The minors

Hi folks.  It's Sunday morning and I can barely swallow.  Tested and negative so far, but since this started yesterday and more symptoms popped up today, I will continue testing.  

My husband won some $$ golfing so I bought linen!  Was considering a drive out to Shaker Woods which started yesterday but ....  If I continue to be negative, maybe next weekend.  The last time we were there was many years ago and hubs thinks it's about time I do something fun.  We'll see.  I wear a neck brace on longer rides because of my wonky vertebrae and need to remember who I lent it to.  Uncomfortable, but it stabilizes and would prevent further movement toward the spinal cord.  Both incidents of being hit by others happened within two miles of home.  But they were in town on two lanes, not a major higher speed highway.

 

Ann is the only sampler I've been working on and I am very surprised (and a little concerned) that this 30 count requires my 4.0 glasses and the Dazor mag.  I worked on 40 not that long ago and I'm almost afraid to pull out the 35 count in the kitted projects.  I'm following the thread colors except for three so far and they are mainly adjustments for better show.  The 3046 appears a little dull on this linen, the 3023 is barely visible, and 3033 is hardly seen and looks dirty.

The dividing band and letter N on the left are 3046 and the right is 676.  Not much change except for a more clear yellow.  The 3023 will now be 3022, and 822 shows much better than 3033.  Very minor difference in these changes but enough to offer more clarity.  The large area of blue in this piece may not be readable with the 927 used throughout.  DMC 926 may be subbed but I need to see how well it will show.

Time for Tylenol and a nap.  

Enjoy your day!

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Before you stitch,

 measure twice.  Top and bottom.  This may be the first time the cut was off, I've never checked before.  But a few of these starts need every inch of the fat quarter width and it would be foolish not to.  Edges are fully serged, I have not cut.  

It happens, I'm sure not intentional with all the pieces flying out for shipping.  It may only be one in a thousand but if you're that one that measured the top and it's good, measure the bottom too, just in case.  

This is the Paperbark that was too apricot for me, so I got out the Rit and now it is Bitch Beige with meno mottling.  Not bad, but the result looks more like it was tie-dyed.  The very small piece of Creme Brulee by Tabbycat that I ordered has one side with solid dark mottling and the other side has none.  Like half of an Oreo.  Can't help that in a small piece.  

I started Ann Stone on 30 count with two threads over two.  Meh.  It's like the old days when all my projects were 25 to 30 unbleached with two threads.  

It's been a frustrating morning dealing with someone that .... well ...... why bother. 

Hope your day is swell.

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Ta-da!

Leveled this walkway and decided to just add pea gravel and tamp well for now.  Those rubber pavers (recycled tires at Lowe's and Home Depot) also come in two foot squares, but this area is not a priority right now.  We would need the peas as fill around the pavers (they are 3/4" thick) so we'll have them in place and can easily add pavers in the future.  

Added bonus is a nicer view from the window that I can load with shade annuals for color and greens at Christmas.

Front of garage tunia.  Some will be going to Carole's since hers are sickly looking. 

I know this is boring, but I'm boring, and little things like this are exciting to boring people.  It's a shame ain't it?

Have a great day!!

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I just said that

 Didn't I post recently to measure your fabric, not to assume the dimensions?   I guess I wasn't paying attention.  It's a good thing I happened to check because I need 17" minimum and the piece I chose ......

I am pretty pleased with myself today.  Being disgusted with this mess and no sign of help coming, I waited until husband left for golf and I started removing the 7" of gravel they dumped where the concrete patio used to be. 

Raked and then shoveled twenty wheelbarrows to another spot, moved some smaller barn stones as edging to hold it in, and after a short rest, I'm good!  Only 1/8 of the pile, have no idea where the rest will go.  What a mess and expense this mandated project has been.  Not even a year later and they raised the monthly fee.

This back corner is a perfect spot for seasonal decorating in the tub and wheelbarrow.  This is behind the deck and swing and used mainly to get to the bird feeders.  No need to install labor intensive pavers here, we'll add crushed base or sand along the stones and get the rubber ones. 

They are flexible so no cracks, no need to be perfectly leveled, not slippery, no sealer needed.  Great alternative for a outdoor spot without a lot of fuss, 16" x 16".  Meant to go over old patios or decks, I'm sure I can lay them over sand or crushed stone that I can get in bags.  Less work!  Less maintenance!!  Very neat looking for this small area.  

Be safe!

Thanks for visiting.

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p.s.  Also want to mention that I'm not saying you shouldn't indulge in stitching pretties!  I'm saying don't think you need to, especially if just starting out.  Nicola and others love the accessories and accoutrements and that's great.  If something increases your pleasure of stitching, go for it.  I love seeing the items and stitchers' delight in having them, but don't feel you're an outsider or odd duck if you can't afford them or prefer the basics.  That's all folks!

As Jackie Gleason would say ...

 AND AWAY WE GO!!!!!

If I find a thread color isn't working for me I will change it then, not before.

There are a few linens that I still don't care for, one is a piece of Paperbark, another is Hemingway.  My limited stash of fat quarters yielded colors (all neutral) that l am pleased with for these projects.

So far!

I just shortened and taped a 5x8 plastic bag to my project pouches and inserted yellow paper for easy identification.  Yes the beautiful fabric ones would be nice, but after decades of stitching, I don't even have a needle minder.  It's how I started long before there were pretties and would rather the money go to fabrics and charts.  Nothing wrong with expensive scissors and hundreds of $$ in bags and dookies if you can afford them, not in the least!  But if some of us are more comfortable with just the basics, nothing wrong with that either.  A completed beautiful sampler does not offer a hint whether the stitcher stored supplies in plastic or glorious fabric, cut with $100 scissors or $5, used a finely crafted wood frame or held the linen in hand, whether bauble fobs dangled from tools.  Personal preference determines what you feel would make your needleworking more pleasurable or offer a better result.  It's our choice, and whether we have it all, or very little, we can create a beautiful result as did the young girls whose work we reproduce.  

Have a good day!!

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Getting closer

 to starting several projects at once.  And the Little Dutch will be put aside for now, too many color changes.  Many of them are needed for the other kits, and I think they may be tedious while trying to work other projects also.  

Ann Stone is mostly letters with a good portion in one color, an easy project amongst the others with more detail so she will be one for sure.  Kezia's border vine is black, not sure about that, but maybe it will be stunning.  Probably the best solution is to start all of them.  Even if just a few inches of border, a hint of what's to come. Tomorrow, linen picks.  Do I have pieces large enough?  Only one fat half in the stash, fingers crossed.

Next year, color.  Maybe a Bubblegum on one side of the post, but these brights are really appealing and will dominate next year.  

Floss tube tonight! I have a mocha iced coffee waiting for me to enjoy while watching.  The brown sugar cold brew with foam from Dunkin was introduced at $3.  I. loved. it.  The introductory period ended and I was charged $4.08 (tax included).  I had another vascular procedure this morning and my reward was to be another, even though I didn't want to dish out $4 for a medium.  I know.  I don't spend like most.  The line at Starbucks with young girls every single day baffles me.  Two drinks could be a new chart!  Well, two weeks after the last one and the price is now $5.09.  Adios.  I got an iced coffee with caramel swirl for $3 and it was damn good.

Enjoy the second week of August, I'll be crying in my caramel swirl.  That's a good name for a linen color!!  My caramel macchiato is diaper load green so maybe the swirl will be a beautiful brown.

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