Surprise

I actually had no trouble removing those letters and it ended up being a good thing, because I did not like their color anyway.  This is a very very small piece, not enough room for several colors.  I did use the recommended threads the first time I stitched it and this one will be very different.

For those that didn't see the error, here it is!  I was down one thread on those four letters and the dividing band beneath would have made this more obvious.  This is a simple design and in my opinion, anything off a little would not have the charm of a reproduction's misplacements.  It would look like some old lady had the wrong glasses, messed up, and was too lazy to correct it.

I so wish Bud would allow himself to be bathed.  This guy has such odd and dirty hair for a cat.  It seems these three ferals never had the time to clean themselves, staying alive took precedence, and bathing just isn't something they do.  He and his girl heard about the Olympics and are practicing synchronized sleeping.

Have a great week's end.  One more closer to spring.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The trouble with 40

I took this photo to show my wonky 4-sided stitches in the first dividing band.  But when I looked at it closely, I saw that I K L M are one thread off.  How could I miss this?  For me, it's very easy on 40 count.  My 3.25 glasses broke, I can't find the 3.0, and have been using the 2.5 which are not quite strong enough.  But getting back to the wonky, I always had trouble with the very easy 4-sided stitch looking very messy.  After completing a short section, I decided to do a running stitch the entire length, then went back to do the vertical part, finally completing the row with another running stitch on the bottom.  Well that worked.  Doesn't it look neater than the first part?  This ain't your momma's 4-sided stitch, it's a counterfeit from the reckless stitcher.

 

 

So now what do I do?  Removing four letters on 40 count will be tedious.  Changing the G H would be less work but the next row is in place and will be off.  So here's the plan - stop it.  With my desire to stitch still lacking, any stumble turns into a full face plant.

 

Woke up Wednesday to another 6" of snow and not one of the brats had any intention of walking in it.  The day before that we only had 2", which was still too much for the Budman.

 

 

Have a great day friends.

 

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A few things

Hiya.  Not much going on here other than doctors and very sick family.  Chris is very sick again (and refuses to miss work), his son Matt also (not at work and can't afford that), and little boy Matt is recovering.  I hope Carole doesn't catch it, haven't talked to her yet this morning.

The new doctor, an orthopedic, diagnosed my arm problems.  The bicep tendon is the culprit, extremely inflamed with possible tear, and the swelling is causing the impingement of the shoulder (not impingement from injury which is the therapy I received - no wonder it made the bicep pain worse).  Received injections to calm it and will return in 3 weeks, MRI if no improvement.  Since the shot, my entire arm including thumb is feeling weird so no stitching today either.  (Do I really care?  No.) 

But I want to share a few things I found online and also remind you to visit https://circahomeliving.blogspot.com/, click on the desktop calendar, then right click and chose Set as Background.  It's fabulous!  Too bad it will be a short month.

 

Also found a site https://noramurphycountryhouse.com/magazine/ that offers e-magazines (mostly of her Connecticut country home) that showcase her style of decorating.  Very light, mixed with rustic, kind of the direction I am leaning.  I especially enjoyed the issue featuring kitchens.

They are free for viewing, and you can subscribe for future issues.

Two other sites I discovered through a FB post are for framing.  Many of you have projects that are very costly to frame, and if you can mount them yourself you can order the wood cut to fit your project.  https://www.pictureframes.com/ and https://www.americanframe.com/.  There are many YouTube and video tutorials on mounting and lacing, one I liked is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGajH991q_c.

 

After the dentist and running errands I will probably do more browsing since I am to "take it easy" for three days.  That's all I've been doing for months! 

 

Have a great day folks.

 

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Ebay offers

Hello people.  For those of you planning to enjoy the Super Bowl, have fun!  I'll be going through more charts to offer on Ebay.  Right now I have three, and it just happened that Goode Huswife released one of them in a reprint the same day.  PA Beehive, Fanny Erb, and Eliza Low Pumroy.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/early-works/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

 

After seeing many fabulous craft/sewing/stash rooms shown on FB's needlework group, I realized that my stash is a mere drop in a bucket.  And why am I keeping charts I will never stitch again?  There are unstitched big girls in the stash and I considered relinquishing them, but one day I may feel like tackling a large project so they will stay.  Some are favorites that I would not mind stitching again and those I will keep also.  The way my mind has been operating lately, I may choose them for a new project, not realizing they are already on display somewhere.  The scariest situation is searching for the correct word which is happening way too often.  More so in thought than speech, but still unnerving.

I haven't stitched anything because of my neck and shoulder.  Tomorrow is the doc appointment and they were really surprised that I was sent for weeks of therapy without an xray first.   A little work with the sewing machine for now, until a tantrum strikes.

Little boy is finally down to a 100 degree temperature after ER visits to two separate hospitals.  The first did nothing but bloodwork, said it was fine, and sent him home.  His doctor who recommended the ER said to take him elsewhere (fever was over 104) and the next day at the other facility (we only have two) they did film and ultrasound, hydrated him, double dosed for the fever, a shot for the inflamed appendix, diagnosed the strain of flu, and instructed a return if no change within 24 hours.  It dropped to 102 yesterday and this morning he is 100 and taking fluids.  Whew.  But now his dad is sick and it seems like this will be passed from children to adults and back.

 

I put my bear on the steps and he makes me smile.  Glad I kept this pattern.

 

Enjoy your Sunday!

Mine is spitting white crap.

 

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Bye bye January

Hello folks.  We made it to February, getting closer to spring.  Do you have cabin fever?  Winter doldrums?  Or are you a crabass like me and always in a snit? 

We went out today to investigate house products before the bitter cold returns, and that wind felt like (my mother's description of me) "in one ear and out the other".  The contractor called and instructed us to order the windows.  He's actually coming!  We have conflicting descriptions from several dealers of the exterior finish on the Andersen A series so we are ordering Marvin, which clearly states that information.  We also found extremely heavy/strong vinyl 2'x4' panels that are cast to mimic stone and brick.  Cool beans baby. 

 

I received a gift in the mail today, a chart I previously stitched.  Perfect size for a cabinet knob or basket handle gimcrack.  Yep.  Gimcrack.  Similar to a gewgaw.  Definition of both is "a showy, useless trifle".   It's not too showy, not a bauble, but I like the goofy words I found when searching for ornament synonyms.  So I'm doing it again, this time on 35 count with one thread.  I changed the bottom on this first one because I saw the queen stitch and bolted as usual.  This time I will do the specialty stitches in the border and MAY consider the queen.  If you're a betting person, don't put too much down. 

Got my hair cut to blend with the burned areas, a little too short and skimpy on the bottom.  But really, who cares?  It grows back.  She showed me a product that is new to me and a real gem for those with thinning crowns or spots.  It's available at Sally Beauty and many other places online, called Toppik, and another product at Sally - Ion Hair building fibers.  She lifted my hair and sprinkled a very small amount on my thinning top and I was amazed at how it covered my roots and scalp.  I plan to buy the Toppik in gray for Carole and found several sites with a decent price.  If you're interested, this is the link, https://gettoppik.com/how-to-use and you can visit Sally for the ION brand.  She said application should be in sections and very light, takes a little practice.

 

Still disposing of supplies that can't be donated for various reasons.  Many places here will not take items unless they are new, especially the day care centers which I thought could use my acrylic paints and TONS of card stock.  Nope.  I guess I will store this for a while longer.

 

Also came across hand made paper with leaves and stems, others with metallic threads on paper with matching envelopes.  Lots of linen paper sets.  Years ago I made a lot of cards and stationary, very simple, because the paper was the star.  The card stock was used for a presentation of Carole's angel pins with a printed verse.  Amazing how much I have that was forgotten.

 

I found the pattern for the only two face painted dolls I ever made and the only teddy too.  He is such a sweetheart and I will save this one.  I did not plan to sew his clothing so discarded that part.  My little guy is naked.

 

We have a very sick 4 year old at the hospital again tonight, hoping there are answers and help.  Not only the flu, but terrible stomach pains too.  Carole is scheduled for another stress test, they feel her symptoms are a sign of cardiac something or other, just not sure what.

 

Hope your weekend goes well!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Findings

Wow.  The top shelf had large cardboard boxes filled with smaller ones used for shipping.  But one sent my shoulder into a surprise fit when sliding it off the shelf.  It was heavy.  Unexpected heavy.  As I groaned it to the floor, I see this label.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my.  What do we have here?  Yards and yards of the Heir-Loom Weavers fabric that I saved for curtains/valances. 

When I first saw Pat Gaddy's PictureTrail of her home, she had valances hung as I did but with a beautifully woven fabric.  She wrote about them and gave the source, I immediately ordered enough fabric for the entire house, plain weave and also patterned.  Unfortunately, Family Heir-Loom Weavers' business has been changed drastically and their top quality colonial style products of years past are no longer being  made.

 

And as life got in the way and we needed to add the bedroom for mom, the fabric was put away.  Do I still plan to use it?  Probably, but my tastes are changing from dark and dirty to light and dusty and this color is like raw/unbleached linen.  If not window coverings, bedding, shower curtains, and other items that they sold using this fabric can be made. There such is enough of it.

 

Hiding in a box, I found the mouse case for glasses.  Always made me smile, so I started making them, again, thinking I would sell.  Nope.  When will I learn?  So many things planned that I do not fulfill.  The one on the left is holding my readers.  I may add a label on the ear with the magnifiers' strength (I use several) and fill a basket with mice by my chair.

 

I also found the pile of charts from my Sampler Sack failure and they are all in the burning bin now.  No sense going through that again.

 

Carole is home and doing OK.  They don't know what caused the incident and she will see her regular doctor Tuesday.  I was watching the monitor and her BP went from normal to very high over very low many times during that hour.  This was not mentioned by the doctor and I had no intention of inquiring while Carole was present.  I am assuming this is expected with heart failure or a weak heart.

 

Hope your week starts with sunshine and smiles.

And chocolate.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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