The final border

 

After many trials and lots of errors I realized the bottom motifs needed to be large to balance with big bird.  Smaller vines, vases, and florals were not working and I could not understand why.  Finally have something agreeable and all I need is a bottom band.  Nothing has worked so far, and I think for the same reason.  Needs a little heft for balance so I charted one and hope to finish this tomorrow.  Three inches wide and almost ten long.  Skinny mini.

 

Have a good week!

 

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What a difference ...

a dye makes.  Love the design, could not get used to the Tin Roof linen with my chosen floss colors.   Too drab and odd looking, not gray, not green, and the muted floss does nothing for it.  Red will tone green to brown but is really tricky and may leave it pinkish.  I wanted to brighten so I tried orange.  Just a touch.

 

Ahhhh.  Much better.  I can live with this .  The other two smalls were requested for purchase and are gone but no one wanted this drab one.  It's probably a keeper now!

 

And before you ask, no I did not disassemble the pillow.  I used a misting sprayer with the weak dye, then just water, dabbed to remove excess moisture, stuck in the dryer on a stationary rack.  The only thing that changed was the glue.  My other glue is waterproof, Tacky is not, so the bottom came open.  Heating with an iron softens all glues (including fusibles) but they stay in the fabric.  Tacky seems to have come out almost completely with the water. Who knew? 

I'm sure many of you wonder how I could take a chance on ruining a finished piece. The answer is easy.  If I don't like it, the color bothers me, or I tire of the design, it does not bother me at all.  Yes I put time into it and I enjoyed doing it, but I could say the same about blowing leaves.  It's the end result that's important and if I'm not happy with that, get a match.  So I make an attempt to correct what bothers me and if it works out as this did, great!  If not, that's OK too.

 

Yours truly,

the Reckless Stitcher
 

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Getting close

to a finish on skinny mini. 

 

Used a verse from Proverbs 31 that I thought may be something found in a sampler.  Not sure if I will finish this off with motifs, A&E, a wide border.  But I do have a layout in mind and will chart it first, maybe a few others, and then decide.  This piece has had enough frogging and I would prefer following a chart to prevent more.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

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A little Aida

UPDATE - fabric has been claimed.

Greetings folks.  Houston, we have ignition.  It's in a white gold 2018 Escape that has more dingers and buzzers and chimes to tell me I am doing something wrong than Microsoft's annoying Windows 10.

 

I am going through unwanted fabrics again and if anyone would like these pieces of 18 count Aida, do not know the color name, I will be happy to mail them (in US). 

 

All the same and a really nice dark shade, the closest being DMC 640.  Sizes are 17 x 18 ... 8 x 10 1/2 .... 10 1/2 x 12 1/2.   If you would like them, click the email link at top right or this - samplersandsantas@gmail.com to let me know along with your address for mailing.

My sister is pretty anxious today.  The house next door to her has sold, for $200,000 cash, without the buyer even viewing it.  There are very few homes on this long road, secluded, within a half mile of the Ohio border.  Quick escape from PA police and with our local drug problem, naturally this transaction seems unnerving.  Who buys a home for that amount without seeing it? 

 

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How do I like the new car?

I don't know.  Why you ask?  Because I sat across the desk from the young frazzled Ford-Man, and with check in hand, frown on face, said ....  can I change my mind?  At this point, my husband's ball cap brim was covering most of his face, and he was so slumped in the chair one would have thought he was sleeping.  He was fully awake, just looking for a hole in the floor to crawl in to.  My newest new car will be in tomorrow.  I had already served them a coconut cherry zucchini bread and the chocolate zucchini bundt cake the day before, hoping it would compensate for the time and ream of paper expended on me.  What could possibly soothe the mood of having your employee drive 4 hours to get a vehicle, wash and detail, remove stickers and protective covers, only to have some wacky woman say ..... nah, changed my mind?  A Kobe steak and Jack Daniels?  Poor man.  He kept saying it was OK but I knew that as soon as I walked out, there would be some fighting words behind that door.  Was it all my fault?  Of course not.  Weeks earlier I had asked another dealer if the forward collision protection/blind spot and cross traffic warnings were to be offered in 2018 models.  He checked and said only the Titanium package (too rich for my plasma).  I also kept complaining that I was buying last years model because the 2018s would be out soon.  Nothing said.  The morning I was getting the car, the Ford website showed the 2018, with the safe and smart package, ON THE LOTS.  My new car will be the latest model and have the safety features and warnings that I wanted.  Same color, same car, just newer and smarter.  This cost me $5000 more but I didn't care at this point. With those features I won't worry about trading it in a few years to upgrade.  So as long as it's not a lemon, I will keep it for 10 years.  And frazzled Anthony will have a nice meal.

I needed a vehicle today so took my sister's (my old yellow Escape) and I did not want to give it back.  Can't tell you how I love that old car and the different feel driving it.  Such zippity-do, full length windows for excellent vision, more space without all the technology features, and my yellow and black queen bee hanging from the mirror. 

I stopped to get a pumpkin, holding off as long as I could to acknowledge the fall season.

But I am still clinging to summer also.

Won't be long until Christmas!  I happened to see this darling offer on Etsy (already sold) and searched until I found the designer.

Primitive Stitchin by Shelly Auen on her Etsy page, here.  Offered as an e-chart, instant gratification!  Why did I not see this before?

 

 Two of the brats, Bud and Missy, were de-flea'd yesterday along with yours truly.  Nitzy is just too wild and I lost hold of him just as I squeezed that fricking tube. 

 

We're all feeling the sadness this week.  I hope something has given you a reason to smile and brought some joy.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Thanks!

When I read "two birds", I agreed.  Then I would read "one bird", and that was the plan.  Until another comment changed my mind.  This went on and on until I started the second bird, and thought it was too much.  So I tried a vine.  For now, it will stay.  I appreciated your help!

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