Surprise gift!

You record the designer, pattern, and additional notes in the top section.  Beneath are columns noting the charted color, and directly opposite the change made by the stitcher.  Moi.  

This is a wonderful gift!!  I was totally unaware of this book, which is a very simple way to note those constant changes.  Plenty of room, and no other info is really necessary so this will be a valuable tool for me.  I tried keeping a book with info on each project but recording every change or issue throughout the stitching was very inconvenient (i.e. PITA).  If I waited until the project was completed, I couldn't remember what I did weeks before to record accurately.  This will be so much simpler and helpful.  My plan is to number each page of the book and insert a card listing projects with page # assigned making them easy to find.

Thank goodness it was delivered in the plastic bubble bag and not paper envelope because a severe hail storm arrived and blew items throughout the neighbors.  Thankfully this was caught in the rocker's slats.  And we are back under a severe warning so I will show my new charts next time.

No project has been chosen yet, Scott dropped off equipment and tools to start work early Monday.  I plan to hide in my sewing room and attempt to organize, maybe do a little machine sewing.  He is a talker, and as with most people, does not understand why that's a problem for me.

Have a good start to another week.  Middle of April!!  Be safe.

To Fabric Girl- the stitching station photos are in previous posts.  Thanks!

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Goodbye Jane

Will we ever meet again?

Sure.  But this break will do well for us both.

I used the 3721 for the border flowers. Still prefer the brighter pink I originally chose, but it didn't work where used in the body.  She has been poked and frogged and cussed and poked again, she can rest for a while.  Large samplers are not calling to me as before, especially with a border like Jane's. I have several new smalls from market and an order coming Monday with several more (not samplers).  

Jane is back in her bag, but on the bottom tray of my station in case I feel the urge.  The added trays are wonderful.  No, this does not pull over my large lap, it sits right next to the chair, keeping several rings of thread, current chart, doodad supplies, and now a few other projects and charts very handy.  If I go to another chair or room, the station comes with me.  Everything I need to stitch is there, DMC book, needles, scissors, extra floss bags and rings, clips, ruler, glasses, mouth and eye gels, tape for fuzzies.  Also easy to hide in another room when necessary.  I have two hoops, they can slide into the tray or hang from the side hooks.  I set the current project on the tray top and have various covers to throw over.  Can you tell how much I love it?

My second injection was painful but not for as long as the first one.  Final will be Tuesday but honestly, I don't expect much simply because I don't believe they are treating the actual damage. Of all the braces and aids, this one really offers support and stability.  DonJoy Reaction knee brace.  It has little hinges!

It has rained for days, lawn is now lake.  Right now, terrible winds with the downpour knocking off more branches which the yard was cleared of!!

Tonight, floss tube.  

I hope your week went well, and the weekend will also.

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Station redo

 Hi folks.  The snow/sleet/rain/hail/sun of Friday ended and next week brings warmer temps, and more rain.  But that's not what I want to tell you.

Remember my wood tv tray turned stitching station?  Magnets for needles, scissors, hooks for thread rings, measuring tools, calculator, slot for DMC sample book.  I needed more when choosing and changing and testing.  Until a better option is found, I decided to get legal size file/paper trays to attach beneath for handy organizing.  Love it!  Size just fit, used zip ties to secure, great idea.

The other delivery was for project bags in a style I think best for me.  I'll show that next, not sure if I'm keeping.

I've tried several other threads on Jane, no decision yet.

Hope your weekend is a good one!

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Take notes!

 Good grief.  I have several notebooks to record my stitching.  And since thread colors are changed in every one of my projects, they should be noted!  In writing.  And highlighted.  In one of three books.  But my numerous bad habits are never corrected.  

Jane was started over a year ago, can't find one hint of substitutions other than linen.  Continuing in the body, I will be able to determine if the border will need frogged or the two row adjustment in that section will work.  She will be set aside soon for a new start but not until the thread changes are clearly noted.

The pink of the basket's center flower is the same as in the border, and all came to a halt when I realized it's a mystery.  After sliding Jane across dmc sample rows, it has to be one of these two.   Which?

Not a stranger to this self inflicted problem, I resorted to the trick used many times.  Thread looks different fully stitched, especially after dulled from handling.  So I pull a tail from the back, smoosh the end to fray if not already, and lay the options.  Not a guarantee when so close, but has only failed me twice before out of too many to count.  Stitched tails are first and third.  Second slightly darker thread does not match, more easily seen in those frays.  

The charted 3722 on right (intensely disliked in any project), does not appeal to me on this linen.  The top left 3721 is better, still quite a bit darker than I'd like.  But being only one shade off from the chart, will be stitched in for a test, just to quell any doubts.  

Monday past, I received the first of three gel injections into my knee, which some warned would be excruciating, others not so bad.   The tech is very experienced, I don't question his work.  But.  Mark was watching my face and thought I was going to scream.  When Sjogren's prevents tears from leaking, crying is not visible, but I was.  I needed help to leave, and the brace is back on.  It was tremendous pressure as if my knee was in a vise, subsided by night.  My pain is not now, has never been, in the joint, and the mri shows the damage elsewhere.  Can't wait for the other two injections!

Hope everyone is doing well.

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Setting Jane straight

 I missed two stitches in the border height starting right beneath the yellow flower.  The body's start is aligned with the pink flower, and now higher/closer to the border top by two rows.

Jane Southward 1836 is one of three larger projects that were set aside because of size, color changes, and linen choice, thought I would add a few stitches between choosing next projects.  Jane is 36 count Seraphim and more difficult for me to work than the previous project's 46.  Why?  Dark linen vs. light linen.  

My options now that the errors were found...

1. Remove the border starting below and including the entire flower, continuing through to end.

2.  By adjusting the body section, less frogging, but continued confusion and chart adjustments resulting in more errors.

3.  No frogging, reduce the size of top motifs on each side of the center floral basket by two rows, and the top right corner of the random border will not be a problem to fudge.

 

4.  Put her to sleep and choose a new project.

The End.

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Finish!

 My first 46 count.  I found that the weft (?) threads (vertical to selvage) are shredding, breaking, even without much stress.  The warp threads (horizontal) are still breaking with a tug but are stronger than the weft.  I am sure this is not the norm with this count, and am anxious to stitch on a different piece.

So, this sweet sampler from Scarlet Letter will be added to the pile for final finishing.  It is just under 5" x 2.5".  

Folded in half, a darling little needle book.  

If mylar or mat board inserted, I can stand it half open as a miniature book, both sides visible.  Sounds good!  

Yesterday's mail delivered this market release that hasn't seemed to get much buzz.  I recently saw a chart with these same letters in red on a sampler, different designer.  Striking, and hope to finish as a book/journal cover, may be a perfect fit.  The 1840 miniature standing with it .... yepper!  

I really like this sliding photo frame lidded box and have searched for others, perfect to stand for display.  I purchased two smaller ones years ago, they are hiding and will appear one day.

I hope everyone that celebrates has a wonderful Easter.

Be well, be safe. 

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