Now it is more my style, the green/black dye worked perfectly, and here it is on the original's backing.  Big difference in size.  Notice that the DMC floss did not darken much at all with the green/black dye, and it was dipped for a while. Some colors grab and some don't.  So if you have pieces from many years ago that don't fit with your current style, don't be afraid to cut, shorten, darken.  If you don't care for it any longer, no great loss if you ruin it!
 

 

 

Changed this heart's shape which was like its companion beneath it, annoying me, so I narrowed it even though I lost some of the stitching.










 This design is showing on Pinterest and although I have searched extensively, I cannot find the chart.  Love love it.  Want it.  I'm sure someone knows where to direct me...oh no...was this a club design?   Is that why I can't find it?   I've never joined one and miss out on some great pieces, but there are several projects I would not want, plus I'd probably change linen and thread so it's not worth it for me.  I hope this wasn't a club design.  I'm crabby enough.

 I received an email from a reader who is generous enough to offer the Love chart I recently showed by Emie Bishop for a giveaway.  Would any of you be interested in it?  Please let me know and if there are enough of you, we'll do that.

I started taking meds because my food has been sticking in my esophagus for a few months, trouble swallowing, major heartburn that I never had before, couldn't bend over without a food issue. Instead of having a scope now, she wants me to take a small dose of Ativan with the acid meds because at the end of the exam, she asked if there was any stress in my life.  Bingo.  Didn't realize it could all be caused by recent events and the esophagus can constrict from anxiety.  If all goes well, these issues could resolve on their own. 

 

Have a great Sunday.

 

Thanks for visiting.

Let me know if you would be interested in a Love chart giveaway.

 

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So far....

I've only changed three of the four colors.  I'm a creature of habit and my habit happens to be changing colors.  I used the 645!  But changed 3033 to 644,

920 to 3858, 

921 to 3857. 

Vines are next as soon as I decide if I want to leave the 645 picot edge or make it the lighter 644.  Hmmm.  Both are nice.  Maybe stitch the rest of the design and leave that decision for last.

Thanks again for the chart Lori!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

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A little neater than normal

Hiya.  How's everyone?  We're getting a little more snow, very cold temps, and anxiety attacks.  Two more weeks.

I saw Lori's new free chart (here) and started on it right away.  Browsed my charts and just couldn't get interested in a sampler.  What?  It's true.  Is a slump approaching?  So when I saw her offer, I thought it would be a good idea to pick up the needle.

 

I noticed that my stitches are more even than ever before.  Why?  Possibly because of the direction?  I am following my usual sewing method of doing half a cross first, but this time I am going vertical with the first half and completing the second half horizontally.  I know I know.  Not the way you are supposed to stitch.

 But unless it's my imagination (and I have a vivid one because I called myself a girl in the prior post), my stitches look better.  The linen seems more stable too. See the difference between the stitches within the letters and the very bottom row?   Maybe it isn't noticeable in the photo but trust me, it's not as neat.

 

 

 

Here's a look at the back.

 

It's hard to see with this floss color but that looks like a good base for wimpy linen doesn't it?  Am I doing something that all of you know about and I've been in the dark once again?  Or am I wrong in thinking this incorrect method of crossing could result in better stitches? 

 

 

 

 

For those of you with brats cats - ours have been going nuts with ... nuts.  Is it because the Brazil nut looks like a mouse?  They were batting one around found under a hutch so I picked more from the mixed nut bin at the market.   Cheap fun since they destroyed every toy I bought at the pet store.  So far, Bud is OK, and Yellow Man is still here every night.  I'm ready for bed, and I can hear the nuts rolling, smacking the furniture, followed by a wall/cat collision thud.

 

Have a good Thursday!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Cutwork and a mermaid

 

 Greetings.  Got quite a few emails about the design in the header photo, many are no-reply, so I'm posting the answer.  Sorry!  I stitched it in 1992 and don't know the designer.  Why didn't I stitch 1970 (my year of marriage)?  Here is the entire piece, on unbleached linen with light threads.  I enjoyed the cutwork and it really is not difficult at all.
Edit - Sandra from Sampler Lover's blog was kind enough to identify it as the Love sampler from Emie Bishop.  Thank you Sandra!

 

In my search for the designer, I came across Victoria Sampler and for those of you that love mermaid designs, take a look at this beauty - Mermaid Song Stitcher's Pocket

The leaflet is offered on their site here along with the necessary supplies.  It looks like it was at one time a Cyber class.  Several online shops also carry the chart including 123.  To see all that is included and required, the listing of stitches involved and supplies is here.  You've probably all seen this but keep in mind, I'm a girl without a shop and I don't get out and about much!

Mary, you're no-reply but asked about the interfacing hiding the carry over threads.  I did a post on this but can't find it.  The only sample is on this post.  I use either a tiny piece of muslin or fusible interfacing beneath the carry overs when they are showing.  The fusible is easier and can be held with a quick touch of the iron.  Needles and tweezers get it in place.

  

That's it! 

Enjoy your day.

 

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