The Bluebird

My first flat finish, added mini poms.  I tried Tacky, Fabric Fusion, and except for the fabric to the cards, rick rack would not stay, even had issue with the poms.   I was expecting a quick grab to hold it, did not happen. This will be mine for now so I changed to the backing and colors I prefer.

She does not want it there now for several reasons.  The green looks sweet and cheerful, but I so prefer this!  The backing board for hers is already covered, I'm using the same threads on the same linen, the second one will be an easy and pleasant project and a quick finish.  

If you are interested in the pay-it-forward giveaway, please leave initials or email in the comments on this post, or email me directly,

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

This is for chart only, With Thy Needle and Thread's Bluebird Out My Window.

I will draw a name on 2/12 at 8 pm.

I request that you pass it on to another stitcher when you've finished this project and continue the bluebird's flight of kindness. 

I'll be back on the 12th, not feeling well.  Meeting Carole at our cardiologist office Friday and hope to talk them into a sooner appointment for me, or testing before then.

Enjoy your days!

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Color me drab

 Carole is bright.  When I think about it, our color preference reflects our personalities.  She is very outgoing, has more friends than anyone I know.  On the other hand, the last two decades I've become more reclusive, snarky, less patient, less tolerant, and not a lot of fun. I can't stand most people.  That's a shame.  Drab.  Then again, I have a friend whose favorite color is black and she's more sociable (and highly opinionated) than most.  She annoys the hell out of me.

So here's the plan! Carole prefers bright (which is how this post began), so bright it will be.  For me, I would prefer the taupe vase color for trim.  I've never racked a rick before and hope it goes well.  Barely noticeable is my attempt to tone the green somewhat but polyester does not accept dye.  Still, there is a slight difference and I believe it's just enough.  Whatever I dye, I keep a small wet piece to compare and it's on the left.  We'll see how the sewing portion goes.  The chart will be listed for the giveaway tomorrow morning and I will have enough time to stitch one for myself before it's mailed.

Carole's weekly gruesome appt went well.  The surgeon said it looks a little better, less debriding, still looks like a scene from a horror movie.  Better is good.

And Rachel healed nicely from her wounds.  Once the new linen thread reaches the stitched area, I pull the broken and the new to the back and run them to secure.  I've been waiting for a NWP sampler release to spend my gift, but I may purchase the B Keyes Ultimate Motifs book.  Highly rated, may solve my dilemma with Rachel, and offer a lot of options for tree ornaments and the multitude of changes I usually make in samplers.  Until then, I will stitch my Bluebird and two samplers are ready to go after.

My root canals are not for two weeks since although in practice only four years, he only works three days a week.  He could see how bad my lips and mouth were and said to wait for the Sjogren's flare to calm down.  I agree.  I just hope those weeks do not tilt this to an extraction.  How you can go from no problem to borderline save in such a short time baffles me.  

Have a good day!!

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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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