How long is too long?

 Hello people!  

We went to the Amish stands for corn and Candy onions, decided to continue on and visit Volant.  Have not been there for a long while.  James Creek and a favorite kitchen shop left years ago and there aren't many shops I wish to see now.  An antique store is where we usually enjoy browsing, and I found a basket there that was very reasonable.  Damage to one corner, this is the painted/dyed very stiff weave that I remember from years ago.  No idea what the center handle is for but liked the odd style, close to 3' in width, $20 was a great price.

Also found a wooden pear, its metal stem and leaf will be painted and I may even paint/age the pear itself.

Now for the question I have been meaning to ask for months.  What length are your threads?  I've seen many flosstubes mentioning 18".  Really?  Doesn't it shred more easily from the number of times in and out of fabric?  I use 9" or 12"!!  Does anyone use those lengths?  What is your favorite?

Mark made two winders for me, one at 6" for one cut, and the other at 9" for two cuts.  I have never used silk, no idea how so many pokes and pulls would affect it.  But cotton DMC still shreds on its end using 12" so I must be doing something wrong.

Please let me know your preference and why, have not heard this addressed on the videos.  Thanks!

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Sew disappointed

 A few minor changes in the borders because I repeat rather than review.  Each had a slight change in repetition that I failed to follow and the result .... was very good.  

This is about 3.2" x 6" and Maud is very close to that.  No trim, no poms, Maud will also be a small drum.  I think a bowl filled with a mix of finishes would be a nice change from all pillows.

Unfortunately, when repairing clothing for Carole, my very old metal Kenmore machine crapped out.  There are no repair shops any longer so YouTube will hopefully offer some help.  My mom always had her old Singer to a shop, which came back worse.  Really soured me to machine repairs.  A new machine?  School taxes are due, my doubled trash pickup bill starts this month, my power bill is $50 more each month.  Not a good time.  I was very anxious to sew this and enjoy a final finish for a change so quite disappointed.  

Slowly coming out of my fog.  Have not been checking blogs and emails for a while, the new laptop hasn't been set up either.  I've lost friends before, and she and I were not close for years, but I knew her well from our working together for the same doctors.  I can't find the right words to describe her.  I know that leaving her family and treasured home was destroying her more than her pain, and that weighed more heavily than grief if it makes sense.  Crying with no tears for too long had caused such discomfort with my eyes, there was no relief.  Better now, still troubling.  Makes no sense why that would cause more difficulty.

CT scan Tuesday to check my lung spots, not helping my psyche!

Hope you have a nice weekend, that one that signals summer's end.  We may get a few warm days soon, but having socks and fleece on for two weeks in evenings tells the tale.  

Be safe, be well. 

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And again, Maud

 I saw short Maud in the pile for final finishing, and decided to remove the very light pink letters and stitch with a darker shade.  Also changed her name to dmc 902, and plan on attaching matching poms trim around four sides.

The light green is ghosted but will probably stay.  She's such a small sampler, I should have stitched the entire piece.  Maybe again with my color choices.

Three rows are complete on the BBD design, hope to finish soon.  The plan is for a small drum.

Here's what I did with a very large zucchini that everyone loved....

Cut into about 1/2" thick slices, lightly salt and let them sit for thirty minutes to an hour on toweling.  Quick rinse to remove extra salt and leaking.  On sprayed foil in single layer, bake at 400 for around 20 minutes or until softened.  Remove from oven and top each with scoop of Ragu Simply sauce, Italian blend shredded cheese or mozzarella, several pepperoni slices.  Return to hot oven for another 8 to 10 minutes.  Zucchini pizza rounds.  Really good.

August 30 is the season premier of Expedition Bigfoot with  Mireya Mayor on Discovery.  And the end of summer.  

Stay safe everyone.

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On second thought

Fits the narrow space perfectly.  May stay here.

Plastic chair glides are nailed to the bottoms of all outdoor wood pieces to elevate legs a bit.  Prevents the wood from leaving stain marks on the deck and also from water being absorbed into the leg's open grain.  For cast iron stands that will or already have rust, styrofoam from a grocery tray is cut to protect the deck from its stains, waterproof so no moisture contact.

The end.

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Two things

 What I have started...

the smallest sampler I can manage ( BBD 2009) ......

and what we made.

This was the base of a large lift top child's desk we have no use for.  The matching seat bench for the desk is at Carole's, and after adding two old decking boards I found, she can use this outdoors as a little bench for the kids or to decorate.

Hope everyone is doing well.

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Irish Sampler and finish

 Just wanted to mention if you are interested in the sweet Irish Sampler, Wyndham has #1 and also #2 on their ebay site https://www.ebay.com/str/wyndhamneedleworkscats.

This is what #1 looks like, my favorite of the two (which I have but unable to locate so had to repurchase).   If I remember correctly, those three large flowers are queen stitch which will not happen.

  

This is #2.

Sweet!

They have books and some Needleart and Embroidery magazines also along with a good selection of Nostalgic Needle charts.

Finished.  Backstitched for a sewing line since this heart has angles.  I like this look, so I may allow it to show along the seam.  A mattress finish was preferred, but too difficult with the deep center.

Happy weekend.

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