One year ago today

with my nephew being home from the hospital for only two days, Carole was rushed in New Year's morning.  Five days later she was transferred to Cleveland and the diagnosis, which should have been apparent, was finally known.  Hard to believe that all the surgeries, emergencies, admissions, and months of feeling helpless was not this past year, but 2014.  Of course the first several months of 2015 were bad but we had answers and knew what to expect.  Seems like yesterday, but it wasn't.

 

Today we did a little visiting and I just made a batch of peanut butter cookies.  Why?  Didn't we have enough sweets?  My goodness.  Chris asked on her Facebook post what we are stitching for 2016.  I replied, my pant seams!  Tomorrow we'll be making a triple batch of stuffed cabbage for everyone.

I mentioned before that the Frixion pen works well for me on linen.  Not only will the iron make the ink disappear, so will the attached eraser.  Looking back to the chart for placement every two stitches causes many of my errors so I once again used the pen to mark the outline of the stem and satin stitches.  So much easier for me.  Making it even easier would be my hoop but since it's hiding, I'll work on the border until it surfaces.   A visit to Mary Corbet's site to find the stem stitch video was necessary, even though it's very easy to do.  Just couldn't remember how!  I'm hoping this slump is almost over because I ordered several pieces of linen, 18th Century Rook in 35 and Tumbleweed in 32.  I have too much linen I am not using.  A few pieces of Jobelan too. 

 

I received a large box of stitched Santas that I was asked to sell.  Mostly Schooler, many on Aida.  Beautifully finished too.  I'm going to go through them in a little while and will probably buy several myself.  I will show you what's left next time and maybe you could offer some suggestions. 

 

Until then, enjoy the weekend!  Start counting the days until spring!

 

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Stitching review

Wishing everyone a good year in 2016.

 

Recap of the year's stitching which isn't much.  Going back through the 2015 posts, there were many photos of Sally Fiske progress, the longest I've ever worked on a project.  There were also cats, hostas, pink petunias, Carole updates, wild turkeys, the never ending kitchen remodel, letting go of my car, and turtle pee.  I wonder how our rescued turtle is doing. So here it is, a measly amount of finishes.  More smalls than usual and three were my freebies.  Hope to do better next year. 

 

I also wanted to show you a photo of my heart freebie done by Sue in the UK.  I love her finish.

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

And for the inquiries from readers (no-reply) that wanted information on the Merry Christmas banner in the header photo, it is Leisure Arts Christmas Gentlemen.  Many of you were so kind to share this information.  I had this leaflet until this past spring when I reduced stash and gave it away, not realizing the banner I want to stitch again was included!

 

Enjoy your weekend.

 

Thanks for your support, concern, friendship, and kind words.  You have no idea how important it is to this crabass.

 

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Christmas is over

and big girl (expanded cut of linen) Sally will be too.  Soon.  May not make it by year's end but shortly thereafter.  The bottom area that I dreaded continuing and where the majority of errors occurred is completed. 

Whew.  But because this big girl (quite adequately proportioned for the amount of stitches) was rolled for easier handling, I forgot about the specialty stitches and the vase above.  It shouldn't be too bad because "specialty" means "do as you wish".  If I have trouble with the stem stitch it becomes satin, if a Queen riles me it becomes my made up diamond stitch or wonky eyelet.  Border?  BORDER?  Good grief I forgot all about that too.  My enlarged coloring copies were short of that edge.  Although I hate stitching borders, this shouldn't become a problem either because the testy part is over.  The house needs filled, also an easy task. 

I just didn't realize there was so much more to her.  After unrolling and pressing her, I realized this big girl (expanse of abundantly stitched mass of linen) is my largest piece and fabulous colors.  Well worth the frustration I had with this project.  She measures appox. 23 x 24, larger than my Lucy Redd.  Politically correct or not, she is one big ass gal.

 

So am I.  Damn those sweets.  Once I start I can't stop.  I decided to munch on this broccoli salad between cookies, just so my body knows there are still green foods. I use Hellman's light mayo and add sugar (or substitute) to my taste, cut the broccoli into smaller florets, add golden raisins, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds.  I forgot to shake the water out of the broccoli after washing and this batch is a little runny.   This isn't Pioneer Woman's blog so no fancy dishes, my salad goes in a plastic container.  I don't know why I don't care for her but I don't.  And Oprah!  I taped her show back in the day and adored her but for me, something about her changed.  The new commercial for WW about bringing her to "this most powerful moment" has people in tears.  I don't get the powerful moment since she has recognized and talked about her weight for years, trying many different plans.  This time, she bought 10% of the company, became a board member, and their stock rose 53% making her more millions.  Weight Watchers DOES work if you stick to the plan that seems to change every year.  I'm sure she will have success.

 

Anyway, have a safe and happy new year!

Hope 2016 is a good year for all.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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My needlework grade ...

A big fat F!!!

Hope everyone had the Christmas they hoped for.  Ours was very nice and the first Eve and Christmas we've had in a few years.  I don't even want to think about last year at this time.  We need to enjoy and cherish each celebration because life is always messing with us.

 

Sally.  Oh Sally.  I so wanted to finish her before year's end and I think I will.  But I picked up right where I left off.  Errors on top of errors.  I enlarged the motif area and colored in the symbols.  It helped.  So why am I continuing to make errors?  Many of you start several projects and then set them aside, but do the threads stay with them?  I have so many older skeins, new skeins, and some are noticeably off.  So if you need that color for a new start, do you get a fresh skein or take it from the stalled project?  Just curious.  I'm assuming the thread stays because by the time you return to it, a new skein may be needed and slightly off from what you were using.  I have always finished a piece before another start, but needed to set Sally aside.  She taught me a lesson - make notes and keep them with the chart when you change colors and placements!  I forgot everything.  I used the wrong gold when I picked her up the other day and had to remove it all and also forgot about the error in the vase which made it two stitches shy of the chart.  

Now the stems are making me nuts.  Look at the errors, and these are after removing the stems once already.  Top right is one extra stitch out, middle is missing one stitch which made the circled area off one row, far left is an extra linen thread so the row is over 3.  Ordinarily I leave errors but this is exactly the same on each side of the house and the stems are symmetrical from center.  I have been removing more stitches than adding.  

 

Rain rain rain rain and then it rained.  The only snowflakes I've seen are on Carole's sweater that needed pearls reattached.  I can't believe she was going to get rid of it because a few pearls were off.  I always remove embellishments before recycling an item so I had lots of extras to add.  I may be seeing the real ones by week's end.  Not happy about that.

 

Enjoy the last week of 2015.

Stay safe.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Ready

Apple pie with vanilla ice cream dessert,  Au Bon Pain cranberry almond macaroons made, cookies ready for tomorrow, last of shopping done, hissy fits completed.

 

 

 

The last one happened when I was jumping out of the car in front of a store with cars behind waiting, as bags and merchandise fell out, caught on my shoes.  The fit intensified when my throwing arm missed the door opening and I continued picking up and throwing.  Always a bright side - the old fart behind us got a chuckle.  Once again, I was jumping out of the car, purse strap wrapped around my shoulder, filled bags (for exchanges/returns) slipped onto my arms, traffic waiting behind.  I can't get out.  I pulled at the purse strap, yanked the bags, maybe it's my jacket pocket stuck on something.  Fit is getting nasty and the cuss words are flowing.  I CAN'T GET OUT!!!  I'm caught on something but with so much on my lap, I can't tell what.  Horns are now blowing.  My husband gently hits a red button to release my seat belt and thankfully, my body didn't jerk forward hard enough to tumble out.  I still had to fight my way out of the belt since the bag handles were over my arms.  But I made it.  This time, there was no chuckle from the car behind.  He was young.  He'll get over it.

 

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Merry Christmas to all

Wishing you a peaceful holiday filled with love, memories, and good will.

 

 

 

 

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