I must say,

Lizzie has been such an enjoyable stitch.  

No problems, minimal placement changes, few color changes.   I tried the red outline of hearts, no.  I stitched the final initials in red to match the row's beginning, no.  Instead, subbed 738 for the outlines and kept the charted color for initials.  Even after removing the red option and stitching again, no frustration.  Good grief am I growing up?  Say it ain't so!!

Truth be told, this is just an easy, fun, cheerful design.  Not sure what classifies as "cheerful", but it is.  

Previously I sold several stitched samplers, received emails that they were priced too low.  How do you decide on a price for an unframed piece?  Considering selling to get funds for the dental work, which is obscene.  Sadly, they would be a very small fraction of the cost, so maybe not worth it.

Ice balls and rain now, heading to nursery for a few shrubs.  Umbrella or helmet?

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Too much?

See those hearts?  I'm stitching the third with dmc 434 to be outlined in 612 as is the first heart.  

I considered changing that outline in one and three to red.  But there is plenty of that color throughout, probably be too much.  (I just noticed in the photo that I failed to stitch the period after TT.  Lizzie loved punctuating!)

The alpha and initial rows are completed (that's a huge family!) and soon the house will be started.  I changed the very ghosty 3782 to 612 and don't like either in the house.  I do like the darker 3011 sub in the vase, maybe 738 or 3046 for the house.  Light, but warmer than the dull 612.

There has been frogging galore, and not once have I cussed at the shredding and breaking thread.  Never had that problem in decades of stitch removal until 36 and 40 count.  Could it be because of continuous friction through a smaller hole?  I think so!  My single thread lengths are only ten inches, but the wear on that strand, especially during tugging for removal, may be the reason.  Ya think?  Even my old double gold band skeins shred, and that same skein over years never did on my lower counts after countless hissy fit tugging.

Hope your weekend is going swell.  Heavy heavy rains today.  The gutter is packed with the maples' bud droppings and overflowing like Niagara.  I tilted the wheelbarrow beneath to catch and shoot the water into the yard.  Quite noisy, but not offensive, reminds me of summer downpours.  

Be safe!

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Lizzie progress

 Loving 32 count and the coverage.

Enjoy your day!

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A new needle

 The brand?  I don't know.  But ouch.  It's even piercing the bandaid!  The eye is also an issue, snagging the thread and preventing a smooth pull.   

Putting all the needles in my case was not a good idea and I don't want to test each one so all will be removed.  I made this years ago, several wool pages, always planned to stitch a few more.  The basket holds the new packets.

 Tried many brands but failed to note differences, will do so now.  I do have new packs and will add a strip of tape to the backs for comments.  A new case will be sewn with pocket pages to hold them, only preferred used will be on the wool pages singly.

Hope your weekend was pleasant.

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Lizzie on the weekend

Hello people.

I plan to work on Lizzie quite a bit this weekend.  Did what I could outside in the warm weather but without the landscaper and load of dirt, can't go any further.

 Lizzie has a row of herringbone, an easy stitch, but I managed to do it differently.  No clue as to why.  The next dividing band was to be running stitch, three rows.  I chose only two, three looked crowded.   The instructions show Lizzie stitched with two threads on 36 count, which would create an even chubbier texture, but I am using two on 32 count.

Love love my new table.

Request for the ham and scalloped potato recipe.  I use Taste of Home's Never-fail-Scalloped Potatoes.  My mandoline slices them very thin and I use low sodium uncured ham slice diced.  Sometimes I will increase the butter and flour and milk, and also omit cheese.   Oven at 335 because I use glass.

Hope you all have a nice weekend!

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Boom

 Busy afternoon!

More aged and beat up than appears in the photos.  Old screw holes, discoloration, worn out wood, exactly the look I wanted.  Fifty four inches wide, thirty one high without backsplash.

Not sure if or when I will add a spatter of chipping paint, maybe a few spots on the legs.  

This was to be set on the front deck for summer with flowers, but I love it enough to want it in the back where I see it out my window.

Old decking recycled into more projects!  Do we have enough for another?

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