Really?

 Without posting for over a week and over 4000 views per day?  Clueless as to where the bots are from.

So how is everyone?  Well I hope.

Aside from BP meds wreaking havoc with my Sjogren's, making me miserable enough to not stitch, I've been busy.  And if one more medical person tells me to " just drink more water",  they better have a good dental plan.  If you need to loosen or free a stuck object do you spray water on it or WD40?  Saliva is a lubricant, water IS NOT!!   Don't tell me your morning dry mouth is the same.  I could suck in my cheeks until they are blue and not produce one drop.  Yes, water feels good for a few seconds, and that's all. 

End of rant.

Scott is coming Monday to replace the warped patio door and install 8" and 10" shiplap to cover the bad walls.

A few days ago after removing trim, beams, and failing drywall tape, paint, and caulk.

And this morning after days of work, patched, painted, ready to roll.

We used bottle jacks to raise the two kitchen cabinets so crown moulding will be level with the other side.  These two cabinets were made by Dominic several years ago to replace the original smaller units, and installed an inch lower than the carpenter's other side.  Scott will install crown around them all, and I plan to paint cabinets white. 

This is the other side that the carpenter never finished.  Bare 2x4 pieces at the top for the crown that never came.  I am so glad this will be done and we found a reputable pro to work.  

And these turkeys!!  I look for Mr. Hitchcock every time we go outside.  They flock is now over 80 and they run to us.  Will be nesting soon and the visits will slow as always.  We hope!

I ran into Hobby Lobby last week for dmc and saw this hanging above.  The colors in this pack sang to me.  Quality is probably lacking, haven't tried them yet.  Only 2.99 for 36 skeins of 8.75 six strand cotton floss.

I am anxious to choose a small project now, thought this break/slump would be much longer but thankfully not.

Enjoy the weekend, stay safe.

Thanks for visiting!

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"If it's not one thing,

it's another" ......

Roseanne Roseannadanna

The Chloe project

Searched linen stash for a piece similar in size to the new project.  Cutting a large piece is very difficult for me, wastage of wide margins is avoided, and having a usable leftover for even a small project is included in the decision.  It does take time, maybe too much, but the Stella in me refuses to waste expensive linen.  

Search completed, does it need dyed, darkened, or brightened?  Yep.  Done.

Start stitching, but fail to give the chart instructions full attention and confuse color symbols.

Count incorrectly for two script letter placements, and one border section.  So the crabass frogs.

The frog corrected blue border is not agreeing with me, remove it.  Replace with a perfect muted brown.

Now we're ready to roll baby!

Ahh, hold your hotcakes.  Something seems off.......

Chloe is not my usual more length than width sampler, long and lanky.  She is short and stocky.  And ninety degrees away from fitting her wide hips on my linen.

You can size, adjust, primp, know the direction to take, and be confident you will fit in.

But one wrong turn and you're screwed.

Yoi.

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Mystery solved

Now I know where linen pieces that I occasionally search for have gone.    

The linen pieces I recently planned to sell are still hiding (as is Lizzie).  Tabbycat Lallybroch will be added, and I snapped a few pics to show the mottling patterns.  When I reinstalled the Linen for Sale page here to post them, I was shocked at what the page revealed I had sold!  And why?  

So I added the other For Sale page back, saw those boxes, and wish I would have kept a few favorites.  Love that hexagon, never found another box, and my source closed its doors.  Wow.  Good prices!

Anyway, here's what I hope to offer.

One fat eighth 40 Lallybroch

One fat eighth 40 Creme Brulee

One fat eighth 36 Lallybroch

One fat quarter 36 Lallybroch

Haven't priced yet.

What's the FB selling group name?

I  removed Chole's dark blue border and choose a muted brown replacement.  She will be wonderful.  I wasn't as upset about color as I was about continuing my bad habit, a guaranteed source for errors.  This sampler has no over one, a short row of eyelet, another short row of four sided, and a dividing band with satin stitch.

Another warm day, all coming to an end.

Hope your March has been pleasant so far.

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When will I learn

to PAY ATTENTION and fully read a chart?  How many times have I failed to do this?

I wanted to mimic the original but couldn't understand how the teal faded to tan (cover photos).  The small colored diagram of the sampler inside the booklet matched that same color layout.  The thread legend lists the large alphabet symbol X as tan, not teal!  I glanced instead of reading fully and assumed the X was teal because of the photo. 

Studying/reviewing the symbols and their placement on the chart would have prevented this error.  My habit of referring to and too often following chart photos rather than the graph, has not been corrected.  Will it ever be?

I stitched the large alpha in teal, completely my fault.  Do I start over to satisfy my preference of the softer tan?  Put it aside because my patience and temper has been getting the best of me lately?  Accept the teal and continue with softer colors elsewhere?  

My big girl panties are stretched from being pulled up too often, and maybe it's time to get a larger size.  Teal it is.

Enjoy your day, be safe.

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Next

 I think.

Chloe Smith, Needle Work Press.

Natural 36 count, dyed slightly darker, shrunk in the dryer, still quite stiff and wrinkly.  When choosing a primitive sampler I do prefer that sort of crepe appearance in the linen.  

Most of the charted threads are being used but I added very light for some areas and dividing bands as shown in the original.  Looks more primitive to me.

My Sudberry wooden heart box was never covered with stitchery, still haven't found the right piece.  Decided to try wrapping the padded heart of the lid with waxed paper for cover size, then laying on the linen.

This gal was never fully pinned for framing.  Maybe?  I prefer alphabet samplers but mounting a scene or motif may work out even better.

Hope everyone is having a peaceful day.

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Welcome back Bettsy

 Hello people.

My stomach and churns and heart aches seeing Texas.  

Before starting another small, I found this in my bag while searching. 

 Sheepish Antiques Bettsy Wood that I no longer loved.  After changing the second row motifs and a few borders, I decided to save the top and create a little drum.  Not too small, perfect save.  

I have much sewing to do but with the disastrous mess, can't accomplish much.  I do think my BP is doing much better and I paid for my Synvisc syringes which will be arriving soon.  But I can't blame inaction entirely on medical issues.  Without a plan in place, clutter is moved, rotated, and still a problem.  Storage pieces with layout needs to be done first.  So this little project will add to my pile, and I hope my sewing machine doesn't fail again when I get back to it.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Thanks for visiting.

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