Seeing red

Hi to all!  The snow melted, we'll be in the 40's for a while, follow up in Pittsburgh next week should not be a problem.  Because I've been warned that a jolt to my neck could easily result in paralysis, road trips are a real fist grip.

For some reason, small red samplers have been distracting me from the ridiculous task of choosing colors for Maud Fuzzard.  This one from the BBD book Ooh la la will be 4.25" on 36 count.  

Also distracted by Fat Thread Syndrome.  Yes, it's a new threat.  Many old sampler photos I've seen are stitched on coarse or loosely woven linen, threads are fat and heavy.  Wool?  I like the look.  Not for elegant or detailed works, but great for primitive marking samplers.  I could use my 28 or 30 count, but I want a very small tuck.  This test is with flower thread.  I may have a red wool, need to look before I go any further.  

I love this linen color but only the count is marked in the selvage, no idea what it is.  This is Ginnie Thompson flower thread 370 that is easing my FTS.  I really like it.  Will my attempt to mimic those old pieces not work on higher count linen?  I need to stitch more to decide.  

About Maud, I can't decide on the gold, three different choices here.  So she will be set aside while I treat my affliction.  The BBD will not take long.  Hopefully.

Have a great day!

Stay safe.

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Clutter Colonel

A few notes on the background.

The reason I want order is because we are still working there and have more projects to do.  Disorder is also affecting Carole's mental state which is already fragile.  Right now, her focus is adjusting to her new life and if I can help ease some anxiety, I will.  The look on her face shows how unsettled and lost she still is so after two years of terrible stress and responsibilities, I can handle a few weeks more of non-critical help.  I'm sure once she gets her bearings, she'll be spouting marching orders. The real stress has been the kids well being, they are doing better after court ordered custody, and we feel will continue now that it is almost over.

Harley was adopted months before Carole announced her homecoming, no one was expecting that.  By then, Matt and the kids were attached and Carole is smitten with the big galoot too.  A PITA at times, she is still a puppy although monstrous, and pups love to play.  

I am great at organizing and giving orders, enjoy doing so, and refuse to give up my rank.  We just spent another four hours there jiggering the trapeze aid over the bed and fixing the sliding barn door.  Several smaller projects to do that will offer more storage space and solve the kitchen/food clutter.  Bathroom will have woven stacking organizers tagged with everyone's name, big enough for all essentials plus.  The kitchen counter will also, and those tags will make it easier to see what favorites need restocked for who.  When we walked in today, all was neat, swept, orderly.  They knew I was coming.

Once we get her bedroom arranged, a bookcase built, and fabric bins for her mess to hide in, Tracy should be full time and take over.  We've worked out a wall surround for her TV that will offer a great deal of display area for her angel collection and photos in her personal space rather than the living room.  That will probably be the end of our projects which have been numerous to help her adapt.  Harley will miss seeing us so often!!

Any conflicts or issues will be solved among themselves.  I am the Clutter Colonel.  Carole will still expect me to continue handling finances, bills, appointments, phone calls, but I will explain that she is perfectly capable to handle such matters very soon.

I have not stitched, can't decide on fabric or count, and this needs remedied quickly before I decide it's time for a break.

Have a fabulous weekend folks.  February!  Getting closer and closer to spring.

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Background noise

 A candy coated description of the added stress and commotion.  

And I'm betting it is not what you imagined!

Carole came home in December to what was her house, now her son's (Chris), after being gone for two years.  Early July, Chris's son (Matt) left his SO of ten years when she refused to agree to counseling and moved in to the house.  The court was for full custody of their two kids who do not want to live with mom.  The 8 and 9 year olds also now live in the house every other week, soon to be full time since mom failed to follow court ordered counseling.  Matt's dear friend from work passed away suddenly from an aneurysm, her husband decided to take her new pup to the shelter which was devastating to their kids.  Matt knew how she and her kids loved that pup and adopted it so the kids would know she had a good home.  That "pup" is a Great Dane, now eleven months old, and very hard to manage when she is in play mode.  Then Matt is introduced to Tracy, who is now staying at the house and has been helping Carole since she arrived home.  She left her job to be hired through an agency as her caregiver.  Chris is type 1 diabetic, ADHD, very high strung, stressed.  Matt is as messy as can be, unless you count Tracy in.  The two youngsters are like their dad.  Maybe it's selfish, but none of us thought Carole coming home with her needs and adding to this scenario was a good idea at this time.  

So in addition to Carole, there is Chris, Matt, Tracy, Sophia. Matt 2, and Harley the Dane occupying a three bedroom cape with a one car garage.  The house is packed full from attic to basement with Carole's "treasures", Chris's crap, Matt's junk, kid's clothes, more toys than Walmart, a massive dog crate, huge motorized chair, manual wheelchair, disability aids, and a sampling of all strewn throughout.  It's difficult to take a meal, leftovers, or even a treat to one person when five others are there.  No, they don't expect anything and are also contributing to her needs, but it's uncomfortable for me.  They all pitch in, continually ask what they can do for her, personalities are thankfully not an issue.  

I can't take clutter, disorder, deafening noise, racket from three conversations, kid's screaming (one is autistic), a barking dog that can knock me down, not having a place to park, not having empty counter space to set something, on top of trying to deal with needs no one can fill for a sister slapped in the face with reality.  Not only of her condition, but her home's also.  Yes, they've been told, are driving Chris nuts, are as nice and sweet as can be, but more work is needed. When you have lived without order, you don't recognize it since it becomes the norm.  Matt does not make enough for an apartment (most here are drug infested and unsafe), and Chris wants his grandkids in his home, they don't need more changes right now.  Both men working shifts and with Tracy, someone is always available to be with the kids, very important.  Now that I am done with health crap and ready to start the dental, I will be the toothless bitch with crooked fingers and enforcer of new rules.  Any bets?

The end?  

Not by a long shot.

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Down time

turned into damn time.  I could not find a suitable linen color, nor could I decide on count.  The previous two projects were lower count, two threads, I wanted to go back to 36 or 40.  Nothing looked right.  The single thread looked very skimpy and I had a difficult time stitching on those counts.  Really difficult.  Maud's original, like other primitive marking samplers, has pronounced thick stitches on a coarse fabric and it suits this design.  I went from 36 Ale to 30 Rook to 40 Legacy to 32 Copper Penny, some letters looked cramped while others loose.  Ended with 32 count that I dyed, two threads, but it didn't look right.  It is actually 36!  Dammit.  After a frustrating day, I realized something else was not sitting well.  Thread colors.  730 and 832 did not play nice with the others.  Changed 730 to 829 and 832 to 783, perfect.  Finally ready for needle to fabric.  A is two threads B is one.  Tomorrow.  I've had enough for today.

I only use my cell phone as a convenience when away from home, and for texting.  We have digital landline service through our cable and I do not like talking on a flat cell.  Tracfone is my carrier with 90 day service cards for $21.  I have purchased 1000 texts for $5 (plus taxes) from Walmart online.  This tech dinosaur found out there is a simple method to transfer landline calls to a cell when leaving the house.  Dial *72, wait for the beeps and dial tone, enter the full phone number you want the calls to go to, hit # or wait for confirmation.  Hang up!  Have someone call your landline to check, it should ring once and then start ringing on your cell.  To stop this service, hit *73 on your landline and wait for the beeps, hang up.  Try it a second time and it should say that the transfer was cancelled.  Cool beans!!  I don't have to worry about missed calls now.  Most of you know this or no longer have a landline.  I'm old school!

Hope tomorrow, a very cold day here, is a good one for all.

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And then there's Maud

 I'm on "light duty" and need to start another simple project to keep busy.  So next up, the second chart I downloaded from GirlWithAGavelStitches.  Small, and her name grabbed me.  Maud Fuzzard.

Maud Fuzzard.

I always have issue with choosing linen color.  Very few are favorites because most slide out of their mailing package green or pink.  My first small piece of PTP Legacy was quite light.  After viewing a few floss tubes where the color looked darker, I took a chance on a second order and it is wonderful.  Fat quarter, I can't cut it.  I just can't!  Another reason I like 123Stitch is because of their offer of 8x12 pieces, great for ornaments and tucks.  PTP is my favorite linen, Legacy and Ale in both 36 and 40.  I do not care for smooth and silky linens, my Hemingway is such.  I need a few small pieces in a deeper brown and will check that next week.

For Maud, I do have an 8x12 Ale in 36, and was hoping for the same in 40 count.  Nope.  Still small in 36 and I changed a few DMCs for it.  Not color change, just hue or brightness.  813 for 799, 3852 for 832, 3773 for 224.  Minor changes, but my preference of hue.

If I don't get started or my eyes get tired, I may do a post on the "background" tomorrow.  Gotta keep busy, can only nap for so long, and it's time for a boring personal post don't 'ya think?

Have a great evening.

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Done. Again.

 Susanna Hartley 1824

Color and other small changes (errors left in place) on 32 count, two threads, over two.

I see that I need to finish the 680 in the roof.

You will notice the "band" on the original, not sure if that is a thick linen thread or a mend, but I like it.  Anxious to finish, I didn't put much thought into it.  Several linen threads were pulled out of the fabric's edge and I stitched a band with them to mimic that look but it's not as noticeable.  I may do again over three threads instead of two.  Or not.

Surgery was fine, came home from Pittsburgh in fog but thankfully not snow.  Stitches opened at the end, so I pulled the hanging suture thread to close, taped the end of it to hold, and then applied steri-strips.  Sort of like a blind hem stitch.  We're good.  No big deal.

A few things settled, certainly calmer than I have been the last few weeks.  

Hope all is well with everyone.

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