The fringe, final episode

I wondered where Miss Lydia Broome was hiding, and today lost was found.  For those of you on the fringe with samplers, here's a way to achieve that look on smaller pieces.  Once again I am posting something you already know about, probably more so.

Miss Lydia (Pineberry Lane) has been in various poses of different settings and I was sorry I did not frame her in a dark rustic wood, but it was too late.  Once sewn into a pillow with edges trimmed there is no going back.  Not with this linen.  It is thick and nubby yet soft, and attaching a muslin border for mounting would probably have worked, but I had no intentions of trying.  The fabric threads just seem to be ... I don't know .... loose?  Like they would pull out of alignment easily with any tension. 

 

Instead, I backed her with the same linen, machine sewed the edges in a matching thread, stuffed, sewed the opening, and fringed.  This linen is perfect for it.  Using both sides it created a thick nice finish.  A stiff and thin linen, no way.  An option for any size pillow, tuck, ornament.  I may look for the chart and stitch again on a high count for framing.  I believe this was 28 count.

 

 

 

This Jingle Bird (Tina Woltman) was finished using the same method, used two linen pieces (different shades) on the back for thicker and variegated fringe, a tiny zig zag machine stitch on the very edge here.  Neither of the linen backs were to be used for stitching, didn't like the odd color and the other was 25 count.  No wonder I can't find this bird - another giveaway.

 

 

Remember the Turkey Trot? 

here and here

A heck of a lot of work for a contrast fringe, but fun to do.

 

Freezing my butt off today.  We have never had such a chilly August.  No warm evenings or hot days, just light jackets and closed windows.  The entire month!  September is starting off like October.

 

And I thanked Donna for her suggestion of using small motifs from other pieces for my little feather tree ornaments.  Thanks again Donna!  That will be my plan.

 

Have a good one!

 

********************

Conflicted

past tense of conflict: conflicted; past participle: conflicted

kənˈflikt,ˈkänˌflikt/

1. be incompatible or at variance; clash, vary, be at odds, in conflict, differ, disagree, contrast, collide
2. having or showing confused and mutually inconsistent feelings

That's me.  About everything it seems.  I don't know if the menomoods are over and I am back to what I used to be (was I always confused?), or if this is the final phase.  I can't remember what I used to be, this ride started so long ago there may be no going back!  My once coarse hair is now so fine I can barely see it lying on the counter.  It used to look like 20 gauge wire.  Oh well.

 

Today's conflict was whether I should stitch tiny ornaments for one of my Christmas trees, or not.  I have been leaving them bare, like the look.  After searching a few sites for very small and simple designs, my cart is still empty.  Didn't find any alphabet blocks that I liked, not very primitive.  So what if I used a coarse linen and just stitched a single large letter on each in rice or eyelet, maybe with a sprig of holly, completing the alphabet?  Sounded good.  Then I decided against that and thought I should stitch Mary Monier.  Back to the ornaments.  And then I ate a watermelon.  Really.  So how long will the conflict last?  Indecision has been life for quite some time, but this feels different.

 

I also had two hissy fits today.  One was because I saw a young man at the grocery store with a t-shirt that I don't feel is appropriate in a very large store at a plaza filled with shoppers.  It's available on Amazon and in very large block letters states "HIGH as F***".  Reeked of marijuana.  A volunteer working with my nephew OD'd the same day at 24, another gone.  She started with alcohol, then included weed, finally added needles to her demise.  Free speech or not, show a little respect in public and stay out of your damn car when you're stoned.  Another young life was lost two weeks ago in an auto accident caused by a stoned driver.

Then I find out that my friend's friend on Medicaid and food stamps, just paid $75000 cash for a new house and $5000 for the furnishings.  I thought the agencies check your assets and resources.  Obviously, they are stoned too.  But if she has her assets under a relative's name, they would not find it.  I know too many people that have to fight like hell for help they truly need and get very little, and too many that don't need help and get way too much. 

My husband is on his way back from a good doctor visit, and stopping to buy another watermelon for me.  That's about as plant-based as I get.

Have a good one.

***********************

A box

SOLD

 

A box that I have had for many many years and will never mount a stitched piece to. The inside is pretty rough and should have a bottom lining to hide the glue.  Height is 3", overall 5 1/2" square, 5" recess with 4 3/4" mounting board.  Recess has a deeper edge to allow for the gathered fabric on the underside of the mounting board.  The center of the board is left bare and glued to the wood to secure. This is not for framing a piece, only a padded mounting.  If anyone is interested, $5 + $5 shipping to US.
SOLD

 

 

 

**************************

 

The big one

Nope.  Not getting rid of my monster bowl, just don't want to put it out again until I have a plan.   I want to rid the rooms as much as possible, wait a while, and start fresh, a different perspective.  Finding a spot to store everything until then is the problem.
 

  Filling this bowl with gourds and fall items is tricky.  It is so large and deep that nothing really shows unless it is a very large pumpkin.  I filled the bottom once with dried beans to elevate gourds and it took eight bags.  A large single pumpkin does well, but I do not want to think about fall.

 

Finding a place for excess items during the decluttering process is a vicious circle.  I put them in another room, try to rid that room of clutter, and everything is moved again.  I cleared the basement of excess last month and it looks like it will be filled again, the logical solution for now. 

 

I have bags of large dried primitive gourds that were moved to the attic, most were for Patti's wheelbarrows, and a sack of dried corncobs for a tree she wanted to make.  The cobs are all in the woods now but I will take the gourds to a few shops, maybe they would like to decorate with them. 

 

Sale starts today.

Enjoy the last Sunday of August.

I am woman, hear me whine.

 

*******************

My goal

My tastes are changing and have been for some time.  I have repeatedly mentioned that I am interested in a sparse look, less clutter.  So what do I do with all this stuff? 

 

Mom's area is now the dining room, larger than our original small room.  I am tired of dusting chairs in a room we don't use, tired of looking at the clutter, so the old dining room will be cleaned out.  If we have a large party (when hell freezes over), a simple adjustment can accommodate more guests here.  As an example, this is what I am trying to accomplish - less items, focus on pieces, calm and peaceful. 

 

Before - Bowls and stitching and dookies and loaded cupboards.

 

 

After - A door will be made to close the cupboard but until then, the baskets stand out as they should, not a bunch of smalls that the eye just flits over.  A writing and stitching table with plenty of light and little clutter.  A chandelier pulled out of the way (I want to sell this one).  When the doors close the cupboard, you will notice the samplers on the wall.  It's not as it will be when finished, but closer.

Now where do I put the chairs?  And the monster bowl that is too large to set anywhere?  It's always something.

 

********************

Sale date

Items on the For SALE page will be offered starting at 1 pm EST on Sunday the 27th.  Check is fine.  Paypal is fine.  Any questions, please email me, samplersandsantas@gmail.com.

  It sure feels like fall.  Really cheated this year of my favorite season.  Very late start, very early close.  I found two monster zucchinis this morning and made three loaves of  Death by Chocolate zucchini bread.  We really like the chocolate zucchini bundt cake, but every year I get requests for this loaf and it seems to be the favorite.
Recipe here.

 

The sale items will stay on the page until they are gone.  I decided not to split them into two sales because they certainly will not all sell at one time anyway.

Enjoy your weekend! 

Texas, we're all thinking of you and hoping for the best.

 

 

********************