Your decision

Here are both hornbooks.  I must say that the second one, on the brown linen, is much nicer.  The mounting went better than the first, the floss was new and not fuzzy, it just looks better.  But the decision is yours.  I used 935/3052 for the leaves instead of the charted 500/501.  There are errors in both and it ticks me off.  After this morning's post, I had to remove the bottom half of one side and stitch it all over again because the edge was off two and it was obvious once mounted.  There is still one other error.   Be back late this evening with the winner.

 

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Looks like I will make it!

And that means it will be decision time for the winner.  I kept saying I would like this on dark brown and this 18th Century Brown was the darkest I had.  Birds of a Feather's Sparrow was the color I preferred but I don't like stitching on it so I set it aside. I am ASSUMING this will be finished for the drawing.  Not sure if it will be a hornbook or pillow.  I started Saturday and finished it this morning.

 

One last area to stitch and I wanted to show you how I sometimes work an image to help picture a finish.  I mentioned before about using the Paint program and all its little tweaks, here it is for color.  In one photo, I used the color of the grapes for the door, the other I manipulated the stitching and moved it for the brown.  Need to decide which I like better.

 

 

Yes I am a crazy crab.

 

Be back tomorrow!

 

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Summer

Finally here.  For those of you lucky enough to have your Dad, enjoy the day with him.  The rest of us will be remembering and wishing for just one more day.

 

I love my crow.  Perched from the kitchen window.....

 

 or next to my swing.  Added bonus here, his bucket is a great hideaway for Dove wrappers.  My husband can spot those bright red foils a mile away.  He doesn't care if I consume more than I should, it's just embarrassing when you keep screaming "I have to lose this weight!"

The brats are still terrorizing and killing chipmunks.  My cousin saw a munk climb into her bush outside her office window, and snatch baby cardinals from their nest.  Mother Nature is one sick cookie.

You know how I hate decision making, mainly because it incapacitates me.  So I may be forcing one on you.  If things work out and I can focus (another elusive trait), well, we'll see.

 

Enjoy your day.

 

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Out fox!

Get out of my house!!!  I have had enough of this project!

 

So here's the deal.... leave a comment on this post if you would like to enter the giveaway for this upside down hornbook.  If you are unable to do so, enter by email link at right.  This will be my birthday offer to you, my stitching buds.  The drawing will be Tuesday night the 21th at 9pm EST.  As always, the majority are no-reply so make sure you leave your initials or name, especially if you are anonymous.  If you receive posts through email, you cannot reply to them and must email me directly through the blog page.  If I cannot contact the winner and there is no response to me by the 24th (Friday morning), another entry will be drawn.

The stitches are uneven, some loose, some tight, some in the wrong hole, and they could all be yours.  Enter now!

 

Thanks for all your help with the pain in the ass fox. 

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My crow is on its way

Hello folks.  I'm sure many of you follow Misi of Gable House Goods.  Love her style of decorating and her home photos. 

In one of the outdoor shots, I saw a metal crow with a bucket.  Since then, I have searched high and low to no avail.  Recently, Pine Cone Gift Shop's post featured their arrival.  Since my neck condition has me paranoid about long car rides, I didn't want to take the 100 minute drive.  But then, I found a source!  P Allen Smith has them and I used a coupon code for 25% off and my bird is on its way!  If any of you have been searching for this yard stake, go here and use code thanks25 for your discount.  The site has two crow fountains that are also very nice, but I do not need the sound of trickling water while having a cup of coffee on my swing.  I can barely make it inside fast enough as it is.

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Wish me luck

I said I would not mention current events.  That doesn't mean they are not breaking my heart.  The local child abuse, many resulting in deaths, puts me into a zone that can bring me down for days.  The babies left to suffer and die in cars, is inexplicable to me, and this latest unintended tragedy at Disney has me entering that zone again.

 

Hornbook assembly.  I have the board ready with a section left unsealed where the project will be attached.  Still don't know if it will be handle up or down, but I've decided to add a hole for a nail head that will not go all the way through.  Only visible from the back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took Linda's advice and got a thin piece of basswood which is what my locals carry, 1/16" thick.  It's covered by the batting but I sealed it with acrylic anyway.  Acid free or regular mat board will work too.

 

I'm using only one layer of thin cotton batting which makes the finish this thick, including the basswood.

 

Next, I will tape the linen in place while centering.  Then I will lace it, which I hate and have never done properly.  The fabric glue may suddenly appear and save me from myself.  But should I trust that it won't prevent the stretched linen from loosening?  You know by now that fabric glue is my buddy and I don't care what happens to my stitchery 100 years from now.

 

When that is completed and trimmed, I will use the E6000 on the basswood part of the mounting which will be most of the center.  Melinda suggested Tacky glue and I know many of you like that product, will give it a try on the linen edges.  I don't have the time to wait for the mounting tape that Michelle and Truus mentioned, but will add it to my next stitching order.

Thank you all for your help!

 I want it done as nicely as menopossible since this is a giveaway.

 

So wish me luck!  If I would have assembled this BEFORE I decided to offer it, it would have been much easier on me.

 

As for the flag chart I offered two years ago, I took the little bag apart long ago and just made a knob hanger.  It's so stinkin' cute.

 

Enjoy your day.

 

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