The cover up

Hiya.  While trying to organize the mess I left, the t-shirt that Missy tore was discovered.  Her sharp little claws tear into fabric as well as flesh.  I bought yards of Trans-Web when mom was here, covering her coffee and food stains with stars, hearts, patches, and pockets.  I had a few left that were already cut and ready for the final fuse.

The biggest tear was in the center under the small star, awkward place for a pocket, so this worked out well.  Even though it isn't necessary after fusing, I go around the fabric with a zigzag machine stitch.  It's too bad that this men's size M doesn't fit well around my woman's size L.  

 

Saved many a top with this method and mom loved the add ons.  Bought a bunch of the studs and crystal pattern iron ons that made her dressier blouses at real hit at church. 

 

Made my favorite bean salad this morning (even bean haters like me eat it).  Great take along for picnics and 4th parties.

 Recipe here. 

 

 

I tried to answer a no-reply comment and ended up finding a new blog.  She has many talents, not just stitching, and started an Etsy site offering her watercolor and crochet tags.  Here's why Google+ drives me nuts.  First off, you automatically are changed to no-reply.  When I clicked her name, it took me to the brightly colored Google Plus profile of which I can see nothing, and no direct link or mention of her blog.  None.  Because I am not Google+, this is what I get when I try to respond or find a blog of a +er.  Anyway, she left her address in the comment or I would have never found her.  From South Africa, her new blog is http://theartfullplace.blogspot.com/ with a link to her Etsy for the tags. 

 

Dominic informed us that his commercial job has expanded and we must wait at least another month so I cancelled the final two cupboards and his revamping of the manufacturer's custom doors (they must not use the little lines on the ruler, just the big ones).  No one can tell me which custom panel dishwasher is 24" deep WITH the panel because dimensions don't specify and emails to manufacturers are replied with the opening sizes only.  I give up. 

 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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A frustrating finish

Hello stitching buds.  Over the years of my reckless stitching, I learned a few things.  Problem is, and I'm serious, I can't remember what they were.  One of them may have been to always double check the stitch count with the finished size for my linen count.  This design, of which I've changed every color, stated the design area on 35 count as 4 1/2" high.  I'm on 36 count which I verified by counting my stitches and also my marking rules.  I easily had 4 1/2" and it should have been even less because of 36 versus 35 count.  Stitch count is 92 high and on 36 would be 5.12".  On 35 it would 5.25", 3/4" off.  I should have counted the squares and done my own calculations.  Start over?  No.  I will shorten the bottom area and it will be fine.  But I should know better!    What if this was a project that couldn't be altered? 

Remember I did this with France F. and ended so short that my only option was to attach a strip of linen fringe using the nun stitch.  Always count the squares and figure size first, don't rely on the chart figures. 

The design is Little by Little's Quaker Blackbird with different colors.  If I would have stitched the bottom line, there would be enough to sew into a pillow with very little seam allowance.. I wasn't taking the chance and I also moved the J and made it narrower so it wouldn't be too square looking. 

 

Making my first needle case was an exercise in frustration.   First it was the fusible.  I wanted it stiff so Craft Fuse or Décor bond was my choice.  Neither would stick.  I pulled off, cut another, steamed.  Pulled off, cut another, steamed again.  Over and over.  I threw it all out.

 

The tutorial said to line between top and bottom with felt, including it in the stacked layers.  I could barely turn it right side out with those thick seams.  Took the stitching out and removed the felt.  Switched to thin fleece.  Removed again.  Third attempt just barely caught the fleece in spots, much better.  But it wouldn't fold nicely with the fleece in the fold line!  Turn it inside out again, cut away the fleece from the fold, turn it out, still too much.  Three times until I finally just cut a large chunk out.  So there.  While this was going on, from sewing machine to ironing board and back over and over, my scissors (all 4 pair) were always in the wrong place.  When I needed them at the machine, they were with the iron and vice versa.  This was really chapping my hide.  Totally frustrated now and starting to rush, carelessness was taking over.  Every time I pressed the correction, the Frixion line disappeared and I had to measure and mark seam lines again.  Turn it inside out, outside in, over and over and over.  The worse part of that - when I turned it in to correct a seam, I wouldn't turn the entire book which led me to multiple errors.  How can it need taken in slightly for a straight edge and end up worse?  Because with the fleece in the way and not fully inside out, I couldn't tell top from side and would stitch the wrong edge of the corner. 

Trying to cut the wool felt for the pages wasn't happening.  I pressed that rotary cutter down and rolled that sucker over and over until it almost stuck in the mat.  Take the guard off you putz.  Finally finished after an entire afternoon, interfacing on the floor, fleece cuts stuck to my clothes, scissors hiding in a pile of possible fabrics and felts, cut threads throughout.

 

Will I attempt another?  Yep.  I learned a few things and won't make those mistakes again.  I would love to make a bunch and add them to my one-day-I-will-sell-this-stuff-on-Etsy pile.  I really enjoyed stitching this small - a break I needed from the large sampler.  The 36 count was again a pleasure to use and I am liking it more.  I'm still not happy with the finish but I love the little design for this. 

Have a great weekend everyone!


p.s.  Thanks for the tip Annie.
For no-reply comments that I would like to address, I'll be p.s.ing!!

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Sweet Liberty

Greetings!  This is the second day of sun, followed by more rain tomorrow.  Mark was golfing all afternoon and I was looking forward to quiet time on my swing.  I finally went outside at 4:15 with an aching neck, sore foot, and dirty mouth.  I made my first needle book following a tutorial I found online, which started about 12:30.  How the hell can such a little item cause me this much aggravation and time?  I will tell you about it tomorrow. 

The winner of the Liberty sack - and this is a real fluke - is  Joanie.  She wrote in her comment that today is her birthday and it would be a nice present...well Random agreed with you!   How's that for coincidence?  Thank you to everyone that participated.  If you'd like to stitch the sack, I posted the chart under the FREE tab.  I wanted a bronzey color and on my linen the 831 looked good.  You can adjust to any golds or browns that suit your fabric.  I also used GAST Uniform Blue instead of 3768 but either are good. 

If you don't want a sewn finish, you can move the border to the bottom and fringe it, hem the edges and stick it on the wall or a basket.

For myself, I would have just sewn the sides, fringed 1 1/2" on the top, pressed it over and tacked it down, added a jute hanger.  I wanted another long thin sack to go with Hannah Haines.  Homespun Elegance has a new design that will go great with this one too.   I prefer it to mine.  Much more my style.  You can find it on her Etsy site here.

 

 

 

 

 I asked Sandra if she objected to this freebie since it has a similar element but she was fine with it.
  

 

 

I plan on stitching the same design I just finished into the needle book.  Originally, it was to be a gift, but I think the second one will just be a little pillow.  I'll also explain why it's not the full design and a lesson I learned.  Not a smidgen as bad as the construction of the !#*&$! book.   Better keep the kids away.   Here's a sneak peek...

 
And....  I'm seeing spots!

 

I hope outdated protein drinks don't give you the trots.  I have lots to do tomorrow.   My stupor of frustration dulled my brain and I didn't look at the date on the bottle until now.

Enjoy the last of what June is offering.  For us, it's water.

Thanks for visiting.

p.s.  Hi Martha!  Thank you!

 

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Sun? What is that?

Good day to you!  Hub and I are exhausted after power washing, scrubbing concrete, cleaning gutters, removing dead plants, repotting others.  Still lots of work to be done but today was the first day in a long while that we had sun and no rain forecast.  That will change again starting tomorrow.  So many of my flowers are dying from the water.  I drilled holes in the bottom of the plastic pots because the drainage holes are deeply indented which creates a 1" water reservoir at the bottom.  No removable tray like the old pots and with 10 days of torrential rain,  there's no chance to dry out.

 

I'm still entertaining the neighbors in my husband's shoes early morning and dusk and there is a big reduction in my slug population.  I'm sure they have figured out by now what I've been doing.  I was surprised to find the creatures in my buckets and containers that hold the pots.  What's left of the flowers and garden is infested with aphids and other pests, destroying all the leaves.

 

I started this project on 36 count (changed every color) and ran into a big problem.  You can probably see it.  But I'll yak about that next time.  My arthritis is screaming from holding that pressure washer wand for hours and even typing is difficult.  It sure seems like this went from mild to dammit quickly.  Is it because I added another year to my "number"?   Regardless, I'm crabby.  Before I was just flashing and bitchy with no patience but now I am flashing and crabby.  The difference?  Bitchy is usually an attitude in response to a question or act.  Crabby is 24/7 sourpuss.  When I get relief from medication, I'm a little nicer, if you give me sweets. 

I was furious with Nit yesterday after I saw him running with a baby squirrel in his mouth.  I tried going into the woods after him but I can't run in Mark's shoes.  I can get Missy to drop the chipmunks and then take them to a safe place, but not Nit.  I know he was raised in the wild but I still get upset.  And I think I'm going to stop washing their water dish because they prefer drinking rain water from a dirty puddle.

 

For those of you trying Affresh, shake it, cover your stains or smear it around, let it sit for at least 5 minutes before removing.  I use a $1 microfiber cloth from Staples (the best!) to dry after rinsing.

 

Time to hit the shower and get the leg up. 

 

Hope your days have sunshine.

 

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Here 'ya go

Not my style, but I hope you like the offer for this giveaway. 

 

 

 

Lined with stars on dark red,

 

 

backed with stars on navy, interfaced for stiffness. 

 

 

 

Drop a weight inside to balance if the fill doesn't allow a straight hang.

 

The chart will be posted when I draw the winner.  But you can leave a comment on this post if you would like to be entered for this finished piece (the flag isn't included).  Make sure you include your initials since so many of you have become no-reply.

 

As for the jelly in the yard, it is called Nostoc.  Harmless but creepy stuff created when your soil can't drain.

 

The winner will be drawn on Wednesday 6/24 at 6pm EST.

Enjoy the weekend as we close in on the end of June.  WHAT???

 

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Wait!!

Not yet.  Forgot about the driver license expiring and need to make a trip tomorrow.  Refrigerator died yesterday, repairman coming tomorrow.  Morning trip to the doc because my foot is like a balloon and so swollen it is almost numb.  New compression and instructions to stay off it for a few days.  Not sure when I will get upstairs to make this into the sack.  Doesn't look bad as a banner with bottom fringe to hang from a rod either.  However I finish it, it may not be listed for entries until the weekend, chart to follow.

 

To no-reply Diane P., yes the nun stitch would definitely stop any raveling edges, and I've also used a plain whipstitch without a problem, using floss or a pulled out linen thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's a mystery.  Can anyone tell me what this clear amber gelatinous substance is that appeared in numerous little piles over my yard?  Aliens?  It's not as firm as Jell-O but holds together, and we have no idea where it came from.  Creepy.

 

Busy busy - be back soon with the official entry post.

 

Thanks for your patience!  Listen to me.  Like everyone is waiting on the edge of their seat because this is just so fabulous. 

 

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