Pears winner

Oh my.  I can't tell you how it pained me to not be able to have a box for all of your friends and relatives experiencing difficult times.  I'm keeping the entries, just in case.  Seriously.  Through comments and also quite a few emails, I was asked to consider Patti and her mom (recently lost father and husband).  She must be a special person to have so many stitchers wanting this for her.  Patti's blog Winding Vine Wanderings is a delight and her faith is strong.  That faith worked for her (and her fans) because believe it or not, the number next to her name came up as the winner on Random.  So I hope this lovely lady and her mom enjoy their retreat and their boxes.  I want to thank everyone for the emails asking me to not stop the boxes, for entering this giveaway, and for all the kind comments.

On to stitching.

My first blanket stitch edge.  I watched several online videos for instructions on starting and ending this stitch, but none of them talked about threads.  I didn't know if floss, perle, wool, or what would be appropriate.  I went with DMC 3 strands.

The applique I see on sites is usually done with a contrasting thread, but with the dark brown backing and linen I wasn't sure if I would like that option.  How could I tell?  I didn't want to pull the thick threads out of the high count linen and leave a little hole so I had to know before I started.  Enter...Paint program!

It didn't look bad at all with the lighter thread, but I chose the dark green from the border because it outlined the pouch better.   Either would have worked and as usual, I'm questioning my decision.  Nah, it's good.  Good enough.  Good to go.  Good as gold.  As good as it could.

 

Snow snow snow here.  But this weekend and next week's beginning will be 50's, even 60!    Mark's finger will be well enough to golf and isn't causing him too much pain.

 

Enjoy your weekend!.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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1739

Happy day everyone. 

 

Started the 1739 sampler from R&R Reproductions and it's going to be great.  Very hard to make out details in the chart photo and I haven't found one photo of a finish online.  Guess mine will be the first.  The border looks blue but the charted color is green.  I've changed most to a shade or two darker.  Another one from my collection of their series of samplers from decades ago.  This one, from 1995. 

It's really primitive, uneven letters, a different alphabet style, simple but various stitches.  I did the outline first to help me line up the rows and also see the finished size.  Another possible pouch, it is less than 5 1/2" wide on this 35 count beige.  Yep.  Beige.  I never use lighter linen but this is a khaki sort of beige and for once, I pictured the piece on a lighter ground.  That's very unusual for me and I'm happy with it already.  The lighter threads would be easy to work on a dark ground but I just don't think it would do this wonky design justice.  Never did I imagine I would work on a higher count like this either but I am starting to really enjoy it.  The chart is 100 stitches wide so ÷ by 17.5 for 35 count it equals 5.71 yet after stitching, it is only 5.38.  I guess I'll find out soon enough if I counted wrong.

 

Spent the afternoon yesterday in Urgent Care because Mark was cutting drywall with the box cutter blade and ....         He opted for glue instead of stitches since he plans on golfing this weekend.  50's.  Yahoo.  Met his friend's wife there with her dad, and she is miserable.  She needs a hip replacement (two actually) but her ACA insurance rate rose to over $1000 a month and her deductible is $7000.  That's like another $583 per month.  She has to work to afford the monthly bill but can barely walk.  She just can't afford to have the surgery.  Remember my financially independent friend that paid only $100 a month with NO deductible by limiting her investment income?  She got a check in December for $640 from the insurance company for not spending too much on health care! 

 

Be back for the giveaway.

 

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Pear share giveaway

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

For this final box giveaway, you will receive two boxes.  One for you, one for you to share.  You can offer it on your blog, or gift a friend, and please state in your entry who that will be.

 

The boxes are small, approximate 3 3/4" x  5" oval, 2 1/2" tall, painted dark brown outside, sealed mache inside.

 

Please leave your entry in the comments or email me directly if you cannot.  I've never restricted the giveaways before, but with the new international rates, I am sorry to say this is for USA only.

Starts today and ends Thursday at 7pm EST.

 

 

 

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Mr. Big

What I found at my brother's.

Cinnamon Stick Christmas IX from 1994.

 

 

19" tall and 14" wide, embellished.

 

The size + base/fill would cost $20 to ship.  Any suggestions on pricing?

 

AND....

if all goes well with finishing and waxing, I will be posting the final box giveaway, with a catch.  If it doesn't go well, I'll buy Smith's hotdogs for the bonfire. Details tomorrow.

 

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Sack it to me

Greetings stitch buds.  Hope all is well.

 

I must drive you crazy with these ponies, because that is the way they affect me.  First it was a bag, then a frame, then a pillow, then a box, and now back to sack.  Why?  The box lid was perfect.  Reason #1, Hobby Lobby did not have the round box I needed and it's not carried elsewhere except in a five box set (neither did they have the hearts). Reason #2, where the heck would I put such a large box?  It would take up a lot of space on an end table, bench, anywhere and I am trying to minimize clutter.  So I've decided to go with the bag since it can be hung on a door (how many times have I told you how I love those iron hooks on them?), window trim, cupboard, anywhere.  The problem is, how do I make it? 

I did my Sampler Sack (a large flop but I do thank the eleven people that purchased it) but the ponies are different.  Not really primitive, not sure of strap material, a little too large.  But I'll give it a go because these poor horses have been thrown around for a few years and they need to show themselves proudly.  Finding a cotton print backing that is suitable in color would be a PITA but I remembered the boxes of wool in the closet.  Couldn't believe it.  Look at this match!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But brown wool is still an option and provides more choices for the strap (leaning toward brown leather).  My inept finishing will make the determination - sack or pillow. 

 

Now for little Rosanna.  Definitely a sack.  I absolutely love this 35/36 count Mink from R&R.  Stiff enough to hold its own.  I may use a light fusible or just muslin lining.  Either way, I am going to attempt my first finish using a blanket stitch or something similar to attach linen to a wool back.  I have my Crazy Quilt Stitches book and others for reference.  To test how stable the sack would hang, I just pinned to the wool back and a thin leather strap, it passed the test.  Between the thick wool and the stiffer linen, no help required.  This is the felted wool piece that comes in a roll at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, most craft stores.

 

 

   

I think this will be a great finish for

her, my concern is for the ponies.  If this doesn't work, they may live forever in a drawer.

 

Have a good one!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The absolute last one

Yep.  All I have left are a few large sets and if the off again on again fricking printer works for more than 15 minutes, and I find all the lost files from the beginning, I may be getting rid of those also. 

 

But for the last one, I found a label completely forgotten.  It's from the Nash bag I donated to The Attic for their auction.  I hope they got a decent price and it made the new owner happy.

 

I am not any worse which is great.  Even went out to search for heart boxes.  I failed at finding them but that's not the point.

 

Also stopped at my local mall that is closing Sears and Macy's, the two largest stores.  Lots of people in Sears for the clearance.  Their merchandise is not bad, especially for kids and juniors.  But what young fashionista wants to say her outfit is from Sears?  They should have kept the tools as Sears and changed the name to The Market for everything else and KMart for the super store.  AND offered the discounts and coupons that other chains do.  Heck, I can't even find the Magic Extra Crisp sizing around here and now we are losing those two stores.

 

We finally purchased a new mattress and after putting it all together, it's counter height.  If Mark is tying up the kitchen space I could always chop onions on it. They are coming tomorrow to exchange the standard 9" foundation for the 4".  I could get used to jumping up on the bed but Mark doesn't like it.  When I had to switch to the expensive hotel at the Clinic, I literally sunk into a cloud on that bed.  I'm sure it's the $6000 model and I will not pay that.  How the heck do you cover the new monster  sized mattress with a comforter?  They are full/queen which ticks me off, no queen pillowcases with sets, so I may just get a king size and have it hang.  Better too long than too short. 

 

Hope your weekend is going well. 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

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