A new week

I hope it's better than last.  And I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day.

 

I finally gathered my floss bags and put them back in my box so I can pull the many colors for Ann.  My nasty habit of not returning floss to it's rightful home creates a time consuming search when kitting.  After all was is order, I was missing three colors.  Could be a Missy issue and the bags are behind or under furniture.  One of the floss colors is 154.  ?  I thought it was a misprint.  After searching online I found that 150 -169 were released years ago and I was unaware, maybe during my long break from needlework.  How odd that none of those colors were used in any project until now.  Maybe because most of my samplers charts are older?

When I offered the huge bags of floss to you, I assumed I had most of the colors because my old large guides started with 208 as did my inventory.  So I went back to that post and saw that I did not claim to have them all.  Whew. 

These are my DMC guides, one ending with 3708, another with 3799, and three supplement cards.  I tried locating a card of the 150-169 and found none offered.  But I did find that DMC's site offers actual thread guides of all the colors.  Is it worth it for me?  Probably not.  I am boring and have my favorites, not feeling like I'll be stitching that much anyway.  But for as often as I change thread colors, it may be helpful to have all in one book rather than pulling out several cards.  As you can see from my samples, I've used them a lot.  I like the loose threads because I slip the linen or other thread colors beneath, sometimes only using two strands for a sample.  It appears the newest book has them wrapped.

 

If you would like an up to date color guide with actual thread samples, you can order here

https://www.dmc.com/us/color-card-35-new-colors-9004428.html  Reasonable compared to other sites where I've seen as much as $65 charged.  The booklet includes "454 + 35 NEW solid colors and 18 variegated DMC Six-Strand Floss colors".  Shipping is 8.95 but if you spend $30, it will be free.  I'm assuming it's been available for quite some time.

 

The threads and linen are ready, I am not.  I'm losing interest in stitching Ann, my eyes have taken a bad turn again as has my mouth.  If you've ever bitten into pizza and had the hot cheese slide off and burn your lips and tongue, that is the closest to what I am feeling 24/7, along with eye burn.  Several of you mentioned that you were hoping the meds were helping.  I'm not taking anything yet because my diagnosis is not limited to Sjogren's.  Through testing, he found more than we expected and is more baffled than before.  Not sure what to do, what to expect, when the avalanche will hit, but my numbers are off the charts and it's coming.  The medication he recommended is widely used but the one possible side effect is losing your vision.  With the unusual circumstances involving this case, I am not sure I am willing to take that chance even though it is remote, and I haven't made the decision yet.  Do I help prevent the worsening of this and the onset of another disease but risk my eyesight?  Do I wait for the avalanche at which time I will have to take the drug, maybe too late to help?  Only I can make that decision and it's a little daunting.

 

Hope you have a better week.

 

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Another mishap

Are your JoAnn stores like mine with fabric bolts stacked against the wall?  Do you slowly walk along that wall, eyes moving up and down, top and bottom?  Do you ever look to your left or right while browsing thinking there may be an obstacle along the long open wall?  No?  Well you should, just in case there is a guy on a 10 foot high ladder changing a light bulb.

 

I have not started Ann yet because I knocked my equilibrium off a few days ago.  Happens rarely but it is a nauseating and miserable few days until balance is restored.  The Epley Maneuver helps many but I was just too sick to comply this time.  The drug makes me very sleepy and lightheaded so bedtime has been early.  I think I'm on firm ground now so I searched for linen. 

This is the 28 count drawer where I found a 30 count Rook, but too small.  Two pieces large enough but I really didn't want to bleach unless necessary.  I checked the fabric kitted with the other girls and found the color I wanted in a piece larger than required which switches me into whining about wasting fabric. 

I hate cutting into large pieces as much as I hate left over.  This was dyed by me and I seriously doubt I would ever (or want to attempt) another dyeing session with the same result.  A very nice warm brown/tan, not too dark.  But why the hell would I save it when it's the color I was hoping to use?  Bonehead crabass that's why. 

I went to Pat Catan's after the doc and they are unloading their warehouses, sales galore.  Lots of items sold out, tons of card stock and fabric, square mache box sets.  I purchased two sheets of the mylar blanks (stencil material) for only $1 each.  This material is perfect for lining a drum finish or a pouch, even ornaments that you want to be structured.  It can be against the fabric or sandwiched between fill/batting.  They received word that the store will remain open as Michael's which does not compare to the selection and prices Catan offered.  The employees are already looking elsewhere because they were told wages will be the same as for new hires (which they will be), hours will be limited to a max of 16 per week.  Some of these people worked there for over 10 years and were full time, many are over 65 and need to work.  This will all take place in August.  Honestly, I was never impressed with Michael's selections or their prices. 

 

Visiting the Amish again this weekend for a few 4 inch pots.  When I was sick, Mark drove back out there and bought me 3 hanging baskets of the darker Vista petunia I wanted.  It looks so much darker than what I had before!  It's a damn flower.  They're all beautiful so suck it up.  This was last year's plant.  

 

Hope your weekend brings some smiles.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Uh-oh

The entire sampler is on 40!  Was so excited I guess I whizzed by that part.  Can't do that much on 40 right now and don't have a piece large enough anyway.  Finish of 20" x 19" on 30 count, and I thought the other girls were big!   The camera may put 10 pounds on but the laptop sure made this gal look a lot smaller.  19" x 17" on 32 count but there is always the issue of one thread or two.  Depending on the 32 linen, two seems bulky and one looks skimpy.  I will look through the 30 and probably have to do a bleach dip.  My 30 is a very dark unbleached and I want a softer brown.  I was hoping to be done with linen tampering but don't trust the online colors for a new purchase.  Browns can arrive reddish, tans can be too yellow, some have pinkish hues.  I'll cut a small corner off and wet it for comparison to the bleach bath fabric so I don't get carried away. Wet fabric is always so much darker and I've had many surprises of it drying way too light.

 

 Oh well.  Onward we must march!  One page at a time.

 

Flower potting today, doctors tomorrow.  Woody Wood****er is keeping me busy too.

 

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Ann's surprise

Hi folks.  Received my magazine today and studied details that were not noticeable when viewed online.  The biggest one?  There is a tiny piece of 40 count stitched and hemmed, attached to the sampler!  How cool is that!   Another plus are the motif placements that will allow errors and misalignments to go unnoticed.

 

Seeing it up close and personal, it's a gem.  I left myself large pieces of linen to complete the big girls I had chosen, and I need to check the remaining inventory of fabric for Ann.  She has pushed the others aside and is the front runner in the 2019 crowded field of hopeful candidates.

 

 

Hope your week is going well.

 

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Body linen

Hey.  I finally found some linen blouses that are true tunic length.  It's not easy to find blouses/shirts that have enough length (for my height) to cover those bigger areas, but I found several that I ordered and love.  Thought I would share!  Much nicer look and fit than in these photos.

 From TJMax website, both Jones NY

 

https://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/product/Long-Sleeve-Button-Down-Linen-Top/1000447952?cs=Category_Browse&simRec=true

  

https://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/product/women-clothing-tops-linen/Button-Front-Stripe-Linen-Top/1000447604?colorId=NS5764139&pos=1:33&N=1336439232

 

This one is oxford cloth, not linen. $ 16.99!!!

https://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/product/Collared-Button-Down-Roll-Up-Sleeve-Tunic/1000449754?cs=PDP&rrec=true 

And from Sierra, another Jones NY

 https://www.sierra.com/jones-ny-pink-combo-yarn-dyed-button-front-linen-shirt-long-sleeve-for-women~p~553wa/?filterString=s~jones-linen%2F

 

So reasonable and really nice linen.  I'm tall and they cover my wide bottom nicely, can be used open as a light jacket too.  Good prices.  I don't have stores locally and even online shopping did not yield anything close, so I'm happy to have found them.  Thought if you like this style and have trouble finding, you may be interested.  Sleeves are all long, but buttoned up in the photos. 

 

 

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I bought a sampler chart

for the first time since ….. ???  I think the last one I purchased was Merry Wind Farm's Ellen Ford.  Maybe there was another but I can't recall. 

 

I have wanted Ann Hicks 1820 for years and never snagged it on eBay.  Today I saw it on Pinterest and decided to try again.  I searched all the engines, usually if the subject of the search is on Ebay or Etsy it is shown in the results.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zippo.  But I visited eBay anyway to request notification if it becomes an offer.  Bingo.  There it was!!  But failed to show in my searches!  So I jumped on it and now am the proud owner of SANQ Winter 2004 Vol 37 with Ann Hicks.  This chart was not two-part was it?  I've seen finishes of Ann and did not like them because of the light linen and if I ever stitch it will try to use something darker, similar to the photo.  I have never liked stitching from a magazine, does that bother you?

 

 

Whether I stitch her or not doesn't matter right now.  I have her.  Have wanted her.  And with some of our charts, isn't that what really matters???  LOL!!  I can't explain it either!

 

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