Where there's a will, there's a wool

Greetings to all on this warm sunny day in PA.  Hope you're doing well.

 

Working on this lion wallet has not been fun to say the least.  My impatience makes me think I can skip over everything to learn and just do it.  No I can't.

 

 I received another package from Ann, this one containing glorious wool that she uses for her spectacular wallets.  I can see why.  What a difference in the look when replicating an early piece. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my pitiful attempt, single strand wool in the insert compared to double DMC.  Hard to see difference on the screen but it's huge.  It's embarrassing to show my wonky tents but this morning I walked into one of those concrete poles in Walmart while browsing office supplies, so how much worse can this photo be?  No one was around so it was certainly not as bad as the JCP mannequin incident.  We don't speak of that one.

 

This blue piece on 30 count is tent over one with four cross stitches beneath.  You all know I have a tension problem and when I yanked on the needle, I broke the wool thread.  Yes they all break easily if you yank hard enough unless they are a blend. 

 

 

It's a little too thick for the full cross I think and I'm anxious to get my new chart from Merry Wind Farm which I believe is done in wool.  Lillian Davidson.  I spotted the over one stitching on this right away but love it, so it's the latest stash addition.  Even though I really don't feel like stitching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to thank you for the heads up on the cell phone/bra issue.  I had forgotten about the list of things to steer clear of (including some GPS units) that we studied over a year ago.  Although Carole said that the new phone doesn't fit in her bra like her old flip phone, she was once again embellishing to make a point because she didn't like the new one. When I called to question her after your comments, she claimed she never said that.  That is very typical of her.  As an example, when I checked Verizon policies and told her that she could exchange the new phone for another, she started yelling about signing a contract and there is a $100 charge for restocking.  No, there is a $35 charge to return a product within 14 days.  To exchange, there is no charge.  Go do it and get the damn flip phone.  Phone calls telling me I am wrong continued throughout the day.  So I printed out their policy and had her take it to the Verizon store, where they were as nice as could be, and exchanged the smartassphone for a flipthisphone.  She made up the $100 charge, the contract for that phone, and a few other things just so she wouldn't have to go back there and to prove she knows more.  She does this quite often.  Her cell phone is carried in her right pants pocket, not her bra as before, and she uses her right side when talking.  Glad she remembers this since she is totally dependent on that pacemaker. And I thank you again for bringing it to my attention.  It just occurred to me that her breast cancer was on the same side as where she kept the phone for years.  Coincidence I guess.

 

Thanks for visiting!

Enjoy your day.

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A warm week ahead

GET OUT!!!

 

 

I've had a headache and runny nose since I sheltered you from winter.  Time to get in your outdoor condo and garage. 

 

This is blurry, but an everyday sight.  I thought cats cleaned themselves???  And the gray collared male along with Yellow Cat are still out there howling every night and getting into fights.  I honestly believed that spaying and neutering stopped this behavior and attraction but it doesn't.  She can't have more kittens which is a blessing but the other side continues.

My sister's report from her year after surgery echocardiogram was not as good as it should have been, and won't get any better.  Such a blow after all she has been through.   The doctor said that the Torsades, pacemaker, the AV node ablation, and then replacement all took place within 6 months time which didn't allow the heart enough time to reprogram itself after each event.  So once again, when I am ready to blow my stack at her irresponsibility after I foot so many expenses, I am calmed down by the reality of her situation. 

 

 So I made her a little case for her new phone.  She had a flip and went to a smartphone which was a huge mistake.  She keeps her phone in her bra in case she needs to call for help and this new one isn't working. 

The case has a Velcro strap that holds the phone in, or flips to the back into the little pocket to stay open and loop on to something.  She's talked about the 24/7 monitor that is worn around the neck so that will be the next bill after we get her dentures. 

 

 

And the damn left button on the touchpad of the newer Dell has now lost its spring so it's useless. Dammit.  If I can't use the laptop, I may as well try stitching.  Slump continues, longer than I expected.

 

Have a good week!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Silk & fuzz

Greetings everyone.  The lion is not going very well; tiny tiny tent stitches are not something I do well.  While digging through the piles in the stash room, I came across some threads I will never use.  I thought I gave everything away a few years ago but some are still hanging around.  KitKin needs to go.  I think they were in my SIL's box, she made all the Homespun Elegance Cinnamon Stick standing Santas and this may have been needed.  Color is Y4 tan.  

 

The other is a few skeins of Soie D'Alger, colors 2115, 2532, 2915, 3723, 4633, 4646.  The labels are off two.  The green may have been used but the other was not.  Also included is a Madeira pack of white silk.

 

In exchange and for postage (USA), I would like gift certificates for 123Stitch, easy to purchase online.

 

For the six KitKin packs, $3.00 - GONE

For the batch of silks, $6.00

Email me if you are interested.

 

We finally gave up looking for anyone that is qualified and/or willing to install the kitchen exhaust, so this is what we've been busy with for a few days.

Down came some drywall, I ordered a Broan powerpack 390 which is for custom hoods (or installed in the overhead 12" deep cabinet).  Mark put an outlet for the fan in the cabinet, cut the cabinet for installation, and when the missing needed part comes in, we'll install the fan in the cabinet, install the 6" round vent pipe to the outside, install the exterior vent cap.  Then patch the drywall, add the shelf, finish the wall, and pout because it is not the mantel looking surround with plate shelf that I had planned.  Who cares at this point.  As long as the mechanics are installed, we can change the look later. The lack of anyone wanting to learn a trade (and be serious about their work), has taken the wind out of remodeling excitement and plans.  I'm not sure if that disappointment caused the entire sleeve of Ritz crackers to be spread with cream cheese and elderberry jelly, but they were sure good.

 

Enjoy your Sunday.

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Always check the crime scene

I couldn't resist the pack of large beautiful berries on the store shelf, while chocolate covered triangular shapes of soft red sweetness danced in my head. 

 

So while Mark was at the Italian Home picking golf teams, I melted the chocolate and planned on dipping.  He wouldn't know how many were in the pack and how many were missing.  It was a golden opportunity.  I've gained a few more pounds and am embarrassed to let someone see what a piggy I am.

The chocolate melted but not fluid enough to dip or coat. As I continued trying different pans, and melting methods, I couldn't resist taking a spoon and smearing the thick chocolate on, just to get started, do a test, be a pig.  Maybe I overheated the chocolate this time but since it didn't burn my lips, I thought the temp was good.  Simmering water exploded when I set in a stainless pan with uncooperative chocolate, but I trudged on, all while "testing".  Little by little, my clean strawberries lined up for dipping were disappearing as was the chocolate. How could that be?  It's not the right consistency yet and it's almost gone with only three strawberries left!  How was this happening?  I finally gave up when the little bit left was too hard to spread.  Whether the chocolate would have hardened on the berry is unknown since they never had the chance.  I knew that it was dripping as I tested them because my fleece jacket had chocolate streaks from the loose but thick brown sweetness.  More time passed than expected so I started cleaning up the mess before he returned.  Threw my stained jacket in the wash and left a few bare strawberries on the counter. When he walked in, I knew something was wrong. 

"What were you doing?" 
"Well I tried to dip a few strawberries but it didn't work." 
"It didn't?" 
"Nope. I couldn't dip them, couldn't get the consistency right."
"So you didn't make any?"
"No."
"Have you been in the bathroom recently?"
"What?  Why would you ask me that?"
"Look down at your top."
"Oh.  It must have splattered when I was cleaning up."
"Really?"
"The bathroom."

Busted......

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Linen strips

How's everyone doing?  It's March.  Pretty soon the flowers will be popping and gardens will be planned.

Karen chose The Stitching Post in Baltimore for her gift certificate and they are having a "make your own sale day" sale the 17th - 26th for 20% off, in case any of you are close by. 

 

I'm doing a little finishing work to pieces that have been (lost) recently discovered.  I love this tiny sampler and used the same blue backing as the last project.  Whenever I trim linen I save these strips to use the threads for mending or seaming and sometimes for hangers.  Comes in handy if the linen color is odd and nothing else looks right. 

 

 Since I like more primitive style, I just fringe the edges on each side, or fold and run a machine stitch.  Then I fray to that line. 

 

 

 

 

Running my nail along the fringe makes it a little wonky and steaming or dampening helps if needed.  Instant matching hanger.

I forgot to add it when I was seaming this little ornament so I hand sewed the hanger to the back.  In a way, that's better because I can easily remove it for a change. 

 

It was a little too long for this cubby box so I hooked it on the bottom of the nail, hung the box, and then flipped it over.  Why not shorten it?  Since it's not in the seam it would be an easy fix, but I'm lazy.

We had a sad situation this past weekend.  My nephew's son Matt is a volunteer firefighter.  He responded to an accident within a mile from his home, could not get a pulse from the trapped passenger whose position hid his face.  He moved on to help the other three occupants while the ambulance removed the body.  Later, he found out it was his friend since grade school and he's devastated.  They shared a special bond and helped each other through tough times. The young man's mother shoved him off to an abusive grandfather for many years, yet he never drank, did drugs, got into trouble.  He was more sad than bitter, and grew into a caring and responsible young man whose life was cut short at 22.  Now she is trying to hold his lifeless body in the casket, crying hysterically, but it's too late. 
If you need to tell someone you are sorry, have regrets, love them... do it.

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Goodbye February

Usually winter moves very slowly for me, but this time it seems to be buzzing along.  All the projects I had planned to do never materialized and now I'm upset with myself for procrastinating once again.  I wasn't like this years ago but am now shoulders deep and totally stuck in that mud.  First year of husband's retirement and he is not one to change things for the sake of change.  Repairs are different.  But I hesitate to get involved with remodeling when the first word would be "why? ... What's wrong with the way it is?  It looks nice!".  When he was at work I could rip off drywall and there would be no choice but to proceed. 

 

Thanks for the suggestions on the gloves.  I don't remember ever seeing mom wear them but I am saving a few pair out of the batch.  The others will sit in my sewing room until I decide to work on them and who knows when that will be.
 

Another project....hmmm.  Here I go again.  What's stuck in my head is a lion from an antique wallet (John Storrs) that Ann brought to my attention.  I may just try the over one tent stitch in an effort to replicate him.

 

I wonder how that will go.  I don't think it would be as nice if done in cross stitch. 

 

The Nostalgic Needle's bags are on my mind too but I'm not ready yet.

 

After searching for a stitcher's journal and finding none, I decided to make my own.  Once the supplies come, I will lay out a print for the pages and see how it works. There are lots of beautiful blank journals available, but I want printed pages and dividers, not a bound notebook with no options.

 

Hope your week starts good and gets even better.

 

Sale starts today on boxes if anyone is interested.

 

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