Delivered

Didn't expect two orders in one day and so soon!   My small linen piece is the same as I ordered a few years back, Lambswool in 35 count.  My older one is lighter and pinker, the new one (same color) is darker and nicer.  Here's the difference in the old and new, I like them both.

And this is Lambswool compared to Weeks Dye Work's Beige.  One of my favorites, it leans toward green, even more than this photo.  I'm anxious to see the Winter Brew in a few days.

I adore Nash's Paisley and always have.  Lots of fill-in stitching which is fine.  All the samplers will be great and one will be chosen for the next project.  Paisley will be a summer project, easy to stitch while relaxing on a swing.

Hannah Jenkinson from Nash (photo from Country Sampler) will be stitched on a lighter linen than called for.  

The only disappointment is the Hinkling chart.  It is high quality paper and the detailed chart is over 10 pages, very nice.  But one color is a very light gray and I really can't see it unless pulled close to my face.  Even then the satin stitch lines are almost unreadable so I have to choose a color and fill this in myself.  Do not like marking a chart but the faint lines will not transfer to a working copy (which looks like a child's coloring book when I'm done).  

I love this sampler and I think it will be stitched next. 

Have a good day buds!!  Be well.

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Finds

A piece of R&R's Winter Brew 17 x 27.  It took a while since the online shops I use were all out of stock, but there was one piece left at Cardinal Needleworks 

https://www.cardinalneedleworks.com/pages/test

so I jumped on it before I had a chance to browse their other products.  It's happened to me before, when I took my time with an order and lost out so I clicked that Place Order button quickly.  This morning, I see that they dye their own linen and also threads, Colour and Cottons

https://www.colourandcotton.com/pages/about-us

Their threads are DMC based and 8 yard skeins of one yard lengths.  Never knew about this company, will be browsing this afternoon.

Another place I found the Winter Brew is Ye Olde Cross Stitchery if you've been looking for a piece.

https://www.yeoldecs.com/detail.cfm?ID=53871

As for threads, in addition to Colour and Cotton there are also Valdani 6 ply colorfast in 10 yard skeins.  This site has them on sale for $2.69 and many other shops carry them also. 

https://www.embroidery.com/valdani6ply-skeins.ec?efid=3260

 Great selection of colors.  The shop in Boardman has the full line and the colors are rich and gorgeous.  Don't know when she will open again but I may email to see if she could mail them.  I've ordered 10 yard cards of GAST before but I can't say if all their colors are offered as such.  Someone on FB mentioned a company's overdyed floss and they were impressed, but I didn't write it down.  You know how that goes.

I found another skein hiding on the ring and I think this one will work very nicely with the 3777 I've already used, so I'm good to go.  Any red I order without seeing will be a shot in the dark.  The brownish threads would do well for the people pants but since there isn't much variation I don't know if it would be noticeable in such a small area.  Probably won't remove and restitch, but we'll see.

This week's mail will yield NWP's EF 1836-1837, 

Stacy Nash's Hannah Jenkinson sampler, 

Lucy Beam's Family Sampler,

Stacy Nash's Paisley (animal crackers)

WDW Lambswool linen

Gigi R's Mary Ann Hickling sampler

R&R Winter Brew linen.

My lymph nodes are now larger than my boobs.  But that really doesn't take much to do.  New round of antibiotics since I am worse, but no fever.  In fact, this morning I was 91.1.  You think the battery may be running down?

I tried to reply directly to some of you that asked a question but remember, you're no-reply.  I tried my best to reply through blogs or here but I've not heard back from several.  If you expected a reply and never received one, please understand I can't if you don't email me directly.

Making progress on this small piece and happy to not be holding a large piece of linen in hand!  Also enjoying one thread since I am a sloppy and tension-ed stitcher.  My new fabrics are 36 count, I think I'm pushing it if I attempt 40, but the coverage still isn't that great.  Maybe because I'm coming away from two threads and expecting too much of that skinny single strand.

Stay safe everyone!  Sit outside and take in fresh air, nice deep breaths.  If I do that, it initiates a cough that sounds like an elk calling for a mate while stepping on a goose.  The cats lay low on high alert and start looking for a predator.  Silly animals.  My nephew's company (steel) shut down and laid of all employees once the stimulus package was signed.  He can't sit still for two minutes so this will be much harder for someone like him.  

Be well and stay safe.

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Reds!

Hi folks.  Hope everyone is well.  I sound like an elk calling in a mate while stomping on a goose.  No fever.  Without a fever, you aren't tested.  Mistake?  Who knows for sure, but I will check will my doc again tomorrow.  I'm not sick, just the throat and chest, sleeping a lot, so I'm not concerned.  I have an antibiotic (chewable!) and I started on that already.  How are you and your families?  Any concerns, colds, flu?

I am working on 35 count and doing OK, but I don't think the coverage is as good as I expected.  The WDW Beige linen is perfect for the threads.  The called for Winter's Brew (R&R) is listed as similar to DMC 612 on 123's site.  DMC 611 is used throughout the sampler so I would think that thread would not show at all, but it's very pronounced on the model.  I'm sure some linen pieces are lighter, some darker than that, and ordering online offers no choice.  

I've already changed two colors, the 611 to 610 for the clothing and and 3859 to 407 for the flesh.  Very subtle change.  GAST Pomegranate is the charted red used throughout or DMC 3777 which I've used so far.  But the house?  I want a variegated thread and my closest reds are Mulberry or Buckeye Scarlet.  One is too purple and the other very bright.  I'm not ordering the Pomegranate or any other GAST without seeing it.  Too many skeins dramatically different from others of the same name.  

These Mulberry skeins are subtle and very nice.  One Scarlet skein is pink, one bright, one is like yarn.  The twist is loose, fibers are raised, and none of the three are noticeably shaded.  I will order several (Valdani?) online today between naps and wait until they arrive before deciding on the house red.
EDIT- OMG!! It IS yarn!!  It's wool!!

And speaking of arrivals ... has anyone received or heard about Amercan Country magazine yet?  Emails, texts, no replies. 

The brats are doing OK.  Nit's hair is growing back on his ear except for the scar, but still curled in.  He smacked Petey a few times yesterday and Petey backed up.  Poor guy is trying so hard to be a part of the gang and I think he is making progress.  They were all peacefully napping on the deck yesterday.  He was a big bruiser when he arrived and ate like a horse.  He had round worms and received the medication in his food over a month ago.  Now he is much thinner and hardly eating at all, even fancy shmancy canned food.

Stay well and be careful!  I think this will be longer than expected.

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New

houses

helpful drink

start

ordered sampler

Mary Ann Hickling 1809, Gigi R

had. to. have.

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How did this happen?

Mark has been doing most of the shopping because he is concerned about me being exposed.  I will go for the ride sometimes, with my Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer, cleaning everything that comes into the car.  Woke up early this morning, couldn't swallow, coughing, headache.  I will wait a day or two (recommended) to see if I worsen before testing, and I am already coughing less as I drink my Chai tea.  I am assuming a cold/flu.  But after being so careful, how???  And here's the real worry ....  Mark took food and money to Carole last night that I packaged.   She certainly doesn't need my germs.  I haven't seen her in person for weeks.

I have a new project chosen but I'm browsing stash anyway.  Guess what I found.  Samplers.  And Santas.  Not much else!  I considered ordering the latest outstanding Blackbird book, there are two that I love in there, but wouldn't stitch the others.  Then I browsed Stitching Bits and Bobs selection of Ewe&Eye&Friends adorable designs, especially those with houses.  I love how they incorporate easy specialty stitches but many have over one alphabets.  Any can be modified easily, I may choose a few from the Small Sampler series.  But for now, this is what's next.
Blackbird Designs
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?

Calls for Winter's Brew from R&R.  ????  No idea so I will choose something from stash.  Probably 35 count, after Ann I am anxious to use one thread.  We'll see if with the Dazor's help and my glasses, I can handle that count.  Right now it's hard to keep my eyes open and I may just nap most of the day.

I would like to see Floss Tubers do a presentation on linens.  The texture, feel, heaviness, tight/loose weave, consistency, and most importantly - SHADES of the various types and brands.   From a group of lights, which lean toward a green, pink, gray, yellow cast?  Compared to raw/unbleached, how dark are some of these?  Linen isn't cheap and many of us purchase pieces that come to our homes with an odd cast that isn't the best for our projects.  I know the computer screens (I like to transfer videos to the TV) and other viewing options aren't accurate, but showing the fabrics together gives some idea of their difference plus the opinion of the presenter would be a real help.  Is it just me and my color phobia or do many of you have the same problem? 
What?
It's just me? 
That hurts.  But not unexpected. 

Stay safe folks.  Doesn't look like things will change any time soon. 
I am certainly not leaving the house now, unless my doc suggests testing.
I'm not concerned.  With all the crabby in this crabass, it wouldn't stand a chance.

Be well!

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To make the BEST DIY face mask

For those of you making masks to donate, this video is full of information and a demonstration on types of fabric and lining for the best protection. Must watch!  Amazon is sold out, my Walmart is also, the fabric stores are closed, but Hobby Lobby has the Oly or the non woven interfacing to order.

https://youtu.be/v8HNYKvlaN8

The Fabric Patch.net also has two other videos, one just a short while ago, on the different types and another option for the nose bridge.  They offer the free pattern for the fitted mask.

http://www.fabricpatch.net/face-masks-for-covid-19-relief.htm
https://media.rainpos.com/220/face_mask_pattern_1.pdf