New strategy

I'm pulling a Laura.  Never before have I started more than one project at the same time, but I think it will happen this weekend.  I'm tired of looking at these charts and wishing they were stitched.  I want Ann Spence on my wall, Elizabeth Clayton, and Mary Elliott.   I've had them for years and can't seem to pull the trigger on a start.  My impatience makes me hesitate because I feel they will take too long to complete. The motifs on Ann are wonderful and I love the big bottom bird and the structures.  But the border is a cookie of a different flavor.  I hate borders.  Especially angles and flowers with a few stitches of different colors.   She's the largest and  most daunting to me.

Mary Elliott has always been in the back of my mind, and not for those that love motifs and interest.  I love marking samplers for their simplicity not only in appearance, but stitching, and this would be the least frustrating.  Mary is all verse, but the freehand border of stem and satin with wonderful colors will be a stunning surround.  I can't understand some of the very long prose, but a few lines read ...

The Lord is my defence and strength*my joy*my mirth*my song*  He is become for me indeed a saviour most strong  The Lord himself hath chastened and corrected me but hath not given me over yet to death as ye may see.

Elizabeth is a different format than I have previously stitched and I have always loved this sampler.

Ann Stone and Hannah Jenkinson are the two smaller projects that will be fill ins.  Will this be frustrating for me since I was always a monogamous stitcher?  No way to know until I make this attempt.  If I can't handle it, I will just put the others aside and choose one to finish.  It's not rocket science.  

So what count?  If I want them to be a single focal piece on a wall I should use the 28 count for a very large finish.  But after seeing higher count samplers on floss tube, I think I prefer the smaller stitches.  That also means a smaller finished piece.  I don't think I have 35 large enough for any of these and still haven't found a source for the PTP I've been waiting for.   I have linen for the two smaller ones and can start those regardless.

It's hot.  And August is already HALF OVER!!!  I am so crabby.  Yes fall is nice but it's short and leads to very long, very cold, dreary and dark months.  

Have a nice Friday.

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The product of many errors

Good title for a book, no?  It began with the pattern in the dress and rather than frog, I filled it in.  I couldn't trust my blurriness to remove floss without also damaging linen threads. Because I don't pay attention, the dress was done before the basket, which made the basket smaller, and I moved it to the other side (she's right handed).  I miscounted and the shoulders are now narrower.  The birds were planned in dark gray but I decided to stop rather than end up with an unknown feathered shape.  My eyes were pretty bad for two days and the chart is large and clear, but even through mags it was not for me.  I can't do the small stitches on the face until things improve. 

 But I am still happy with her, she looks great, even though she is a compilation of changes to accommodate errors.  

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Any shoppers?

Quick question - has anyone ordered from Carol's Boutique?  I'm not often on FB but see the ads all the time and found several tops I would like.  Their policy is not consumer friendly since returns must be received within 14 days of ordering (not receiving) and no refund is issued, only store credit.  They seem to do a great amount of sales but since I have no idea about their sizing or quality I am leery of placing an order.  But what the hell.  Do something exciting!  At 69, risky behavior is ordering an article of clothing that isn't refundable. 

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By the numbers

I received several emails scolding me for posting about the DMC order at Michael's, saying their store was in order and I probably couldn't follow their method for display.   A few examples from my $5 phone today.

Sorry.  There is no excuse for this.

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Tablet test

Hi folks.  Trying to post from my tablet including photos taken with it.  Have no idea how to edit, posted to IG too, learning as I go.  Not the best of ideas.

I haven't chosen a linen for the new project and forgot that I am still waiting for my 123 backorder.  Laura and others mentioned "girls" so I thought that would be a quick stitch while deciding.  Girls in Blue Dresses from Merry Wind Farm would be my choice but I needed something quick.

 

And I'm making it even quicker because of course, I changed a few things.  Including size.  I should call myself The Abbreviated Stitcher!  Can you guess the chart?

 Missy has no shame when it's hot.

Have a great day!

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A little too natural?

Csferra was the winner by email entry which allowed me to reply directly.  The chart with the four troublemakers is heading out!!

Today I bleached two large pieces of unbleached 28 count and am happy with the result.  A very neutral lighter tan, still brownish, not at all too light.  The original fabric is the folded piece, decided to only lighten two at this time.

This has happened before and I never did find an answer.  The water in this bucket was from the very light wash I gave the linen to get rid of that water repellent finish.  It's like sizing on most fabrics and I always remove it before dye/bleach.  Since this linen was unbleached, this brown water can't be from excess dye, so what is it?  Stored in plastic yet the wash water is always dirty.  Are we stitching on dirty linen?  Does the unbleached retain a residue since it is not processed as those dyed and bleached? Is natural or raw the same as unbleached?  Any thoughts?

Remember when I took apart my older samplers and realized how dirty the glass had become?  Professionally framed with sealed backs, yet this film can really obscure the stitchery.  What an enormous difference once that glass was cleaned.  My earlier stitching was all unbleached so I can't say if the other linens emit the same off-gasses. Would this be reduced if washed first?  Does the finish I find (almost water repellent) on the fabric contain something that adds to this?   I'm just full of queries tonight.  And I expect answers.

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