Here we go again

This time, I'm not bugging you for opinions, just showing you what I've chosen.

One of the dresses is 310 black, and it shows well enough on this dark linen, but there is no real distinction like the red.  So I started pulling choices and realize now how the floss bags got out of hand and took a half hour to put away.  First thought was a deep gold but that didn't pop with the 370 beneath, just sort of blended in.  Then I tried the Needle Necessities (which have been hanging around for many years) in red and purple. 

 

Eureka.  Boom.  The brain is working.  I found many colors that work well on this fabric, but I didn't want it to be similar to another used elsewhere in the design.  No pinks or blues or mauves.  Purple it is.  I think it would be appropriate but that's just me.  Now to find the right one. 

Trying to make it stand proud as the red does, it can't be dusty or muted and I was leaning toward 552.  Then I spotted a color in the DMC samples that may be perfect, 3835, but I don't have it.  I will shortly! Until then, I will work on the red.  I think this will be fabulous.
That's not tent stitch, it's just my way of making frogging easier.  Simple rows and borders are never crossed until I know the stitch count is correct.  This is probably routine for all of you but no one told me!  I had to learn the hard way.

 

Thanks for visiting!

p.s. I took the compression off and ballooned to hippo foot.  Have an appointment next week and may be a non-compliant patient if it's broken.  Stopped at the store where it happened today and gave the owner a list of my co-pays for X-ray and testing if needed, requested reimbursement, haven't heard a word.

 

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Going to the dark side

Yep.  Still wanting to use the dark linens and I think this little sweetie may be perfect for the change.

Barrick Samplers 1848 Reproduction Sampler.

 

How do you think this will look reversed on the very dark Charcoal Gray Belfast with lighter thread? 

 

So far, so good!!

 

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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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