Kezia Turmoil

 Wasn't a good day.  My front tooth chipped off a good deal after hitting the new bottom crowned horse teeth.  I have another break out, itchy as hell, the cold/sore throat returned, Missy was attacked on the deck by ????? and has a large bite, and I saw a stitched Kezia.  

Adele was kind enough to direct me to a photo of the sampler (I've only seen the chart photo of the original) and the stitcher was following the over one border and called for colors.  Yikes.  This may be silk but the color is spot on to 890.  Am I permitted to show this from the Sassy Jacks FB page?  You can see the progress and other photos by Melanie Poe Rainer here..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/255266094663345/search/?q=kezia

I don't know her linen choice, but mine sure looks sick after seeing hers!  She is stitching the border over one as intended.  I am not, I wish I was .... or could.  This is the problem with seeing only the original on the chart and not a stitched model with the brighter colors.  I searched online for a photo of a finish, there were none.

I do not like this green with the 781 at all.  But look at Melanie's work!  That is gorgeous.  

 The 3011 currently used is great, very soft and subdued, is that what I want for her?  Or some pops of color?  I think I should pull up the big cotton whities and keep the 890.

There are no vet openings and I have no antibiotics for Missy, which would be impossible to get into her mouth since we can't hold her.  An injection would be the best, but we can't handle her without getting bit, let alone when she has a painful injury.  Two vets would not accept her as a patient previously because she can't be handled.

My six month CT scan of my lungs has been cancelled, no one is working at the testing and diagnostic centers, and this was scheduled for mid September.  They already know.  My option is the minimally staffed ER at the hospital.  I do not want two high dose CT scans on my chest within weeks of each other but the heart angio scan can't include the lungs.  They're right there!!  Use Landscape setting!!  Whatever.

Moving gravel again today, found a place to transfer it all and it will work well.  

Have a good day folks.

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Tenting

 Short post, relapsing and crabby.

Changed 890 to 3011 in the border and her name was also that symbol.  Once again, 3011 did not show well enough on the greenish linen so her name is in 3031.  Looks much better.  The surrounding border is tent, and it's not a problem.  Up at top right and down at bottom left, stitch is not disappearing.  

Have a good day.

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Slow and steady

 will be the plan for Kezia.  Oh that border.  Not my cup of tea, not sure of the method I should use.  I wanted to complete the entire vine outline and return to fill with the motif, but don't have enough confidence.  If I complete several sections at a time, it will be easier to catch placement errors.  The vine alone has no reference and I am fairly sure there will be errors.  Yes, I changed the crown and a few stitches in the vine for symmetry.

You can see how much green is in the Affogato piece.  Kezia, like Jane, recommends Cocoa linen.  I do think this one would be better on a lighter linen but would need to change the 739 in the border.  I purchased a piece of Old Gold linen and it is very dark, greenish gold.  I have a few others coming and wonder if they will be worth husband's $$ win on the #12 green.

Not sure how much longer I will stitch on Kezia before returning to Ann or choosing another.  Who am I kidding?  A few more vine bumps and I'll be ready for a walk.

Have a safe and peaceful day.

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#3 and the Stitching Station

 

I've named my modified tray table the Stitching Station.  It is!  I can hang four projects at once, bags and all along the sides.  Not sure if the bags will stay but certainly the floss rings will.  

I have magnets on a raised strip so I can easily grab my scissors, and magnetic strip for holding working needles.

I can pull it over my lap and have a large surface to work from.  If Missy or my bladder requires a quick dash, the table with all my doodads is simply pushed aside.  Want to move to another room?  So so easy.  

This organization station will make a huge difference for me since most times, items are piled to a side table, some hit the floor, some require a search to find again.  YAY!!!

This added bonus is a real help also, you know, because of continually changing threads!  The DMC book slides right under the tray and is held by the legs' hardware.  Perfect!!

And this is #3, Kezia Turnock.  I never received a reply from Sassy Jacks about the symbol error, and since the over one chart's vine is 3031, that is what I chose to use.  From Robin's research of the chart, it would appear to be 310 since that color symbol .... well .... too much for a menobrain to explain. I'm using 3031 for that symbol in the border, but elsewhere will use the 310.

The linen is 36 Affogato, way too green, and very very similar to the Tobias of Jane that is also very green.  I've heard from others about their Tobias and it is the gorgeous amber mottle of my other piece.  Nothing like Jane's piece.  So after many obscenities and a bit of chocolate, I ordered a piece of Confederate Gray.  Why?  Don't have an answer, it just popped into my head and I hope it's a nice color and works with Jane's brights and pastels.  

Going to see Carole tomorrow, the sore throat is gone, never blew my nose but stuffy, now a cough that can call in wildlife.  I can't take cold meds or some cough, not a good idea with my level of Sjogrens (decongestants dry you).

Have a good day folks!

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The tray project on a roll

 How is everyone on this next to last summer weekend?  As crabby as I am?  I only had two mornings and nights this entire season that were not chilly.  I remember many morning coffees sitting on my swing and sweating from the temps.  Not this year.  Not here.  We did experience some very warm temps in July during afternoons, not enough for me to feel like it's summer.  And now, the lengthy lines at Starbucks and Dunkin for fall flavors!!  Yoi.

Now about my new aid. The folding wood tray tables can be found at Walmarts and Targets or online, not expensive.  I've used one for a while but have recently modified to become a stitching station. Easily pulled up over my lap, a full tray before me to hold project bag, stand with chart, my extra floss bags hanging from hooks, a row of magnets to hold scissors and needles, a spot for my glasses.  These cup hooks will be screwed under the edges, not in the side, so as not to extend past the tray.  I'll show you the tray next time!

These clipboards at the Dollar Tree fit nicely into my 13 x 10 project bags (the large clip models do not) and help keep chart pages from damage.  They have been a real help when attempting to kit for the first time. 

This was another item considered, a toilet paper holder!  This comes disassembled and the tall rod for extra rolls does not have to be installed.  On Amazon you can find various styles, some with just a single rod to hold floss, others such as these with a small tray that could hold beeswax, glasses, scissors.  I had planned to get this double sided to hang project bag on one and floss on the other, and cut a yardstick to glue to sides of the top table for a lip.  If too tipsy depending on the size of hangings, a weight can be placed on the bottom board.  A neat item for holding the floss rings and if using thread drops, no tangles. From shiny chrome to black pipe, a simple and unobtrusive floss holder.  But if thread drops are on it day and night, best throw a bag over to prevent pet play!  Where is your floss kept during stitching?

I decided not to attend Shaker Woods today.  Instead, I plan to move more gravel as joints allow.  

Have I decided on Jane's green vine and linen choice?  No.

Have a good weekend!

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Moving on to #3

 I haven't received a reply yet from Sassy Jacks regarding the unlisted symbol.  If you have the Kezia booklet, do you see the border vine color of symbol 2 shown (the over two chart)?  I'd appreciate info if you do.  

As for Jane, I am putting her aside to start sampler #3, probably one of Two by Julia.  I do not like the 3722 pink on this linen, too cool.  I searched for photos online and have found only two, the flowers are both done in  pinks.  Neither of these fabrics are the recommended Cocoa and I have no idea what it actually looks like or how dark it is.

But do you think the 3011 green shows well enough on my dark linen?   Is my chosen fabric not a good fit?  The lighter colors look wonderful on it as do the brighter flowers, but the only darker greens are the 930's.  These two and the chart photo show a prominent vine, mine is not.  I think that large border is a showy feature of this sampler and don't want to find out half way through that it fades to the background because the center colors are strong.  

This photo, the first time I saw this lower contrast, explains why two pinks are used.  

This one (my chart) appears apricot but it is because of the photo's contrast.  The color listed for DMC is 437 and named Pumpkin Patch from GAST.   Doesn't sound pink.   Does it annoy me because of the size of the project and I don't want to have all the work end in disappointment or regret?  Or just that I like too many options and can't make up my mind?  Or both?

Until I decide, having another sampler kitted and ready to start is a plus!  Most times when I am stumped all stitching stops until the question is answered.  Working on others at the same time may give me a better solution.  Sometimes, it overwhelms with too many threads pulled and the longer options are studied, the more confusing they become.  We'll see.  Right now, I like the brighter pink and apricot, but I am concerned about the border green.  Any speck of doubt for such a large project must be resolved.  If not, errors abound because the stitching is not the focus.

Bunnicula.  Love it!!

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