The Santa dilemma

I worked on the pillows and smashed them somewhat, much better.  There was only one that wasn't straight on the bottom and that happened to be the one I examined which is now corrected.  The backings vary, some velvet, some matching linen.  The matching cord hangers are long and I twisted them to hang on this 4' tree.  My dilemma?  They are too large for me, but if I remove the backstitching and sew them close to the stitched body I would like them much better.  So for $3 each, backing and cording already at hand, I am considering the purchase.  I do not believe the backstitches would leave any marks (they are all lined but not fused) and most of that area would be cut off anyway.  I need to think about this for a day.  I just wonder if they will still be too large for my small trees, but I could hang them anywhere.  Sounds like I am leaning toward the task!

When I checked my inventory to see if I still had the cards, I found that I offered them in a giveaway a while ago.  But found others online, designs and Santa series from Heartstrings on cards, really different from the traditional solid coat.  Did I have those too?  Yep.  Gave them away?  Yep.  I think they were in the Goodwill batch. 

 

 

Nice day again today and tomorrow.  Hopefully it will be the last days of blowing leaves.

 

Have a good one!

 

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Twelve days of Christmas

Stitched on various colors and linens and counts.  And honestly, some of them not finished perfectly.  I try to seam edges following a linen thread (or close) so that it is even on all sides.  A few of these professionally finished pillows are not, the corners are not stuffed tightly, and they aren't steamed (smashed).  All of that can be easily corrected if you are as fussy as I am.  For the price, I do not want to bother, especially since they are not mine.  The stitching is perfect though!  I have no idea why she chose pink for one and blue for another, but it is what it is.  Rather than sell them individually, they will be offered as a set of twelve.  IF anyone is interested, I will give details soon.

 

Off to the doc again about my arm.  Don't know what's next, no improvement.

 

Have a good day!!

 

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Backyard decorating

We've had several very nice days for outdoor decorating and I took advantage of that today.  Since the front of our house is aged and sparse, I rarely do much other than boughs on the doors and galvanized tubs of fresh greens.  This year, I wanted to light the deck area that is seen from our kitchen and family room.   I like seeing the lights!   So glad I got these brown wire trees on clearance last year.

 

Hope to see your decorated homes on your blogs.  Let's make the weekend of December 9 and 10, Show your Home days.  Share your front door, tree, displays, any part of your home decorated for Christmas.  Anyone willing?

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Thank you Joan! - chart correction

Joan informed me that two symbols were not in the key.  I have corrected this error and you can either change 315 to a solid square and 829 to an top right corner diagonal or reprint the graphs.  729 (the crown) was also changed.  Sorry!!  And thank you very much Joan!!

 

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A little Skinny for you

I charted my Skinny Mini sampler for you.  I hope it's correct.  Since I didn't make any notes on color or changes, I tried my best to recreate this in a graph.  The length was a bit troublesome (a royal pain in the ass) and the symbols and print aren't crystal clear (I threw the printer on the floor) and there may be some errors within (who the hell cares) but I got through it (like hell) and here it is.  If you would prefer a colored graph, I will probably post that also on the FREE tab sometime today or tomorrow after I calm down.  I had to keep resizing because many of you mentioned that some of my charts do not fit on one page and you miss a row or two of stitches, so I sized this to handle the standard 1/2" printer margins (I changed my printer to 1/4" which is probably why I didn't notice this).  You MUST click on the graph to open in a new window and then right-click, hit print.  Then hit the back arrow to go back to get the other page.  'Nuff said!  If there are any issues, please let me know so I can correct them. 

 

Approximate size is 55 wide x 170 high.  I am cross-eyed right now and that's close enough.  Several minis can be done by just using sections that you like, deleting, rearranging, have a ball.

Note that the eyelet row is centered and one linen thread off from the other stitches.  Start that row by centering the first eyelet beneath the upper band's last stitch.  Does that make sense?

 

 

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Santa Tending the Sheep

from By The Bay Needlearts.  Thank you for answering my query!  I will be ordering this chart when I exchange two pieces of linen I received, one for the color and one for wimpy.  I thought all the WDW would feel the same but this 40 count piece is sheer and very soft, not something I can stitch.   So I will stick to 35 count in exchange and add this chart.  I also received another's unbleached 35 and 40 that are so stiff they can stand!  Perfect.

 

There isn't a thing wrong with this Santa, but as you know, I'm weird and have a nasty habit of making changes to designs, samplers, and colors.  I shrunk his upper body in one, and kept the upper but extended the lower in the other.   The center is the original.  Why can't I leave it alone?  Anyone?  I have no idea which I will attempt until I see the graph.  How cute is that curly lamb and moustache?

 

Are you ready for this announcement?

We have a contractor!!!  Yippee ki yay baby!!  The other guy that my first choice recommended, was very nice but never showed or called back.  So I called the #1 again and he offered another name.  And guess what?  This wonderful human being did not say - vinyl.  In fact, he recommended keeping the beat up, split, warped, and extremely weathered cedar.  He will try to replace the really (really really) bad boards with siding removed from the front porch.  The front porch will be sided with new cedar (I would like stone).  This will save a ton of $$$ instead of the doing the entire front.  The new product, Boral siding, which seems to be the perfect product, is only 10¢ a foot less than the cedar.  So we will get new windows and new trim, bad boards replaced, new siding on the single story front porch, and woodpecker nesting hole in the attic repaired.  This will be first thing in the spring so I have time to choose stain color and window color.  Not sure if we will stick with very dark siding and dark bronze windows, or red windows, or a softer neutral on all.  But I like him, he has worked with weathered cedar before, his brother is a master carpenter, and will help with the inside trim and moulding.  YAY!!!  If I knew how to whistle, I would.

 

Christmas giveaway coming soon.

My husband has been cooking sauce with pork spareribs all day, and I'm having my favorite spaghetti tonight with Locatelli pecorino romano cheese. 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

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