Ready to start

 Those of us without shops are at a loss when it comes to choosing linens for a new project.  I've read so many times that the stitcher was upset about the ordered linen looking nothing like the chart photo.   Agreed, understandable, frustrating, and I don't care.  I have to choose what I have on hand or prefer, never order the recommended since it may look different.  I saw the BBD new design on called for Veldt and I love it, but it appears more brown, Veldt description claims green.  Jeny's called for linen is Vintage Examplar which many have praised as a wonderful color and fabric, I don't care for it in the photo, never saw it in person.  Best for me is to find something similar to a chart's photo if I like that shade, hopefully in my stash.   My stash has very limited 40 count pieces (five!), and since I am leaning toward a pouch finish or something similar, 40 it will be to keep it small.  My Dazor lens is ready to go and I cleaned my readers.  

I may be able to change threads easily, but stumble when imagining those colors on the fabric. Since I don't think any of my choices will be right, it doesn't matter which.  Except for the Seaweed.  Good grief it is fabulous.  Beautiful rich green, bluish in places, toned toward wine in others, and these lighter muted threads would be outstanding.  Only two colors would need revamped.  I hate to use it!  I have a tiny (6 x 8) piece of Dames of the Needle's Redwood and I can't use it either, just too beautiful.   Most of my 40 are 8 x 12, what I usually order to see a color or use for ornaments/tucks since I have an aversion to cutting into a large piece of linen.

I will save the Seaweed, start on the 8 x 12 piece of Heartland I dyed over, will only have 1" margin, but that's all I need for a sewn piece.  If I decide it needs a frame (rarely), I can sew a muslin strip to extend the linen for wrapping around a mounting board.  Boom.

I went to the cardiologist, they refused to believe my claims of my sweater weighing seven pounds.  You just can't fool those folks.  They scheduled echo and stress (terrified of the dye since I have reactions to so much), next Tuesday but I had to change because of her appointments.  The doctor was called away so I had my favorite NP whom I adore.  Follow up with her also.

I bag cereal for Carole to have as evening treat or when menu isn't great.  Tried a new one, anxious to hear her reaction.  She loves flavored coffee and drinks, this is Post's Dunkin Donut Caramel Macchiato made with real coffee.  As a dry snack it is very tasty. 

Have a safe weekend.

Thanks for the visit.

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Meet me in the middle

I'm just not feeling up to par and weighing pros and cons for a decision is hard enough even when I'm at par.  So I set aside the smaller project and will continue thinking about the BAP (yes, BigAssProject), and work on a midsize.  Last year I posted about Jeny Brimer From Milady's Needle.  She is the chosen one.

The four rows of initials?  Jeny was popular!  But not many ending in B.

Another project that is a mix of elements that can easily be handled.  Not monotonous, not tedious, not so large to have me begging for its end.  The only change may will be the queen stitch buds on the center tree.

Her finished size on 40 count is roughly 7" x 7.5", a good size for a pouch.

Be grateful for today.

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The lineup

 A started project by Lucy Beam was picked up again but when unfolded, what the heck?  How did I cut this and not realize it was needed?  

Sometimes it is easy to choose a project, most times not.  This time ..... NOT.  I want a smaller piece and have five chosen but would love to have a BAP also.  Two projects at once has never been the case, but the only hope of completing the larger samplers may be to offer a break while not having to set aside the needle.  I know that the longer the needle is idle, the less willing I am to pick it up again.  If there another less daunting project to switch to and keep the needle active, well, we'll see how it goes.  

But which?  Several are included each time I am searching, a few are new and irresistable.  Sarah Pope has far too much over one but what about stitching this center area for a drum?  Their clothing is tent stitch, better than lettering.  What to do what to do!!!  I started with marking samplers, still my go-to choice, but so was 30 count back then.  I've since changed to single thread 36 and worked on several with scenes and motifs.  I would have never considered some of the following years ago, but are more enticing these days.

At the top of the list....

Very large but not not a difficult stitch.....

Close to the top.....

All lettering, so easy!  Free hand border.

HELP ME!!

I cannot continue living in procrasti-nation, the nation of which I reign.  I  must get moving on so many things that I failed to initiate plus additionals that were put on hold this last year.  Did that planner help?  Never wrote a day in it because I kept procrastinating to start entries!!  See?  I need help.  The young reliable and experienced man that we finally found for all house projects, sadly has cancer that he kept to himself, but is now affecting his abilities.  I used to rip down walls and help with construction and such, but have been dragging butt for some time.  Could it be my Sjogren's which can affect joints and also cause fatigue?  Or  maybe I am just worn out and old!

Cranky made me complete that border and she was right.  Maybe a strong recommendation of project would help me get moving.

Have you seen the news report video of the older Ukrainian woman crying, sobbing?  Breaks your heart.  I've seen the younger mothers sobbing, the children, all unbearable.  But this woman's despair has not left me for a minute. 

Stay safe.

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Changes. Of course.

 This Saturday ...

A ride to visit Carole.  Lots of things to take in as always.  One of them will be another vintage pillowcase that I dyed yellow.  Her bedding is a soft pink and the other cases I dyed were pink and look sweet.  But she loves yellow and with the pink embroidery, will still be fine with her bedding.  I love this, and the embroidered colors really pop on the light yellow ground.  The few I have left are big enough for a king pillow, even longer.  Very surprised at the size unless my grandmother stuffed them herself to fit across the full width of a twin bed.  

I have several small projects and a few very large to choose from for next project.  This WTNT chart was on my hope-to-purchase list but a sweet and generous stitcher gifted me with it.  It's one of the options, but (and you will not be happy with this) I may change it.  Her designs are perfect as offered, but you know me, I have no bias toward designer, reproduction, free, or costly when it comes to changes.  Another two projects are red, I just stitched with red, and I want this to be a companion to my other gifted Bluebird.  Here's what Paint and I came up with in short order, just to see.  Something to ponder but I may stitch as charted.  If there is any inkling or doubt, I know I must get a glimpse of those options before starting.  

Original.

Red bird with smaller blue birds, no red in pots.  

Blue bird with smaller red birds, no red in pots.

The problem is, I may choose an option but change my mind by the time it is worked on.

Have a safe and grateful weekend.

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Bingo

Done.  

Jean Donaldson 1826 from Cross Stitch Antiques.

Mark took me for a haircut, she cuts a V at the nape for longer sides (for my female comb over) and when I got home I thought the V could be a smidge higher.   Was unknowingly holding that clump at an angle, tried to blend it, V became a W, then an inverted U, and now a disaster.  Will I ever learn?  There is no such thing as a smidge when correcting hair cuts at home.

She has a new puppy, in constant motion, constant grabbing, everything in the mouth, and she hops like a baby goat.  Terribly sharp teeth and the little tap on the nose bridge doesn't deter her biting one bit.  The coins in the empty soda can, scared the hell out of me, she didn't flinch. Once she found a clip on the floor to bat around, it was like watching a hockey game at high speed.  So stinkin' cute.  And her haircut is nicer than mine.

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Continuing

 with our daily chores and life seems so selfish doesn't it?  But what can we do?   I made the mistake of watching the video presented to congress.  Bodies of infants killed, injured and crying children, a woman being dumped onto others in a mass grave, the helpless frail elders .... I am glad I was home alone.  Just too emotional.  

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Settled down, I focused on a month worth of bills, and Carole's, my new checks finally came in.  We weren't notified that free checks at our bank were no longer offered so I was caught off guard.  My power bill is $40 higher than when lit for Christmas so I added that utility to my bitching list.  And the new phones for Tracfone do not show remaining service time or minutes which the 3G did.  Verizon purchased Tracfone so I'm expecting pay-as-you-go to end in the future.  Minutes balance is found by logging into the account online, we don't do that from our basic phones and a PITA regardless. Need to find another provider.  

We went to the grocery store's pharmacy for refills, and while waiting, took out a loan for a corned beef brisket.  It's why they have bank branches in stores now.  I will use this recipe which is a favorite.  Sweet & sour but more sweet than tang.  The cabbage will be for soup or fried with bacon and onion.

Jean's border is going well, and my stem count error nullified another.  The stems in the bottom row are four stitches, I used five as elsewhere, but the bottom flowers are charted three spaces from the inner border while the others are two.  (insert spinning head here)  Again, not paying attention.  My error in adding a stitch actually made the placement proper.  I do plan to leave the inside border tent stitch as charted and not change to a full cross.  Very few of the flowers have a "tip" to them in blue, a few have red.  Not adding either, simply because I am not strict in following reproductions, and a here and there element doesn't appeal to me.

Thanks for visiting.

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