A Santa I forgot

Hello people.  How the heck are you?  We'll enjoy nice weather this week, and I think I will get the outside decorating done. 

I put a sprig on each door, no bows, and drop bunches of cut greens into galvanized tubs.  Boom.  Done.  I like the grapevine tree on the front deck as I did last year so that will be easy too.  As much as I would like a live tree there, it never materializes.  My house looks the same every year, the only difference may be which tubs are used.  Do you have a set theme and use the same every Christmas or do you try to do something different?

 

I did some research on printers and will pick it up tomorrow morning.  I hope it supports Windows 7 and there will be no issues with installation.  My current is out of warranty by only 9 months and they have already stopped making models that take that cartridge, and I won't be able to purchase it much longer either. I also stopped at the shop again and they informed me that they may NEVER get those boxes.  Their scanners are showing "not available".   

 

I found quite a few CD's from years ago and discovered many forgotten images on them.  One that I hope she doesn't mind my sharing, is the last Santa I painted, for Sampler Farmer Carol.  The online albums of her fabulous samplers inspired me to get back to stitching.  I studied them, made shopping lists, discovered new designers and old favorites, enjoyed her gracious tolerance of my questions, her help and advice.  I wanted to show my appreciation and was also itching to paint one more Santa (on gourd).  

She was involved at one time with Handwork and stitched models for Carriage House so I included those leaflets along with a roll of linen in a burlap sack.  When I saw the photo, I wanted to pick up the brushes, but I gave it all away several years ago when I stopped painting.  If I remember correctly he was about 7 inches tall, maybe 8.

 

Maybe one day in the future... but I seriously doubt it.  I am NOT an artist and without training, it was difficult and frustrating once the project became detailed.  I don't have that patience any longer.

 

We got our bird for dinner, a fresh one.  I was surprised to see on the labels that the frozen had 8-12% injected solutions.  The fresh had 3% and no antibiotics.  AND - I found dry cottage cheese!!  After years without a source, we will be making sweet cheese pierogis for Christmas Eve this year.  I tried with regular cottage cheese and it wasn't the same so we are thrilled that we can once again make them, first time since Mom passed.  Our Christmas Eve dinner was always cheese (and potato) pierogis, smelts, cole slaw, beet relish, and Christmas Day was the Italian dinner. 

 

I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

 

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I WAS working

until this happened.

 

My last HP printer failed right after warranty and like this time, I had just spent over $80 on ink cartridges.  After the recent wasted printing that ended up striped, I assumed the black ink cartridge was defective and purchased another today.  There is no black at all.  This model doesn't allow access to the printheads for cleaning and after following all instructions for remedy, nothing worked.  With nothing to lose and torque screwdriver in hand, we went at it.  The printheads were a mess so we soaked as recommended on DIY sites, twice, put back together, twice, failed to print the black.  It's necessary unless you're printing pastels.  So now what?  Do I buy another HP that uses the same cartridge so I'm not wasting $80 again or look elsewhere and pay double with new ink?  Either way, I have two sources, Walmart and Staples, both limited on inventory, and may have to order whichever one I choose.  Can't use a color copier (which isn't as sharp) for the labels because they are printed on heavy cardstock.  In order for Staples to print them, they need to be in a .doc file and I have no idea how the clarity and color would come out.  I need to think and eat chocolate.

 

I will post the few boxes I have this week, and also post the date and time of the sale beforehand.  Krissy, please email me using the link at the top right.  If anyone has questions please send directly to me since the majority of requests are from no-reply readers and I cannot answer you.  If you receive posts by email, you probably don't have that link so.... email address

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

 

Be back soon with details, news, or a painfully nasty rant.

 

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I am working!

But progress is slow. Today started off great with my favorite Gas House Eggs but went downhill from there.  Our version of the dish is with Worcestershire sauce in the buttter. Either brush it on the toast or melt it in the pan for toasting.  So stinkin' good.  They now say butter is good for you but I always preferred it to the fake stuff.

 

 

 

 After sizing and cropping and the hardest part - tint correction - I printed the labels.  Little did I know that the new ink cartridges were printing in streaks,  The samples were fine so I just set up the files and let them all print.  I lost all the good card stock and half the ink, nothing was usable.  Anyway, here's a few that are finished, and I have no idea how I will present these since the Paypal link failed for many of you last time.

 

Only four of these, 6" and 7" round. Dark green.

 

This little 4" round is very limited until their shipment comes in.  On dark green.  Some will have labels from prior offers since they were good sellers.

 

 

The 4" tall oval that I have the most of.  This is the box I will be doing the script on.  I have others labels ready but I'm not sure how many choices will be included.  Etsy would be much easier but between their fees and Paypal fees, I would have to raise $1 or so.

 

Nothing set up for sale yet, just wanted to show a sample.  Many of you requested Mary Antrim again so there will be several.

 

Hope your weekend went well, have a great Monday!

 

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No boxes but lots of bulbs

Greetings folks.  Stopped again at the craft shop for boxes, nothing.  They have been waiting for a shipment for two weeks and haven't received any as of yet.  They had a few round sets which I do not use but I was desperate so home with me they came. 

 

 

 

I took out some of the boys for decorating and happened to spot my Mary Beale wreath.  Perfect. 

Not a sampler box, but maybe I'll do a few Christmas themes.  These will be painted a very dark green.  I'll be working on them all this weekend and there won't be many.  I make the mistake of trying to compose too many labels instead of sticking with one or two.

 

Pat Catan's is having a three day sale with a 15% off coupon that was in today's newspaper.  The real deal - silicone bulb two pack for $1 each which is the type I use in the window candles. Cheaper than making your own for sure and no mess so I stocked up.  Also grabbed the very large rusty jingle bells for the trees.  I am a sale shopper especially for weekly grocery items, but when you load your cart and everything rings up at full price, pay attention to the sale flyer's date a little more closely.  To my disappointment, full price Pecan Sandies disappear just as quickly as the sale package.

 

 

We've decided on Thanksgiving meal, simpler for just five of us, and spaghetti lost out to the bird.  I'll be making our green bean casserole that is just so good.  You can find the recipe here along with the sweet potato casserole here.

 

I wanted to mention my recent first attempt at skinny jeans but I'm still in shock.  That name is a misnomer, they are TIGHT jeans.  Skinny doesn't enter the picture.

 

Have a great weekend.

Thanks for visiting and offering your opinion on the labels.

 

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Your opinion please

Hiya.  Before I spend any more time on this concept, please let me know what you think of it.  Seems my likes are usually contrary to others.

 

 

Mark helped me in and out of the car today as I shopped for boxes at Pat Catan's.  None.  Zippo.  Nada.  Michael's is very limited and doesn't stock my sizes, Hobby Lobby the same.  I refuse to order without seeing them since every one has to be checked for defects and no one was able to tell me if they would be getting more in. 

 

I see I have a few new followers - hello people!  Thanks for tagging along on my menoride. 

 

So if you wouldn't mind - yes or no on the label.

Thank you much!

 

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Changes continue

Hello people.  Hope everyone is doing well.  We're getting so close to Christmas and I'm still crabby about the end of summer.  Thanksgiving is next week and last year at this time, we were in a completely different state of mind, no dinners, no Christmas, no holiday.  This year there is much to be thankful for and our holidays will be celebrated.  I would rather have spaghetti than turkey but won't win on that one.

 

While trying out the new Bosch with Rack-a-matic (upper rack can be moved up or down), I stood in a twisted position and all of sudden, couldn't straighten.  Years ago I was at my parent's house every day and every year in the fall with a very heavy gas hand held leaf blower, no support, and that slight forward bend from the weight ruined my lower back muscles.  Any time I need to keep a slightly forward position, like at the laundry tub, it hurts.  This time, because of the bend but also the twisted position, something else happened.  I just wish there was a way to not make those noises that automatically spew from my mouth.

 

The flag on this design patterned three rows of red to one row of white.  Took it out and started over.  Because of needing an odd number centered, those three red stayed but I changed the other stripes to two rows red and two rows white.  I like it better.  I'm using the darker 680 for his coat, and I don't like the green for collar and cuff so......  another change coming.  I may use a fuzzy thread (if I didn't give them all away) but wouldn't a pile look nice?  Turkey stitch cut to a short pile. I may try a sample elsewhere in case I throw a tantrum.  If all else fails, one dark brown thread with one light thread will give me the tweedy look and the more I think about it (like just now), that may be the ticket.  I shouldn't be tempting frustration while teetering on the edge of a slump.

 

Have a good one!!

 

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