Easy peasy finish

From JBW designs, Miss Mary's Sampler 1796

 

Yep.  Another lazy finish not involving a frame.  I left the bottom edge fringed because, let's get real, I will move this. 

But for now, Miss Mary will stay on this very tall wooden wall box.  All I did was tear a piece of muslin to fit inside the folded edges because the black wood background was showing through the linen,

and then used this product across the top to attach.  It's very sticky but also removable.  So within 15 minutes of completing the final stitch, edges were pressed and she was up.

 

I made another error in color.  My cataract is quickly making my vision worse, and I had a difficult time between a solid square and a solid circle.  Instead of using the purple for the center's stems, the dark brown was used.  I like it and decided to keep it.

 

What's up next?  Honestly, I don't feel like stitching anything!  But I continue to plug away, fearing a break would be very long.

 

It has warmed a bit, Carole is not worse which is a good thing, I need to see an ortho doctor since my bicep and shoulder are not responding to treatment.  For days now I have not been able to leave the house.  I don't know if this is a virus or if the blueberries were perhaps a little tainted, but you would think that when food goes right through you, weight would be reduced, not gained!

Have a great weekend.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Moving on

 

 

to the motif and bottom area, finished with letters.  I'm glad I took the time to remove and restitch in the correct colors.  Just those little areas make it more appealing to me.  I may pop more color into the flowers by moving to a slightly brighter shade of the floss. 

 

 

I haven't sewn Ellen into a pouch yet, and may not.  I like pouches but rarely use them as such, and her size would work well as a mini pillow or larger ornament.  Perfect size for the wrought iron hooks I installed on my interior doors.  I did baste her to the red wool and loved it. but it was a little too Christmasy and did take away from the sampler's details.  I decided on the dark green or a dark gold that also blends with the threads.  A heavier strap of the wool instead of a thinner hanger is the plan.  I really need to be in the mood to sit at the machine and work without a pattern or things get really nasty.

 

And you've seen this in so many proposed finishes from frames to boxes and frankly, I am sick of it.  I chose a ticking lining and a dark brown wool, will attempt a pouch from this, again.  If it fails as so many times before, it will be gone.  If it succeeds as a presentable pouch, it may be for sale. 

 

Our snow is melted and I was able to get up the luge track know as Carole's driveway to bring her supplies and groceries.  I only went to one store, Walmart, for all the items on her list.  They are rearranging the store.  I couldn't find anything but the bread isle and produce.  You would think vinegars should be with the salad dressings as always, but they moved them to the oil section.  I was so flustered I forget the brats' foods and a few items I needed.   The store looked a scene from a horror movie, bodies without expression, wandering aimlessly in circles, as if they were all hatched from pods.  Except for me.  I would yell down aisles to employees asking where items were.  Most knew and were very helpful. 

 

I do think what Carole has is the flu, it is in her chest and the cough can call in elk.  She is taking antibiotics and other meds, hoping it does not get worse.  Brother is on the monitor and will probably be scheduled for a pacemaker.  I will need to take care of his three maniac ferals, each with their own quirks, houses, foods, and routines.  My brother is truly catman.  When they had to move from a country rental, he asked the new owners to care for the six ferals he fed.  They replied they would have no problem with putting food out for them, with a little "something" in it.  He borrowed traps from the shelter and trapped them all, taking them 15 miles to a city home.  Feral.  Feral feral feral.  All six in his small house, never to be let outside, most hid for days at a time.  What a year that was!  Eventually they settled and allowed him and Pat to touch them.  Traumatic for them all, but they lived good lives. 

 

We're almost to February and I really need to line up the house project picks.  There is no pill for procrastination.  Can't swallow pills anyway.

 

Have a good one!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Making the grade

That's better.

 

 

 Whoops.

 

Bite me.

 

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Colors

Greetings stitching buds.  Hope the weekend is going swell.

A few readers made comments about the colors of Miss Mary (no-reply) so I thought I would list them for you.  The originals and my changes, mostly because of the linen color but also subbing for colors I do not have on hand.  I had no intentions of braving the cold for two skeins of floss and wanted to start her right away.  Monday I have a doc appointment and will stop at JoAnn for those missing numbers in case I would need them in the future.

My changes are in red.

 

For all the years of stitching you would think a person would have a decent library of needlework books.  Do you?  I do not.  Half of this measly pile are reference, some duplicates, one book was a gift, another was a win, and the big old one was ?????  That's embarrassing.  Many of you have educated yourselves, studied various types of samplers, can even identify regional source, and I sit like a bump on a pickle.  Am I in the minority or do I stand alone with not really taking an interest in these resources and trying to learn more?  

My sister (79 and a weak heart) and nephew (type 1 diabetic) have come down with the flu.  Hoping it doesn't get any worse, not sure what constitutes "the flu" these days, compared to a bad cold or bronchitis.  

 

After the steroids and the glut of sweets at Christmas, I am having a very difficult time reducing carbs (in other words, reducing the chocolate), so I checked into Weight Watchers again.  Did not work well for me before, but having to count foods did help gain control which I need to do.  If you are interested in trying the program, there is a special ending 2/1 that waives the starting fee and also gives you a free month.  To look up your points and recipes online only, the price is around $13 a month for 3 months, a really good deal. 

 

It's warming up a little and will continue to do so, hoping that's the end of the bitter cold.

 

Enjoy your Sunday!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Progress

on a sweet little sampler.

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Back to my roots

Not the gray ones.  Back to the 28 count two threads over two which is what I started stitching with, but haven't for quite some time.  Rough unbleached linen and two wonky threads.  Using the tail ends method (what I call having the needle in the center of a single thread length) is really helping to keep my thread even.  As long as I turn the needle to unwind the twist or let it hang every few stitches.   I tried railroading as I have before but it's aggravating when I have to fidget between the threads which are always crossed over each other.

 

And who knew?  I had no idea there is a solution to fading computer keys.  My year old Dell has lost almost all paint and it bugs me to not see the letters.  You can see after the B how faded they were. 

But look at the other keys that I have already put the new labels on!  Bigger, sharper, great.  I found them on EBay for a few bucks.  Just pull them off the backing and apply. Some of the larger command key labels must be cut out since those keys are sized differently.

Well I have a very nice keyboard, but no printer.  I was printing the shipping label to mail the mounted sampler, after putting in new ink because the print was hit and miss, and guess what?  Yep.  Died.  After putting in the new ink!!!  Second time in two weeks.  As I said, done with HP.  There is no printer that uses this ink cartridge number, just like the last one.  Can any manufacturer just wise up and use the same for the majority of their models?  Ridiculous.  I need to check with the post office if they will accept this streaked label or the faded blue one. 

 

That's all I got.  It's fricking cold.   My slump is worsening, forcing myself to stitch.  This has been going on for a long while and I wonder how and when it will end.  Or will I end it?

 

Have a good day folks.

 

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