New to me

Hello people.  I am slowly recovering from …. I don't know what.  Something grabbed me and shook me to the core and I woke this morning with steady gait and clear head, always a good thing!  Seeing the eye doc today and I'm very thankful that I will be able to get there.  Mark will drive in case the dilation and bright lights cause dizziness, not what I need right now.

The following designs are familiar to most of you with shops and many of you without, but maybe not to some like me that get frustrated trying to see everything online.

 

Anyway, I started browsing a little and found the Erica Michaels berries, some of which I viewed on Pinterest, did not realize how many designs were available.  I assumed they are over one but when trying to locate that info from several online sites, I could not find a definitive answer.  The 40 count on gauze would of course be, but how big are the 40 linen over two?  So I visited the Erica Michaels site and realized these berries over two are more like giant pears or avocados.  (Was planning to stop at Aldis for avocados this morning and the morning news said they are recalled.)   There are two designs, one for linen, one for silk gauze, so if I order I better pay attention!  The silk designs come with a piece of gauze but they can instead be stitched on linen over two.  You can check out all the berries here.

https://ericamichaels.com/designs/  Just scroll down and click the Berry Collection.

 

Looking at the site further, I saw a booklet made with pages of specialty stiches, all are freebies on the Rainbow Gallery site.  Each page can be different linen colors as long as all are the same count.  Nice way to use up those scraps.

https://www.rainbowgallery.com/wpcontent/uploads/2016/04/DDPScan_04_14_16002.pdf

 

 

I you can't open this link, the Rainbow Gallery Free page has it, just click on the 2006 Surprise Series.  What a really nice project.  Different, free charts, and all small and easy to do.  You can also purchase the entire pack with finishing instructions and cover charts.  It's from 2006 but it was re-released, not sure when.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/654332179/erica-michaels-the-sampler-book-re?ref=shop_home_active_23

 

That's all I got! Will be choosing a sampler this week and for the first time, maybe a Santa to stitch also.  I am a one project stitcher but the size of these samplers will defeat me, so a small fun project to fall back on may help.

 

If I have links crossed and i's not dotted, it's because I'm seeing dots and eyes are crossed.

 

Have a good one!

 

*******************

An announcement

Calling all big girl samplers!  Come on down!

You're the next contestant on To Kill a Slump!

Each of you have a big ass dress to wear, the winner gets hers stitched.  Rules to follow.  And I get to spin the wheel!  As soon as I find one.  If not, the audience may get to vote.  Tell us more Johnny!

 

****************************

The berry

Finished!  Was it easier than the very small one?  Meh.  I machine sewed the red areas and hand stitched the top closed.  The 3/4 stitches that created a cleaner edge to sew made it easier but overall, not as frustrating.

 

So where will the berry be safe?  Certainly not loose and free, not with me.  So I'm thinking of pinning it to the top edge of a sampler.

 

 

One of my favorites, Eliz Laidman from Threads of Gold, who IS loose and free but harder to misplace.

 

 

I haven't gone through the samplers to show, I'm sure you are very familiar with most.  But maybe not this one.  Purchased from Ebay as a kit, Mary Spinney from The Examplarery.  The original linen was shiny and sheer green so I changed it.  I had to go back to the original post to see what linen was used and this is what I posted.....

 

This piece is a beautiful dark olive and I could probably use R&R Sea Glass, but I tend to hoard linen that I like.  Rather than use what I have and love, I will waste an afternoon messing around trying to dye another piece.  Why am I saving it when I don't even feel like stitching any more?  The new blues I bought will be hoarded too.  Such a silly girl woman old lady.  Took a customer service survey this morning and checked off the 55-64 bracket.  That 65 birthday is very close, but they won't know so I plan on staying in the 55-64 bracket.  It's like having to go up another size in panties.  Those big big girl panties that have screaming elastic threads breaking and hanging like fringe on a 60's hippie. 

 

Obviously I was having a slump then too and just turning 65.  I guess this darker linen is one that I dyed and I really love the way it accentuates the threads.  I adore these bright blues along with the other colors and the quirkiness of Miss Mary.

 

 

Thanks for the suggestions on the beater.  It's quite heavy for a whisk and the wire used is very thick, but you're probably right.   I don't know how they cleaned it without rusting!

 

That's it folks!  Still miserable and can't eat a damn thing without needing a mouthful of water, sun is shining but my eyes can't handle the light.  Such is life!! 

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

******************************

What is it?

This item, whatever it is, has piqued my curiosity.  I emailed an antique dealer hoping for an answer but she's never seen one. Thick wooden handle, flexible coils, and I thought a rug beater but it's under eleven inches in length.  I tried describing it to search engines and only found long handled beaters with a large single coil.  Before my brother has a friend take it to his booth, they would like to know what to tag it!  Does anyone know? 

**************************

Medicare health insurance

Greetings to those of you 65 and older!  Just came from the office where we purchase our Medicare Advantage Plan.  A few tidbits just in case it's pertinent to your situation.  Normally the open enrollment period for signing into a Medicare supplement or advantage plan is October - December.  For this year (and maybe the only year) the enrollment period was extended to March 31, 2019.  We are considering changing our plans and found out that Highmark is offering a supplement that is all inclusive such as the AARP United Health Care (they are not making this offer).  No co-pays, no drug plan, more expensive than advantage plans BUT for this period only, it is open to all.  You have heart problems, cancer, diabetes, kidney problems, they will still take you at the entry rate.  Otherwise, those conditions may exclude you from acceptance or the premium will be higher.  I am in western PA (Highmark is based in Pittsburgh) and it is not available everywhere, but if you need to go to a full coverage Medicare supplement, check with a fringe benefit/insurance specialist and see if there is any other company with this offer.

Main difference between the two types of plans...

Advantage plans

co-pay for doctors
co-pay for hospital stays and ER
co-pay for lab work
co-pay for CT and MRI (over $200)
20% co-pay for chemotherapy (yep)
no co-pay for diagnostic (mammo, colon)
Some routine dental exams
Vision allowance once a year
Rx plan included in cost
Cheaper than supplement
No health history required, no age differential

My Highmark Freedom Blue PPO plan's monthly cost is $78 as is Mark's. Advantage plans are the same price for everyone without restriction for joining.  Some like Coventry are highly rated and have $0 monthly cost.

Supplemental plans

no co-pays for anything
100% hospital coverage
100% chemotherapy coverage
No dental
No vision
Rx plan is separate
High cost, but complete medical coverage
Health history required, price based on age

My monthly fee at 67 would be $134, Mark at 70 would be $151, Rx plans $34 per month.  I am considering this move because I don't know where my diagnosis will lead and I will be accepted now.  Every year I will have the option to go back to the advantage plan if I choose.  Coventry plan is widely accepted and highly rated, what I would save in monthly cost would go towards drugs, which in either plan would still be high.  I would hit the "donut hole" in 6 months.  So I have a decision to make very soon and you know how poorly I do with that task.  Switching to a full supplement is like having car or house insurance.  You have to pay whether the coverage is used or not, but have the peace of mind knowing you're covered fully.  Who knows if a hospital stay or diagnosis is in the future?  Then again, the money saved in policy cost every month can be set aside and used for the extra expense incurred in advantage plans.  It's a dilemma I tell 'ya!

If you need to change to a cheaper, better, or more inclusive advantage plan or supplement, you still have until the end of March to do so.  Many of our friends did not know about the extended enrollment period so thought I would mention it.  And I did.

 

***************************

That's better

Who doesn't want bigger berries?

 

 

What a difference from 32 count to 25!  Was considering an ornament finish but decided to follow its shape since it needs a top to the berry. I had a problem with the very small ones when trying to sew the outline.  This one, I filled in the edges of decreasing rows with a 3/4 stitch.  Now it has a more uniform edge to follow.

 

Magazines are posted.  I know you must have them or the DVD and they are always on Ebay but thought I would offer before recycling.

 

Have a great St. Patrick's Day!

I plan to eat only the green M&Ms.

Corned beef tomorrow but with the peaches.  OMG.  So good!!

http://marlanco.blogspot.com/2011/11/corned-beef-peaches.html

No wonder my berry is so big.

************************