Boom part two.

Finally.  After two major changes and two major frogging sessions, boom.  Done.  The first time, narrowed the lower case letters to one space between instead of the two I originally stitched.  It didn't look proper compared to the tighter letter placement above it.  That change was a real improvement.  

The next frog removed the second row.  Rachel's God save America was in this section and I thought using her words would be a better option than my numeric section, so ... adios.  Her words were done in black since that was the original color, and it helped balance the black in the corners.  Using capital letters required removal of the single row of dark green completing the outline of the center section.  Removing the bottom blue row and inserting the green again is not necessary. 

Hope to finish that left corner and find a cow.  And I can say that I will not do another that has this much over one.  The two corners would be my limit, but the revamped section plus the beast, bird, and berries are weighing on my mind.

  I always read and study sampler charts/instructions when first received, but Rachel was many years ago and I failed to repeat.  Just like failing to recognize the rice stitch areas, but I would have caught that had the chart showed them differently. 

No sun on the snow but the glare coming in the windows is very very disturbing and I am having more difficulty with my eyes today.  But this evening, I will work on that fricking corner.

And if your medication, supplies, various items on trains never arrive .....

Have a good one.

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A plan

The lowercase alphabet beneath the larger is over one, done in black.  Na-uh.  So what can I do?  I tried only God save America over two but there was too much space above and below.   I ended with just lowercase over two stretched to a second row, numeric over two.

Charted and ready to go.  Since black was charted for this area, and it would work well with the few words in the corners done with it, I decided not to use it.  You thought I was going to say the opposite!  I have a good reason.   Over two, those threads would be dramatic and not as delicate as over one.  But since they were charted in one color, I plan to follow that, maybe 3012. 

Got snow?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

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Boom.

 The black stitches are such a mess compared to the 610, will need a few tweaks.  This area took SO long that I'm contemplating changes to the other lettered areas.  I haven't yet found a bovine to fit, wondering if I attempt the tent stitch beast a third time and need to remove, if the linen will suffer irreparably.  But I must say, viewing the entire piece, those corners of tiny stitching are very attractive.

Looking at the border outline, 36 doesn't offer as much coverage as I expected.  Can I handle 40?  With the Dazor, yes, but my new linen is mostly 36.  Good enough.

Snow isn't here yet, but it will be shortly.  Crap.

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I get by with a little help from my friends

From comments, I'm not the only one disappointed in DMC 310.  I have quite a few Sullivan skeins, but no black.  As for silk, I know nothing of the brands, thickness, shine, plies, so would be ordering blind.  Switching to 610 is working nicely.  

But the biggest help was from a reader that emailed .... get this ... my own diagram and instructions for over one stitching.  I have been looking for it!!  It was a post from January 2020 and since I don't label, could not find it.  She wasn't sure which online site she saved it from and said it has helped her.  Imagine my delight when her thoughtful email gave me exactly what I was searching for.  More goosebumps?

The intersection's top linen thread will either be vertical or horizontal, which determines the direction of #2 to #3, preventing the floss from slip sliding away.  So much easier for me, and working out swell.  I will continue as long as I can manage regarding my eyesight.  

https://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2020/01/over-one-epiphany.html

Hope your weekend is safe.

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Twisting

 Not the dance that us oldie but goodies remember from Chubby Checker (but will be humming his great work all day).  Before we leave for a sister visit, I am giving Rachel's over one a second cross.  I'm not proficient with over one on 36 count but managed several areas on recent samplers with only obscenities to deal with.  None were DMC 310.  The twist is loosening on each of the three skeins in my inventory even before working with it which makes it sloppy and heavy.  What I've completed so far is fine, but it's a PITA to keep them even.

 This is a new six inch long thread that was pulled through the linen just a few times and look at the difference in the unused strand from that cut.  Doesn't take much, even handling will loosen it.  I will stop for another skein on the way to our visit, maybe JoAnn's to try Anchor.  

Remember when I offered two separate bags of every DMC color?  That was foolish.  Intense hot flashes fried many brain cells and common sense is sometimes lost in distractions and fog.  But it's not a big deal, I can always buy more.  Before I became connected to online stitchers, I thought I had a damn good inventory of charts, threads, linens.  What a mistake that was.  I am amazed at the amount of stash and supplies that most have, like comparing pre-school to a Phd.

Back to Rachel, I will try a new skein of 310.  I may need to change to another color and if problems persist using a full cross, removing the current stitches will be very difficult.  I have the Bluebird project ready, but concerned that if I put Rachel aside, she will stay there.  

Leaving you with Chubby's The Twist playing in your head all day.  Personally, Let's Twist Again is my favorite but after visiting his recordings, Limbo Rock will have me stepping high today.

Stay safe!

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Two great finds

 unrelated to stitching.  Well, not really.  But first, my nephew is one of those male shoppers that buys somewhat of a .... well .... goofy gift.  So I take over to make sure it's appropriate, would be used, and what I tell them to like.  Yes, I do.  If it's something they do not prefer, I talk them into it.  Anyway, I spotted these on my infrequent social media visits, and told Chris it would be a perfect Valentine's day gift for his mom.  She made angel pins for several years, she wrote and I designed/printed cards and verse for them.  This is from silverplate flatware and one of many options.  She will love it.

And after watching Lori's video about her planner, (cards, tags, pens, and do-dads also), I wanted one but wasn't going to spend that much.  

I started thinking such an item would be a good training tool for procrastinators.  Things I "plan" to do, usually are not accomplished near the expected time, or at all.  A notebook that tells this putz  - this is what you need to do today - may help.  I would feel pretty good about completing a task.  

All the books to keep track of linen, charts, completions, changes, are never followed for too long.  This cheap yet very nice planner has plenty of room in day sections to also use as a stitching book of days.  Ready?  $6.23 at walmart!  The paper is quality, heavier than others, bright white.  And three pages of stickers included.

 So on the way to see sis tomorrow, I am getting one for her.  She could keep track of therapy, appointments, days and hours of aides, symptoms and duration.

Beginning of each month has a page for goals.  I don't have that many, but I can be excessive in description to fill the page.  End of month offers another blank page for notes, which will probably read ... failed to complete items on goal page.

I'm hoping I can follow through and become organized and efficient.  I haven't thought of what to line up, when, how to express it, which page, so I'll do it tomorrow.  Or Saturday.  Maybe Sunday.

I can at least enter daily stitching action.

Hey.  It was only $6.23.

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