Fading borders

Hey.  What's happening?  We're a little chilly here in PA, and crabs prefer warm weather.  So chilly that the Nit Boy came in to snooze with the Bud Man.

My border, after I got my rhythm, managed to end up on the right row.  Amazing.  The tiny design within it, is barely visible.  Even the bottom's green thread fades into the linen.  I am considering changing them to the rust or bright blue, maybe even the yellow.  Instead of removing the four stitch design I may just outline those with the darker color.  Have I ever done a reproduction as it was charted?  Yes!  All of my first sampler kits from the Scarlet Letter, but I was a youngster then and afraid of my own shadow.  

The going is slow because of my thumb, which cracked.  Too much detergent and lack of hand care causes my hands to turn to Velcro in the winter, a form of eczema, treated with hydrocortisone cream twice a day.  Which I didn't do and the thumb cracked.  Extremely sore and hard to heal so pulling the needle is pretty uncomfortable.  But little by little I am getting her done.

 

See how the border colors fade away?  Rust.  It needs the rust.  Hopefully the thumb will heal so I can do the stem stitches to finish Sally.  Oh.  I have to complete the stitches in the house, only one small section on the left is crossed.  Keep forgetting that. 

 

I received my Belfast Tumbleweed, a very nice sagey kind of greenish something. Still not as stiff or as dark as I like it but a very nice shade.  That's R&R Sea Glass on the right. Ordering unseen browns online doesn't work for me because too many have a reddish undertone which I do not like.  My Rook pieces should come this week and although not as dark as my original (gifted from a friend and I'm forever grateful), they should be a good shade, not like the last piece I received.  Did I have a giveaway for that?  I think I did.  So even though I haven't crawled out of the slump yet, I am ordering linen.  No new charts (and there are several I plan on selling) because this climb is more difficult than before and I have to decide if going to smalls is the best option at this time, forgoing the larger samplers.

 

I had a few questions from no-reply'rs and can't remember what they were so I guess I can't answer right now.  And as for the Pringles, I love chips with chocolate.  Pretzels and chocolate.  I even dip hot French fries into chocolate milkshakes.  My personality is that of a crustacean but my eating habits are more porcine.

 

Hope your week is going well, stay safe!

Thanks for visiting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

My Mosey guys

Greetings folks.  How's the year starting for you?  How do you feel when the decorating is removed and the house seems bare?   Is it worse to get it all out or put it all away?  For me, putting it away.  I can never remember what goes where and when I think it's right, the lid won't close.  So it's wrong.  During this time, I munch.  Every time I am in the midst of decisions, dilemmas, or disorder, I grab for something.  Years ago it was a cigarette.  There were two Pringles cans in my sight and my arthritis is either growing my knuckles or my hands are becoming like my butt.  One half of the chips are gone and you either dive in for a grab or risk breaking that perfect chip by sliding them out.  Does anyone else get their hand stuck in the Pringles' can?

 

I showed you this Mosey 'n Me design (#57) before and it makes me smile every time I see it.  But once put away, I forget about checking for this linen band.  Stitched by my SIL, she often hemmed edges and hung her seasonal designs on dowels with hemp cord hangers.  This one is an 8" wide band of linen, really neat fabric for this type of finish.  Looks 28, maybe 30, from many years ago.  I've checked for this and haven't found it yet, but did see unbleached linen band with decorative edges which I don't want.  Also, the ticking stripe edges which I thought would be good for Santas if the red thread is close. 

The other Mosey (Starlight Ride) she stitched for me is so cute, but I really wish the blue linen was a very dark gray blue.  It's really nice looking but I'm not a blue lover.  I think the metallic threads would really stand out and the entire design would pop.  Pop.  Ginger ale or 7-up?  I just can't stop shoveling into my face.

 

 

Some of you asked about the brats.  We haven't decided on a heating system for the garage and as soon as the weather went into the 40's, they sat at my window until I gave in. 

Except Nitzy.  He's a rebel.  But he does come in when he's hungry and usually after dark.  I can't leave their food in the garage because of the new stray and also Yellow Cat.  And yes, that is white crap which will be gone by Thursday when it will be in the low 40's and Mark will be golfing.  They golf until their balls freeze.  Golf balls that is.

 

Thank you for your suggestions on the future Santa sale.  I thought the prices were a little low but I see finished pieces on EBay that don't sell.  I will probably take your advice and add maybe a dollar, no more than two, and the seller is OK with that.  From the number of email requests I received, I think I will sell individually so everyone has a chance.  He doesn't have a Paypal account so it may be by check only or I have to use mine and add another 50¢ for the fees.  I will let everyone know days ahead of the sale.  Thanks again for the feedback.

 

That's all!  Back to working on Sally.  What a difference the dark border is making.  I stitched the entire bottom wrong and had to remove it all.  Big surprise.

Take care, thanks for visiting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Santas

Selling as sets or individually?  Beautifully stitched and finished, almost all on sage or khaki Aida.  Some have the same Aida backing, many are fine corduroy. Not sure how to price them - would you help me with the price I have listed?  Good deal or too much?  Shipping not included.

 18 Aida  - $5 each or $35 set?
Seriously considering these for myself.

 Cream Jobelan  $5 each?

I'm buying this one.

18 Aida - $25 for the set?

   

Jobelan with ultrasuede (?) $4 each?

 

 18 Aida - $4 each?

Jobelan set $5?

14 white Aida set for $5?

 

 

  18 Aida $3 each?

 

 

Linen? and 14 count Aida $3?

 

 

Be honest!!

Thanks.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~