Floss bags

Greetings to all in MID July.  Damn.

 EDIT - FOUND A SOURCE

I needed to pull new floss bags for the latest DMC colors I bought, and although the same size, they didn't look like my others.  They aren't!  I don't ever remember using or purchasing this style. 

I separated the bags by style and cut two covers from a heavy something-or-other, and I have a little book for a large project, floss in order by number, and neater than a bunch of bags on a large ring that twist and turn.  To replace my other bags with these would take some time, and my online searches did not reveal availability of this style.

Marking them with the color numbers can be removed with alcohol so I can use over and over and over.  But for the number of large projects I plan to stitch, over and over and over will be more like … over.

 

Have a great day!!
 

SOURCE
Mine were by Westex, but Hobby Lobby carries them under another brand and also the binder.  Here's the info in case you are interested.  Sullivan's also makes the same.

 

 

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Polish chart

Hi folks.  What a gorgeous day we are having.  I'm going to grease my mouth, lips, and eyes and we'll take a ride in the country with the windows down.

 

The chart is posted under the FREE tab.  I want to mention that you can adjust the bottom area by another two stitches in length to make a perfect square, would fit nicely in a little 4" frame.  Initials or the name of the home owner would be nice.  Too bad I didn't think of this before I shipped mine off to the recipient!!  Damn.  Carole, I'm sorry!!  Always a day late and dollar short, but still too tall.  

 

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A little project in Polish

I sure hope it's right!  I found two translations to Polish for God bless our home.  Well, three really, and I chose what is found on many antique pieces.  I made this for a woman who is always giving of herself and offering help.  I hope she likes it.  I made the hanger knotted so it can be adjusted to fit over a large door knob or other display.  Polish colors are red and white.

 

If anyone is interested in stitching this (nice gift for a Polish relative), I will post the chart.

 

I get asked as do most stitchers about finishing so here's a few pics of the way I do it now.  Because no one told this nitwit to put the interfacing on AFTER sewing and I was doing it bass ackward.

First is counting the same number of threads from each side to create an even margin and marking it.  Love those Frixion pens.

  

I then pull a linen thread out three to five threads away from the margin mark, depending on how much fabric I have to work with.   The presser foot will follow this line, or I will use the Frixion pen to mark the thread.  I leave the bottom open but run the machine sewn seam about an inch to create the corners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

THEN apply the fusible interfacing extending it over the seam.  Press the seams open and then trim the fabrics.  I also clip on each side of the clipped corners. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I use Poly-fill Royal Silk fiberfill because they stopped making my favorite.  This material does not melt with heat like the other fills, so the steam and smash with the iron to create a dense fill takes more time and more steam.  But it makes a much nicer feel.  I do that as I am stuffing, not once it's done.  Having the corners already sewn makes stuffing them easy and I used a thin line of Tacky for the close.

 

 

 

 

All done.  I'll be mailing tomorrow and if she sees this post, I think she'll know it's hers!!  Sure hope I have the Polish right.  And her address.

 

Have a great weekend!!

Thanks for visiting.

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For the kids

I have two cards, one is Schooler's Mary had a little lamb, the other is Cedar Hill's Now I lay me down to sleep.  Could someone use them??

EDIT - BOTH CHARTS WERE REQUESTED.











 

This one is combined cross and backstitching.

Email with your address and I will mail them. 

 

I want to share a photo of my dear customer's collection of my boxes!!  WOW!!  I don't even remember most of them but counting the ones hiding in the middle, I think there are 18.   I  really like George but no longer have the file and that size box is no longer being made. So nice to see that my work is being enjoyed, makes me all warm and fuzzy.  Not because it's 92 degrees and the humidity frizzed my hair, this fuzzy is inside.  Thank you Mary!! 

This heat spared the life of a chipmunk (a distant relative of Karin's Steve) that ran by Missy unnoticed.  I always enjoyed seeing what Steve was up to.

Email if you want those two cards.

Double digit July!!
Damn.
 

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Framing Sally

Hi everyone.  We're approaching the double digits of July already.  Seems like we just started summer in PA!

 

I filled in Sally's door surround with the house color and plan to steam it, maybe the lines won't show as much.  The door frame was filled in with the window color and I like the result.  It's been a very long time since I mounted/laced a sampler and I am not looking forward to it, but she will be framed.  The boning has worked very well for hanging and there is no distortion in the linen.  Her 22 x 24 size will be the even larger with the wide frame and I plan to hang her on the dining room wall with a sconce on each side, keeping it simple.  I'm really glad I filled this in and it's made a big difference in the overall look.

 

So will we attempt making another frame?  Go to Michael's?  Hobby Lobby?  I have two local framing businesses that I will visit first, but my small pieces were all over $100 30 years ago.  I can't imagine what this one will cost now.  I've seen posts about a framer many stitchers use but I don't know about sending something this large.  There are several Ebay sellers that make custom sizes and since I will be mounting it, that may work too.  Not sure about glass, probably not.

 

Now I will return to ….  is it Ann?  I think so.  She's been tucked safely into a canvas pouch and hanging on my drawer knob to prevent another round of lost and found.

 

Have a good week!!

 

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Sally's door

Tough decision on the door color.  I really liked the 924 but looking at the large sampler overall, the lighter brown seemed to pull it together with the darker brown in the border and upper sections.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But what do I do with the other areas surrounding the door?  I see three options .. the same light thread on the windows, a shade darker than the house thread, or filling it in with the house color.  I also don't like the end rice stitches in the green below the door but will leave them.  To me it looks like they are messy, probably because of being singular.  But I do like the look of this piece much better with a stitched door.  Sorry Sally. 

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