Another Lydia and Eunice

Good day to you.  Thanks for the help in choosing a small sampler ~ I chose Eunice Birchard from The Scarlet Letter.  Two reasons ~

1.  Patience was my first choice but I always waffle and wish I would have chosen the second, so now I go right to #2.  It saves time and frustration. That would be Eunice.

2.  I saw "God save America" in the middle and thought it was appropriate in an election year.  Even though America seems to be excluding God wherever possible.

I'm ready for the rice stitch and need to refresh my knowledge for proper execution.  Months ago, that execution would have been a different type, usually involving a lighter and flames, but I've been a really good girl lady stitcher.

Now for Lydia.  Lydia Broome.  I miss a lot of the new releases and never even saw many of the older. But while browsing blogs last night, I visited Pineberry Lane and saw this new design.  I got all warm and fuzzy.  Love at first sight.  I hope they don't mind my snagging their photo.  I'm not adding this to my list of charts to purchase because I want it NOW.  Besides.....can't find the list.

Hannah Way will probably be after Patience and I wanted to show you the instruction for the seven-step cross, which she used and I won't, and also the marking stitch.

The over one area has missing stitches but they would obviously be "thy dear Saviour's birth" and I will stitch the missing area.

It's bad enough to have visitors look around and wonder why everything is stained with coffee, let alone missing parts of the letters.  I'm taking the time to kit a few of the smaller projects because it is such a chore to find the right size and shade of linen in my mess.  I have so many odd sizes and always spend time trying to use those before cutting into that yard of linen.  Gives me the bejeebers just thinking about it.

JoAnn's was having a sale of 50% off all interfacing and batting bolts.  The midweight is one I never tried, I use the featherweight, and prefer Craft Fuse but they had none.  I am so pleased with storing them in these envelopes along with the directions for each.  The thickest batting is 54" wide and I got two yards.  When I tried to remove the bag it exploded like a self inflating raft.

Last purchase was at the antique mall for this 36" long skinny old box and after much time wasting, decided I like the less is more approach.   I had it horizontal with so many small items in it, changing every half hour, and now I can't remember where they all belong.  It will be hung on the wall and I think I'll look for an even longer dipper gourd or maybe hang two thin ones in the space. 

That's about it.  I hope everyone is having a enjoyable weekend.

  Thank you so much for visiting!

My swing needs a sampler

Greetings!  Hope you enjoyed the 4th and everyone is staying cool.  I heard that power should be restored to all storm areas soon - hope that's true.  A cold wet towel across the back of the neck or shoulders helps but where do you get cold anything without refrigeration?  

I sit outside on my swing in the afternoon and evenings for a while and realized the current sampler project is too big for that.  I checked stash and found  several smaller ones but when trying to determine size (it irks me when the count isn't shown on the chart) I found that these young sweet girls just couldn't do a plain cross stitch.   I just want a simple design that is easy to follow and I was surprised at how many charts included the Queen stitch that I am trying to avoid.   Most also have over one stitching but not very much.  I may still find it, but these are what I came up with so far.  First off is Hannah Way.  Remember her?  Small but mighty.

Next up is Patience Ross.

This chart seems a little odd with strips of graph sideways but I think it would be easy to decipher once started.

The next contestant is Frances Ragsdale.  Mostly cross stitch but lots of eyelet and some other odd stitch.

 

Eunice Birchard looks tame but that large alphabet is rice stitch.

I love the colors of Ann Price but after the top alphabet, the rest is ALL eyelet!

I was leaning toward Eunice today, but as my flashes intensify the heat index, Patience Ross is looking better.  When I'm sitting in the heat and then set on fire by hormones, I feel like a comic book hero that could create spontaneous combustion at the least bit of aggravation.   The sampler of least resistance would be the best choice.  I may find something else tomorrow or pick a small freebie.  Wish me luck!! 

 Thank you very much for visiting and have a great and safe weekend!

Frogging season part 2

Hello everybody.  You won't believe it.  Well....maybe you will.  Before I get to the floss dilemma, I want to wish you all a celebratory but safe 4th.  My old 8' pull-down style flag is pretty faded so I moved it to the deck and got a new one. 

The pull-downs are always too long at 8' but I like the style.  Why did it take me years to  buy a 3x5 and fold it back?  I don't believe cutting to create the other style would be considered defacing,  but mine is folded and stitched to the back because I may change my mind and want the full 3 x 5 size. It's a perfect fit for a door and here's the end result. 

Here's my old one hanging on the deck.  I love the way it looks at night.

On to the floss.  So what happens to the sampler threads over the years?  Fading if in light, dingy and dirty from age.  It wouldn't become a warmer shade, more of a ..... gray.   Rit's pearl gray?   Possibly.   Oh no!!  I'm dyeing again!  Half of these skeins were dipped as a test and I'm anxious to try the others. 

There is a good possibility that I will stick with the original thread colors and dunk them into the dye.  I still may have to change a few but this could be the answer to future projects too, instead of wasting time pulling other colors.  I was wondering if after graying the colors I should do a quick bleach dip to get a faded look, and then decided it isn't worth it.  Never thought of this before so between the folded flag and the floss aging, I'm either on a roll or way behind the wagon.  

Thanks for your visit and have a safe holiday! 

Frogging season

Hiya.  Hope you are staying cool and safe!  Lots of stuff happening and I hope the worst is over and everyone has come through unscathed. 

We finally got a little rain yesterday and these positions should tell you how hot it is. 










She slept for hours like this!

Eliza is not going as well as I had hoped.  Not only did I have to remove and restart twice because of positioning, but as I did the alphabet, I realized these beautiful bright colors were not sitting well.  I've seen designers use the original bright colors and also offer the faded versions created by time.  So I thought I would stick to the same color family and choose a more subdued version.    The charted skein is top and my choice beneath.  Those colors in the top border are charted and I decided to not remove them and see how they fit in.  Alphabets and another border, still not happy.  Is there a tutorial on frogging?  And how did that term come to be? 

I have always removed the thread from the top instead of using the Lift 'n Snip. 

I've only had one mishap with those but it seems to take so much longer to remove the threads and I have a mess to clean up.  I guess it's up to the stitcher which she prefers since both methods are favored in certain areas.  I used both (for variety) since I've done it so many times already.  But if it doesn't feel right or look right to us, better to take the time to remove and get what we want before going any further.  Maybe it's the 32 count that looks more refined and smooth compared to the rougher 28's I usually use.  Maybe it's the color of the linen that isn't warm or dark enough.  Something.  I may end up going back to the original colors on darker linen and have a very nice sampler that isn't my style, or cut down on the number of colors and stick to the ones I prefer.  I hate to change the linen but a few letters with these colors on another piece wouldn't hurt.  Look at the time I've wasted already!   Better grab a small freebie or another Santa while I'm thinking.  I am determined to stitch her and don't want to change designs.  We'll see. 

I also want to mention that I downloaded a program to check for spyware and ads which seems to be throwing a lot of emails into the junk pile.  I rarely check it but did recently and found that even some comments (which are emailed to me) end up there.  If you emailed a question and I didn't get back to you, try again!  I'm sorry if I missed you!  I guess I better change the settings to not delete or block any messages.

Leaving you with a picture of the babies.  The mid day raccoons that I've been feeding (all moms) have now brought the babes out!  One big momma has FIVE little ones.  Yesterday one came running up to me and I had to get that bread out quick!  Several of my brother's friends trapped and removed their mid day visitors so I doubt if the babies survived.  They are coming later and later in the day and some not at all now that the babes are out of the nest. 

I'll be working outside today and thinking about what to do while I'm on the tractor in the dust ball it creates.   Hopefully, something will click and it won't be a bone.

Thank you so much for visiting and have a wonderful week!

p.s.  Ever since I scolded spellchecker about not having menobrain or hysterectobelly is its database, it quit working.  Please excuse any spelling errors until we reconcile.

The boys are back in town!



Eliza who?

Pumroy!  Hello all.  I chose the underdog!  Actually, I pulled threads and chose linen for both and may work on them at the same time.  Something is drawing me to her but I've already had to remove all the stitching in the top border.  Did she run into Lucy up there?  Although the wonderful chart has the stitch count, I couldn't find the total height and width numbers and I counted wrong!  Starting in the middle, I worked my way right and it was fine.  Left, not so much.  There was a fabric margin but not enough for comfort.  Will I be adding my own stitch count for borders in future charts?  You betcha.  Why didn't I think of this before, especially since the reproductions almost never have matched borders.  Here is the fabric - 32 count Lt. Mocha Belfast (doesn't look it but it had the original shop tag), and floss - which are much brighter than I've ever worked with.  I love the samplers rich in colors on light ground but they're not my usual stitch.

I think this is going to be an interesting piece to work on and I like the fact that although it is close to 30" long, it is narrow so rows are quickly completed.  If you want to see more of the piece and photos of the original, visit her blog here and scroll down to almost the bottom. 

 Another reason I chose her first is after reading Eliza Jane again, I realized the four sided border is Queen stitch.  Because I've never been able to do that stitch properly in addition to it being my least favorite, I'll have to work out a substitute but Pumroy is ready to go!

 
 

So there will be only one queen around here and unfortunately, it's not me.  It used to be, but now it's Missy - see her under the flowers with her royal attitude?  

And I thought you would like to see the last of the BOAF boys.  Major changes. First off, he is charted for a gold metallic coat, which I changed to DMC 783.  Stockings and cap were to be a bright yellow and orange,  I used the red 304 and green 989.  I've been seeing quite a few of these on Ebay and this gold one went for $8.50.  Not bad considering some of the prices recently.  So my set is complete and I can start looking through the Prairie Schoolers for a few others.  That's it for me.  It's going to be very hot and humid here for a few days, and my heart goes out to the western states with the devastating fires, and Florida's flooding.  Those fires are so upsetting to us animal and nature lovers, and having to quickly evacuate and lose everything to a fire is horrific.  I can't imagine how the firefighters can deal with the temperatures plus the additional heat from the fires.  Have a safe weekend and I'll talk to you soon.  Thank you so much for visiting!

It's official - 61!!

Hello young people.  That includes youthful old people.  Two things before stitchery talk.  My friend Patti, who many of you said a prayer for, gifted me with her beautifully stitched patriotic ornament and a round box with one of her label creations.   I think she should start selling!  You also see Ann's gift (which I've moved many times) with the jar filled with my chewable calciums.  Great way to keep them handy, and I keep taking the basket off because I love looking at the perfect weave.  To fill the spot I originally placed it (and may return to) one of my boxes fits pretty good too.

 I'll be done with Santa soon and need to chose a sampler so here's my choices.  Both of which I think would be excellent projects after my struggle with Lucy.  The majority of my reproductions are from The Scarlet Letter, but these two new purchases are Threads through Time.  My oh my.  I'm sure you already know how wonderful these instructions and diagrams are.  Huge easy to read chart with stitch counts circled, colors noted, quirky areas outlined.  Eliza Pumroy has more types of stitches than I expected and lots of borders, but with this type of help, I think I can manage.  What do 'ya think Lucy? 

 The Eliza Jane Stiles isn't as large but is still a 4 page graph with very detailed written instructions including areas to pay special attention to.  Those areas that I usually assume are repeat stitches, which technically they become, because I have to remove and repeat.  I just realized they are both from young girls named Eliza.

This really made me happy - both graphs have the stitch count of each section of border!  See the numbers circled?  And areas that could create errors also circled.  My kind of graph!  This is why I'm feeling pretty good about starting either.  If I have more problems right from the start, I'm not sure if menomaniac will appear.  She looks like me, but I can't trust her.   I'll make my decision and choose a linen tomorrow......oh no.  The linen drawers.   Count?  Color?  Cut it?   The Pumroy colors appear pretty bright so I'll pull everything first and there's always the possibility of changing a few.

That's it.  I'm ready to close with a photo of my doe eating one of the dozen hot dog buns she consumes daily.  So I did the spell-check.  Menomaniac is still not in there.  Neither is menobrain or hysterectobelly.   Who do I write to about this?  As far as I'm concerned, these are actual conditions more identifiable than the slang currently being included in our dictionaries. 

 Hysterectobelly is REAL I tell you and ask any woman over 50 if she knows what menobrain is. 

I'll stop now.  Have a beautiful Sunday, stay safe, and thank you so much for your comments and visits.