A stroke of luck

 Working on the primer chart with changes (of course).  Should have been completed but ....

The last row will be solid fill with her name, I may add the date also, the two rows above that are left off.  Small, very quick, quite similar to my favorite small of last year.  

My aging brain was shocked when I realized Notforgotten Farms little thread pouch was not stitched in 2023 (another favorite small).  Since I fail to add labels to posts, looking back for the year's finishes took some time.  Where was that pouch?  2022!!  Very hard to accept my sense of time is that bad.  Vocabulary too!  What the hell is happening?  I wrote 2024 at the end of the date line on a load of personal checks, guaranteeing no flubs until I adjust to the change.

Now for the luck.   Decided to change all bulbs to LED bright white from the soft white.  Not the stark ultra or bluish daylight, the bright is mid range.  Just grew tired of the warmer yellow, this bright is soft enough but whiter, without being harsh.  While browsing that display, a man said "hey, you got old".  As we turned to face him, after a few seconds I recognized the construction pro we had used a few decades ago.  Wow!  He got old too.  So he spent time here yesterday (hours) catching up and we have an excellent knowledgeable pro now!  YAY!  He was working as the foreman for a large builder which is why we couldn't find him.  Now on his own after major surgery (no more scaffolds and roof trusses), he will be fitting our projects into his schedule. 

Someone asked for the source of Spring Green and Budding Twigs finishes in my 2023 recap.  They are both in BBD's Ooh la la book.  

Hope everyone is well and safe.

Happy 2024.

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2023

I'm not absolutely sure if these were all 2023, I think a few smalls may be left out.  Close enough.

Frosty

Joyeux Noel

Hannah Baker

Ghosts and Goblins

Maud Fuzzard

Whittaker

Quaker Rose

Petite Lettres Rouges

Sarah Needham

Lizzie Peddie (still missing)

Elizabeth Roberts

Susanna Hartley

A Little Dutch

Kindred Spirits

Ann Stone

Jane Plews

the Budding Twigs

Spring Green

Sauerkraut, kielbasa and pork in crock pot.  Tomorrow making two sheets of the Hawaiian sliders with poppy seed dressing (one ham/swiss one turkey/swiss), buffalo chicken dip, and baby dills stuffed with cream cheese and rolled with ham.  Carole is making the rest.  She has always gone overboard with "pickins" for New Years and this is the first time in years she is able to again.  Much less than previously, but still good stuff!  Rather than discourage, we are encouraging her.  Excellent hostess and cook, she has missed this.  That huge motorized wheelchair makes it difficult to maneuver in her tight kitchen, but she manages.  Harley the Great Dane is so loved by their family, but a nuisance to handle, control, and a big obstacle.  She . is . huge.

Happy new year to all!! Wishing you a safe, healthy, happy 2024.

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Sampler source

 Working on Stonestreet Stitchworks 

Schoolhouse Primer Lesson #1

here

My plan is to move Mary Graves (the last row) to beneath the verse and disregard the other three rows. This will be a drum, the finish will be short and wide.  Seeing the photo, I may start over on a larger piece of linen for the full chart, use the charted colors.  Another hornbook to cut!  

Sorry I didn't post it before.

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 Thanks for the help with Frosty.  But I'm still baffled.  My numerate brain needs to have definitive answers!  I get that the top would be somewhat puffed, but the template for the flat bottom is 4.5" without foldover allowance.  The fabric to go around the drum (14.5" less .5" seam allowance) is over 4" when sewn into a circle.  The interior of the 4" box is 3.5".

Cutting Frosty's linen too short was my fault entirely.  If I hadn't,  could have finished into a fabric drum of my chosen proportions.  So why does this bug me now?   Numbers need to be exact for me, always have, and I wanted an explanation as to why I can't understand this!  

Let it go girl.

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Is it me?

 Truus suggested a tin for the little guy which did not work, but led me to check an oval box.  Yep.  He fits perfectly on this 5" box.  I have been very confused and feeling quite embarrassed with this project.  

I purchased the 4" paper mache box as in the supply list.

The design is 4.5 x 4.625.  ??????

How well did I pay attention to the chart?

 I didn't catch this, nor the supplied template for the drum being 4.5".  Impossible to fit inside or atop a 4" box. And I've been fighting this, oblivious as to why, and wondering what I did wrong.

So.  Am I missing something and this makes sense to you?  

Frosty has two finishing options, but I really can't work on him any more right now.

Working on a quick and simple sampler to calm my needle ...

I should use the charted colors but this was handy.  That's how flustered I have been!  Solid or additional colors that I find under a chair?  Depends.  Am I dusting the floor soon?

Be well, be safe, thanks for the visit.

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Barb R

 Please email me (click postcard at top right column) with your address and I will send the vintage stitched pieces to you.

Now about Fricking Frosty .... he is finished, except for removing the snowflake. Many changes in colors and the chart itself, some because the dmc conversion did not show.  And after all that aggravation, in my haste to end this, I failed to realize that 4" size and template did not include margins when cutting.  He will now be a little pillow with cord, a hanging reminder that all troublesome projects come to an end. 

Raining all day, going out to look for cake yeast and make a batch of nutrolls.  Stuffed cabbage casserole for dinner.

Hope your day goes well.

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Anyone?

Before I take these to Goodwill, would anyone be interested?  They were kits from American Home magazine (1928-1977), not known who stitched them.  Very large crosses on beautiful linen (?) with a nice sheen, probably stamped embroidery.  All are on the same cream colored fabric, design is around 8" tall.  Four birds and a verse.  The birds could work in an 8 x10 frame or be sewn into pillows.  Free to a good home!

I could mail anywhere, but if international I would like to verify shipping first.  

Let me know, email link at top right or comment.

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