Running out of options

 and patience.  Plenty of frustration is pushing me to a bad place.  I guess holding my breath for almost a year has caused pressure to build because I am losing my temper like the release on a pressure cooker. For everything.  If a jacket gets stuck on a hanger in the closet, the hanger flies and the jacket follows.  As quickly as control is lost, it is regained.  

Now about those fricking sheep.  No chart, pattern, just adapting from other samplers and as easy as it sounds, the proportion is off.  I think the fence is the reason since the animals need to be higher and smaller, but then look like rodents. Too much frogging and a little white fluffy critter caused me to accidentally cut the linen.  I didn't even realize it but eventually saw two breaks in the weave.  So.  Reweaving as I remove the broken threads up to the stitching.  I didn't want to take the time to chart the bottom of Rachel but I must before I add one more stitch.  Should have done this in the beginning but I thought a simple critter and some grass would not be a problem.  If that task causes the slightest annoyance, that will be it.  Or should I put her to sleep as is and try again in the future?

I'll post the chart giveaway in a day or so, and I hope Jan isn't upset that I am paying it forward.  I found a bright spring green fabric that matched the 471 perfectly and I will stop at JoAnn for jumbo rick rack trim.  Angie sent me a link to a BBD chart that listed DMC equivalents, one of which was the CC Avocado.  Their conversion was 733, darker than the 470/471 and may show HOME better.

Need to settle down for a while before bed.  I have to say to myself .... drop your shoulders, drop your arms ... and that really releases those taut muscles.  Why do I have to say it?  Right before bed and several times when lying in bed.  It helps.  But I can never remember whether lay or lie is correct in any case.  And don't care.

Goodnight!

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Heart tutorial links

 Several of many tutorials online for paper craft hearts.  Etsy has kits to make and also finished paper strip hearts and others.

This is my all time favorite (for me, not her window) and I am attempted today.

wrapped heart 

3 -D paper hearts

more 3-d with pinked edge

Paper strip heart  This is the one I used, many others as the following with book pages, are more open.  I used an Extreme glue stick and attached all at the same time, no staples, and then clamped overnight. 

Paper strip heart with book pages

Have fun!!

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Crafting

Because we're snowed in and I don't want to clean.  Robin's post showed wonderful dimensional paper hearts, had to make a few.  My JoAnn's has so little, not interested in shipping a few pieces of paper, so I used what I have for the boxes.  

These are so easy and look better with double sided paper (I can't even find one sided here) cut to one inch strips.  So I cut two inches wide, ran my glue stick the entire length, and folded over.  My paper is not heavy card stock so it was easy to handle.  I think several hanging from a dowel rod in Carole's triple window would be cool.  

I plan to work on what's her name today.

A heated indoor house is cozy until the furnace removes the night time chill.  His right eye gets cloudy, common in cats, and anti-inflammatory drops correct it.  As soon as I get near him, he bolts.  Not an easy job! 

Be good!!

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A few free hearts

 Hi folks.  Got snow?  

I thought I would share a few free heart designs.  First two are from DMC.

HERE

I would use a darker linen and muted threads, greens for leaves.

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I really like this.  Maybe colors like BBD's My Dear Hearts that Robin featured.  Beige threads on Tango linen.  

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This is from The World in Stitches.

HERE

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My freebie to which I added more vines than originally.

Have a good day!

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The grass is not always greener

on a sampler without a chart.  I'm lazy, I'm tired, the space bar isn't working all the time, and I want to finish this.  How hard could it be to randomly fill in with green thread?  I found out.  The 503 stayed, I'm building a hill with 3012 and topping with 3013.  I don't know why.  The sheep will be in place next and then I'll finish the grass.

Should the fence be there?  I could remove it easily, add the sheep, wouldn't need the grassy area as high.  SOOO close to finishing.  Have you ever loved a sampler but by the end, because of difficulties, lost interest completely?  

I finally gave in and made a dental appointment this Monday after we get back from Carole's follow up.  I've been in pain for weeks, unable to chew, need two root canals and new crowns.  His office doesn't offer a loan plan and requires same day payment.  We all have anxiety about dental visits, but my jaw locks easily and I panic.  These two are back molars and I'll be nutsy all weekend.  No one will notice anything different.

We've got grainy ice, wet snow, icy ice, ice balls, and freezing rain.  None of which are movable with a snow blower or a shovel.  Can't wait to see what we wake up to tomorrow.  Hope you're safe and well!

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16 little squares

 were done is six different shades of yellow and gold.  I even frogged the front of the house and used a lighter thread.  Nothing appealed to me.  Since colors were substituted with DMC, I didn't expect it it look like the chart photo which has a very different looking house. 

Very pale yellow was blah and not noticed on the house front, darker was too bright and out of place, gold was lost in the brown.  Back to the Paint program and I filled the windows with a shade darker than the roof.  Bingo.  I like this best.  Still not happy with the HOME in the grass but I'm not changing it.  Finished!  In a brief check, this may fit perfectly in a 4x6 frame.  Need to decide which finish would be best.  I do prefer tucks and hanging smalls, easily moved around.  I will meet her for two appointments next week but will wait until in person to give her.  Covid is all over the place, thank goodness the cases are mild, but no visitors unless a need.  

I have been contemplating a little giveaway for Valentines Day, also my blog beginning eleven years ago.  Since this sweet chart was gifted to me from a thoughtful stitcher, I think I will pay it forward and offer it to you next week.  If interested, stay tuned!

I may start charting Rachel's end tomorrow.  Poor girl probably expected to graduate but instead has been continually held back to repeat a grade.

Holding our breath regarding the ice and snow tonight, but we aren't the only ones and don't need to leave the house.  We'll be OK, hope everyone else will be too. 

Stay safe.

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