Downsizing a chart

Sometimes easy, other times a royal PITA.

It takes a while for me to choose the next project.  I have not been feeling up to par, so it's taking even longer.  Out of breath, weak, a little jittery, chest discomfort, no pain.  I suspect a-fib, but my doc no longer does ekg in office, can't get in to cardio.  I had a nuclear stress and echo two years (?) ago, fine.  Improved for two days, now back again.  I may go to urgent care if it worsens and the office can't get me in.

Anyway.

I love this ...

but not its size.  So I reduced 185 stitches to 160 with this layout.  You can't see the actual charting, just the changes. 

The chart did not copy or scan with any clarity so except for two symbols, will need to work from the chart but refer to my copy for placement.  Should be fun.

A decision was made on the painting.  White Dove minus a few drops of yellow.  I've tried numerous options for the cabinets just a smidge darker but it wasn't working.  The same paint in the newly lapped room is quite greenish with lots of natural light.  Maybe the Low-E glass in the windows is the culprit.  So why did I make this decision?  I'm paint weary.  

But I have a plan that will avoid a sterile/boring result.  (You can see the paint change on the ceiling to the WD, the new crown is primed only.)  The two small cupboards on the left of the large one, will have doors removed and walnut stained baskets fit to shelves.  A walnut stained shelf may go above the window between the two cabinets.  With a few darker wood accents, I think it will be good.

I hope the heat will be tolerated and pets offered relief.  Keep a wet towel from the freezer on the back of the neck, it does help.

Stay safe everyone.

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Finish

Benezet Alphabet

Cross Stitch Antiques

Width was changed, border was changed, bottom row was changed to date and doodads, colors were changed. 

 Routine for me.

A bag finish, leather strip at bottom, leather strap, holding turkey and pheasant feathers?

We'll see!

The dye blend on this was Rit taupe with a touch of Marigold.  The gold is quite strong so very little is needed.

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Every year, this day

If Sjogren's had not stolen my tears, there would be a river.

The sadness in my heart every year on this day cannot be taken away.

That generation has always held my heart.  Mom's neighbor's concentration camp tattoo, my cousin's life altering visit to Auschwitz, the photos of suffering and evil, the brave young men that faced this battle, the mothers saying goodbye, those left in foreign lands.

Forever grateful.

How many will be here to honor next year?

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What's the point?

 Wonk by one!

This is a simple in and out stitch, but a troublemaker.  Taking my time, stitch a point, frog a point.  But that's so easy to do with satin stitch.  

I thought the third one was a little hippy but assumed it was because of thicker linen threads since a placement error could not be found. 

 I separated the threads (Colour and Cotton Eucalyptus) several times until finally...

found it.

Since frogging this is so simple and to me, a noticeable error, I will correct it.  And then miss the correct hole several more times.  But eventually, this thankfully not wide row will be completed.  Tension is always an issue with my stitches and quite tricky with these long loose satins.  

This is the section at my Hobby Lobby that has the 46 count in Cream and Oat colors, also a selection of Aida and others.

Tins, fancy pins, needle minders, quite a few doodads.  The green case is a needlebook on ?felt? with several interior pages of the same.

I bought another in Oat and lightly sprayed to darken.  Warmer tan and very close to my favorite Winter Brew, so I did the other two with the same Rit mix and mottled it darker.

Hope your week is going well.

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Portulaca!

 Working outside this afternoon.  Was planning to burn this toolbox until I spotted these portulacas at the greenhouse.

  Mom had them every year, started from seed.  I got several packs for Carole's narrow planter, perfect for such a display.

Benezet has become a difficult task.  The satin pickets are ten high, spaced two threads vertical but one thread horizontal.  I tried doing two linen threads but the picket became too wide.  Tonight I will use the Dazor to align top with bottom poke, and make sure the two down but one over is correctly placed.  Am I explaining that correctly?  

Hope you had a nice day.

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1782

 Since this will be finished into some sort of bag/pouch (it looks medieval to me), it needs more length and omitting the numeric row is a bad idea.  So I charted the date 1782 (from the history) in place of the numbers.  

 Adding a strip of leather to the bottom of this bag is being considered. 

As of now, the leather strip would be beneath the pickets, no bottom border, should result in a good length.

But maybe a wide ornate frame would be better?  Hmmm.

This is the info on the back of the chart regarding this unusual style.

Cross Stitch Antiques

Benezet Alphabet Sampler

Have a good day folks.

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