Spot reduction

Greetings folks.  Everyone doing well?  I'm sitting with a bag of frozen peas on my elevated foot.  No big deal.  It will hurt like hell for a few days and then get better, just as my oral surgery did.  He asked why I am doing two minor surgeries so close and I explained that my insurance is changing 4/3 and I've been too busy with Carole the last six months to schedule anything.  Cram it all in the last days!  Still a few more things to take care of next week.

 

Spot.  Spot spot spot.  Why do I want to stitch something and then can't wait until it's done?  Bored?  Maybe because it's not a sampler?  I don't know, but I am considering using Spot with a few motifs only.  I have enough linen to stitch the entire design and it's certainly no big deal, but I am already thinking of stopping and making a pillow.  Ornament.  Pinkeep.  Whatever the heck you call smalls that can hang with the best of them, lie in a bowl, play well with others, or be trapped in a frame.  Wouldn't this be nice with tiny pom pom trim?  I did the first cross left to right and will complete the stitches from top to bottom.  Even though it's 40 count, the tension of my stitching is visible in places.  Going in two directions corrects that for me.  I was considering Fraktur Friends on 40 over two but I can see that the black background would not be as tight and dense as I'd like.  Still haven't decided but something tells me I would end up stitching the friends only and not the other elements.  I'll be working on Spot today and tomorrow, supposed to stay off the foot for a week but that won't happen. 

 

The soapstone guy is finally coming out Friday to measure for the sink and counters.  After being exciting about starting the kitchen so long ago, between the lack of craftsman around here and Carole's situation, I really lost interest.  Mark thinks once the counters are in I will get with Dominic to finalize the details and regain interest.

 

Carole is having problems breathing again (in the morning) and she is complaining constantly, having no patience to heal and let the heart adjust.  Just like with my mom, you love them, care for them, but at times you just want to smack them!!  I would butterfly a flank steak, fill and roll with spinach, feta, pine nuts, bread crumbs (one of her favorites) and mom would eat like there was no tomorrow but never say it was good.  It was OK but I should have used more feta, seared it longer, tied it better, glazed it more.  Carole is the same.  I probably am too!  You see what drives you nuts in others, but when you step back and look at yourself from another's perspective, sometimes you're shocked. 

 

Might be what happened to Nitzy.  He thought he was being cool and another cat thought he was being a smart ass and cleaned his clock.

 

 

I was hoping for red, but they only had this style in black. 

 

 

Closing in on the end of March already.  Hard to believe that surgery was 4 weeks ago today. 

 

Hope your week is going well.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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My first 40

Hello stitching buds.  Been busy with appointments, chores, and running back and forth to Carole's so I haven't picked up the needle much.  I'm still undecided on the fabric for Fraktur Friends and wanted to try 40 over one .... ain't going to happen.  Next I'll try black 32 over one but the silk gauze will probably be easier for me. 

 

The 40 count was purchased a while ago and I could not remember where it was.  Took me a day and a half to find it and now, I can't remember where I found it.  I think Spot would look better as a smaller piece so I decided to try the 40 over two since I had already invested so much time in the search.  With my cheap magnifiers, I can see the weave well enough to stitch and am surprised that it's not as difficult as I expected.  Really surprised.

 

When I searched Carriage House Samplings new website, I couldn't believe what I found.  I saw this design finished on a blog, it was taken down from Pinterest, and I Google'd and Oogle'd, Bing'd and Bang'd, Yahoo'd and Wahoo'd, never found it.  I searched "sisters of the heart cross stitch" and gave up after months with no results.  Well there it was. Carriage House Samplings design, still available through the new website.  Another design I missed from a while back.

 

Samplers are all I care to stitch (and Santas of course) but lately I'm drawn to a few smalls like these.  But will I display them?  

 

 

 

 

We missed the snow thank goodness, but made what will probably be the last soup of the season.  My dad's Harvest Soup.  Ground beef, carrots, celery, onion, potatoes, barley, bay leaves, diced tomatoes with juice, beef broth/water and Worcestershire sauce.  That sauce and the bay leaves really give a great flavor .

 

 

It's time for bed and more Advil.  Never had this much pain with other gum surgery and still can't open my mouth.  Healthy foods are all thick and bulky so I have no choice but to continue with thin chocolate bars and slices of cheese.  I found some really flat cookies that are my new favorite.  White chocolate macadamia nut.  Who knew? 

 

Enjoy your Sunday.

 

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You have my heart

Julie from My Primitive Heart was drawn as the winner.  Thank you everyone for participating in another giveaway.  This one was for my blogging anniversary but also for your friendship and caring that has helped me through the last six months.  I wish I could stitch something for everyone!

 

Again, thank you all.

 

 

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The old bag

Me.  Not Spot.  It seems like this last year was a major difference in my movement, mental sharpness, and eyesight.  Aging isn't graceful if you attempt something you've always done, and instead make a herky-jerky movement while letting out a yelp.  My husband never had to help me up from a booth in a restaurant, but now he automatically gives me that special grip the aides showed us to use when getting mom out of a chair.  I used to be up and out at the car before he opened the door.  Now, I feel like I drank glue instead of coffee.  And what's with the grunt and yelps?  That's not polite.  But if no one objects to the young people next to us using obscenities I guess my yelps are acceptable.  Something tells me those yelps will soon be embellished with those other words.  My face plant last summer is catching up with my knees.  NEVER had any problems before.  Now my ankles are stiff and painful too.  My right hand can't even open a jar. What's happening?  Why so quick?  Geez.  It's bad enough that Menopause invaded my mental condition, moods, patience, mouth, emotions, and attitude, now arthritis is doing the same to the physical parts!  I mentioned before that I used to walk in 4" heels on ice and now I can only manage flats on dry pavement which is fine, but I'm walking like a caveman in Hush Puppies.  HUSH PUPPIES!!!!  The shoes I swore I would never wear.  Elastic waist pants.  What!!  Tell me it isn't so.  But it is.

  

OK.  Getting on track to what I had planned to post ...

I don't like the Spot sack I inked so I will start stitching.  The design would make a great bag to hang with my collection but I also like it framed, so I am not using osnaburg.  Linen will allow me to choose either finish.  My jaw is so swollen it hurts to look down so I'm not sure I can start it yet.  That's another thing - jowls!  They were already hanging lower than my earrings so this swelling is way down there.  Still can't open my mouth and most healthy food is large.  Chocolate is flat.  Choceur dark chocolate bar from Aldi's is the current indulgence.  And one more thing.  I answered an email this morning and mentioned that my husband says I am always right.  Now wait a minute.  If I'm always right, then he's always wrong, so does that mean he is wrong when he says I am always right?  Because if I am, then he is right, and I can't have that. 

 

Don't forget to leave your name for the heart drawing this evening.  I can't believe how many comments have NOT come through to my email, but I did get them all noted and ready to enter into Random.  Get with it Blogger.  Got glue in your joints???

 

Later dudettes.

 

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Spot and me

Spot the Horse was inspired from an old feed sack.  Hmmm.  I thought of stitching it on osnaburg and making a sack.  But before I try, I'm still playing with the Frixion pens.  So.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outlined with the pen on a large folded piece of osnaburg for a sack.  I think he's too large for the sack and will try a smaller version.

 

 

 

After ironing to remove the pen.

 

 

It needs some work, sanding to age, the tree and sun (or maybe not), but I sure am having fun with my new pens!!!

 

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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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