So this is it

You choose.  The anniversary offer is for ….

#1  My own design little knob hanger stitched on a dark linen, 3" x 4 1/4".  Hemp hanger is glued to the backing.


















#2  A large spiral bound notebook, Safrona Ager sampler label, 6 1/2" x 9 1/2".  Lined perforated pages with a pocket sheet.

 

#3 Plum Street Samplers Kringle & Woolard.  Darling design that I will never stitch.

 

 

Leave a comment with initials on this post, or email your entry to

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

You don't have to choose until you win!

 

Drawing will be on Wednesday at 8pm EST.

 

US only please.

 

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Just crap

That's about all that's happening.  After the sinus inflammation and headaches, something started happening and two doctors did not have an answer.  So after doing my own research and then questioning my doctor, yes indeed I diagnosed myself.  And there isn't a damn thing that can be done about it.  I developed Sjogren's syndrome.  My lips became so chapped and shriveled I could barely open my mouth.  Then they started sticking to my teeth, my tongue is so dry it is cracking which is painful, my eyes are so dry I cannot see clearly.  Now the joints, specifically knees, require a wrap or brace.  Does it get better?  She said not really.  Does it ever go away?  She said not really.  I don't have the other diseases that usually accompany this but she said the severe inflammation triggered the autoimmune response.  I'm using dry mouth treatments and loading my lips with grease, eye drops can only be taken a few times a day, and I'm hoping I will be in the very low percentage of people that recover.  Since it's only been about a month but no change, she said to expect more symptoms.  Not being able to see clearly even with magnifiers is extremely frustrating.  And other people have to deal with so so much more than this, I will shut my pie hole.  But then my lips will stick to my teeth.

I was working up the little ornament/knob hanger/tuck chart but I can't see well enough to stitch it.  So if I complete it and post it, I would appreciate seeing your finish if you decide to stitch it.  I think the giveaway will be the knob hanger or large journal.  I purchased large eco friendly notebooks with perforated lined pages a long while ago, decided to finally label them.  But I deleted all the labels from box making so only have one design left.  The three sizes are 6.5 x 9.5 spiral, 6 x 8.5 and 5 x 7 paper mache.  I had 30 of the smaller ones and took them back to Pat Catan's for their kid's craft classes as a donation since a return wasn't possible.  They never used them, but someone did.  They were $3 a piece!

The only way to not have the cover warp from the glued label, one must also be glued on the inside of the cover to keep it flat.

 

 

And look what I found while purging.  Where did I get this $2.25 punch needle kit?

 

I am having a procedure AGAIN on the varicose veins Monday morning called Varithena, easier than the EVLA.  40 compression stocking for 2 weeks and then the other leg, another 2 weeks.  Treadmill walking several times a day to prevent a clot and I don't know how that's going to work with the knees.  As long as I'm moving, slow and steady should be good enough. 

 

On top of my crabassiness, our local headline was about a 3 year old little girl that was continually beaten by her EIGHTEEN year old father.  His girlfriend witnessed the blows to the head and broken bones but never reported it.  WHY IS SHE NOT CHARGED ALSO?  Always someone that gets away with allowing the abuse.

 

Hope your weekend is going well folks. 

 

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Coming soon to a blog near you

A blogging anniversary giveaway.  What will it be?

 

Probably one of these, have not decided which.

Velvet heart, primitive journal, simple sampler tuck, knob hanger.

The last one is my own design, similar motifs taken from another design so I don't know if it's proper to chart it.  If I want to stitch again on lighter linen, I need to!

With all the charted motif books and alphabet books available, the more I think about it, this would not be an infringement.  Not only are they modified, the entire design is different. 

 

Saw this on FB, almost choked on my coffee.

 

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Revisiting

Hello hello!  The snow is melting and I went an entire day without a piece of candy.  I did have several (more than several) cookies but no Doves, no M&Ms.  That's huge.  I weighed myself and could not believe what I saw.  Never ever have I been this heavy and I am very close to changing the first number of those three digits.  On the edge.  I am so ticked at myself.  It took me months to get down to a comfortable weight and I am now 40 pounds larger in less than a year.  Bending over, exercise, steps, bending over, cramped in a back seat, bending over, are more difficult and causing me discomfort.  How did I let this happen? 

 

Anyway, several readers have commented or emailed about following my finishing posts.  I just wanted to clarify that I had several, and changed the methods as I learned.  I do not use the very heavy fusible now although it did make a really nice firm finish, switched to a lighter Pellon P44F.  No longer do I fuse before sewing seams, or cut the interfacing to fit inside the seams.  I still pull out a linen thread to follow, or mark with a Frixion pen.  Stitch the seams first, and THEN square it and fuse the facing.  Press the seams open from front and also back before trimming and turning whether using the open end or the envelope method.  This post was my last one on finishing.

 

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2017/06/what-took-so-long.html

 

Fusing after seaming is so much easier!  And with the lighter Pellon, you can extend to the fabric edge so when trimming, it gives stability to the seam and also prevents fraying.  I usually do the backing fabric too and that can be fused before seaming.

 

Any of the methods are fine, used them all, but once my eyes opened and the brain engaged, I realized I was making it harder for myself.   But thinking back, that heavy fusible really made a crisp finish ornament.  Hmmm.  Damn.

 

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Purging ...

is something I should do with my diet.  Cookies, Dove chocolate, M&M peanuts, Cheetos, chocolate covered pretzels, Rotel dip with Tostitos, Breyers Carb Smart ice cream with peanuts, and right now …. scalloped potatoes with smoked pork chops.  Because of all this, my entry closet purge is painful.  These pea coats that I never wore have me wondering how long ago it was that I was that thin.  So I have a choice.  Donate these wool lovelies that were never worn (along with several others) or try to accommodate them to my new normal.  I always purchased at seasonal clearance and by the time that season rolled around again, they no longer fit.  So I kept them thinking I would lose.  And every year that passed they became tighter.

 

This is how they were meant to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is how they must be in order to fit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is how I may correct that large discrepancy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gray Calvin Klein is not tall sized and I love the charcoal gray, the brown is a little longer.  The pockets are spaced properly when turning it into a single breasted big girl which surprised me.  Do I want to bother?  I altered the photos for a preview, they are still double breasted.  Not sure what I will do, but right now, as the scalloped potatoes fill my bucket, I think I will not bother.

 

I am ridding myself of fabrics too.  I rarely use this homespun and certainly don't need this amount to back a few smalls.  I tried the method of draping over hanging file dividers but I would need too many bins.  Decided to just roll and store in totes, yards of other items have no where to go.  I'm sending to the church, maybe someone sews.  I'm sure the Amish do not want an off white wool blend!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

In case you're wondering about the parlor turned inventory room, here's the second floor inventory room.

 

Such a lovely mess.  I plan to pack in totes and haul to the attic. This large tote holds pewter and the top is covered with a few framed but mostly unframed samplers.  Yes I know some of you just gasped but they can be pressed!

 

 

 

My stomach hurts from the potatoes.  I just planned to test them for doneness and ended up eating too many.  Story of my rear end.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Thanks for the visit!

 

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Another one bites the dust

For years, our only local craft store provided supplies for our valley, with choices for just about any and all crafts and art.  They expanded several years ago into an adjoining space and added framing, fabrics, bridal, home decorating and furniture, while increasing their paint and artist department.  Their prices were always low, no coupons needed, comparable to Michael's and Hobby Lobby when a coupon is used.  Everyone is very upset to see these headlines.  We have a small Jo-Ann's, not the super store, and it is very limited.  Glues, beads, craft paint, standard yarns, and sewing supplies.

 

 

I knew something would happen when Michael's purchased the Catan stores a few years ago.  They are closing all 36 stores and reopening a maximum of 12 as Michael's.  Damn.  Could go two ways.  Either corporate will realize we are lacking such a store (or anything close) in this area and it will be beneficial to them, or they will see that all the other local stores are closed and there is not much to draw people in.  They did a really good business here, and I hope the decision is made to continue in this location but with a Michael's about 40 minutes away and only keeping 12 Catan stores, I don't see much hope. We'll know late summer. 

 

My husband went for his six month dental cleaning and a front tooth veneer broke into two pieces and came off.  He ended up with close to a $1000 charge which was not what he expected.  Me either!  Isn't it terrible what it costs to maintain your mouth?  I mentioned a while back about Costco members having the option to join a dental plan for very little cost, but there are very few dentists locally that accept the plan, or any other individual plan.  My cousin joined and got 5 back teeth pulled, a partial bridge, plus follow up, xray and initial exam for $150 total.  TOTAL.  I paid $675 for Carole's partial with no other work and it was lower end!!  Her tooth that recently broke off at the gum line was filled two months prior for $185, and it will cost $325 for the extraction.

Around every corner ….. there he is ….. staring at me.

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