the Ink Spots

Greetings folks.  I want to wish everyone a joyous Easter.  We won't be having our traditional breakfast and dinner this year.  The fresh turkey I bought for Thanksgiving is finally making its way out of the freezer and will be the first time ever, a bird will be gracing the Easter table.  Not happy about that, but it's easier than arguing with my sister.

 

My right arm and hand are numb again so stitching is hit and miss but I am plugging along.  A few more stitches and the four rows of over one begin.  There is a large center heart done in the queen that isn't stitched yet and I haven't decided if I will do it or change it.  R&R's reproductions are charted as the samplers are found including missing stitches.  I usually fill them in and did on the top of Hannah, but decided to follow the chart for the mid section.  What bothered me was the color I chose for green, 731, way too yellowish.  The entire sampler is my own choice and darker than the original.  I didn't want to go back and change it so I got my artist brushes out and inked it.  Yep.  Inked it.  Ranger archival ink pad.

It's not a great difference but the yellow is toned down considerably and just fine now.  In this photo, the 1234 and large motif on the left were inked.  Always looking for the easy end to a problem. 

Using the small flat brush on the raised thread is quite easy, very light touch.  By not holding the brush upright, having it horizontal, the bristles don't touch the linen.  I used a liner brush for a few. 

 

This looks better.  Still undecided as to filling in missing stitches, or leaving as is and aging when finished.  That's another reason I am not too concerned about inking over threads, I age pieces with spots anyway so if I happen to smudge the linen, (or make a chocolate fingerprint) it will not be noticed at all and contribute to the look.

 

 

The blue linen came out fabulous.  I ordered three dark pieces anyway, Gunmetal Dolphin and Charcoal.  Why?  I can get the shade I want myself!  But you never know for sure.  When I dye, I'm using scraps or linen that I do not like as samples.  The next piece I try may not come out the same and that's happened.  The sources and colors of my old linens are unknown so each could dye differently.

Staying home and chewing on Advil today, Mark is golfing (it's 38 degrees), maybe we will go out later for a few errands.  My printer that died again, may be running after my 4 day fix.  If it is, I will try to offer a few boxes for April but I'm not sure.  The new monster sized printer I purchased after the first death does not print the quality I want and it's sitting in the basement.  Just don't have the gumption to shop for another right now.

For Elaine - I can't reply to your comment or email you.  The pincushions are by Hands on Designs.  The series is called Block Party.  Buzz, Java, Home, and Wool are the chart titles.  You can find all four here.

 

I won't be back until after Easter so I want to again wish you all a Happy Easter!!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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

Block Party

As usual, I am out of the loop.  While searching online for linen that I do NOT need, a series called Block Party from Hands on Designs showed up.  You've seen them?  What a cute cute cute idea and something different for those that have stitched it all.  Each side is different and each has 4 pins to spell the theme.  There will be 6 in the series and the chartpack comes with the little wool top piece for $10.  I've not seen any on blogs and even though my crippled fingers only bend to samplers, I think the idea is unique.
 

Home................................Java 

 

Wool.....................................Buzz

 

 

Note to Sandra - I can't contact you (no-reply) about the trees but they were all purchased several years ago and I check every year, but haven't seen them since.

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

I've got the blues

Rit's liquid denim blue mixed with pearl gray. Gray with a touch of denim on the left and denim with equal gray on the right.  Back to soaking for a darker shade.  Whatever is left will be poured into a glass quart jar and stored for future.  I think I'll try the denim full strength on another piece.

 

If I am absolutely sure of the count in my mess of mystery linens, I use a permanent marker in a corner rather than having a pin or staple invade the space beneath my nails.

 

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

Jenny finish

 

Bunnies

 Sale - originally I said to leave comments with email addresses but some of you can't, so instead, click
samplersandsantas@gmail.com (or top right column link) to send me your purchase request with item#.  Bunheads are through Paypal or check, charts will be through online gift certificate and I will send info when I ask for your mailing address and confirm sale.
Thanks!!

Buns measure 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", all with the same dark blue print backing.  The bottom edge is glued, not hand sewn shut.  The set is $14 including shipping (US).
SOLD

 

 Usually I just donate small charts and cards like these but thought I would show you first in case there is one you have wanted.  Samplers and a few other charts will be on EBay in the future.  All include US shipping and payment will be made to 123Stitch as a gift certificate.

 

1.  Prairie Schooler Amish Life  $4 SOLD

2.  Prairie Schooler Mary had a Little Lamb  $4

 

First item is $1 and the second is 50¢ for any of these four designs

3.  Bent Creek Pumpkin Patch   

4.  Heart in Hand Wee Santa 2002  SOLD 

5.  Cedar Hill Shaker Cat (the chart's winner never claimed it in the giveaway)  GONE

6.  Sigrid Designs Santa Mouse   

 



7.  Scattered Seed Queen Esther   $5 SOLD
8.  La-D-Da littles A Bird in Hand  $1  SOLD

9.  Cedar Hill Country (quilt designs)  $1 or 50¢ with another  SOLD

10. Niky's Primitive Christmas  $2  SOLD

11. Tina Woltman Jingle Bird  $2  SOLD
12. Cedar Hill Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep  $1 or 50¢ with another

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.

 

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