Making progress

Many of the stitched ornaments are not hanging on trees this year.

 

 

 

 

 

If you look closely you'll see the little plastic soldier.  Several are throughout the decorations as a reminder of our military.

 

 

Still not stitching, my thumb is worse after removing those fricking little bulbs on the light strings to test and repair at my sister's.  The tool has a bulb remover but I couldn't get it to work most times and it doesn't stick it back into the socket. 

 

Gloomy rainy day, tomorrow will be better but the last day before the cold.  So I'll take the silk poinsettias and the solar lanterns to the cemetery before it gets really cold.

 

We haven't exchanged gifts at Christmas for many years, but I get my two siblings some little thing anyway.  This year, I've decided they can get me something for all the food and errands that I help with.  I want the Microplane wide ribbon grater for onion and garlic (fabulous!).  I gave them the place, parking is 6 feet from their door, the price with tax, the exact name on the label, and the shop's hours.  You wanna bet she asks me to pick it up and she'll pay for it?

 

Have a good one!!

 

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The unfolding

The ins and outs of linen.  Not always.  But certainly this time.  When unpacking my Christmas stitches I remembered that a Teresa Kogut piece was done on Confederate Gray (my first time with that color).  I hated it.  Too pink when mixed in with other finishes .... until .... I turned it to the other side.  Loved it. So I unfolded my new linen and peeked inside and there it was.  The less pink softer color that is agreeable to me, no need to return it.   I never thought to unfold the fabric and look inside and am surprised at the difference. 

Received my Early Homes magazine.  It's not as many pages as the other primitive publications, but I love it as well.  Lots of sources for colonial and early style, not as extreme and "grungy".  Twice a year is not enough for me, wish it was quarterly, but it is more of a special publication from Old House Interiors and I have every issue from the beginning.  If you can't find it, you can order from their website, https://www.aimmedia.com/early-homes/.  I have auto ship so I don't miss an issue.

 

It's December and we have two more days of decent temps, trying to get the leaves done.  Mark has an issue with his foot and needs a cane to (painfully) walk so I will be on my own which is fine with me, but not good for the shoulder.  Leaving shortly for my sister's because those two PITAs can't figure out how to use that Lightkeeper tool to fix the Christmas lights.  Again.  I told her she better get her butt out of the house and into a store, not just restaurants.  I can't remember the last time she got her own groceries and necessities. Then we're off to the doc for injections in his foot.

 

Hope your day is a good one.

 

Thanks for visiting.

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A dozen Santas sale - SOLD

SET IS SOLD

 

If anyone is interested, the total for all 12 including shipping (USA) will be $45.  I hung them on the old ladder, and noticed something.  For some reason, day three does not have the backstitching on the bottom like all the others.  As I mentioned, the backs are either the same fabric, satin, or velvet, hangers are matching cord hand sewn to the front, and they are lined with muslin.  I'm assuming muslin because that is what our local needlework finisher used exclusively.

 

They were stitched as she received the new card, so did she not remember the bottom?  Was the fabric cut too short?  Was there a mishap from the finisher?  Don't know, but day 3 is missing "Three Christmas Wreaths" at the bottom. The hangers are quite long on some and could easily be shortened or knotted.  The smallest is 4 1/4" x 6" and the largest is 5" x 7".


After looking back at the dozen charts, I see that the pink, blue, and other colors were the recommended fabrics. 

 

 

Please email me samplersandsantas@gmail.com if you are interested.

 

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If interested...

I've decided to sell the pillows for her and not purchase them myself.  The information will be posted tomorrow (12/3) morning at 9am.

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It only takes a peek

After reading a post on a stitcher's Facebook page about JBW Designs, I clicked the link and immediately noticed the snippet of a sampler in the header photo.  I. want. it.  After sending an inquiry, I quickly learned from Judy that it was an older chart titled Miss Mary's Sampler 1796.  How nice it was of her to contact me so quickly and with the info I needed (I was searching for Mary Wilson).  To my delight, 123Stitch had this chart on clearance and it must have been the last one because it is now sold out.  Meant to be!  I love these colors and the bottom area.  Ordered another piece of 40 count too.

 

photo from http://www.jbwdesigns.com/

 

If you're wondering why I haven't shown progress on Ellen Ford, my right thumb split open as happens, and it was so sore I could not pull the needle.  It started healing until one of the needles from the very stiff tree I was decorating, hit the bulls eye.  With all that space on my big fat thumb, it lands inside the crack.   It is better and I hope to start tonight.  My hands turn to Velcro every winter and after one doctor told me to use Hydrocortisone cream twice daily, huge difference. 

 

I was really anxious to decorate and for some reason, that fizzled somewhat.  Not sure why, but a few of my small trees are going back into our attic.  I considered purchasing a larger fuller tree this year, getting bored with the same ones every year, but haven't.  Been busy with ordering gifts (my sister rarely does her own shopping) and after wasting days researching compression back braces for my nephew (his back was broken years ago) I received it and now realize that with his diabetic pump and sensor, this will not work.  Since a light touch to the sensor is painful, the compression would be brutal, and I am concerned about the tubing and insulin delivery.  I was really hoping this would be a blessing for his constant pain and the sensor could be moved, but not the port.

 

I start physical therapy on Thursday for an evaluation of my rotator cuff and shoulder impingement.  After she tested me with various positions of agony, I could barely use that arm the next day.  I can't wait to see how it will feel after a therapist yanks it.

 

Have a great weekend!!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The Santa dilemma

I worked on the pillows and smashed them somewhat, much better.  There was only one that wasn't straight on the bottom and that happened to be the one I examined which is now corrected.  The backings vary, some velvet, some matching linen.  The matching cord hangers are long and I twisted them to hang on this 4' tree.  My dilemma?  They are too large for me, but if I remove the backstitching and sew them close to the stitched body I would like them much better.  So for $3 each, backing and cording already at hand, I am considering the purchase.  I do not believe the backstitches would leave any marks (they are all lined but not fused) and most of that area would be cut off anyway.  I need to think about this for a day.  I just wonder if they will still be too large for my small trees, but I could hang them anywhere.  Sounds like I am leaning toward the task!

When I checked my inventory to see if I still had the cards, I found that I offered them in a giveaway a while ago.  But found others online, designs and Santa series from Heartstrings on cards, really different from the traditional solid coat.  Did I have those too?  Yep.  Gave them away?  Yep.  I think they were in the Goodwill batch. 

 

 

Nice day again today and tomorrow.  Hopefully it will be the last days of blowing leaves.

 

Have a good one!

 

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