How far will I go?

Changed the 830 to 831 on the darker linen and 832 on the Affogato lighter linen.  Quite a few errors originally, some in mistaking the symbols and since I did not like several of the letters with two colors, they are now one.

Mark prefers the darker linen, I am favoring the lighter.  I need to choose today before I end up with two samplers.

I watched my favorite floss tuber, Saltbox Stitcher, last night.  Almost exclusively samplers, and holy hanks of floss is she proficient.   She featured some outstanding framed pieces and big gals do not deter her.   Brenda and Laura had my dry mouth gaping wide with their show and tell from The Attic.  Those extraordinary needlewomen are amazing.  The backs of the projects were stunning.  Remarkable work and we're all grateful for their on the spot reporting.  

 And I have to say, NO ONE should feel the need to explain their abundance of stash or purchases.  I have friends that abuse benefits they are not entitled to and buy expensive recreational toys and twice yearly cruises.  Young healthy people that don't even look for work and are in line at Starbucks nearly every morning.  Add that up per month!  My local store's drive thru patrons block a large intersection daily.  Three drinks are a sampler chart.  Several friends use marijuana daily, some still smoke cigarettes.  Add that up per month!  How much do some pay for monthly hair color at a salon?  We start around $90 here and those ridiculous neon heads are over $150.  They're wearing shower tongs and pajama pants but want to spend their money at a salon.  That's their business.  Some prefer to buy books to read in hand and keep in their vast collection, a diversion from stress and solace for the soul.  Just as it is for needleworkers whose expenditures actually result in creations worth much more than their cost. 

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Bluebird journey

 Hi folks.  A little late, for some reason the email entries were not staying in the giveaway folder, and kept going back into my inbox folder.  Move 'em again!  Finally gave up and wrote email and comment entries by hand for the drawing.  Microsoft Edge kept telling me I need to switch to them because IE is no longer supported.  Maybe not, but it won't be to Edge.

Anyway, Amanda from the comments, please contact me with your address and the birdie will fly your way soon.  Thanks to all for entering.

Have a nice Sunday!

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Frogtown

I plan to do this over with the lighter threads.  Question is whether to frog or change linen.  Not much margin so removal is necessary or I could save for a shorter project.  It's not too much to frog, but it's the second time.  In fact, these four buds are all that is left from the completed row.  Frog was full after eating eight others.  Seeing this photo is making me lean toward a darker linen.

Hogbristle is recommended, mine is very pink, not yellow/gold at all and the bronzy threads are not nice on it.  I have a WDW Beige that I dipped long ago, and although I do not like that linen at all, the color is good and maybe the best choice.  My start was on Affogato but my other piece of Affo will not work.  Totally different and too dark.  Probably best to start anew, don't want to chance another linen cut no matter how cute that frog is.

Jean Donaldson's cover photo is not very clear, but oh my her chart is the BEST.  High quality glossy paper with very large magnification.  Splendid!  And the designer is also very thorough and thoughtful by including four thread conversions.  Wow.  So NPI 315 is DMC 830, what I used, but looking at the photo it appears lighter with a striking bronze contrast to the two reds and I like it much more.

Carole's pacemaker/cardio visit went very well even though the expected 20 minutes visit was close to two hours.  Unfortunately, the records and medication list sent with her were for someone else, and three calls were not answered to fax the updates.   I won't see him for another month, he recommended finding a PCP and having a physical and complete lab work done beforehand.  Just realized her vax card that was copied was not returned.  Rosanna danna, it's always something.

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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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