Very difficult

for me to start a project.  Even as small as a single motif.  I've been putting it off, dragging myself to the stitching parlor (sounds better than the room full of stitching stuff thrown everywhere) and the only task accomplished - ridding.  I decided to browse the huge file of printed freebies looking for motifs and smalls.  One by one, these pages kept for a decade or more, went into a pile for burning.  This was the third and last pile.

There were many working copies of previously stitched pieces also, and my own freebies.  Some of which I actually looked at and thought - this might be nice stitched.  You already did and gave it away Hotflash Harriet.  They are your designs.  Putz.

 

Mary Monier was passing by and although I do not like script letters, it is a very narrow project which is good.  Short rows don't test my patience which is really an issue during a slump.  Hurry up and complete the row, move on, get this damn thing finished.  That's my mind set and it has never lasted this long.  I took a little break, got a haircut, ate another watermelon, and not much has changed.  But as the sweat is rolling from my brow on this chilly morning, we all know that when I reach a certain number of sweat fests, I change.  I do know one thing that will not change, I just can't seem to go back to double thread.  It always humped and twisted with uneven tension and after several projects on high count and one thread, I'm hooked. 

 

The pin stitch that was foreign to me until last year (this post), has made it much easier especially when only a few stitches of one color is needed.  I saw Nicola's video on YouTube for the stitch (here) and tried that method of horizontal and vertical instead of diagonal and those threads show.  I prefer the diagonal but maybe the linen count makes a difference in how visible the horizontal pin actually is.  That would make sense, right?  Her videos by the way are better than some movies I've seen.  The method I posted about uses two threads but using one is just as easy and covers the middle break perfectly.  It can be worked from the top and trimmed as her video shows, just stitched diagonally, or the tail left to the back as the diagram shows. To end, I usually loop the back and run the thread through for that naughty knot we are told never to use.  I always do.  There is no bump, there is no long tail, there is no loose thread.

 

What I don't understand is why a pin stitch is needed when using a double thread because the loop method is just as secure and much easier.  That's just me.  I am certainly not a needleworker remotely close to the caliber of instructors. 

 

Well my forehead is now dry, I am chilled from being wet in a cool house, and I hate the thought of losing summer.  I do not notice the flashes as much since my body is warm to begin with, but during the cool months, yuk.

 

Hope you had a nice weekend.

 

My thoughts are with so many people and animals suffering through terrible conditions right now in several states.  And now, more coming.

 

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One motif at a time

Looking through sampler charts, not finding Mary Monier, I came across Elizabeth Wipp.  Several motifs in this work are the correct size for a 40 count ornament.  This is the first.  If I continue with motif ornaments (IF!) I will wait until the group is complete before finishing.  They may need a little sprig of holly or something.  Leaving them simple and ageing the edges may be the better look for a primitive feather style tree.  Getting ahead of myself here, let's see how far I get on stitching first.

 

I only found four photos of this sampler on Pinterest, I don't know who to attribute this photo.  The designer is The Goode Huswife, stitcher is unknown.
Edit - Stitcher and owner of this sampler is Carol Iverson.

 

Looks to be any easy stitch, and I am considering this.  I do have a box it could be mounted to, and also a flat wall basket the correct size.  But framing would be the best option.  Maybe I would like to stitch it, but not keep it.  Maybe I won't stitch it at all!! 

 

Fried green tomatoes.  Hot from the pan, I plated with crumbed Feta between two layers and drizzled with reduced balsamic.  I reduce the vinegar by half, doesn't take long at all in a small hot pan, and also tossed our green beans with garlic in the same pan.  Thick and syrupy, so good.  We have a local shop that carries Ariston balsamic and I use that most often, no reduction necessary, but I ran out.  I use it all the time on avocado salads and fresh tomatoes.

And I took a reader's advice by storing other bowls inside the monster.  Lifted the gourd perfectly.  Thank you!

 

 Our furnace has been running for two days.  So disappointed it's over and really ticked that it wasn't even a summer. 

 

We went to the animal donation trailers leaving for Texas and I got choked up when I saw the number of people bringing medical supplies, bedding, food, litter, everything.  I just saw that they need pop up tents, crates, and fans.  There was a sweet

Chihuahua shown for adoption at PetresQ inc. in NJ from Harvey that was shaking the entire time.  So sweet and calm, just breaks your heart.

Stay safe, thanks for visiting.

 

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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!

 

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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.

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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

 

 

 

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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.

 

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