It's curious

that a person whose sewing room is always a complete disaster would be bothered by a design being a few stitches out of balance.  Symmetry is pleasing and important to me, yet my fabric and scrap piles are varying heights.  I did not realize the top vases on each side were not level.  I do now.  Should I have checked this before?  Not if I planned to follow the chart of a reproduction, but yes if I need balance.  Will I remove and re-stitch to align those vases or let this irk me every time I see it?  You tell me. 

Not every day produces progress. Poor Petey.

Have a good day folks.

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Winner #2

Yeah I know.  I did this last time too.  Why not spin that wheel for another name.  So I did.

Anonymous (Cherie in WI), you can choose between Ohio Treasure or the Marking Sampler.  Maryann took the Pennsylvania Pillowe.  Please email me!

If Cherie has or does not want either, I will spin for another name.

Cherie mentioned in her comment about a neighbor's cat using her flower beds as litter boxes.  Seems that is a common problem!  There is a product by Simple Green (Outdoor Odor Eliminator) that comes in a spray or a refill that removes the odor/ammonia with microorganisms.  It won't prevent them from using the area, but it claims to remove the odor left behind.  I wonder if it's offered by the case.

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Winner

In case this is too hard to read, after randomizing Maryann Olsaver became #6 and that's the number generated.  Thanks everyone!

My hanging galvanized tub planter was everywhere and even offered for sale with it's own shepherd's hook.  But I can't take credit for the tire planter.  There are so many images and ideas for using tires, plain or painted, on ground or hanging.  Even painted and stacked and filled with a cushion as a seat or footrest.  Lots of great ideas.

Tons of other ideas and images, even for raised gardening as high as you'd like.

I am in sweat clothes and have been for several nights.  By morning we will be in the mid 40's.  It's mid June!!  WTH?  June will be over before we know it and this summer will be the shortest ever.   How crabby can a crabass get?  Stay tuned.

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Time to come on down

Geez.  When will a name be drawn?  I never thought about it.  How about Saturday evening at 8.  Sounds reasonable.  And so it will be!

About the Vicks.  When I was using it to protect the bunny nest, I had plastic containers upside down with a large area cut out, cotton balls or a piece of rag inside with the Vicks.  I added more every 4 or 5 days because the strong scent seemed to dissipate in open air.  Petey is not bothered by it one bit and has already tried to scale the barrier.  The other cats are avoiding that area.  The landscaping we had installed last fall has dead foliage on the bottom foot or so from them spraying.  Never had trouble until Petey showed up and now all three males spray everything.  What I found online and tried in one area seemed to work.  The plastic runners that are laid over carpet have little grips on the back side to keep it in place.  I cut the width in half and laid it grip side up around the shrubs and that worked.  The grips are not pleasant on their pads and has kept them out.  It's too late for the other side of the house but I will certainly follow that idea throughout.  I use a large rock or drive spikes to hold them in place.

We had to replace the pull down stairs over the garage and I saved two sections to use for plants.  There isn't much room so a large pot or planter would not fit on this narrow unit. I would like to paint this in blotches to mimic an old worn out ladder, but may just leave it as is.  The other piece will go to Carole and I need to grab another $5 plant from Home Depot for her.  There either wasn't the same amount of flowers offered this year, or everyone bought a lot early, not much left at all.  They had 8 packs of impatiens for $2 at Lowe's so we drilled large holes in the bottom of an unusable tire and I filled it with them.  They're very close so when mature, they should be a great display.  Decided against hanging it with heavy rope from the tree, but that may change.

My latest 123 order with linen is coming today, more of the same, PTP Legacy and more Heartland.  I recently visited a site new to me with lovely hand dyed linens, can't remember their name or the site.  I'm sure I will when there isn't a piece of paper or pen in sight.

Happy Friday!!

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Come on down!

You may be the next winner on The Chart is Right!

Birthday giveaway this year will be your choice of one of these charts.  To enter, leave your initials or email in the comments of this post only.  If you can't, email me.
samplersandsantas@gmail.com
No need to list your preference, you can choose when you win.

Here are your choices.

#1 - Threadwork Primitives Ohio Sampler 

This is my finish on dark brown linen with thread changes.



#2 - Homespun Samplar's Marking Sampler

I don't know where mine is.


#3 - Notforgotten Farm's Pennsylvania Pillowe 

This is mine that was highly distressed and sewn into a bag.

Not my birthday yet, but considering how my mind has been working lately, it's best to act on current thoughts for they may be gone tomorrow.  

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The width of things to come

For some reason, I am not fond of samplers with more width than length.  I can see the actual size of Hickling now that I stitched to the full width.  Long and skinny, what I was 40 years ago.

 A wide short piece can pull together a wall grouping and create interest.  There really aren't many reproductions of that shape, but plenty of designs.  I haven't decided how many of my finishes will be hung with pins as before, or framed.    Several are quite narrow and long (Pumroy is really long) and currently they are all rolled and stored in a spare bedroom (that is really a total mess of odds and ends and fabrics).

I found a few pieces of scrap in the shed and had Mark create more protection for mama bird.  She is feeding now, and the cats have spotted her flying in and out.  I also have a jar of Vicks out which has helped me many times to protect baby bunnies from coons and cats.  It is so strong that it either irritates their nose or masks the scent of prey.  I use a plastic storage container that is taller, from soup or salad, turn it upside down, cut out a section, and add a weight on top.  It keeps the jar dry from rain and still allows the scent to disperse.  You can also smear the Vicks onto items and create a perimeter, but this one is in a corner so that wasn't necessary.

Hot hot hot!!  Possible storms this afternoon.

Garden is not looking good, par for the course.

Carole is doing OK.  I'm going for a review Friday and this may be the final showdown.  I am so tired of her pushing plant based diets and I have to deal with this every single appointment.  Because of the Sjogren's, I can't eat a variety of veggies that contain acid, no oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, peaches, and a lot of other foods.  Absolutely no vinegar base recipes or salad dressings which makes salads pretty bland.  And I don't even like veggies or most of the recipes she gave me to try.  Enough.  Doesn't she understand that a diet not enjoyed is a diet not kept?

Gotta get moving, blood work this morning.

Have a great day!!

Thanks for visiting.

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