Finished

The card that I fell in love with and wanted to replicate in stitches, but my piece is smaller than I had planned.  I just couldn't manage to work those six rows of solid red any further.

 

 

 Next step is finishing into an ornament or cupboard tuck.  I want to age the edges like the card in addition to other areas, probably with a soft brush and an ink pad rather than dye.  I tried 680 (dark gold) for the year, it looked good, and I was surprised at how it changed the feel of the piece.  Pick a color woman!  So I chose the lighter but you can do it in the blue, gold, beige, whatever would look best on your fabric (mine is Tin Roof that I dipped in brown dye).  I guess I should post the chart first .... tomorrow if anyone is interested.

 

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Minnesota Loon

Hello people.  Summer is finally here after several days of very warm temps.  I've been doing a little stitching outdoors on the swings, hard to believe it's the middle of June already since the furnace was still running two weeks ago.

 

During one of my parents' visits to relatives in MN, mom went to a market place where an older gentleman was selling his wood works.  She fell in love with this whirligig loon, and it stood proudly in their back yard for so many years. 

The wings are held several inches away from the body, all wood, and I've never found another like it.  We finally repainted it, made a replacement wing for the broken one, and are surprised at how well this has held up for over thirty years.  The body rotates with the wind so you never know which way it will be facing.  Prominent against the green background between the two black swings, welcome back loon!  I've missed you.

 

As for stitching, the chart I made up has been changed five times, I think it is ready now.  Of course the chart wasn't changed until after I stitched that area.  Looked good on paper and I wanted it wide and low but my mojo was pooping out and I kept downsizing. 

For some reason, the 822 has been shredding like crazy.  Even when removing only one stitch, it would shred when pulled out.  Tried another skein and it is doing the same thing.  I'm using one strand on 35 count.  Still not pleased with the 1776 numbers but close enough. 

I'm following my big house method of fill by doing the first half of the cross horizontal, and then completing the cross vertical.  Really nice fill that way without seeing "rows" and the back is very neat and stable on a stretchy linen.  Turning the project upside down for every other row in order to use the sewing method in the right direction is a lot of flipping.  Hope to finish this soon, and it may be even smaller by then.

 

Hope your weekend is going well!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Jeanne B

Sorry, you are no-reply.  But I can tell you that the crow stand is available here

http://shop.pallensmith.com/garden/folk-art-crow-bird-feeder/.  I received a discount but can't remember why.   I think Pine Cone Gift Shop (Ohio) on Facebook also carries them.  I messaged them twice last fall for information on items and never received a reply, but give it a try.  I'm sure there are other shops that carry them also, maybe a garden center.

 

P Allen also has a pair of cast iron crows which I'm considering.  Left outside they would rust nicely or the black would be nice too.  Price is $38 for the pair, 10" x 6" each.  ???  Didn't I just declutter the deck area?

 

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

 

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WAIT!!

Edit - just saw the Country Sampler Girl's Club Nash release.  OMG.  But I don't do clubs because I prefer to choose my linens and colors and most are not samplers.  But isn't this wonderful?  I may have to join for the very first time in my close to 66 year life.

A little more info

Several emails regarding what I posted yesterday so I will offer more information on this situation.  TRE stands for The Retail Equation.  Many large retailers, home stores, electronics, use their service and it is a tiny % of people that are affected.  The main reason is because of return fraud which is costing them exorbitant amounts of money.  Understood.  But if I was given the opportunity to defend my actions, they would clearly see that none of my returns were without receipt, done within weeks of purchase, and many times there were ten items included in a purchase and only one item returned.  Purchases are not included in their activity lists.  JCP probably has a policy that you are only allowed so many returns within .... seven years?   Whenever my aunt requested new pants, and I knew she wore a 16 short but she insisted on 14 petite, I brought home several of each size in various brands.  I always told the clerks the situation and that there would be returns and they never warned of the possibility of this situation, mainly because no one has heard of it.  TRE tracks everyone's returns for participating merchants, and only affects about 1% of shoppers, but if you are in my position of years of buying for so many family members, it could happen to you.  The reason I am ticked, is how it is enforced.  Yes, I can dispute which will take a while and I will do so just for the sake of record.  I don't want there to be any doubt concerning fraud.  You don't need to be concerned about this happening to you unless, your returns add up to their limits.  Someone suggested to use check or cash, but when making a return with either of those choices, your driver license must be scanned.  TRE has your identity and those returns are also tracked, so that scan will show your status.  No getting around it.  I will give my nephew's son the pairs of shoes and have him exchange them for his size using HIS driver license. The specialty shoes ordered online aren't available in store but at least the others will be used. .

 

I've calmed down, make out a check to pay off my JCP card, and will close my account simply because I cannot take the chance in the future of this happening again.  I need to order clothes in tall, only online, and that's a crap shoot with today's sizing and quality that it won't need to be returned. 

 

My sister's epidural was extremely painful which her excellent doctor said was normal during the procedure.  Sciatica pain was excruciating while the medication was put in place and lasted about five minutes.  That was Monday.  Today is Thursday.  She is worse than before the epi and in tears.  We are hoping it will take effect soon and give her relief.

 

When I am upset, I declutter.  Seems to make things calmer with less distractions.  So I removed the wheelbarrow, several pots of flowers, birdhouses, dookies, and the clutter in this spot outside the kitchen window.  I like the simplicity of it now, and there is more impact with the focus on one large plant.

 

Hope you all have a terrific day.

 

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Some information

 

Hello folks.  I received a card in the mail and loved it, decided to change somewhat and chart it, and am now stitching it.  Almost finished with Simply Red too.

 

 

 

Will probably share the chart with you or maybe finish in time for a birthday giveaway.

 

 

 

 

The boys have been pretty warm with the high temps.

 

Nitzy has been destroying our bunny population and I am so angry.  He was raised wild, nothing I can do to change that and keeping him inside is disastrous (IF he will even come in).

 

The information I wanted to relay ....

Have you ever heard of TRE?  It is a company based in CA with customer service in India that can stop you from returning items to your store.  NO warning of this anywhere from JCP that states clearly, all unused items can be returned with receipt within 45 days.  Not so.  Because of buying for my nephews, aunt, and sister (plus myself and husband and children's gifts) many items were returned.  I am the family shopper that everyone relies on and I do know how to get the bargains.  My card is used to make it less confusing.  Well it seems they go back SEVEN years and add up your returns, then give you a warning that you can no longer return items. So far this year I had 3 returns/exchanges in May and one in June, but prior years are counted. There is no 30 day leeway or 2 week notice.  The "warning" takes effect right then, no more returns.  So now, I am stuck with 5 pairs of sandals for the Type 1 diabetic with bad feet and two pair of shorts that do not fit properly.  This is costing me several hundred dollars.  NO WARNING.  NOTHING from JCP to let you know this is even possible.  JCP referred me back to India and I must file a written dispute form, they will forward to JCP, and a determination will be made if being a caregiver and assisting those that cannot visit the store is OK with them.  There are no motorized carts, no wheelchairs, no chairs to rest if needed, no carts for stability.  Good going JCP.  I used your store exclusively for mom, dad, aunts, uncle, sister, brother, nephews, and children.  Your "report" from TRE counts EXCHANGES as a return.  So anything changed for color or size is classed as a returned item.  Very unfair.  If I would have known, I would have kept the colors (I didn't know he had them already) and not used a simple exchange toward my allotment!  I understand a lot of fraud happens and this is mainly what TRE follows, but it is not always the case.  So now will I be reported to retailers as a fraud risk?   You need this service?  Fine, but the way it is handled and customers treated, is not acceptable. You have no idea how ticked off I am.  With Macy's and Sears gone, JCP is all I have here so I will need to go out of town. 

Adios JCP.

 

Am I the only one that gets a headache when livid?

 

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Simply Primitive

on Simply Red from Homespun Elegance.  But of course, it's not red as it should be.  I love the size on 35 count, perfect for hanging, simple to stitch, and primitive.  Two colors were changed from my original choices.  The numeric and additional alphabet at the bottom will be one color.  Linen is Tin Roof. 

 

A few years ago, we waited a length of time for the best stone guy in our area to do our front steps.  As you can see today, we need someone to tear out and start over.  He doesn't do small jobs now, only large installations of patios and brick pavers, so we have no idea who to trust.  The company that shoots concrete beneath to raise walkways and landings, is uneasy about this being separate pieces so I am not wasting money there.  No one comes to the front door, but I think it should be fixed.

Jehovah Witnesses used to come to this door, but haven't been here for many years.  Before removing all the shrubs, we had two pyramid shaped evergreens, one on each side of the door.  Before I could answer the bell, I saw them leaving at a brisk pace.  Hmm.  A few days later when cutting the grass, I saw something different about the shape of those shrubs.  Further inspection showed snakes coiled around them both like Christmas tree garland.  That's the last time any religious group knocked on my door.

 

HOT today!  Mark is golfing.  I will play outside all day.

Have a good one!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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