Polly with a twist

A quick post between Ann's to show Polly finished.
Lori Rippey's Polly Cole on 32 count.

I love this gal, even though she is twisted.  But Vonna named herself Twisted and she's a fine lady so we're good.  The dryer, the iron, the steaming, the stretching, the blocking, the wetting, the shaking, had me twisted into a knot.  She's not bad now, hasn't been interfaced or lined yet, and I am afraid to do either.  I have never faced this problem to this extent before, and the linen did come out of the dryer fairly even.  But as soon as I started turning the edges back, I could see that it wasn't only the measurement that was a problem.  The weave doesn't appear to be running true or square.

The only noticeable change I made in thread color was the large house because in the printed photo, it looked to be a light blue/gray and I liked it. So I subbed DMC 317 for 3781 (in the house), and 3032 for 3782 in the body. 

I would like to put all the long fringed pieces together eventually, but have taken most of them down for now.  I'm hoping the twist may work itself out if I leave her hanging for a while.  But that's about as likely as me having a good hair day. The boning is sewn into the top hem as the others.

I never mixed the framed pieces with the fringed before, and I don't think it looks bad.  So Polly may be hanging with a formal friend for a while.  Wherever she goes, I'm grateful that this chart was offered before my slump's final bell.  I really do not want to stitch.  But I can't stop playing with the linen.  Does that even make sense?  What good are the splendid colors if they aren't used?

 

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Pinballs by Ann

Ann Madges does historical reproduction wallets, pinballs, pincushions, and needlerolls.  My first post of her wallets can be viewed here and her Ann Wade set can be viewed here.

Her work is amazing, she finishes the wallets herself using hand dyed tapes and beautiful clasps.  I thought you might be interested in seeing more of her work, this time, pinballs. 

 

From Ann ......
In the 1700s and 1800s, pinballs were used as personal pincushions by women and girls to store pins and needles for their sewing projects.  They were often personalized with initials, dates, and other information and decorated, reflecting the high value placed on pins themselves.  A stitcher sometimes attached her pinball to her belt or châtelaine, a decorative belt hook or clasp, by a ring and chain, or by a braided cord.

The first is the Colonial Pinball Counted Cross Stitch, designed by Ceil Humphreys for The Posy Collection here. This cross stitch design was inspired by a late 18th-century pinball in the Colonial Williamsburg collection. 

I worked the two circles (4" diameter) on linen using DMC floss and stuffed with fiberfill. 








The finished pinball is designed to fit the two inch pinball ring and chain reproduction available from Colonial Williamsburg here.  If you sign up for the newsletter, you will receive updates including times when they have significant discounts on their wares, like the pinball ring.

 

Tokens of Love, Quaker Pinballs by Erica Uten  - Amazon here
 
This book contains full color illustrations and patterns for 12 knitted or cross stitched Quaker pinballs.  Also included are step by step instructions for making up two varieties - round and spherical as well as images of antique pinballs.  I adapted one design using 32 count linen, DMC floss, and bound with linen tape.

 

Quaker Pinball by Joanne Harvey of the Examplarery
 This reproduction pinball is based on one from the collections of Colonial Williamburg.  It is worked entirely in cross stitch over one thread on 28 count linen using DMC floss.

 

 

1798 Quaker Pinball from Pieces of Olde here.

The original pinball was a fine gauge knitted piece that was adapted to cross stitch.  I stitched on 40 count linen using DMC floss and used a small pinball ring (have not been able to find these anywhere).

*********  Next post, needlerolls. **********

This Bud's for you

Our deck guard, with a variety of watchposts.

 

Thanks for the suggestions but our services here offer no options.  They don't take electronics and even if they did, 40# is the pickup limit.  We don't even have curbside recycling like surrounding communities, and need to take our items to a center, which we do. But not one of my seven "environmentalist" neighbors will get off their lazy asses to do so.  Once a year we have a recycling event (out of town) and they weigh the items.  Very few people show.  Her old 21" TV cost $97.50, this one is 36" old style and is well over 100# (lots of lead!) so it will cost several hundred dollars to dispose off.  Ridiculous.  Best Buy will pick it up for $100 charge.  If you purchase a 50" or larger TV and have it delivered, they will remove the old one for $15.  A good deal but the 50" is more than she can afford, but so is the disposal fee.  Delivery for a smaller size would be $70 + the $15 removal.  I guess the best deal.  It's always something.  Maybe because I have Roseanne Rosannadanna's hair.

 

Wasn't that a great tip - put the Thread Heaven ball in a twist up lipstick tube?  I believe the craft store has empty tubes for making your own lip balm.  But I can also clean out an old chap stick.  Perfect!  Will still cut a slit in it for the thread to slide through, easy on off cap, handy, don't have to handle the material.  Now all I have to do is want to stitch. Tsk tsk tsk.

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Summer days

For me, too few.  August.  Already. 

Missy was enjoying the beautiful weekend, snoozing in the shade.

 

 

 I was reading Bobbie's post about using wax on her thread, seems I'm not the only one having some problems.  My DMC has been shredding so easily, whether removing just a few stitches or pulling through coarse linen, so I'm glad she mentioned this.  On the stiff 40 count I was playing with, the wax did nothing, in fact, it seemed sticky.  I could feel a drag.  On a lower count or softer linen, maybe not.  So I got the tiny box of Thread Heaven that I ..  a) forgot about b) misplaced c) had trouble holding d) all of the above, and used a different method to apply. 

Not sure of the correct way and too lazy to look it up, I removed it from the slippery cube and made a ball, sliced it deep, and put it back inside.  I embedded the thread in the cut and pulled it through easily.  With my arthritis, I had difficulty holding that little cube with my right hand and pressing a thread onto the material while the left hand pulled it over. With the thread inside the slit, no reason to hold it down so pulling it was easier.  Is this the method recommended and I once again was not paying attention?  That thread was gliding through the linen like a hot knife through butter.  Wonderful stuff for coarse linen.  I need to make an easy to hold case or something to make it easier.  My wax case is too large for this tiny stuff.

 

Carole's TV died and we have to go on a hunt for a replacement and options for disposal of the 36" old model.  Best Buy only takes to 32", she was charged $100 to recycle another.  With those fees, it's no surprise to see them discarded in wooded areas.  The old picture tubes contain pounds of toxic lead and other materials. 

She has decided to not have the gallbladder surgery and I agree.  Since nothing ever goes smoothly with her and this was the first attack, mild, she will try diet before surgery.  Hopefully, August will be event free.  And last longer than July did.

 

Have a good day!

 

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Like hitting a brick wall

I am stumped.  Technically, I did not hit into a brick wall, but did run into the glass wall at Walmart.  I took Carole for labs and she whined on the way home about needing things at Walmart, sooooo..... I stopped and ran in for her, she prefers to sit in the car.  As I was leaving with bags lining my arms and good forward momentum, I shoved the cart into the buggy area and headed straight for the door.  It wasn't a door.  The panels of glass right next to the doors look like doors, but they don't open as you approach. Who knew? 

 

Finishing Polly is like hitting a wall because I am truly stumped.  I followed the linen thread top to bottom for the fold.  Didn't work.  So I pulled a linen thread out hoping it would show the error.  Nope.  It's creased on the same thread, the pull is straight, yet I am wider at the top than the bottom.  Polly is long and thin (wouldn't that be nice?) and in order to lay flat and straight when hanging, those edges have to be perfect.  They are.  So why the hell is the top wider?   I've been doing this over and over and feel like I'm back at Walmart.  Now what?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tried hanging it anyway but it twists as if it was on the bias. I thought maybe dampening and trying to stretch the width with the iron may make it worse so my best solution right now is to hand wash and try to block it for drying.  I've used the dryer before and that is an option too.  It's very stiff and coarse linen, the same type I used when dyeing and I know the dryer would not hurt it.   For now, I'm putting it aside.

 

I should be looking for a new project, but I'm not.  Don't want to!

 

 

 

A few years ago I showed Ann's wallets in a post and another of her Ann Wade needleworker's pocketbook finish.  I will be showing more of her work, wallets and pinballs very soon.  Did you know there is an Ann Wade sampler coffee mug? Buy it here.

 

Have a great weekend.

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The big little gift

Krissy B. told me that she and her hubby were sending me a little gift.  I expected little.  Not so.  

I was stunned to open the envelope and see my very first hooked piece.  I've seen small items imported from China in a shop, but this is real.  Honest to goodness real hookin' from a blog buddy with a big heart!  I was blown away. 

But there was more.  The wonderful scent of lavender coming from the sweetest mini stitch ever.  After a week of frustration and stress dealing with family demands again, I just breathed in the lavender and held my gift, it melted away.  The right time, the right day, the perfect gifts.  Kris said I own the only piece of 40 count she will ever stitch. I've never seen this design and have to have it.  It is so tiny and so precious, I just love it. Pineberry Lane's Tokens of Affection.

 

 

 

 

 

Her husband included a gift for mine, too.  Since they both fish and make their own jigs, he shared his creations.  My husband's are solid color so he was happy to see these.  Aren't they cool?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so very much Kris and Mark.  I am just so thrilled with these pieces and grateful that you both have shared your handwork with us.  Wowee!  Thank you thank you thank you.

 

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