Proof

that everything happens for a reason and I couldn't wait to show you.  What a difference using the black based print and lighter poms makes in Patty's gift.  Love it!!  So glad the lighter fabric was flawed.

 

But when we are frogging half of a sampler over and over and over, I don't see the reason for that.  I thought that process would teach me patience but instead, I learned several different ways to bend a needle. 

This is Scorched Linen mini poms from the Dame. The other black print fabric that I thought was a warm brown, turned out to be a grayish taupe in daylight and I didn't like it.  I am only using light fleece for the padding and think I can handle sewing the poms on by hand.  Her 65th is the first week in April and I can mail next week. 

The sale starts tomorrow and I want to say a few things.  No, I do not think I have such valuable in-demand items that I need to announce a "sale date".  I just want to give everyone a chance to see the items and I try to choose an accommodating time, to be fair.  Yes, I know I sometimes sell too cheaply, but I'm cheap which makes it harder to ask for higher prices.  I fail to account for postage many times, thinking it's still 19¢.  I chose a gift certificate (easily ordered online in $1 increments) from 123Stitch instead of the 35¢ Paypal fee + 49¢ postage leaving me 18¢.  So I get a couple bucks to spend on things I will never stitch and you get a chart for cheap.  Hope there's something you can use.

 

We went to JCP today looking for shoes for my great nephew's kids and husband found a fabulous winter jacket for $6.97 after discounts.  He loves it.  It's a great time to buy coats for really cheap that can be donated to homeless shelters and kids' programs.

 

Yesterday, my husband got a hankering for tuna casserole that we haven't had in years.  We came from shopping and started throwing it together, anxiously awaiting its removal from the oven.  Well, it was lousy.  Didn't taste like tuna casserole at all.  Probably because we forgot to add the tuna.

 

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Two steps forward, one step back

Hello hello.  I found the perfect color and print to cover the Jenny box.  The black print looked great but the black poms wouldn't show up. I chose this box with the looser lid allowing it to close over the fabric covered bottom, carefully measured (that only happens once in a decade), covered, sized and cut the pom poms, and then I looked at this photo.  Fabric flaws.  The red lines show four in a small area.

 

 Now I see them clearly in daylight which I missed when working late in the evening.  I am tired of spending over $10 a yard for quality cotton fabric and finding small flaws that you don't notice in store.  Even though it matches, I may switch to the black print and forget the poms.  I have two more of these boxes and will try again.  Not sure what I'm doing with April's boxes because my printer that does the labels is not working.  Again.  Maybe they will be fabric covered!

 

And using my favorite DMC colors is yielding this progress on Hannah.  The empty space after M is in the design.

 

Also progress on the kitchen exhaust.  The vent pipes are in, outside wall cap installed, the fan should be hooked up later today.  I decided to bundle projects in order to get someone out here.  The more I add to the list, maybe they will be more willing to work here.  I don't know if the determination of job size is based on $$$ or time. But.  The two contractors that were to replace our windows and siding - gone.  Closed after many years.  Not good.

 

Ran into Macy's this morning to grab my favorite stretchy pants.  Karen Scott has lots of capris but these are the stretch knit blend that hold their shape forever (here), also come in a shorter skimmer. My mom, aunt, sister, and I all tried to get a few pair before they sold out in store which happens quickly.  The comfort and stretch are great, they wash and dry nicely, come in petite, women's and misses.  Love them!  Got a few tops to match too.  Since the backside has continued to increase, the stretch is crucial.  I refuse to move up another size and these adapt to weight gains and losses, the latter of which is greatly anticipated but highly unlikely.  I really wanted to slim down by my fast approaching 65th,

but all is increasing.  Even my mini pad has moved up to the next level.

 

Have a good one!!

 

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Hannah my Way

Next project is Hannah Way with lots of changes in the stitches.  The colors are whatever I want since it's not charted for DMC, and I'm using my own dye on 32 count. And I don't care.  I am really forcing myself now and thinking the end of stitching is near.

 

 

 

Lots of noise and sawdust today while I play with cardboard making templates for ideas.  So far, I've come up with five viable options and can't make up my mind, but think it will be similar to this with a pegboard beneath the cabinet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the items I purchased at Vintage Folk the other day.

 

 

 

 

 And here's someone who enjoys chasing her tail on my chair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I plan to work on the box lid tonight so wish me luck.  I really can't see how there would be a problem but you know how that goes. 

 

Made my rootin tootin bean salad yesterday and will try staying away from sweets for at least a few days.  Gained a few more pounds once again.  We purchased a bottle of Ken's light Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette and honestly, I could drink it.  Saw a recipe on Pinterest using this and the taste is so fabulous, I don't want it mixed with other flavors.  Guzzled from the bottle or on lettuce, maybe chicken breasts will be as far as I go.

 

Have a great week!!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Boom

Sometimes it takes me a while to produce solutions, but I am happy to wait for the best answer. This should have been realized much sooner after all the samplers I have stitched. 

 

Family initials.  I was still having a problem with the date and wanted this to be very personal, so Patty's initials along with her sister's are now with her mom's name.  Perfect!  Since she is losing her sister to dementia, I think having them all together in this piece was the right decision.  I removed the two bottom branches and added the W for Wadsworth.

 

 I don't know if I mentioned this, but Patty's cousin and her husband were killed in an accident near Nest Lake Bridge, a half mile from Patty's home in February.  They had a fender denter, weren't injured, left their car and were both struck and killed by another motorist.  Patty did not tell her sister because Sandy's type of dementia distorts perception.  This is not Alzheimer's, and although Sandy can't function and has lost her language skills, she still has some recognition. 

 

So now the finishing begins and I hope it goes well.  I think using either black mini or petite pom pom trim along the edge would be nice and look better without the black stitched border, but if I don't use the poms, will probably add it.  For such a small box, the smaller pom would be better???  I also have chenille (the miracle fuzz to hide wonky edges) if the poms give me trouble.  I plan on running a basting line and pulling to gather over a round board.  I'll check Vonna's site for info too. 

 

I hope she likes this, I think she will.

 

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Appropriateness

Big word.  And important.  I am wondering why I thought the date of Aunt Jenny's passing would be appropriate on the pin tuffet.  Is it?  Date of birth instead?  I don't know how Patty would feel so I may just extend the vine and add another flower of some sort.  The date looks very nice and I prefer it, and would use Jenny's birth year if I choose that option.  I changed the colors, you knew I would, but mainly because the ivory thread was not visible on the linen.

 

 

 

This is how I scientifically check to see how the project will fit on a 4" round mache box.  Perfect.  I haven't decided if I will stitch the round border, but either way 32 count fits nicely.  Almost every craft store has the little 4" boxes and the tuffet can be inserted into the lip of the lid, attached to the lid's top, or with a Sudberry shaker pincushion box (here).  It think 36 or 40 count would be required with Sudberry.  This is a chart from 2009 so you probably already know all this.

 

 

 

 

 

This quick project would make a great personalized gift if their name or initials would fit.  Could even transpose the name and date for a little more space, adjusting or leaving off the gold outer edge pattern. 

 

I visited a brand new primitive/antique shop in downtown Sharon today named Vintage Folk.  Bought a few items and was happy to see a Golden Doodle puppy there.  Lots of kissing and puppy breath!  The owner is very nice.  Her Facebook page is here.

 

 

Are these two practicing yoga?

 

Have a nice weekend everyone.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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On a rainy day...

catnipped.

 

Have I chosen the next project?  Yesterday it was an outside one and today I can barely open my hand or set down my right foot.  Arthritis seems to be affecting one side of me, the left is still working fine.

 

First I chose the Jenny Bean Pin Tuffet.  Plan is to size it for a 4" box top and make it for my cousin in MN that took care of her mom during Alzheimer's, and is now watching her sister and only sibling rapidly succumb to frontotemporal dementia.  Their mom's (my mom's sister) name was Jenny and I would change the year to her birth (or passing) and leave off the B. I will do this small fairly quick so I also looked for another sampler. 

As is the norm, I am still drawn to these two but hesitate because of the over one areas.  So it's down to three. 

Hannah Way has over one but is a small piece so I can handle it.  This is done in seven step cross (ain't gonna happen) which creates a padded look and is totally reversible.  There are Queens involved too but they won't be leaving the palace for this project.

1739 is very primitive and I would change the colors.  Ann Stone is a good looking sampler with a few different elements that would be fun.

Not sure which it will be, but I'll be thinking about the choice while barking orders for the exhaust fan installation. 

 

Enjoy your day.

Thanks for visiting.

 

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