The berry cap

Hey.  How the hell are you?  We're cold and wet in PA, have been and will continue to be. 

 

I finally lost 3#.  It's a start.  The most important thing is - I didn't gain which I have been doing for some time.  There isn't ONE pair of spring pants or capris that fit me except for the stretchy Karen Scott that I showed a few posts back.  I must do something and am truly trying.  As for the chocolate, my heartburn has decreased with the reduction.  But the other day, there it was.  The basement door was open and the light was on.  My husband always leaves lights on wherever he's been but I ignored that fact.  To me, it was a sign, beckoning me to go down those stairs.  Door open, a guiding light to prevent another fall, it was fate.  I saw the light.  That light leads to where I keep the chocolate.  I thought making a trip up and down the stairs would deter me but over the years, I just wore out the carpeting.  It was a sign.  I went, I ate, I enjoyed, I took a Tums.

 

Now for the berry top.  Seems many of you have been looking for a metal top for fabric strawberries. 

Here's mine.  Very sturdy, no bending at all, lots of photos to give you an idea of size. 

I pinned it to the top of a wool berry that was finished with the calyx (or leaves) top so it looks a little odd but is about the right size.  They are not in stock but she will email me when she gets replenished, and I will post the source at that time.  I would still like to see a larger size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the heft and the design.   This berry is a little over 3" long and thin.  The bell caps and bead caps I've seen are way too small, even for this size berry. 

 

So if anyone is interested, I will post as soon as they are available and you can order from her.

 

I still prefer topping my berries with chocolate.

 

 

Have a good one!!

 

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Winner

Hi folks.  Random's number belonged to rosek1870 and I'll be contacting her shortly.  Thanks to all that entered.

 

No new project chosen, not sure if I will.  I think I'm done, but I will look through the stash and see if there is something that excites me enough to search for linen and thread.

 

Tomorrow morning I will open the Sampler Box page to sell Hannah.  She printed really nice as did the small sampler I chose for May.  June will be odds and ends and that may be it for boxes too.  Just in a slump about everything right now which could change on a dime.  Damn flashes are back again and they are vengeful.  I've been trying to watch what I eat and have reduced chocolate drastically.  Crabby as hell.  Tried to jump out of the car today and once again forgot to release the seat belt, Bud gave me really nasty scratches on my wrist, another store's cement post incident (this one was covered with mirrors and I thought I ran into someone so apologized to myself in public after walking into it), fell going UP the stairs, treadmill stopped suddenly and snapped my neck, I am back to running chores for my sister, and I need a haircut.  And it snowed.  And that doesn't amount to a gnat's ass because people are suffering heartache and illness.  So shut my piehole with a PIECE OF FRICKING CHOCOLATE!!

 

Here's the box, just a few, offered tomorrow.

 

Again, thanks for participating and visiting.

 

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April Fool .....

me.  How embarrassing.  I planned to offer a box with Lisa Roswell's design on the five year anniversary of her tragic death.  Well it isn't April 1, it was March 1.  I don't know if my memory or my confusion of dates is worse.  I did not know her but knew of her, and from the lovely tributes and comments of stitchers who did know her, she must have been a great gal. 

 

 

So one month late, egg on my face, here is the box with her Two Horses design printed on the label.  If you want to enter the giveaway for this 4" round mache box, please leave your email/initials in the comments.  Random will do its job Monday evening the 4th at 8pm EST. 

 

 

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Phases of Hannah

Phase one was following the chart including missing stitches.

 

Phase two was filling in the motif stitches and changing the center heart to a dinky motif.

 

Final phase filled in the missing N and O, changed the top shape of the motifs, filled in the sides with pink, added to the center dinky.

Never be afraid to change what doesn't work ... or you don't like ... or stitches you hate ... or to colors that you prefer ... or from light linen to dark.

 

If the printer works, this will be the April box top ending before the over one.

 

I decided to not add Hannah's name since it's no longer what Hannah intended, and I plan on a small pillow for cupboard knob hanging and don't want it any larger.

 

I received an email from Barbara R with her method of over one.  I asked to share it with you and she has agreed to send photos of it, her WIP, and hopefully a few other pieces of her work.  She will be back next week so hopefully by next weekend I will have a post that may offer some help to those of us that dread and reject projects because of over one stitching.

 

Thanks for visiting ~ hope your week ends well.

 

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The agony of one

How was your Easter?  Our turkey was the best we ever had.  From now on, fresh only, no "solutions" or additives.  Well worth the extra $$. 

Instead of candy, I always get my nephew's grandchildren new shoes for summer.  The 2 year old was happy, the 7 year old's didn't fit, and the 3 year old wouldn't put them on.  He always sticks that little tongue out when he first sees you and the doctor said he is autistic.  So now all three of them get a disability check.  I told their father that if the doctor feels they are autistic, he should be ordering some form of early therapy, or go get a second opinion.  My sister was worn out because these kids are ACTIVE!!  They will sit for a story but it better be short, especially on a warm sunny day.  A few of their games/toys are electronic but most are for outdoor.  Personally, I love the Stomp Rocket.

Now for the stitch slump.  When I have to force myself to pick up a needle, over one is the worst type of stitching.  Hannah has four lines of it and after one, I decided to stop.  Extremely difficult and tedious to remove it now.  Not sure if I will stitch the last line of the chart (her name) or just end it here with a single bottom band.  I added a little center motif in place of the queen stitch heart, filled in all the missing stitches, added a dookey after "heart" to extend the row.

 

 

 

With my neck and back causing numbness I didn't want to look down for any length of time, so I turned my Lacis hoop to the side and flipped it up so it's really high and close.  I never did order the smaller hoop for it but will.  I much prefer sitting on a smaller aid when needed than using a large floor stand.  Stitching in hand is my method but for the over one and because of my numbness, the flipped up hoop was necessary.

So many of you have no problem with over one but I do.  I never remember the rules and end up searching for the stitch I know I put in, but it disappeared.  As this article explains (here) I need to pay attention to the linen threads.  It is very important to see if the horizontal thread goes over, or under, the vertical.  Doing it wrong allows the floss thread to slip under the linen thread and disappear.  If I concentrate or pay attention, the over one stitches would not be so aggravating but I just don't have the ambition right now.  And, I just can't seem to remember things so a copy of these instructions should be inserted into my charts that call for over one.  Maybe I'll do that today.  I will still be listing some charts for sale, maybe Facebook, maybe Ebay, and I am undecided about selling some smalls.  I am tired of many and want to clean up the house, ridding it of clutter and "things", still loving Phoebe Troyer's home on Pinterest.  But I may be sorry and should probably pack them away for now.

 

My cousin Patty received the Jenny box and shed a tear, she misses her mom and also her sister who she admitted is now totally lost to her from the dementia.  It came the day she received her Medicare card.  Tough day, I know too well.  But she's relieved because her health care was costing her $998 a month and she doesn't work, only her husband in a medium income job. While my well off friend pays $100 for the top of the line plan because she lives off her own money, therefore, no W-2 or income which is what your cost is based on.

 

March is already ending this week.  Time flies when you're having fun getting older.

 

Have a great week!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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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.

 

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