A little too natural?

Csferra was the winner by email entry which allowed me to reply directly.  The chart with the four troublemakers is heading out!!

Today I bleached two large pieces of unbleached 28 count and am happy with the result.  A very neutral lighter tan, still brownish, not at all too light.  The original fabric is the folded piece, decided to only lighten two at this time.

This has happened before and I never did find an answer.  The water in this bucket was from the very light wash I gave the linen to get rid of that water repellent finish.  It's like sizing on most fabrics and I always remove it before dye/bleach.  Since this linen was unbleached, this brown water can't be from excess dye, so what is it?  Stored in plastic yet the wash water is always dirty.  Are we stitching on dirty linen?  Does the unbleached retain a residue since it is not processed as those dyed and bleached? Is natural or raw the same as unbleached?  Any thoughts?

Remember when I took apart my older samplers and realized how dirty the glass had become?  Professionally framed with sealed backs, yet this film can really obscure the stitchery.  What an enormous difference once that glass was cleaned.  My earlier stitching was all unbleached so I can't say if the other linens emit the same off-gasses. Would this be reduced if washed first?  Does the finish I find (almost water repellent) on the fabric contain something that adds to this?   I'm just full of queries tonight.  And I expect answers.

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Half the battle is over. Or is it?

Now the linen color and count becomes the second half of the war.  Why is it so difficult?  Since the majority of my linen for many years was 28 count unbleached, my on hand choice is limited and orders for a higher count haven't arrived.  This afternoon I plan to bleach dip those very large pieces of unbleached, kitted for the larger girls, hoping to lighten just a bit.  But do I want to go back to two threads?  Not really.  And I wish they were at least 30.  I've used a hot tumble in the dryer to shrink a little and will give that a try.

These four have been on my list for a long time.  I've always been monogamous, but I may start each of these and try to pull them out on certain days in an attempt to get these girls stitched.

So many choices for a daily project including the recent purchases, but I went back to the older stash and chose one of the R&Rs.  None of the photos on their old charts are good representations of the finish, most are quite dark and details are not clear.  But I see through that and think this will be a wonderful piece.  Size is 152 x 279.

This bottom area in blue, the bottom motifs...

interesting bands and colors.

So Ann Stone it will be when I choose a linen.  I found several older charts have no stitch count, or no finished size per count.  That irks me.  I don't want to count the squares which would require pencil marks or I would start over 100 times, and I don't want to find a calculator to estimate size of linen required.  Maybe that's a small thing for some, but not me.

As I type this, Nash's Hannah Jenkinson is staring at me.  No!  Ann Stone it will be.  Nancy Nurse 1807 on Murky?  Sheepish Antiques EB sampler?  Stop it.

I plan to list a bunch of charts on Ebay soon, easier than here, but I need to check their rules and changes since the last time I sold there.  I joined a FB site of sampler chart sales, maybe I should check that too.  I just prefer the convenience of the address and payment being handled.  

Hope your weekend is going well!!

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Another come on down!

You could be the next winner on the Chart is Right!  If you'd like to have the last project's Miniature Quaker Sampler chart, leave your name or initials or email in the comments, or email me directly.

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

Adding a wreath around the bird's neck, berries instead of flowers, and red brick on the house, would make a nice Christmas stitch.

New owner will be named Sunday evening at 8.

Happy weekend!

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That's better

What a difference one row can make.  

A needlebook was planned but I do like this little design as something different than my usual samplers.  A knob hanger it will be.  This abbreviated version is about 4" x 5" on 35 (?) count.  I used 937 for all the border and 632 for the flowers.  House is 869 and 3866, lawn is Colour & Cotton Willow.  Bird is 950, 3023, 645.  Small birds are 3023 and 645.  Beaks and feet are 830.  Roof is 3045 and windows are 3031.

Design is from Kathy Barrick, Miniature Quaker Sampler.

Had my second PRP scalp injections this morning.  I do like this doctor.

Have a great Friday!!

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Freshening linen

A trip to the Amish farm stand for corn and peppers included a stop on the way home.  Oh my.  I found Michel Design Works products and fell in love with this scent, Lavender Rosemary.  The sachet will freshen my linens, which sometimes have a slight and odd odor to my sensitive nose.  It's not overly strong but I'm hanging one in my closet also to see how it works.  

Love love love this scent.

Worth the trip, even though the corn was unappetizing.

What's the best sachet product you've found?  Do you use them in linen stash?  

I've used scented wax, small candles, cotton balls sprayed with (bed) linen spray. None transferred to the fabric so I'm hoping this will.  If it does, the scent would probably not last throughout the project so I'm making small bags with lavender to keep in the project bags.  

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Incentive!!

Because of the kindness of a fellow stitcher whom I've had the pleasure of meeting, the floss I needed arrived in my mailbox today.  My crab claws turned upside down into a smile.  She took the time to purchase and mail my threads, how can I set this aside?  Just the push I needed to make this right, and finish this project.

Now where are my Lift 'n Snips?  The flower and four little troublemakers will be right up to the house, and the first section's where the error began will be touching the leaf.  I used the Paint program to add those stitches and it does not look good.  The other side's leaves are open and it throws off the balance.  

I need to find a lesson on the new blogger.  Revert to draft is gone, and why are the options for various devices shown on the preview page?  I'm almost afraid to click an icon.  Where is the setting for update after an edit?  Scheduling time for the post?  Not happy.  Why does it show I published this a half hour ago when I'm still typing?

We've had rain for a few days and I have red tomatoes!!

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