Just stuff

Hey.  How you doing?  My periodontist is the greatest.  Quick quick quick.  No pain.  But now, I can barely open my jaw from the shots.  It's only happened twice in my life, but the needle actually hit the nerve and it feels like a crazy bone was hit and then electrocuted.  That takes a while to heal.  Good thing Doves are rather flat and I don't have to open wide. 

 

First off, the pen. 

Staples carries the Pilot brand Frixion pens in singles and multiples.  I got the 3 pack of black for $5.35 with this week's 15% off coupon.  I am a big couponer.  Drives my husband nuts.  It comes in various colors and I learned a little more about them.  The tip you see on the end is an eraser.  The ink is removed easily with it, or with heat.  If you remove it with heat from a hair dryer or iron, you can have it reappear if you put it in a cold spot, like the freezer.  It comes with the cap like I have, or a retractable version.  I'll be buying more in other colors too. 

 

For KathiQuilts - you asked me about the fabric but you're no-reply.  It's from JoAnn's, Legacy Studio CP42508 Winter Birds Berry Vine Words, also on Etsy.

 

Since Google is not transferring all comments to email, I will double check and make sure everyone is included in the giveaway through both sources.   And if I was to reply and haven't, please email me since I may not have received it.  If you're no-reply, I can't!

 

Nitzy was let out for a half hour last evening and came back covered in mud and some blood.  From what I could see, there are four bites on the head, one paw is bloodied, his back was bit, and I'm sure there are more.  He tore up my right wrist when I tried to clean him and drop a little peroxide on the wounds.  He will allow me to pet him only if he's in the right mood, but not pick him up. 

 

The little coon I'd mentioned a while back with the sad eyes and sweet face, has made it through the winter.  Very bad photo but it was dark outside. She appeared at the back door last night for the first time.  We were so glad!  We can hand feed her and she is really a sweet gentle soul.  Sunken eyes and hair loss, skinny and frail, eating a Fig Newton while I get food for her.  She dunks everything in the water dish and makes a mess.  We called her Bud for years until she one day brought the "kids" out to eat so we call her Budette now.  She's much smaller than the meaner aggressive males we have.

 

Lots of appointments this week and next, all is going well.

 

 

Spot The Horse is the next project and I will choose a linen tonight.  Did you see Carriage House Samplings' new website (here)?  She has everything including Spot and others that are new to me.  As for Fraktur Friends, I totally screwed up on size.  Not wanting to use the silk gauze, I thought I would do it on a high count linen, but that's over two, not one like the gauze.  So if I want the small size, I need to use the gauze because I could never do over one on 36 or 40 linen.  Damn.  Here's what I'm wondering.  Since gauze should be secured and I don't want to use a hoop or the up/down stab method of stitching, would it be a mistake to add a stabilizer to the back?  I think it's used for embroidery on fine fabrics or something (need to check Nancy Zieman's site).  If that would stabilize the gauze and I could stitch through it, a solution!  But before I ruin something I need to research.  Nancy's Notions is such a great resource for items not available locally and her blog (here) is full of goodies and hints.  I used to watch her show but it was taken off my cable line-up.

If you have experience with the stabilizer or gauze, I would appreciate some info.  You gals have taught me a lot over these years. 

 

That's it.  Need to get an ice pack on that jaw.

Have a wonderful day.

 

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Your heart

 

Done.  Hope you like it!  I added my initial on the top far right.  It's a bare spot in the design that I thought looked better with a few stitches.  

  

The backing changed last minute to a fabric with an ivory background that I dyed to darken, with script that includes "thankful".  Fill is the Touch of Silk steam smashed.  Love that stuff.  Even after I steam the crap out of it, I can pull it apart and it fluffs right back.

 

 

 

Not sure if I like mine on the darker linen, or this one more.  Should I give you the choice?  We'll see.  And for the very first time, I used a Frixion pen.  Why didn't you tell me about this!!   I just bought new white and blue marking pencils because the others....well....lets just say they had a short life.  Never could I get a decent visible line for sewing.  When I stopped at the needle shop, there it was.  She told me how it worked, I bought the black, and I am thrilled.  Smooth and easy to see, touch it with an iron and it disappears.  At first, I forgot that.  Where the hell is my line?  The other side?  No.  I know I made one.  Then I remembered about the heat making it disappear and I just drew another outline.  I did this several times because it was just fun.  Like a kid with an Etch-a-Sketch.

 

So here's the rules.  Leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing, initials or name for anonymous or no-reply.  That's it. 

 I will draw a name on Wednesday evening at 8 EST.

 

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Oh baby

Hello people.  I finished your heart and chose the backing fabric so it looks like the giveaway will start tomorrow.  I plan on stitching it as soon as I have a few Dove, and I promise to wash my hands after.

 

Continuing where I left off months ago of ridding the house of excess, I came across what I think was mine as an infant.  I also have a sheer dress with a silky underslip.  I don't know who crocheted this either.  The yarn is synthetic I'm sure, with a satin thread for sheen through it.  Isn't it sweet?   The white ribbon should be replaced with ecru.

 

I have no one who wants it and may take it to the antique store that sells vintage.   We were there today and husband found two original June Bug spinners, a Marathon, and two Lazy Ike wooden lures.  I came home with a green bucket that is the perfect size for a Christmas tree.  They have doilies, hankies, embroidered scarves, Victorian items, but this may not be something they want.

 

Hard to believe we were once that little, isn't it?  The arthritis in my right hand has been so bad the last few days that I can only fit two swollen fingers in the booty opening.

 

 

We had a very unpleasant incident the other evening.  One of the opossums was going into the cat condos which was OK since they are still inside.  When I let them out for a while, they were sitting there staring at the condo and I assumed the opossum was inside.  Wasn't expecting what I saw.  He was so bloody and weak.  His long pointed snout was partially gone from trying to forage through the icy snow for food, what was left was bloody and raw.  We couldn't get him to walk so Mark removed him from the box and ended his suffering.  We hate to do that, but when a critter is suffering, we just can't let it continue.  I'm sure there are others in the same situation after this horrendous winter.  So sad.

 

If all goes well and the heart makes it through the finishing process, I'll be back tomorrow with details.  Until then, stay safe, enjoy your day, help Mother Nature's children if you can.

 

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Excuse me

Excuse me Bud!!!  Get your big dirty body off my laptop.  It's warming up and out you'll be going. My headaches and sniffles will stop.

 

Carole's appointment went well.  She is very disgusted and upset but I think after months of not being able to do ANYthing, she is expecting too much.  She will improve, I'm sure of it.  Nephew Chris was another mixup.  The test the doctor was referring to that needs prompt treatment was not the biopsy.  The office staff didn't realize orders for Pittsburgh were for a different test.  Drives us nuts.

 

Here's your heart!  Coming along nicely and I like the softer taupe thread on the lighter linen too.  The kit included a red check backing fabric and I could do that, but do you think it would be the best choice for the all taupe piece?  Taupe and red, yes.  I'll decide last minute as usual.  I hope to have it assembled and ready for the giveaway by Sunday.   Periodontal surgery first thing Monday morning so I'll be pouting all weekend.  Foot surgery the following week.  Hope the pain meds are chewable cause I can't swallow pills.

 

Enjoy the weekend!

 

Stay safe.

 

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The heart decision

Hello stitching buds.  Hump day. 

 

 Fourteen years today we lost Dad.  Received sad news about a friend.  Received bad news about my nephew, Carole's son.  Obviously, someone got lab results mixed up as they did with mine years ago because after his illness over Christmas, they said all was negative.  Mine was malignant and after major surgery - whoops!  Didn't find any cancer - must have been a mixup.  This happens WAY too often around here.  We'll know more tomorrow but he has to get to Pittsburgh for a surgical procedure right away.  Carole is starting to have difficulty breathing again, but it's only 2 weeks out from surgery so she has to give it time.  Lots of time.  I think the cardioversions and Torsades episodes took a lot from her, and then it was the pacemaker, then the AV node ablation, then new leads and a different pacing unit, then the valve replacement.  I don't think she fully recovered from any of these before going into another.  The frustrating thing, the valve was the problem all along and the other procedures were not needed.  It will take time but we're confident she will be feeling so much better this summer.  Thank you Cleveland Clinic, doctors, and staff.
 Mark had a bad fall on the ice this week and went to the chiropractor this morning.  A box on the counter filled with chocolate covered pretzels was to raise funds for a therapy horse.  There were a lot of empty wrappers when he came out of treatment.  His head turned right to me.  What!  You know I go above and beyond to help animals - don't give me that look.

 

I did find Spot the Horse.  As for the heart giveaway, I dyed the flax Belfast to a slightly warmer shade, and am using the recommended floss color.  This one will be more of what Stacy designed it to be and will be the offer.  I love chenille on pieces - other than mine - so I will decide on its fate later.  I have difficulty sewing a smaller backing onto shapes, like a heart.  On square pieces, my corners are never right.  I need to practice more.  Thank you for your suggestions and help!  ..wait...  I just had a tremendously hot flash and a vision of the heart with chenille trim appeared.  Looked good.  See what I mean?  Nothing is ever in stone.  When I first saw my bright yellow car, I laughed at whoever would be fool enough to drive it.  Four hot flashes later, I became that fool.  The heat must soften my aversions.

 In my browsing yesterday I found several antique samplers very similar to Mary Antrim.  So were these stitchers from the same area?  I'm too lazy for not into researching.

   I will work on your heart and be back when it's ready, taking a few days off the computer.

 

Hope your week ends even better than it started.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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When you start getting into a hole...

do you dig yourself deeper?  Never ever have I done that.  But since the hotel and food bills from Cleveland, filling her heating oil tank, and all the other spending, I am continuing instead of slowing down.  I know the other expenditures were necessary, but now I'm just buying what I want for fun.  First time for this penny pincher, but that's OK.  I'm getting older and if it makes me happy, it's mine.  I ordered some other colors of linen, a few more charts, more cotton prints, and then I spotted this.

How did I miss this one?  From Carriage House Samplings titled Spot the Horse.  This photo is from Priscilla's Pocket where I found gorgeous frames like this one.  One good thing leads to another. You can visit them here.  The chart shows it on a darker fabric.  Either way - I had to have it.  I recently purchased Merry Wind Farms first release, Elena Tratman.  What a nice, large, easy to read, fun reproduction.  Not sure when I will start it, but I wanted it now.  Visit her blog to see and order Elena here.

While searching for a shop that still carried Spot, I also came across the piece hooked from Primitive Junky in October 2010.  The blog is here and you can visit her Etsy shop from the left column.  Makes me want to hook. 

So what am I doing today?  Shopping online of course.  

 

Hope your day is as much fun.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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