Santa progress

Hello people.  How has your week been?  Ours included sis and bro for Nona's risotto dinner that once again confirmed the fact that we should have purchased a gas stove.  This smooth top with heat settings to 10, boils on number 2 and Low is more like number 5.  So naturally the rice stuck and burned including the saffron.  The next day, Mark once again had to rush over to Carole's because Chris would not wake.  He is type1 with a pump, and so many times has his glucose drop like a rock.  This time, he was catatonic but the paramedics came in time to revive and raise his number.  He's been checked into the hospital to observe these sudden changes and they are baffled.  If we had an endocrinologist locally, it would help, but they come and go.  A nurse (the only one around here) that was trained in his pump settings does all she can, but most times the changes are incorrect which caused this last crash.  Carole can't climb stairs (Chris has his rooms on the second story) so she just calls Mark when she feels there is a problem, and this time, he would have died if we weren't home to take the call.  The paramedics would have been there sooner and sometimes, I could just smack her.  She always blames Chris for this.  He really can't live alone with this condition and it happens at least 3 times a month, sometimes critical, always during sleep. There is a separate sensor (that requires hours to charge) that will alert the patient to a high/low reading, but it is not loud enough to wake him and usually he is already entering a stupor from the rapid drop.  Hard to feel vibration or hear the alarm when it is muffled by a mattress and bedding.  His glucose registered 27 this time.  His last hospital stay it was 720, because of the pump malfunctioning.  He recovers within hours but this is so scary for all of us. 

Santa is coming along nicely.  I tried two things to help with the thread issue.  First, I started using the beeswax and thread heaven which made it much smoother and it went through the linen much better.  Secondly, I went back to my sewing method. 

 

When I separate the floss into two strands, I also take another two out and turn them upside down to thread for the next run.  I would do the first half cross until the thread ended, then do the return for the final cross with the upside down thread.  This way, the shading that I ended with, is the same that I am starting with to return.  The shading I began with on the first cross, will be the shading I end with on the return.  So it seems that the shading will align itself, and here's the result.  The pants were done one full stitch at a time, the coat is being stitching with the sewing method and I think the shading is good.  Using 3364 for the green and I love it with this red.

 

He's looking pretty good but I am wondering if I can continue with another Santa.  Getting tired of the red and the next one is a little rotund, lots more red. 

 

My Black Heart pattern came in along with more small pieces of linen, some 35 count.  The Dolphin is nice and dark, love it.  I have several Tin Roof now and they are pretty consistent except for one that is greenish (but very nice) from a different order.  I try to add a new color when I order and this time it was Tiger's Eye, a really nice pumpkin.

 

 

It will be warm and sunny today, the last one before the cold hits.  I'll be outside as much as possible, washing windows and blowing leaves.

 

Hope you have a great weekend.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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

That wonky stag

 Changed the carnations/flowers to something more poinsettia like. I put a red bell around his neck but it was too cute for such a primitive piece.  I considered the 1721 date stitched vertical to his left with a corner border top right. I really think that would look great, but when I'm done, I'm done.  The sparkle wore off halfway through all the backstitching.  I'll pull the seams in closer and he'll be fine in his solitary quirkiness.

 

Fall 2015 issue of Sampler Antique Needlework Quarterly

 

I plan on purchasing an external hard drive this week.  No one has been able to tell me why all my backup was corrupted.  Everything downloaded to a flash drive from the recovery backup, but they won't open from there.  Maybe combining meno with crabass creates an electrical phenomenon.

Someone asked about making labels for boxes and they are no-reply.  Yes you can photograph or scan the piece.  Open it in Paint and then copy and paste and move sections of the stitching, lining up the linen weave, to piece together areas that would fit into the size label you need.  Additional sizing by height and width can be done in Paint also but you have to pay attention to how it changes the weave.  Color adjustments made in Photo Gallery.
 I found a dozen journals at the bottom of the container that held my boxes and will do a few of those soon, maybe four more boxes. 
Hope everyone was happy with their purchases, thank you again.

 

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

Checkerboard Stag

Sidetracked. 

I am ridding my drawers of excess linen and recycling the stitching magazines.  The years of SANQ that I had in digital files were lost, and I have no idea why all that was saved is corrupt.  So I quickly browsed my issues before tossing in the bin and came across the Checkerboard Stag sampler (Fall 2015). 

 

This is not the full piece, there is another mirrored stag on the left side.  The specialty stitches are easy to do and I really like the entire project, but decided to do one stag as an ornament.  The greenery in his mouth will be darker and the flowers will look more like a poinsettia (I hope) trying to make this a Christmas theme.  I would like to stitch the sampler in the future, but honestly, I am not feeling the desire for a needle in hand.  Trying to keep it going with these smaller projects.

 

He worked up very quickly and will be a handsome fellow when backstitched.  I wish I would have used a more grayish brown thread but I followed the chart this time.

 

 

 He may need a red border or piping for some pop.  And as I'm stitching it, my heart is aching for the deer that has been wounded by an arrow.  They are still here searching and I hope they find him and end his suffering.  Happens every year.  One of this year's fawns is missing from the group but we know he was killed on the highway.  I am fearful for Blondie in these coming weeks, our very large doe.

 

It will be back to Santa when the stag is finished.  I'm wondering.  Could the difference I'm feeling in the cramped thread be from the brand?  I had no problem with the DMC area and realized that it started when the thread changed to WDW.  The linen is the 32 I've used many times.  Do all the overdyed brands begin as DMC?  They should all be the same if they do.  My Sullivan seems to have a tighter twist and appears a little heavier.  It doesn't really matter I guess, just curious.

 

Husband is out buying cinnamon bread. 

Sun is shining through the cold air.

Have a good week.

 

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

Thick or thin

Greetings all.  Another weekend upon us, closing in on Thanksgiving.  I predict that next year, black Friday sales will begin at Halloween.  Drives me nuts.  I've been doing Carole's Christmas shopping which I've done for years, and did get a few bargains  The childrens' Vtech activity desk deluxe has been sold out around here for weeks, so I searched online.  Found it at Barnes and Noble, on sale for $41.21, got a code for additional 15% and free shipping, total with tax of $38!  Deal.  I always check Retailmenot.com for coupons before buying online.

 

On to stitching.  Started Kogut's Country Santa.  The chart states the stitch count as 82 x 113 which is what I used to calculate finished size and choose the fabric count.   The recommended 30 count finish at 5x7 is incorrect.  You need 32 count to obtain that size.  So that is what I chose, Confederate Gray.  But that's not correct either.  After counting the graph myself, it is only 70 x 101 which means I could have used 30, even 28.  Too late.  I usually double check the chart's count but didn't this time.  He'll be a little smaller than I wanted for a sack and now I'm wondering if I should start over on a different piece.

 

I really like 32 count except for one thing..... I don't like it.  I have a lot of it but it always creates the thick/thin dilemma. Using two strands as I am, makes it harder to stitch because of thread thickness in that tighter weave.  But using one strand, looks too sparse.  It's a no win situation.  Using the sewing method on 32 seems to go more smoothly but completing one full stitch at a time is cramped.  Maybe it's my imagination because I do not like the full stitch method, necessary with overdyed floss.  His boots are regular floss, sewing method horizontal and then vertical, didn't notice any drag.  One strand would not have covered well at all and I feel the red coat would be the same.  This is why 30 count is always my first choice, two strands are perfect as is one strand on 35.  But 32 is a bugger if I have to do complete crosses.  My options - start over on a 28 or 30 ..or... use the sewing method and forgo the look of overdyed.  There's always that grown-up option for any situation.... put my big girl panties on and deal with it.  The thing is, I always have big girl panties on and it doesn't seem to help much.  It took me a few days to choose the color and I don't have another Confederate, 123stitch's order is on its way so I can't add.  Time to throw a few Dove in my coffee and think about it. 

 

Have a great weekend. 

 

Thanks for visiting.

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

Get your Fob on

Greetings folks.  Lori Andrews emailed the photos of her fobs and I wanted to show you how darn cute they are.  Santa, snowman, reindeer and angels.  And look at the very top, love that shoe, spider, pumpkin.  Cute!  Please excuse my fascination with these.  I have no shops, no shows, and I don't browse online shops unless I'm looking for something I saw on your sites.  I've seen a few beaded fobs but they were pretty nondescript, not as fun as these.

 

 I didn't realize the variety of beads for seasons and holidays. So I googled scissor fobs and saw ends with stars and hearts and needle threaders and fish and coins and wow.  Endless.

Lori sells at a shop but if you are interested you can email her at byargiope@yahoo.com.

 

These three are from a Focus on Finishing post from eight years ago. I put mine on the Lift 'n Snips since those are used often and I can now easily find them in the group. I know I bore you with these things that are so familiar to you, but there are a few stitchers out there like myself who don't get to see accessories and all the do-dads available.

 

I got the errands done this morning but forgot the cinnamon bread.  TOMORROW.  Sending Mark out for a few things because my sprain from four months ago is acting up.  It's the peroneal tendon that goes up the outside of the leg and let me tell you, it hurts.  Once again, the business that had the slurry outside their door that caused my fall, has no contact with me.  Asking only for the co-pays I shelled out, clearly their negligence, and their arrogance is just as bad.  Unfortunately, I didn't take photos of my skid marks or my cement covered clothes and also didn't get the name of the gentleman that helped Mark to get me standing again. Yes it takes TWO men for that task.  And yet, I'm getting cinnamon bread.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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

 

 

What is THAT?

All the boxes are packed and shipped, went over them three times, double checked the list, confident that all is correct!  Good thing because this time, I have no extras to replace errors. 

 

I've had this column for a long time, thinking I would do sampler labels and different colors. Not sure if that will ever happen but if it does, wouldn't that look great?  But if that does materialize, I would sell the set because although I enjoy seeing the finished product, I don't want them any more!

 

 

I've been working on the ready to croak dinosaur laptop until the sales were over and I had everything set up.  What I didn't realize, is that the new sneaky one stole some of the emails.  When they are imported from the server to one laptop, the other laptop doesn't get them.  It must have its own timeline and do it automatically.  Lori Andrews from Get Your Fob On sent me a photo of the sweetest fobs with Santa beads and I wanted to show them to you, but that email was lost in the crash.  Lori, please send that email/photo again.  And Pam G., still waiting for you to contact me.

 

So today, before we went out for errands and voting, I'm looking in the mirror and thinking what a mess my hair is.  I mean, it has been since birth, but it's too long and weird.  I've had friends know it was me sitting in a restaurant when all they saw was the back of my head showing above a booth.  That's how messy it is.  Well.  I saw something else in that mirror.  And I took a tissue and tried to wipe it off.  Again.  Again.  Harder.  Upon closer inspection, OMG!!!  When did I get nose hair?  First the eyebrows fell off except for a few hairs thicker than a coat hanger, three of them migrated to my upper lip, and now - in my nose?  What the hell?  Everyone was intent on their voting machine and I'm thinking, what the hell?  I had to get groceries for my sister and as the clerk was slicing the Guggisberg swiss, I'm thinking - what the hell?  This is big.  I wasn't expecting this, not happy about it, and now I'm on nasal watch for a wire.  

 

I received my two new Kogut Santas, haven't decided which to start.  I won't get my Black Heart for a few days and I ordered more linen.  Why..... I don't know.

 

Have a great week everyone.

Thanks for making the sale a success. 

Cinnamon bread.  The best cinnamon bread, small, tight, rolled in sugar, Hermitage Bakery cinnamon bread.  I don't have any.  But I can't stop thinking about it so tomorrow morning while I'm doing more of Carole's shopping, yep.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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