Wheeling in PA

Hello folks.  Feeling a slight better today, thank you very much!  I hope all of you are doing well and feeling the warmer Spring breeze.

 

After a week of being restricted I decided to check out the sewing room mess.  You never know what you may find there.  I wasn't thinking and sat on the wheeled office chair at the sewing machine.  No arms, no cane for support, Mark is golfing, no way to get up.  But baby I got wheels.  That was fun except for the speed bump where carpet meets hardwood. 

 

I've been going through the old tablecloths as I had previously mentioned, checking to see what I could salvage and what was hopeless.  Many beautiful linen prints, very few cotton.  Some had areas that were just not acceptable, such a burn marks.  A beautiful pale yellow with gray and white roses was large enough for a shower curtain in Carole's bath and a little valance for the tiny window.  So I started wondering what I could use these vintage cloths for instead of discarding.  Curtains, valances, sachet bags, hearts, drawstring pouch for the bath or peg board, clothespin bag, lots of things.  A shame to trash a large old piece because of one area that can be cut away.  So that was my plan.  I have three cotton that will hopefully go to a new home, and eight linen prints for the vintage shop.  The rest are piled in my sewing room.   Since I couldn't get out of the chair, I just wheeled to the pile, then to the scissor drawer, then to the sewing machine, and back and forth to the ironing board.  Came up with these from Mom's red cloth with dogwoods that my Uncle Tony's cigarette burned decades ago.

I can see a bowl full of tucks and hearts and berries from various bright prints in a vintage kitchen.  I would like to continue this next week and should have plenty, maybe see if the vintage shop would be interested in them.  Aging was considered, but the bright colors and crisp white backgrounds shouldn't be messed with.

 

I needed to take more Advil, and was really hurting from sitting too long, so one set was all I did. The chair was already in the highest position so I hit the lever to lower it and (with my weight on it) came crashing down quickly!  I slowly slid off to my hands and knees and was able to once again become upright with the help of a doorknob.  Why that was possible on my knees but not while sitting is a mystery to me.  It's a common move when I forget that if I crouch down, I can't get back up.  Flopping on to my side in the store and then hands/knees works.  I also learned you NEVER try to hoist yourself up using the store's shelves as a aide. 

 

"CLEAN UP IN AISLE 9!"

 

Have a wonderful weekend and a beautiful Easter everyone.

 

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Thank you

for all your kind words, offered prayers, and best wishes.  Chiropractor three mornings in a row, still miserable and will be for weeks.  I told him no more until next week because in and out of the car is excruciating. Orthopedic appointments are available (weeks from now) and no PT until a doctor orders.  I can sit, no more than 10 minutes at a time, the pain and strain from trying to rise takes an hour to ease.  So.  Mark is out getting things for Easter brunch (cold smoked kielbasa, ham, fresh oatmeal bread, Hawaiian rolls, cwikla, eggs, swiss cheese and our pepper butter.  Everything can be sliced and ready to put out, no dinner to prepare.  Carole is making one for her grandkids and we are invited afterward to give the crew their new shoes.   Maybe, maybe not.

 

The SANQ downloads offered a while back contained this little primitive red sampler, Flora Dellow.  With all the back aids and pillows around me (that mesh lumbar support is from heaven) trying to stitch several colors would be frustrating. Flora offers another simple monochromatic design, good for a crabbeast.  The dividing bands are ecru, not sure what I will do with them.

Wishing everyone a joyous Easter.

 

 

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Holy sacrum!

This will be short, but not sweet.  This weekend, I bent over to get something from a bottom drawer while in an off balance position.  I could not return to an upright stance.  Doctor feels it is the sacrum, the bottom part of the spine that takes the weight and distributes it through the hips and pelvis.   Believe me, it is distributing.  The pain is unbearable, I cannot sit, lie, or bend, getting in the car requires Mark to lift my legs and wipe my tears.  Going again tomorrow morning, but not much he can do.  I am exhausted from standing. 

 

Can't do much stitching or sewing that's for sure, but I went through charts and decided on Ann Stone (oldie) from R&R Reproductions, or Mary Monier from The Examplarery.  When I subscribed to SANQ before it discontinued, they offered downloads of prior issues and there were several that I liked.  But all were lost when the Dell bit the dust.  I don't know how long I will be in this condition, but I do know that Advil for the first time, is not helping.

 

We've had warm and sunny days,  I can't even sit on my swing.  I walk around outside with a cane, hunched over as if I am looking for bugs.

 

 Hope everyone is doing well.

 

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A little red pouch

 

That's what I'm leaning toward for a finish.  I already counted and removed a linen thread, planning to finish this into a little something-or-other to hang or set.  When I reached the top of the stairs to my sewing room, I saw this red wool bag and of course, it created confusion and doubt.  But the pouch would be wider to accommodate the stitchery and that shape may not be as attractive.  

The only darker red wool I have is speckled and I prefer the solid so I will need to order online, taking a chance on what shade of red it will be.  By that time, I may just sew it into a little tuck and be done with it.  You know .... patience doesn't reside here.  But I do really like the red background so I'm hoping that will work out.

 

The diet is very difficult for me but easy for others.  I eat a lot.  And often, always did.  So counting every single item makes those points add up quickly for me and I am hungry.  Really hungry.  I did find two dressings (Walmart) that are helping and am very surprised at the taste.  Most fat free sugar free are blah but these two are really good and zero points.  Sandwiches and veggies taste a lot better with them, not to mention all the salads.

 

I forgot to mention how pleased I was when I remembered that a latex glove is fantastic to remove cat hair.  I used a Playtex Living glove and just kept swiping the furniture, the hair was pulled from the fabric's weave and just rolled up, easily picked off.  I vacuumed first and was surprised at how much hair was left and removed by the glove.

 

Have a good day and thanks for visiting.

 

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Be afraid.

Be very afraid.  I know I am.

 

My mother saw this t-shirt box online and made one for us.  It's the perfect place to hide when she is "moody".  That word doesn't really come close to her attitude and I can tell you, I don't like it one bit.  Not one bit!   I don't really give a catnip rip about what's causing it.   Can't tell you how many times I hear the door fling open and I see her standing outside, rain and all.  Clothes come off, too.  It's a scary scene folks.  So I'm staying in here until things improve.  I thought it would be better in the evening when she is busy with that little piece of cloth.

 

 

But then she starts counting and obscenities ensue.  "Another error!!  Dammit!!" (That's not the word she used.)  Things go from bad to worse and I'm afraid to even look out the hole.  I can't tell you how many times this has happened, and for such a small piece of cloth!  What's her problem?  I heard her say something about developing a new method called "error stitching" instead of frogging.  I've heard of frogs, Nitzy got one last year, but I don't see anything hopping up and down except for her head.   The guy that scratches me told her that it isn't noticeable, she looked at him without saying a word, and he quietly got up and moved to another room.  Personally, the way she stains and beats up those cloth things I don't know why it bothers her.  I think it's because the more errors, the more corrections, the more frustration, the less fun.  Best I stay in my t-shirt box until this blows over.

 

Have a nice day.

Bud

 

 

Worn out

Greetings folks.  Hope everyone ended March with no issues.  Our visit was exhausting but enjoyable.  Cousin's husband makes donuts so ..... we went all over testing.  Research and development you know.  The winner was Apple Castle in New Castle PA, glazed honey wheat, by a landslide.  I had no choice but to join Weight Watchers when they left (Dove minis are 2 points each and oranges are free, not bad together).  Too much good food, ridiculous amount of donuts, desserts and snacks galore.  An old favorite was made by my sister, (who never invited them for a meal which I had counted on), but she ate more than half of it before bringing it to my house, so I had to offer other options since we had ten people for dinner.  Loved seeing them, but glad to be quiet and alone for some rest. 

 

So what am I doing now?  Ridding closets of excess and being a total P.I.T.A. to all.  I don't know why.  Stitching and blogging are not of great interest to me but I started another small in my continuing effort to regain mojo.  What a pleasure to be off the grid for 10 days and away from the vile hatred taking over this land.  

I've stitched this before for a friend and have always wanted one for myself.  Handwork Club 1820 Redwork Pinkeep from 2011 by Stacy Nash.  Not easy to find and I've seen other club pieces released after a period of time, wonder if Stacy will.

 

Simple and small, good choice for a crabass.

 

While ridding the linen closet, I came across the same old table cloths that I continually put back, never use, and several are not wanted.  This one was my mom's, the heavy wrinkle free woven cotton and openwork.  I used several applications of Biz for spot cleaning food stains, Lestoil for grease, oil, butter, and found that the orangey looking stains are ..... rust!  Bar Keeper's Friend in a paste, applied several times and rinsing between.  Gone.  A few spots were missed but hopefully I will get them all.  It's hard to see yellow stains on light fabric but holding it up to a bright window shows even the slightest which I mark with a piece of blue or masking tape.  I hate to see these wonderful heavy linens thrown out because of stains but that's what happens to most.  I'm taking the Battenburg to the vintage shop, no desire to iron. 

I'm hoping someone can give me information about this cloth.  It presses easily, white on white, 52" wide (selvage edge) by 48" (hemmed).  Very heavy cotton.  I had to tilt it in order for the light to hit the satin stitched design.  A coat of arms (?) with three arrows, U.S., many stars, and outlined on selvage edges by three solid rows.  I have not been able to find anything about the emblem.  Is it just a design and not representative? Anyone know?

A few years ago I showed several vintage print tablecloths and was emailed by a reader that she collected them and was interested.  The saved email was lost three crashes ago.  Please let me know if you are still interested.

 

That's all I have.  Dental visit I am dreading tomorrow.  Cats are slowly coming back in after retreating from the visitors.

 

Have a good one folks.

Thanks for visiting.

 

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