Oh Michael

You're killing me.  I decided to order online for an in store pickup at the Ohio store and found it in stock.  Not only in Niles, but also in Hermitage (my store).  Why didn't I find it?  So I put it in the cart along with several others I needed for these projects, and went to pick them up this afternoon.  Of course, there was one I failed to order and had to look for it myself.  On closer inspection, I found more reasons why it's so difficult to get what I need. 

I assumed these bins were a different type of floss since they are minus the color number.  Nope.  There is another section marked 56 cents (they are 62), no identifying color numbers, not specialty thread, standard cotton DMC.  In no order.  You have to crunch down (literally as that was the sound my body was making) and with magnifiers to find the color number on the label.   Maybe these bins were for a metallic or variegated at some point, but I didn't see anything by good ol' cotton.

Then there's this area.

And this one with random numbers and no bin tags at all.

So from now on, I will order online and have them search.  They found my colors, so they must have a secret system not shared with customers.  I am grateful for that, because I have all the colors I need for all the projects.  Sure I do.  There's always that one, isn't there?

I need a nap.

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Start #1

Stacy Nash Hannah Jenkinson, without the gorgeous 3830.  Neither Michael's nor JoAnn's has this so I will make a trip to HL in a day or two while working the other threads. The linen is 28 as suggested, a natural tan, and the threads are fabulous.  I ordered a piece of PTP Faun and I hope I like it, waiting for Wren and Vellum to be restocked.  Ann will be done on Flax.  There are so many motifs and elements to her and I think a mottled linen would be too busy and take away from the design.  

This made it easier for me to see if I had any workable fabric.  I listed 30, 32, and 35/36 required size for each sampler and checked the count bags for anything that would work.  Now why haven't I done this before?  So much quicker and much less mess.

We're past the half way mark of August.  Hard to believe, and I ain't happy.

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One out of five

 I found the Fragments!  I decided to study this little gem while grieving for its missing family members and saw this on the front of the cellophane envelope

and this on the back.

Now, someone who is alert and has brain engagement would know immediately, this is not the same.  But me?  I turned that little envelope over and over and over, trying to understand why they printed the wrong photo for that design.  But since floss tubers have enamored me to the sound of crinkling cellophane, I enjoyed it.  The light bulb finally came on and I realized the cards were statically stuck together as one.  One mystery solved.  Now where is the Rook and did I really sell it?

I stopped at Michael's while waiting for Carole's appt to be over, and found several frames for old family photos.  I like simple, but for old photos that doesn't work.  I am really pleased at how the finishes go so well with the photos.

My mom and her family .... and my Italian grandparents.

I have more to frame, unsure of a wall or table display.  Depends on how many in the group.

Enjoy your day!!

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You're serious?

1.  Obviously, they are!  My state (PA) does not believe that a person deliberately voting under someone else's name, is intentional.  If you sign someone else's name on a check, I guess that's also not intentional and shouldn't be considered fraud. 

The fact that our state and federal governments are so irresponsible in their jobs, that they don't know who is deceased, don't know if a social security number should be active, is a disgrace.  We received my father in law's (died in 2008 and never lived here) and my mother's (died in 2007 and did live here), mail in ballot applications.  I have their SS# and no doubt could mail them in and get a ballot for each.  But of course, that would not be intentional fraud according to my state.  If they think this person is alive and a legitimate voter (obviously since an application was mailed), how would they know to reject that ballot?  My brother received the former home owner's who lives in another state and has for over 20 years.  Shouldn't counties which have more accurate records be responsible for this?  Property taxes would have the correct owners, per capita tax records are for every resident whether they own or rent employed or not, death certificates are recorded, and our voting records are there.  Wouldn't that make more sense?

2.  And in the same day's paper, there was this story of a local teacher.  I hid his name because the  jackass would probably sue.

Am I reading this right?  He can apply to a school in another district or state, and they are not obligated to release this sexual misconduct in his file?  Unless compelled by law?  So they protect their union members to this extent with no regard for possible victims?  Please correct me if I am wrongly interpreting this and I surely hope I am.  It's happened around here several times, and these cases seem to disappear.

3.  AND - I cannot find my two pieces of 35 count 18th Century Rook,  I must have sold them, and have no idea why I would have!

4.  AND - those sweet little Fragment charts that I bought recently?  I found one.  ONE.  The others have vanished.

5.  AND - my large soapstone sink cracked.  Cracked.  Across the entire width.

How's your weekend going???

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Busy day

I've pulled the linen and organized by count with a card listing all colors and sizes in each count's bag.  I also marked the info with a fine Sharpie in the selvage edge, or whatever edge there is.  Been bleaching and dyeing what I don't like and should have just offered them for sale rather than start this again.  Linen takes a good deal of time to organize and a short time to muddle, but I need to see what must be ordered, none of which are available anywhere.

My laptop is close to the end and I need to transfer all the contacts and photos to the other, a Lenovo that I detest.  The touchpad is extremely erratic, email program is so tiny I can't see it, other pages are giant sized.  Swipe to scroll and the page enlarges to the eye chart in the doctor's office.  I love their tablet, hate their laptop.  

+

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Hope your day has some sweetness!

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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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