Sew disappointed

 A few minor changes in the borders because I repeat rather than review.  Each had a slight change in repetition that I failed to follow and the result .... was very good.  

This is about 3.2" x 6" and Maud is very close to that.  No trim, no poms, Maud will also be a small drum.  I think a bowl filled with a mix of finishes would be a nice change from all pillows.

Unfortunately, when repairing clothing for Carole, my very old metal Kenmore machine crapped out.  There are no repair shops any longer so YouTube will hopefully offer some help.  My mom always had her old Singer to a shop, which came back worse.  Really soured me to machine repairs.  A new machine?  School taxes are due, my doubled trash pickup bill starts this month, my power bill is $50 more each month.  Not a good time.  I was very anxious to sew this and enjoy a final finish for a change so quite disappointed.  

Slowly coming out of my fog.  Have not been checking blogs and emails for a while, the new laptop hasn't been set up either.  I've lost friends before, and she and I were not close for years, but I knew her well from our working together for the same doctors.  I can't find the right words to describe her.  I know that leaving her family and treasured home was destroying her more than her pain, and that weighed more heavily than grief if it makes sense.  Crying with no tears for too long had caused such discomfort with my eyes, there was no relief.  Better now, still troubling.  Makes no sense why that would cause more difficulty.

CT scan Tuesday to check my lung spots, not helping my psyche!

Hope you have a nice weekend, that one that signals summer's end.  We may get a few warm days soon, but having socks and fleece on for two weeks in evenings tells the tale.  

Be safe, be well. 

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And again, Maud

 I saw short Maud in the pile for final finishing, and decided to remove the very light pink letters and stitch with a darker shade.  Also changed her name to dmc 902, and plan on attaching matching poms trim around four sides.

The light green is ghosted but will probably stay.  She's such a small sampler, I should have stitched the entire piece.  Maybe again with my color choices.

Three rows are complete on the BBD design, hope to finish soon.  The plan is for a small drum.

Here's what I did with a very large zucchini that everyone loved....

Cut into about 1/2" thick slices, lightly salt and let them sit for thirty minutes to an hour on toweling.  Quick rinse to remove extra salt and leaking.  On sprayed foil in single layer, bake at 400 for around 20 minutes or until softened.  Remove from oven and top each with scoop of Ragu Simply sauce, Italian blend shredded cheese or mozzarella, several pepperoni slices.  Return to hot oven for another 8 to 10 minutes.  Zucchini pizza rounds.  Really good.

August 30 is the season premier of Expedition Bigfoot with  Mireya Mayor on Discovery.  And the end of summer.  

Stay safe everyone.

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On second thought

Fits the narrow space perfectly.  May stay here.

Plastic chair glides are nailed to the bottoms of all outdoor wood pieces to elevate legs a bit.  Prevents the wood from leaving stain marks on the deck and also from water being absorbed into the leg's open grain.  For cast iron stands that will or already have rust, styrofoam from a grocery tray is cut to protect the deck from its stains, waterproof so no moisture contact.

The end.

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Two things

 What I have started...

the smallest sampler I can manage ( BBD 2009) ......

and what we made.

This was the base of a large lift top child's desk we have no use for.  The matching seat bench for the desk is at Carole's, and after adding two old decking boards I found, she can use this outdoors as a little bench for the kids or to decorate.

Hope everyone is doing well.

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Irish Sampler and finish

 Just wanted to mention if you are interested in the sweet Irish Sampler, Wyndham has #1 and also #2 on their ebay site https://www.ebay.com/str/wyndhamneedleworkscats.

This is what #1 looks like, my favorite of the two (which I have but unable to locate so had to repurchase).   If I remember correctly, those three large flowers are queen stitch which will not happen.

  

This is #2.

Sweet!

They have books and some Needleart and Embroidery magazines also along with a good selection of Nostalgic Needle charts.

Finished.  Backstitched for a sewing line since this heart has angles.  I like this look, so I may allow it to show along the seam.  A mattress finish was preferred, but too difficult with the deep center.

Happy weekend.

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Removal angst

 Hello stitchin' buds.  

I bleached the linen, soaked for almost 30 minutes.  Much better.  The threads of the outline lightened so slightly that it's not noticeable so I did not need to start over. 

Been busy with zucchini breads (lemon, death by chocolate, choc chip spice) and don't plan on making more.  But also and finally got around to donating clothing and items that are not being used.  Feels good to rid excess, but also hurts a little.  My sister is one that holds on to things (coats/ clothes she loved) that haven't been worn in over 10 years or more.  I hold on to items I got years ago when Macy's was Kaufmann's and I attacked the 80% off rack.  (The mannequin incident was at JCP, not the rack attack mentioned.)  Even back then, only needing a few pounds off to fit properly, I expected to one day wear them.  If it didn't happen when only 5 needed dropped, it ain't gonna happen for 35.  

More needs to go, simply because they aren't needed.  I wear the same capris, jeans, dress (recent addition and more comfortable in summer) and the rest sits there.  So some items from Carole and more from me finally made it to a thrift store.  But no one will take my china and crystal.

These are two of the charts I'm considering, but certainly not all.  I haven't completed Rachel yet, not going well.

Over half of August is gone and I need to recognize that yes, I missed most of summer because I couldn't walk, but I can now.  And some cannot.  Some know it's their last summer.  Some will never have their pain lessen.  Suck it up, go buy a larger size of the old lady full cotton briefs and wear them with gratitude.

Enjoy your weekend.

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