Progress and purchase

 I found Meg Adams at Hobby House and ordered her along with Frosty's Night Out.  I have a little piece of Murky and every time I see that little guy, I smile.  Had to have him.  I added the Ultimate Motif book that I've been wanting since no extra in shipping and that takes care of the gift from anonymous.  I sure wish I knew who that was so I could send off a little thank you!!

Posted my progress on IG and I think there is an error in thread color on Jean.  The chart photo appears to have a red/orange backstitch around the C, not the blue as listed, so I used the DMC 921 and I like it.  The smocking section called for a pink that was too light for my taste so I chose a shade darker.  The flowers are next and depending on how their pinks look, I may re-do the smocking thread even darker.

I did chart both sides border flowers to be balanced and evenly spaced but I do not like border stitching so haven't gone further.  

Carole's appointment was so-so, she needs to go back in another two weeks instead of a month.  It bled A LOT.  There is some healing, but not as much as he would like, and a wound vac's tape would do more damage than good so not an option.  Slow progress, but progress.

Have a good evening.  

Pray for the world.

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Lots of preview photos

 Hi folks.  Today is Sunday, the sun is shining, blinding me in my own home.  I am seeing the doctor in two weeks regarding my wrinkled macula.  Good grief, I even have wrinkles inside my eyeball.

Ready to outline these letters and do the pink smocking in the corner, hopefully this afternoon.  Meeting Carole at the surgeon's again tomorrow, Tuesday dental panic.  Not because of possible pain, but my dry lips split when opening wide and my jaw locks.  That's my fear!  And no, topicals do not help since the dryness is within, and not near an issue as the locking jaw.

So I received an email from Jane Mckinney (Crazy Annie's Stitchin) featuring a lot of Nashville eye candy with prices and preordering instructions.  Can't get them all and I appreciate sneak peeks so we have time to ponder purchases.  

Thought I would show what I am considering. Many other samplers are stunning but I know because of border complexity or a good amount of over one, I will not stitch.  These were all snapped from the their newsletter which you can see HERE.

I see this as a pouch with straps on darker linen.

And from Attic's Newsletter

    I WANT IT NOW!

Brightneedle's Meg Adams

And I am ticked that Wordle is now using repeating letters.  Crapp.

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Limping along

 with leg discrepancy.  As many times as I counted, as many errors I corrected, as many visual studies looked perfect, we're limping.  Not a crippling limp, but nonetheless, a limp.  So glad I started the dividing band beneath, a helpful tool that usually proves I'm wrong somewhere.  And I'm thankful for that or the B would have been aligned with the shorter leg and then the entire row is off.  Oh well.  An easy fix that only needs a few stitches to lengthen.  

I checked IG and have been loving the Needlework Show previews.  Plum Street is the best ever, Barrick knocked it out of the park, NWP is what I've been waiting for, and then Kitten Stitcher's duo made my sherbet melt.  So what do we do?  Choose an online shop and preorder?  Where can we see it all before the show in case there is a chart we would prefer over another?

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Not feeling it

 But will soon!  Once this satin stitch band is completed, the area of this sampler I was attracted to will begin.  I do not and never did like alternating red and blue letters and only a few would need changed to the bronze, thinking about it.  Insignificant isn't it?  But you know I'm weird and that second row is annoying this crabass.

I had to change to a darker blue for the satin stitch band because any threads that aren't contrasted enough to the linen are very difficult for me to see. One shade darker was enough to solve that, and no harm done.

Taking Carole's friend to see her today while we visit a furniture store a few miles from there.  She is ticked at me because her last call yesterday was to complain about the new cable box and she couldn't get the tv to work.  ASK SOMEONE!  HIT THE BUTTONS ON THE REMOTE!  She calls me for every little thing as if I am in the next room and I'm 40 minutes away, and most always it's something she or the staff could solve.  She'll get over it, has before, and will again.  

I am still searching for a female doctor, may have to stay with one that I was sent to for covid.  She told me to come back in a year, and that tells me she is casual.  I don't think a hot flashing 70 year old with auto immune, high stress, balding, and a-fib should be seen annually.  I don't understand why after almost a year of anxiety, fear, and extreme stress ended, and a brief time of relief, it feels like it's starting again but less intense.  

Heavy rains are melting the piles of snow into lakes, and the filthy black piles along the roads are sure making a mess on cars. Winter in PA.  Crapola.

Enjoy your day!

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Hanging poms

 Half of the month gone, closer to spring.  So many appointments coming up (mine) and I dread them.  A few more of Carole's but they are follow ups.  

Carole decided that she would like the same finish on the bluebird as mine, not the bright green.  I have more of the poms and fabric, backing boards were fleeced and ready,  how much easier when no decisions are needed.   I didn't think inserting the pom hanger ends between the boards would be ideal because of the bulk, and removal if hangers are no longer preferred.  I cut the poms off and then held a lighter close enough to seal edge from raveling.  I added a few buttons over the edge, glued it all and weighted for a good bond.

 The hanger is long enough for a doorknob, she will ask why I made it so long.  If I shorten, she will ask why I made it so short.   But I think it's too long so I may remove before the glue hardens.

I plan to re-chart Jean's sides which are not balanced so they will be last, but wanted to get the sawtooth border started.  My eyesight has worsened quite a bit (not related to the dryness) and I am making a lot of errors, so ran purple thread to make sure they are the correct length.  This is the last row before the fun begins, and how nice that every OTHER letter is eyelet!  Another error because of not paying attention to those directions but the letter had to removed anyway because once again, the wrong color.  I'm on a roll with mistakes but catching them early helps.

Have you noticed that the still advertised as 6"x9" envelopes are just a little too snug for items that used to fit inside?  They are now 5 7/8" x 9".  

Have a good day!

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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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