Why now?

Just when I am closing in on a finish, after all those wonky motifs, error after error.  Being off a stitch or two would not be noticeable in the body, but it didn't happen there.  But now that it matters I am making simple mistakes and these two have to be removed because the entire tree will be too high.  How can I screw up like this when one branch is only several stitches from it's mirror image?  And how can I count to six three times and end up at seven?  If I hadn't noticed that the branches weren't even, I wouldn't have known that the right is up too high to begin with.  Should I run a thread at each branch position to prevent more frustration?  I think so.  

I fudged the one linen thread error so the main trunk is one to the right which then had to be fudged again where the snake head met the apple, which is one row lower than it should be! Whether in Eve or the trunk base, another error which actually makes the bottom branch THREE rows too high.  It's no wonder there are no cookies left.

The boys enjoyed the warm weather.  When Petey heads toward Missy, Bud growls and takes a firm stance with a glare that makes Petey take notice.  Bud's age is estimated to be 17 and he is missing two fangs so a fight would be no contest.

I have to photo the boxes tomorrow and work out price.  I won't be able to ask what I wanted because postage will be more than the box.  More cookies in the making.  More butt in the jeans.

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The sampler and the boxes

Hi folks.  A few of you asked for the name of the sampler I am working on.  It's from an issue of SANQ, Ann Hicks 1820.  You would think I could remember such a simple name but I cannot and have not.  Ever.  To me, she is Ann Kirby.  I have no idea why, but she is.  Today, it may be because of eating four raw cookies before baking and three after.  But since this name change has been in effect since day one, the piggish sugar high isn't the reason.  There is a tiny sampler stitched separately and attached in the upper right section with Ann's name and date.  Ann Kirby Hicks.

The boxes are finished and unfortunately over a pound because of size so mailing will be Priority, and the rate for a medium box is a whopping $15.05.  Ridiculous.  The rates will hopefully be less if I buy and box myself so I will test that later.  The sale will be Saturday if anyone is interested and I will post the time/prices Friday.

Can anyone help with posting to Instagram from a laptop?  I have the Spoofer program but haven't found any guidelines for photo sizes and cropping.  I'm assuming this would not be necessary from a phone which is what IG is set up for.  Being from a camera, I don't know if they will even be clear but I would like to test it.

I found a number of videos from market on Fiber Talk's You Tube site which I did not see before so I plan to take some time and enjoy them.  Anyone receive an American Country magazine yet or know if it was actually shipped?

Thanks for the visit!

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I don't like change

Visited Michael's to purchase paint for the boxes and found out my favorite brown in Folk Art brand is no longer.  When it was Pat Catan's the store always had a good amount of shoppers.  Yesterday and today, very few, only one checkout for sales, returns, exchanges.  My favorite clerks were missing and I sure do miss the selections and size of Catan's.  I should take the time to familiarize myself with the layout and products, even though their prices are quite a bit higher.  Catan's did not offer coupons, every day was 40% off!

I mixed my own paint color and got a few done except for waxing.  I'm thinking of keeping two or three for myself so I only have two more to paint and label.  I didn't bother searching for additional label designs since these worked out and are the last few.

Waiting for 123 to offer the market charts since I have a GC there, not sure if they will have Becky's sampler so I keep checking her Etsy shop.

Nitzy's ear looks better!  Really surprised at this.  It was so ugly and I did get the topical on it twice daily but he kept scratching it whenever it started to heal.  It is finally closed and not bleeding so I'm using my Cerave healing salve to keep it moist so the scab doesn't get itchy.  

Hope to return to stitching tomorrow.  It rained all day, no sun, so the eyes are better.  My sister is having very brief episodes of double vision and her docs have no idea of the cause.  Checks her pressure, low as always, eye doctor has no answer.  Next week's Cleveland visit will not be a snow day according to the forecast, but I am having my varicose veins done the day before so I may not be very comfortable in the car that long.  Or out of it.

Hope the week is going swell!

Thanks for visiting.

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A few boxes

will be offered this weekend or maybe before.  I have three large, three medium, three small rounds.  These are much bigger than previous offers (10.5" x 5" high and 9" x 4").  They have thicker walls and are really sturdy, leftovers from many years ago.  I may decide to keep one for myself!   I am not starting this again, just finishing off my inventory.  Paypal no longer allows shipping labels to be printed unless you have a business account.  One agent told me as long as there is a payment you can, but another said not unless I change my account.  It was easier before!!  Maybe the postal service didn't like the reduced rates?

I am anxious to get several charts from the needlework show but have to wait like everyone else.  Becky's darling sampler is not listed on several pre-order sites so I must practice patience until it appears.  I was disappointed in the videos, saw only a few, and one did not offer the designers of the shown pieces so I have no idea how to order.

Very warm and nice today as was yesterday but no rides or outside sitting is possible.  I just can't take the sun even with the darkest of lenses.  No stitching can take place when the irritation is this high but the good news - no stitching means no more errors!!!

Have a great day folks!

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Do you have a match?

My lighter is low on fuel.  We do have butane, but I won't look for it.  I am a grownup.  I can handle frustration.  Accept disappointment with grace.  Be reasonable.  

I'm menopausal, give me the damn match!  It's a good thing I have two pair of Lift n Snips because one is always misplaced.

The bottom left is finished after changing and moving the light stems to green, adding one line beneath Vegas after removing three, adding several rows to the bottom of the large plant, moving the stag up and shortening it, removing the blue dot dog and stitching it lower.  I changed a lot of colors to what I prefer because they were just not showing.

So the center tree.  I left a space for the snake and when adding it, realized the top area is one linen thread to the right.  I am not doing it again.  The snake will hide the error, barely noticeable, and I will screw up the top area by one thread, just for spite.

Once the tree is done (and I hope I get through it) the bottom border will be next, then finish the over one, and the tiny sampler to add should be very easy and quick.  I am considering using a slightly different shade of linen.  When pressing Ann from hand rolling and huggers, 

This is Nit's ear.

And this is Bud in his hut.

He loves this spot and after removing hair and machine washing, he's all snuggled in.

Hope the weekend is going well.  I've been searching for videos of the market, seen a few of limited designers.  Nothing sparked my flame as much as the sneak peeks from my favorites.

Thanks for visiting!

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Good grief

What a mess.  I thought I was doing really well!  The motifs were aligned on the left, counted from proper placement, double checked when each was started, and I am so off.  At first, being off one linen thread was not the slightest concern, even two would not be an issue with these motifs.  But I am way past that.

 I do not like charts that are divided into pages especially from a magazine, and trying to line up one to another is part of the problem.  The shaded overlap was fine, but the horizontal 

alignment was not and I couldn't see that. 

The bottom stag was good with the grass on one page, and the blue dog was good with the upper bird that was good with the plant that was good with the left edge and lined up with the small tree that was perfect beneath the green and purple dogs that were matched to the vase.  The 739 plant was going to be removed for a color change, but it needed moved anyway because the brown plant to the left of Vegas lined up with the green bird who is lined up with the tall left plant but it still ran into the 739 plant.  The blue dog is too high and too far for no good reason which made the large flower several stitches too high which bumped the Vegas gal's base that had to be removed and the stag was to be even with the plant because both should be three stitches down to match the horizontal line of the grass but there isn't even enough room for the fricking stag because the too high plant is also two stitches to the right.  Whew! If this wasn't so close to finish, the flames would be high and bright.

Petey's scratches look fine, but Nitzy's ear has lost all hair, the injury is much wider than at first, tissue is missing and the ear is so thin it is curling.  No way this wild child would wear a collar and the doctor doesn't even want to attempt it.  I am using an antibiotic cream but this is not looking good for healing.  I do it lightly while he's sleeping and so far, so good.

Hope your weekend won't be as frustrating as mine!

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