Ding dong

 Nope.  Not ringing my bell.  If I find a smaller red, I'll change them.  If not, I'll paint wooden star buttons red which would lay flat. When I tried to sew into a little pillow, the bells just didn't work.  But since the scallops were sewn four times until I got it right, they're staying.  After two attempts, I added the backstitch beneath so I can count accurately.  Nah-uh.  I continually started counting "two" on the first thread.  The first thread was four!  Didn't realize until the very last scallop that it all had to be moved again.  And this is the last time you'll have to look at this finish.

I started the new sampler and had to change fabric since I measured incorrectly, the piece was too short.  Have you seen Kathy Barrick's new charts on IG?  So what do we do about this Expo thingy?  Will the charts be offered on their Etsy sites?  Or do we request from our favorite places to order?

We had a really bad situation with Bud last night.  Emergencies always happen late don't they?  He is better today, even ate a little.  We gave him half of a Valium to sedate him, thinking we would be taking a ride to an out of town ER vet.  It calmed him, gave him an appetite to down two cans of food without a care about the mouth pain.  He is still sleeping comfortably today.  We'll see what the weekend brings.  Monday I have two appts, Mark too, and then home to get Carole and take her to hers.  Day by day.

I have decided to look for a reputable acupuncturist to see if it can help Sjogrens.  At least reduce the progression.  Here's my lips on a GOOD day, after the flaking skin came off and Neosporin helped the splits.  Nice, huh? 

Carole is very upset about two friends' situations, very sad.  She is getting her second Covid shot tomorrow.  Don't you get tired of my unpleasant habit of mentioning health crap?  Sorry. 

Hey!! 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby ends forever in two days.  

Have a good weekend.

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Color

Hi folks.  I had a request for colors used in the little sampler.  I never put floss back in the chest, but this time, did.  I do remember a few, all DMC.

The border and stag was 869

Roof 869 and 3031 

Lighter brown in motifs 167

Apples and red in motifs 22

House GAST close to 3858

Crown and door 729

Lighter green 3012

Darker green 3051

White

You can't see the motifs with light thread in the chart photo which is why I needed to change.  Very few adjustments to motifs except for the white ones.

Thinking of stitching a scallop at the top and adding little red bells for more Christmas color.

I requested an appt with the pulmonologist again today.  Nothing.  Sorry I changed docs.  Needless to say I am not as anxious but still enough to affect sleep and focus.  I don't want a large project and chose two samplers, hope to pull linen tomorrow.  EB 8looks larger than it is when stitched.

Stay safe!

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Christmas Sampler

Ewe & Eye

 Posting to IG, chart photo and my finish.  On 36 count, 4" x 3.75".  Sweet!

Enjoy your day.

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Simplify

 Hi folks.  First off, I didn't mean to complain about those ocular issues.  I've had them before, this was the first kaleidoscope and quite fascinating.  Painless and fairly brief, I just wanted to mention this common disturbance, maybe avoid a panic if you experience one for the first time.  

So the little Ewe & Eye is on the verge of completion, changes galore.  I had a little difficulty in interpreting the instructions for some of the smaller motifs.  So I chose my own stitch and color, even position in a few cases.  A little project like this has so many possibilities for personalization (changes to hide errors).  The design has a sawtooth top border and several rows of stitches at the bottom.  Nope.  A single row will outline, maybe a double.  So much going on in the body, I think a simple outline would be much better.   

No idea what's next.  Maybe a book.  Reading, not writing.  I'm not doing much at all (except napping), and don't really have anything kitted other than two big girls.  Am I really ready for another large sampler?  Nope.

I don't like to pry or intrude, but I had a comment left a few weeks ago from Unknown, and it's been bothering me.  Their young niece was diagnosed with stage 4 lung, waiting for additional tests, and she has been on my mind.  I can't imagine, and if that was your niece, I am so hoping that tests showed treatments are available.

Stay safe everyone.  

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Kaleidoscope Vision?

 Yes there is such a thing and it can scare the bejeebers out of you.  One of many disturbances called ocular migraines that may or not accompany headaches.  They usually disappear within 30 minutes.  The one I just experienced looked like a C-shaped kaleidoscope and is already increasing in size, ready to leave.  Whew.  

My Covid antibody test also came back negative, I am trying to get in to one of the two pulmonologists here for a talk.  The PA of my PCP office scheduled an appointment for two weeks.  Maybe because I have an autoimmune, my system would not create antibodies since it's too busy attacking me.

I have changed colors (big surprise) and also where they go.  This fabric was self dyed and it's very close to Winter Brew.  As always, the light threads do not show well enough for me, even using white.  When the stitches on 36 or 40 are so small, they get lost.  I need to come up with something for those motifs but haven't as yet.  Already two shades of green, two of brown, two reds, one gold that isn't bold enough.  

Snowflakes will be double thread of white, and as I'm typing this, 3790 or 3021 is popping into my head for a few of the motifs.  Very dark, but might be a good alternative.  I already darkened the stag with the archival ink, but if a very dark gray/brown is added to this design, I think I will remove and stitch him again. 

The wagon wheels are different than eyelet because they are outlined with full stitches except for the corners.  These are three stitches high inside so the spokes are not over two. 

Bud is still enjoying the attention he's getting, but we may have to make a decision soon.  He is so thin and we've tried everything.

Have a good day.

Stay safe.

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Wagon wheels

Everyone OK?  Safe, warm, healthy?  Balding and bitchy?  It's all good.  Especially when you order new gutchies (big girl panties).   Could it be a year of staying home, or the fact that I'm older and boring, maybe the lack of shopping in person, that results in underwear bringing excitement to my life?  Nope.  It's the simple things, the comfort you feel when nothing is binding, riding, or digging.  And coughing until you choke requires extra pairs.  My front loading washer is huge and small loads don't move.  Would be wonderful if I needed new because I lost fifteen pounds.  Thirteen.  A little over ten.  Losing your appetite will certainly change the scale.  But then your mood lifts, you have a few meals, and there ya go.  Those pounds are back before the food hits your stomach.  

So what's that have to do with wagon wheels?  Not a damn thing.  But as I struggled after removing more floss than adding it, my satin stitched apples (?) were horrible.  I tried various stitches, but then decided to just find the center and go round, like an uneven overgrown eyelet.  I am really pleased with the result.  Using the same color as the house was quite boring so I changed to a brighter red.

Sweet!!

Have a good day and stay safe!!

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