Garage - done!

  They could not believe how bad our door was.  Bottom was split a foot high across the entire bottom and flipped up like Mary Tyler Moore's hairstyle in the 60's.

We have iron strap hinges on painted shed doors and they eventually caused streaking on the paint from the elements and rain.  But I also did not want to attach the straps with screws into metal which creates a good chance for rust.  So we opted for the MUCH less expensive and not too bad looking magnetic vinyl ones from Cre8tive (menard's and lowe's).  Easy to remove if I change my mind which could be weekly, no damage to the door's surface.  I chose plain straps, no spade or spear end since we have colonial bean on the others.  

Even though my paint sample on a 3' x 5' plywood scrap was a perfect match, it's a little different on the steel.    Still good, not a problem at all, but I can't understand why.  Two coats over primer and that top coat should be the same as on wood.

The ramp at Carole's house will be built soon, her power chair is ordered, and we all have doubts about this move back home.  She became friends with a woman who has lived her adult life alone (except for fur-pal Barney) in a power chair.  She spent two months there in rehab after surgery and is now back home.  Very independent and always was, had a terrible childhood with numerous foster homes.  But Carole doesn't realize or admit how much she expects and relies on others and has for years.  The staff is so wonderful, the facility and grounds are beautiful, the rooms are private, outdoor areas at every turn, large spas for showers .... she admits it will be hard to leave.  But home is home!

I have been so exhausted, I fell asleep on my swing and almost toppled over like Arte Johnson after a Ruth Buzzi hit. 

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Mary Mary

 Hi folks.  After stitching myself the 1776 freebie, I started Mary Bell.  The linen is 40 count unbleached that I bleached and then subtly mottled.  Already had to realign the border (you know I love the look but hate the process), but I hope Mary will not be contrary.

I'll show you the 1776 before I sew it so you can see how I darkened the fabric for the 822 to show.  First considered the date in blue, but decided to try this instead.  I used a very light touch and my Ranger archival ink pad and soft brush, you can see the difference.  Much more control with the brush compared to dye when altering color once stitching begins.  But really, how many people would do this other than a reckless crabass?  I used it in the stripes also and since I sew into the stitching (no margin) the inked area edge will be hidden in the seam.  I also stitched over every other completed stitch in the date, one half cross, with 3866 for a little more contrast.  Happy with the result.  I have a small piece of Murky and pictured this on it with a bright red like 347, lighter blue, and the 822.  Oooooh baby I think it would be great.  When I'm in a peaceful mood and there is no temptation to throw my machine out the window, I will construct this and the berry finishes.

I so enjoy viewing needlework on IG, but the mention of the Cane Corso attack on my personal blog was hijacked by Google and I am getting a load of Cane Corso reels and ads, very upsetting.  If I view on my laptop without going through the app on my tablet, the only photos I get are from those that I follow, no ads.  

Commotion here today with the new garage door installation.  Oh how I dislike steel and the lack of deep grain and texture.  It is what it is.  Insurance covered a basic door since Mark backed into it.

We have a stitching friend that saw Jackie of Needleworker's Samplings work on Long Dog's Do Different magnificent sampler and would like to know about the skeins needed for this project.  No where offered with the chart or sellers, and if you've stitched this especially with the three colors and can offer some info, please let us know!  Thank you.

Hope your day is sweet.  I'm hoping for a piece of cake from the bakery!

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Flag day

I had a welcome surprise yesterday at the dentist.  The decay beneath two crowns did not require a root canal so it was $1600 less!!    My bill was more than half the original for two new crowns but that's a whopping amount saved so I was very pleased.  My bigger dental bill for this morning's appointment was cancelled, he is ill.  I am holding my breath.

Carole is coming home for a few hours Thursday, mostly to check what needs to be moved or modified for her return in a few months.  Also I'm sure, to prove me wrong that her king size bed will interfere with mobility space and her standard bathtub needs replaced with a shower.  She likes the fricking pale yellow tile and doesn't want it removed.  As Stella (my mom) would say... what a bowida.   I have searched and never found a Polish word as this, but that side of my family used it often.   We always thought it meant stubborn or foolish or dummy because it was said playfully when we were stubborn or foolish or dummies.

Decided to work on my 1776 free chart that I've wanted to stitch for a long time.  Small, quick, easy, and I have unbleached 28 and 30 count, even a small piece of 36.  So no linen problems with this one!  Mary Bell will be next on the small sheer piece that I gently overdyed yesterday.

Have a great day folks.  June is half over and I'm not a happy crab.

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Fabulous floral frippery

 Hello people.  This morning we revisited a greenhouse where I purchased a hanging basket for the wife of husband's friend, a caregiver to her mom who was not doing well.  It had three petunias in variegated colors I had not seen before. Very soft apricots, purples, and deep pink.  It was a small hanging basket and I really loved it.  My birthday is close and I thought I could get one for myself, but of course, none left.  A mass of very large and expensive baskets, already leggy, not what I wanted.

This is a small place, with some of the best displays I've seen.   These are just a few I thought I would share with you.  A large old pedestal sink was loaded with color and I guess that photo failed.  Their succulent displays are very unusual and special also.

I had a rusted bike like this, Carole wanted it, I will attempt to locate it since she never added a planter to it.

The white mini tunias at the right are part of a huge pedestal birdbath completely filled with white, red, and greens.

I have a large house with a rotted floor, could easily remove the roof and recreate this one. 

The two tone mini tunia at far left was one of those in her basket.

I finished another berry using the chart I posted (on right).  When no errors are involved, only one evening is needed, not four days.  Lower linen count for a size change and I added two rows of three plus a single at top.  Not sure if turning this small area will work to attach a ribbon but thought I'd try.  If you omit the two single stitches of the red's top row, you have a nice heart, so berry or heart, an easy little ditty.

I plan to start Mary Bell after coloring the linen to what I wanted.  I do not want to cut the 13 x 18 piece, but look at the difference in the weight of these two pieces.  With my stitch tension, the sheer piece even though 40 count, will certainly have pulled stitches.

But using this 8" x 12" will prevent cutting a piece that could be used for a larger project.

Always a linen skimper, and seeing the latest price hike, will continue to be!

Have a good weekend.

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Berry confusing

 Hi folks.  Is anyone else having issues with gmail and other programs?  I am finding a great deal that were never sent and are still in the Outbox, yet when I send again, they stay put.  So if anyone is receiving several of the same, sorry, but I have no idea (three different programs) if they are actually leaving.  Same with my inbox, they are not showing in any program including gmail.  WTH?  Quite confusing and embarrassing so I apologize if they aren't getting through, or are multiples.

Been busy, Chris is very sick (not covid related) and I got him in to a specialist quickly, but I don't agree with the diagnosis.  Come back in five weeks?  He has either IBS or Crohn's, I would bet money on it if I had any.  A bacterial infection does not make you very ill, allow a week with greatly reduced symptoms, and then start all over again.  For months.  He is better the last two days but it will start again in less than a week.

I've been berry busy, several sizes, some for me and some for others.  If you are interested in a tiny berry to hang or have a cat bat around, here's the ditty I came up with, full cap.  I've used 347, 3777, 221, and currently 22, most with 937 for the green.  You can place those $%#* knots with 822 wherever you would like or use a tiny bead.  Two pieces of 8x12 forty count linen are hanging outside to dry after I bleached and beat them, hoping I like one for the Mary Bell sampler.

The little furball is now a permanent member of my neighborhood.  They have decided to keep her.  The vet checked her, she is now seven weeks old and in good health, will stay indoors with three dogs.  I don't know if the other person backed out or they couldn't give her up.  Regardless, she has a home.  I sat outside for a bit and some days like today, are very emotional.  Chewy mailed a birthday card to Nitzy and I found another small clump of his fur in the mulch.  Missy is not feeling well today.

I hope your weekend is special, or just peaceful, with good thoughts and memories that make you smile.

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The berry that was close to being buried

 Came close to taking it out back and digging a hole for it.  The Enforcer motion detectors are at the garden and every time I try to get to the burning pit, I get the begeezers scared out of me and a soaking from the spray.  Until I remember that they are up and running, no stitchery will be burned. Buried.... possibly.

Maybe Mary and Meg causing a linen choosing fiasco made me decide on a VERY small project, but as small as it is, a whopper of a PITA.  Little scraps are stored in an envelope, even a few inches, and I chose 32 count Copper Penny for this.  Previously done on a higher count, very tiny precious little berry,  I wanted a little larger. If I had not rid my stash of Klostern, I would have tried this freebie on it.  And still want to.  

In a nutshell (it's a big nut)...  this new needle claims a very smooth eye but it was horrible and not smooth in the least.  I counted wrong. The Pineberry Lane chart shows the berry upside down on my print, and rather than flip it, I thought it would not be a problem.  Such a simple and quick two color shape, how could I screw it up?  Let me count the ways.  Over and over yet I still kept it the same position on my board.  The real head smacker is when I forgot to change the pattern to include a calyx in the center (don't be impressed, I thought it was called a leaf and looked it up).  So I remove all the red at the top which was a real mess since I fill vertical and then cross horizontal for blocks of color.  You can't remove one row at a time, each cross is going in two directions.  But I proceeded, had a ton of tails to weave in the back.  Didn't think it would take long but IT DID.  So let's move on and get this berry done.  Wait a minute.  I just filled it back in with the red, just as it was before I frogged it. Where is my head?  Was I bone headed enough to remove it again?  Yes I was.  Now, the mass of tails on the back have made it thick enough to not need fill when finishing.  But wait, that top is a little too high after adding that center leaf (that's what it is) so I removed a few rows and each vertical row added its own tail to the ever thickening back.  Better.  Now I can fill in the red and get to the seeds.  Hmm.  That red looks brighter.  IT IS.  I picked up 347 instead of 3777 because I left it out from trying colors for this linen.  Now about the seeds.  How many times can they disappear?  Let  me count the ways once again.  Where the hell are they going?  I make the knot, come up in a different area, and when I look to see how far from the previous knot I am, it's GONE!!!  I am coming up and going down in different holes!  They prefer to stay on the back and leave a little white thread buried in the red.  So after two attempts, I used a slip knot in the mess on the back after each knot.  Finding a stitch to attach it to on the backside was not easy since it's a road map of carryovers, woven tails, shredded fringe throughout.  But.  It's done.  And I'll stitch another without errors just for spite.  I can't believe how many days this has taken and how bone headed I am to not START OVER rather than continually frog and croak.

Sixteen foot doors are sanded, cleaned, primed, painted.  We couldn't get an overlay design of any kind because of the dark color which would warp them.  So flush it is, and I ordered bean straps for them.  Rather than drill into the steel (I hate steel doors) we will use strong magnets to hold the decorative straps.  Our old door had very pronounced wood grain texture, this does not.  If we would have chosen windows or patterned styles I can't imagine the headache with priming and painting.  So I'm glad it's simple.

Large orange male is hanging around and the black/white is here every day also.  They must be strays, Missy is having none of it.

I'm tired, going to bed.  Hope your weekend was peaceful, joyful, or both.

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