Winner winner

Not only will one of you become a winner, I am too.  Because of all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Ann saw that I was having another giveaway, she thought it would be nice to make me a recipient too.  Nice is putting it mildly.  I received this in the mail the morning after the big tax check was written.  I've wanted this book for a while but would never think about it at the right time to search Ebay.  So thrilled and hoping this book will create some enthusiasm for my slump.  The fabric is fabulous, love that shade of blue, used it on the back of the latest project.  But the chocolate.  Oh my.  I am such a pig, really.  It's gone.  Who can consume a 12 oz box of chocolate covered (heavily!) potato chips and a bag of covered pretzels in two days?   Me.  Thank you so much Ann for being a friend and making me feel so special. 

 

And now for the winner.  Including the emails I received, there were 123 entries. 
After scrambling the names, Kathy R's number was drawn.  Please contact me Kathy before Saturday evening and let me know where you would like your GC.

Thanks to everyone for participating in this anniversary giveaway.  And welcome to new followers, or maybe you always were until Google cut you off! 
Received a few emails about the envelope and will post photos of that finish tomorrow. 
Thanks again everyone.  You've encouraged my stitching, gave advice, included me in your projects, helped with my decisions, listened to my rants, and contributed much joy to these five years.

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A precise scientific method for the lazy

 

Want to know if your stitching is centered?  Fold it directly on the center line row, and see if the ends match.  Yep.  It looks off, I counted twice, but ended up using the more precise method for verification.  And it's perfect.

 See?  The two end motifs that are correctly placed are obviously the exact number of threads from the center flower which didn't look centered.  If they weren't I wasn't planning on moving the center flower anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the difference with my changes and the chart photo.  I used 3858 for the bottom flowers instead of the brown used throughout, subbed 370 for the very light, and used what I wanted for the ABCD.

 

 I will be finishing her today with a blue backing using the envelope method.  Or maybe a basic back if my mood and patience improve in the next few hours. 

 

And when you find out you owe a ton in taxes to the IRS and can't figure out why,

you fry yourself a few donuts.  Try not to bite one while frying, the melting glaze will burn your lips.

 

Be back tonight for the drawing.

 

Enjoy your day.

 

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Forcing myself to stitch

Greetings.  Making some progress on the little sampler, glad I decided to stitch over two.  This would be really nice over one, but I wouldn't be.  Am I enjoying it as expected?  No.  I am still not feeling the pleasure of the needle.  Maybe I should stick myself with it.  Sometimes a nasty jolt makes me see things differently, sort of like a reset button.

 

I haven't been looking for antiques at the mall too much since Patti died.  Not as much fun when there isn't anyone to share your finds.  I did a quick run through the other day and grabbed two tall thin jugs, one from Holland and the other is new with a bird.  I'm sorry I got the smaller one but I saw the shape and didn't look further.  The tall one is over 12" and I do like it.

Yesterday was another appointment for my sister.  Her dentist's parking lot is down a hill from the entrance and she can't walk it so I've been taking her.  It's a year this week she had the valve replaced but is still very limited.  We're getting her new bridgework.  She lives on very little so we don't have much choice and it's been like this for a long time with credit cards, repairs, maintenance.  Not easy with one income and now SS but we manage, mainly because I'm a cheapskate and live frugally.

 

When you mentioned about the blog being my stitching journal, it's true and could be.  But I prefer having a record at hand instead of looking up post after post of changes.  A tiny swatch of the linen would be a good reference too.  When I went back to see what I was stitching last year at this time and what I took to Cleveland, I came across the details of my Menocare card.  I got my Medicare card in the mail and will probably choose an Advantage plan (much cheaper), but this Menocard is still in effect.

 "This cardholder reserves the right to bitch regardless of situation.  There will be no debate, no rebuttal, no questions. To anyone finding female with this card in an emergency, take extreme caution with subject.  Do not offend, contradict, patronize, look at, or touch.  Stand at arm's length, if body contact is needed, guard your privates.  If emotions take over and subject starts to slump into a puddle, lift quickly, secure, and get the hell away.  For more information, take a hike to the library.  If there was more room on this card I would really tell you where to go."

I think I will print some of these and sell them.  I should open a Menoshop on Etsy.

 

Have a good one!

 

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Certificate

Hello people.  First I'll show you the project I've chosen and then the details of the giveaway. 

 

Scarlet Letter's ABCD 1817 miniature sampler which is to be stitched on 30 count over one.  Finished size would be 2-3/4" x 3-1/4".  It would be amazing in that size.  My choice is over two on 35 count to finish a little under 5"x6".  Still small but not miniature.  I chose the colors in DMC, (I never use silk) and this piece of 35 WDW's beige linen will be the fabric with not a 1/2" to spare.  I still detest cutting into a larger piece and try to buy and use the smallest cuts.  I've also decided it's well past time to start a stitching journal.  I have nothing recorded for any finished piece and that's pathetic.  No idea what that color linen is, what count, what changes were made. 

I like this linen color very much, wish the texture was a bit coarser, but would use it again.  If there is a small swatch left, I can start a linen journal to refer to, but then again, these colors may not be the same in a year or two but at least I will have something to refer to other than a computer screen.

 

 

 

*GIVEAWAY*

 

The gift certificate will be $50 and you can choose from

http://www.nordicneedle.com/

http://www.silentstitches.com/ (free Kelmscott Needle-Minder as bonus)

http://www.123stitch.com/

http://www.needlecraft-corner.com/ (20% sale until 2-29)

 

Some really great and unique items, special scissors, and options at each of these.

The list could go on and on.  They all ship overseas, but if you have a shop locally, or a favorite online, I'll try to accommodate your request.  International will be whatever $50US dollars are worth in EUR or C$.

So the rules are simple.  Leave your comment on this post only, email me if you can't leave a comment, make sure I have your initials or email in the comment. Winner will be drawn this Thursday 2/25 at 8pm EST.  Please don't spread the word, this is for readers only.

Good luck! 

 

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Four things. Four fricking things.

How 'ya doing?  Happy?  Crabby?  Snarky?  Sad?  All of them?  Welcome to my world. 

 

1.  If I see another politician wildly waving their signature arm movements, screaming to crowds of how they will solve all problems without one solution spoken, I will choke on my chocolate. 

 

2. And.....when did the meaning of hack become a "tip"?  Hack always meant a skilled person who does horrible work or a computer invasion.  Now it's "check out these cleaning hacks"  "cook quicker with these hacks"  "101 of the very best hacks".  What the hell?  I don't like changing word meanings.  Make up a new one and leave my old lady vocabulary alone.  

 

3. I purchased a calcium supplement (gummy since I can't swallow pills) and didn't read the fine print - "Processed in a facility with products that contain egg, fish, shellfish, soy, and tree nuts".  Put it on the front label, don't hide it in the fine print.  I'm allergic to shellfish.  Chances would be minuscule to have a reaction but I take no chances at all. 

 

4.  Finally.. KALE!!  That bitter crap is everywhere.  Kale has always been known to be a healthy vegetable.  But all of a sudden, marketing has taken over and it's everywhere and in everything. It's the same green that it was 10 years ago.  It's extremely high in vitamin K1 for coagulating or clotting your blood, so anyone taking Coumadin or anti-clot drugs, it will change the PT/INR blood work unless you eat it every day.  Many veggies are higher in Quercetin and other flavonoids than kale.  I'm not saying you shouldn't eat kale, if you can handle it, eat it.  It's good for you, has lots of other healthy benefits, but so do other cruciferous vegetables. Give me a break and quit pushing it.  Eat a cup of blueberries, a banana, and a sweet potato, they taste 684% better and are just as loaded with vitamins and minerals.  Get the kale away from me!  Geez.

 

You see how little things that should have absolutely no effect on my mood can turn me into a wolverine?  In another few hours, I'll be laughing hard enough to need a mini pad.  I'm out of control people.

 

Tomorrow... Sunday right?, I'm posting the giveaway and my new project.

 

Have a good evening.  Snark away.

 

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Decisions

Greetings folks.  Have I started another project?  Nope.  Why?  Slumpola.  The longer I wait, the worse it gets, but I had another issue.  I was using my heat gun with the metal extension, trying to correct the warped box lids.  This time, I was in a different room and forgot where the cord was, walked into it, and grabbed the metal part of the gun as it was falling.  The burn was really not as bad as I expected, the scream was no higher than my usual, and the healing was pretty quick.  It's fine and I can certainly start another sampler this weekend.  But which?  A little freebie?  I have many small marking sampler charts and yet a few very large projects are calling my name but it doesn't sound like marly.  Might be a clue that they're calling someone else.

 

When I was posting my seven days of samplers on Facebook, I also showed my smalls and fell in love with them all over again.  Especially this tiny Scottish Initial Sampler from Chessie & Me.  I've found that years ago, over one was not a deterrent as you can see in the first row.

 

 

I want to thank you for the uplifting comments about my blogging anniversary.  Your kind words and friendship are cherished.  For my anniversary giveaway, ten bucks for each year, a $50 gift certificate.  I will probably give you a few shop options as I did before because places like Nordic Needle offer storage chests, quilting, sewing, just about everything (not everyone prefers cross stitch).  But maybe I will choose one shop and stick to it like people that have focused fogless brains do.  I will think long and hard and post the official giveaway notice either tomorrow or Sunday.  Do not post about it to others - this is for my readers and followers.

 

Until then, eat cake, stay safe, be well.

 

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