Leaning toward paint

I have several boxes left from my painting days, this is another that I popped the lid's wood off to recess for needlework.  The stitchery is not perfectly centered and installed yet, because I think I want to paint the box.

This wood color is sealed and I already have several on display, so painted it will be.   A brownish greenish rust.

Stitched my initials.  Couldn't find a container to wrap in leather for a drum, all were too tall.  I have spools of fine leather lacing and may attach to the rim's edge.

Have a good day folks.

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Back to the Parlour

 Finishing the previous start, deciding whether to add my initials or follow the chart.  No other alphabet offered but it shouldn't be too difficult to chart mine in this style.

I added color to the diamond shape in the center of the sprigs.

The right side of the design is charted one stitch longer than the left.  I started this before I received the chart but noticed that one side was longer, I chose to make the same.  This caused the 0 to touch the flower, but it appears to do the same on one of the cover's finishes.  Will I move the 90?  Doubtful.

There is a green spot on the linen which wasn't noticed, will be very close to the edge when sewn.  I would like to use brown leather for the sides, drum finish.  Will not be easy unless I find a container to wrap.

Back home from mammography, nerve testing on right arm in an hour.

Have a good one!

2025 Finish #6

 V Hamel 1868

46 count cream, dmc 22, approximate 4"x 4".

Numeric row omitted.

Never worked that many stitches in that small of a piece.

Prims on Greenway's fabulous berry.

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Six months ago today, is a day that I live over morning and night.  I still expect her to call, I still imagine her in her kitchen.

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Stitch heavy

Glad I omitted the numeric row, and for a 4" sampler (on 46 count), this gal is quite heavy. 

Like the gal stitching her.

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That wasn't bad at all

Not a match or lighter in sight, calm as could be.  The stitches removed easily as did the red fuzz left behind.  Very surprised.  I didn't use the Lift n Snip, just picked each stitch in reverse order and it was painless.

This sampler felt familiar and I realized the top and right side borders were also in BBD's Ooh la la book, top and bottom.  Four different borders, loose alpha, and red.  One of my favorite finishes, love that entire book.

First time doing the pin stitch, didn't remember that the floss is to be split, but on 46 it probably is a given.  Also felt foolish that I was executing it horizontally when diagonal would be much nicer, less bulk.  And it is.

The numeric row is being omitted, I want the piece shorter.  But it also draws my eye to it, sort of detracts from the motifs and borders, I guess because of the tighter placement.  So it's out.

Hope to finish soon, several other smalls are waiting for me.  As for 46 count stitching, I never considered an attempt since it seemed impossible.  My close vision has become bad enough to not allow any reading, even large print, without correction.  But 4.0 magnifiers, my contact lens, and focused lighting is working.  Wearing my prescription glasses instead of contacts, I use a magnifier lamp.  Darker linens are a struggle and avoided in that count.  Progress is slower of course and errors off one linen thread need frequent checks.  The first few stitches are harder until my eyes adjust, and surprisingly, they do.  But once started and adjusted, it has to be completed without switching back and forth with a lower count project.

Have a good day!

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The right way and the wrong way

This is the wrong way and I still do it.

Why would I not continue working the entire border which would catch errors?  Instead, I stopped the single straight row which allowed a one linen thread error in the center area to go unnoticed.  

The needle shows where it begins and I've tried several options to hide this but it didn't work.  The outline row makes it obvious since it aligns one thread (rather than two) from the center stitching and that linen thread happens to be a very very thin one.  There are a few thick threads on this fabric but unfortunately, not there.  So it smooshes together.  I started from the bottom to meet up with the outline, found the error, and already removed those stitches.

Suck it up girl.  Frogging 46 count with pin stitch starts will be frustrating, but not as frustrating as failing to learn from my mistakes. 

I stitch in hand but found that high count such as this 46 is easier to see when slightly stretched on a hoop.  Every little bit helps and I like the spring hoop for ease of use, but it is a little heavy.

Have a good day.

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