The therapeutic laugh

Saturday, shopping for something my sister would like for her 60th reunion, I was in and out of the car several times.  We ended up at McD's for coffee and as we left and walked to the car, I complained that between the pain in my right ankle (pre-fall), the swelling and pain in my left foot (post-fall), add in my horrendous posture, I am walking like a caveman.  My smart ass husband quipped, "at least you're still upright".  OK, so I had a few falls!  But it hit that chord that sends me into a release laugh.  The biggest ever was when I realized I was walking around the Lincoln dealer unaware that one lens was missing from my sunglasses.  That image had me snorting for weeks, and it sure helped when taking care of mom.

 

Another order to 123Stitch and I don't know why.  This is the longest slump ever but there is something about linen colors that makes me want more.  I pulled out sampler charts and went right back to the large projects I am most fond of.  Maybe if I do small sections and then set it aside to work on other quick projects, the back and forth will make them bearable.  Never did that, I'm a one at a timer.

Left to right -

Aztec Red, Dolphin, Charcoal Belfast, Olive Belfast, Havana.  I still have Broom Stick Brown and 18th Century Clove coming from EBay.  Don't know why.  I have enough brown and dyed my own Clove long ago. 

So what did I order this morning?  Tin Roof, Grasshopper!, more Aztec, more Dolphin, Copper Penny, Gold, and basic Beige 35 count.  Most are 30 but some 35.  Grasshopper is close to 733 which I like but getting two bright odd greens surprised me.  I will probably tone down this Olive with a light spray of Rit Tan.  It's such a help for 123 to post the DMC color that is closest to the linen.  The thread examples aren't a perfect match, but it certainly helps to determine the hue.

 

Today I am sanding and painting the top of an old drop leaf table that is already painted black gloss oil base.  The legs are perfect, I tried to strip the paint and started with the top, but it's a mess and not coming off easily.  So, I am putting the black gloss back on and it will become my small outdoor desk/table that I have searched for.  Outdoor furniture is huge and I don't have the deck space.  This paint will keep it in good shape and match the satin finish black swings. 

 

I'll be having the family over next weekend for Nona's risotto or Mark's spaghetti.  Birthdays are mine, nephew's, brother's, husband's so we just pick a weekend in the middle.  Only five of us, Carole's is in October.  I'll also be making the mahogany chiffon cake for me and pistachio bundt for Chris (Carole's son).  Three dozen cupcakes for the golf league at the Italian Club on Wednesday, but better make it four because I am pigging out lately.  I have a bad habit of eating the batter and my husband yells about raw eggs.  Going on 50 years and still no problem, I'll take my chances.  I guess when he eats that over light runny egg yoke, that's considered cooked.

 

Well folks, the weekend is almost over and we're heading into the middle of July.  Not happy about these speeding months.

 

Hope your weekend is a good one.

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Few words

I don't have anything nice or good to say, so it's best I keep my trap shut. 

 

I received my order from Dames of the Needle and had a happy gasp when my eyes feasted upon these fabrics.  It's 40, which I avoid, and just like hating to cut linen, I hate to stitch on it when it's this fabulous. 

 

I also ordered several linens from 123.  I really like that they offer such small pieces.  Sometimes it's all you need (no need to take scissors to the linen!) and a good way to test out linen colors without buying a large piece.  Some I've ordered before and it seems I stick to the same colors, but did add a few newbies.  Belfast Charcoal is very close to the blue I dyed for the Fox.  WDW linen is gorgeous but too soft for me, so I only buy colors I can't live without.  And I'm not crazy about the hand dyed with lots of variations.  Damn.  I forgot to add Copper Penny.  Oh well, too late.  The order is being delivered today.  Haven't chosen a new project.  Been too crabby and disgusted.  Soon. 

 

Enjoy your weekend. Be safe. 

 

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Book learning, horn style

Since I'm new to hornbooks, have only a few examples to view online, and need to balance its size to the stitchery, I need some book learning.
I think this small one is OK.

 

The stitch is my abbreviated version of Hannah Way.

Neither are permanently attached yet and Martha isn't even mounted.

This sort of whale tail is all wrong.  To me anyway.  Since these are samplers with alphabets I planned on displaying them with the handle down as they were used originally.  But I like them up. 
After painting this red one and then playing with the photo in Paint, I see the problem.  For this size sampler the handle needs to be wider.  Plus the length is way off.  It needs to be recut.  This type of finish resembles a frame to me and I'm wondering how many of my many free hanging samplers would benefit from board mounting.  Doesn't need to have a handle, maybe just a different scroll or patterned cut at the top. That will be another project for long after I procrastinate about the projects that were to be done a year ago.

Hours later ......

 Instead of using a sampler I made a label on parchment, aged and worn, and cut down the hornbook to fit.  Will paint it black over red, sand and age edges, maybe sell it.

 

Originals were not stitchery, they were paper, so I thought why not? 

 

AND .... they found some boxes in the warehouse for me and they will be here in a week.  I don't want to order too many because box sales are down, this is the large 6" tall/round for the Eliza Pomeroy label.  Six should be enough.

AND .... I'm taking these items down to the new antique shop today.  I love that fern stand and haven't seen anything as nice, but I am tired of storing it, and tired of dusting small pieces.  Tired of seeing dusty pieces is more like it.  The mailbox flips open and I planned on punchneedle for the lid, ain't gonna happen.  Adios!

Enjoy your day!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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True or false?

Greetings!  How was your 4th?  Pretty noisy around here for days.  The picnic table's 1 1/2" pipe base and brackets were somehow bent.  Yep.  Putting it back together did not go smoothly.  I called my sister and asked how he was making out after about an hour, and she was sitting in her bedroom and not even watching.  I didn't know until hours later when he got home that there were major problems, but it's done.  She looked out the window when he was leaving and said it looks new.  Well of course it does!  He used the grinder on the rusted metal, filled the holes, sanded, painted it black, got all new wood for the top and benches.  Sometimes ..... well, never mind.

 

My Bubblegum petunias are doing well, some of the others are lagging behind, and when searching for growing tips I came across a bit of info that was unknown to me.  Seed pods.  After the tunia flowers and wilts, the bract that held it will develop seeds.  When the plant is putting out seeds, it believes it is dying and stops producing an abundance of flowers.  Makes sense I guess.  So I checked.  There were tons of them that the article said should be cut off.  They are green to brown and very hard, shaped like a Hershey's Kiss. 

Here's the difference.  You can also tell by feeling because the bud is very soft and the pod very hard.  So all along the stems where flowers had faded, there were pods, which I removed, and we'll see if it makes a difference. I didn't find the large ones on Bubblegum or the Supertunias, but all of the Wave petunias were loaded, some already brown and broke open. 

The article said this is mainly why the  Calibrachoa or Million Bells fail and die out in the center.  That and not enough cutting back.  Maybe the pods are too small to see on other varieties, maybe the guy didn't know what he was talking about and it doesn't make a difference in performance.  Does anyone know - true or false?

 

 

 

 

We finally have a few hot days coming which started today, and after Mark busted his butt working out in the sun, we cooled off with one of our favorite summer drinks, chocolate Coke.  Ice cold Coke, add a heaping measuring spoon (Tablespoon or more!) of Hersheys, whisk, add ice, oh baby.

 

He made my hornbooks for the two samplers and we've been to Lowe's, Home Depot, the local lumber shop, and NO one has a scroll saw.  Sears has one, their brand, and I guess it's our only option.  I do not want to order online sight unseen.  And Pat Catan's does not have the larger 6" round/tall box.  No more.  They only sell it in sets of seven now from 3" to 9".  I don't need them all and I will not order from web sources since quality is bad and I need to check each one.  Plus the price is almost double and I would have to pass that on.  Hobby Lobby had one, they break the sets open and sell individually so you get one at a time.  One more source about 45 minutes from here to check.

 

That's it folks.  I'm ready for another chocolate Coke.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Pin stitch

Almost forgot! - Susan's name was drawn as the chart winner.

Pin stitch?  Being isolated from shops and other stitchers, I had no idea about the pin stitch for .... isolated stitches!  You know about this don't you?  Well for others like me that don't, here 'ya go.  I was trying to keep off my feet so browsed a few sites and videos and found this method for those solitary stitches out in the middle of nowhere. Here's what I learned about the pin stitch, which I found done several ways but this was the best.  This method would secure an isolated stitch better with the multiple crossing. 

 

 

 

 

This method requires no special stitching and the single stitch only has one tail.  I use this loop method for all my stitching because it's a quick and secure start creating a neater back.  I know it's frowned upon by experienced stitchers, but I'll never be one and still like being a rebel.  The only tattoo I have is my eyebrows, so being a reckless stitcher makes me feel a little wild.  That says a lot.

 

"Hey lady!  You consider yourself a rebel, a little on the wild side.  Why is that?"

 

"Well Bubba, I use the loop method, my floss is twisted, I eat while stitching, have a drink nearby, rarely use a hoop, carry over too far, deliberately stain my work, wash and dry to age and wrinkle, use the hard stuff (glue), fringe edges, hang without framing, and sometimes .... I even knot.  And my tension is off the charts.  While others fear the needle and cloth, I show it no mercy.  And if I get any lip, I set it on fire and move on.  Be afraid Bub."

Yep that's me.  Big chicken clucking her way through life, but give me linen and floss and I am fearless.  Confused, indecisive, fusspotty, but fearless.  I mean reckless.

And you know what?  I think that's OK.  If I had to worry about proper this that and the other thing, I would not have the patience to stitch, nor enjoy it.  It's not going in a museum.  My pieces will end up at a garage sale when I'm gone so I don't care if they last 100 years.  I would love to have the talent and technique for an exquisite sampler but I don't, so I stitch for the enjoyment of seeing the finished piece and can't fret over my inadequacies.  I still fuss over errors, colors, and tension but in the end, the final result as a whole is more important to me.  The look more than the details.  Practicing the rules and methods, learning advanced techniques to become a proficient needleworker, striving to create a glorious result to be passed down to family is not the goal of all stitchers.  I don't have a need to justify my ways, but I've received a number of emails from readers worried about trying linen, different stitches, finishing, technique.  For anyone who wants to get back into stitching, just starting, or feeling their work is inadequate, just do it. You may end up with a perfect finish, you may end up like me.  And that's OK.  Learn what you can about needlework, stitch to the best of your ability, use the methods that you are comfortable with, and enjoy!

Yours in wonky tension,
The Reckless Stitcher

 

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Test samples for squares

I'm surprised at the number of entries for the chart - close to 50 so far!!  Hope I remember to draw a name tonight.
Happened again - I searched for the Sweet Liberty bag and was getting really mad, checked the blog, gave it away!

 

Foot is better, thank you all for your concern.  Body feels like I was in a car accident.  Very stiff and sore but I'll get over it.  Getting the wood and putting Carole's picnic table back together today.   Hope your day is more fun than that!!

 

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