Some Market Stash

Picked up some of my Market buys from the Stitching Bee last Thursday.  It was kind of a spur of the moment trip.  I wasn't sure if my order would be ready but, we decided to take the chance and go.  

I do have more on my list that are coming.  

From Cross Stitch Antiques:  Catherine Morgan and Carter House.  The Carter House was actually from last year but, I decided to get them both.  Some of the proceeds go to the Battle of Franklin Trust to support historic sites.  I lived in Nashville during the mid to late 1980's, so this is kind of special to me.  

WTN&T:  Manor at Quaker Hill and Token of Love

BBD:  Little Birds. 

I finished the BBD Petites Lettres Rouge on a small old piece of 36 count Lakeside Linen Examplair.  I used Classic Colorworks Cherry Cobler and Colonial Rose.  My initials are in the rose.  I probably have said this before, the antique samplers often employed this as a way to personalize a sampler.  Its a lot easier than trying to find a place to put it in.  I just like the way it looks too!  I put my grandmother's name in.  It has specially meaning to me since she bought me my first iron on cross stitch piece and skeins of embroidery floss.  Boy, did she create and animal!  She also taught me how to crochet and quilt.  She was an amazing woman and I loved her to pieces!

I had to take this picture of Buster, nearly sliding off his perch on the back of the couch.  He was out cold. 

I got this frame at Hobby Lobby but it was kind of a bland wood.  When I Briwaxed my tray for the Quaker Sewing Tray, I did this too.  It darkened up the frame a little.  I think the wood looks richer than it did initially.  It fit Mary Miller pretty well too!  Now I just have to find a piece of wall to bang a nail into to hang it.  

I hope you all are doing well and have enough toilet paper!  I know that I find great solice in stitching at this time. Even the act of doing it is calming.  I am so glad I have plenty of supplies! 

Everyone hang in there.  Wash your hands, call and check up your elderly neighbors or family members or seek out help if you need it.  Even though it feels like we may be isolated, we are a community!

Keep on Stitching
Monica

Fully Finished

I finished Brenda Gervais' Quaker Sewing Tray.  It was very quick and fun stitch!  I added my initials in the top flower and latice motif, over one on 36 count, so it wasn't too bad.  I love colors in it:  Weeks Baked Apple,  Oscar, Sage and Palamino, Colorworks:  Colonial Rose and Barn Door.  I took me about a week...so like I said, very quick stitch!

This is the napkin holder before I painted it.  I took the leather patch that said napkins off and sanded it down before I painted it.  

I used Cremacoat Barn Red per the directions but, didn't mix it with white.  I left it the Barn Red.  After it dried I used Briwax which is tinted furniture wax.  I use it on a lot of things over the years.  

I let it dried overnight and buffed it up this morning.  Mounted the piece on some board, used some framer's tape and laced it up a little before putting into the tray.  I decided not to glue it in since there is a little space between the box and the piece, so if a needle or something got in that space, I could easily get it out.  

A side view of it.  I can't say its perfect but, it is rustic.  I should sand it between coats of paint but, I think too much would have come off.  

While I was taking pictures, my trusty sidekick just couldn't hold his head up.  He was sleeping with his head on the chair rung.   We started walking yesterday with his new harness.  Too much for a short guy. 

I'm starting on a BBD freebie Petites Lettres Rouge.  I think I will finish this as a stitch matt, not sure yet.  The fabric I'm using, I'm only leaving a one inch border.  

The weather was fantastic this weekend.  It was in the mid forties yesterday, and mid fifties today.  Good days to walk Buster.  We didn't go far, we both are woefully old and out of shape.  

Hope you had a good weekend!
Remember wash your hands often for 20 seconds or sing Happy Birthday twice!

Have a wonderful week. 

Stay Calm and Stitch More!
Monica

Leap Year Day Start

I thought would work on Sarah Braizear for a week.  I wanted to finish that section to the right.  I have a lot of satin stitching to do at the end.  There are also all kids of little leaves in the dark brown I may also have to put in the spots.  I am not too concerned about getting those exactly right because to be honest with you, things may not be perfectly spaced to begin with.  There are a lot of places I have fudged it. Don't get me started on a few motifs I missed on His Eye is On the Sparrow, that I didn't notice until it was framed!  That was a holy crap moment. 

I finished the section yesterday.  I have the bottom third left to do and all the satin stitching around the border.  I have a system for the satin stitching that will help with coverage, keep the thread from warping and isn't too thick.  I'm doing this on 40 count.  I tried double thread for coverage but, thought it was way too thick.  A single thread isn't right.  I experimented with doing a tent stitch then a satin stitch over it.  I think it worked really well.  The satin stitch doesn't seem to move around or warp the fabric.  I will probably see how it works on the border.  I must say she is looking really good.  

Last weekend, when I went to the Stitching Bee I picked up Quaker Sewing Tray and the threads.  I started that yesterday evening.  I also got a tray to put it in when I'm done.  I'm using the called for thread and stitching on 36 count Lakeside Examplar one thread over two. 

I started sanding the tray.  It was painted white, felt like chalk paint.  I think Brenda Gervais' finishing instructions recommended painting it white first then red.  I will finish it finally with Briwax.  I am really excited about this.  I plan on using it next to my stitching chair to keep my Ort jar, extra supplies, dololly and scissors. 

It was a beautiful weekend here.  We went to Pet Supply with Buster to test drive harnesses.  We got him a new one.  He is hard to walk, pulls and chokes himself.  Then we took him to see Grandma.  He got lots of pets from the old people hanging out.  He is really good with people.  Henry not so much.  Henry is too nervous and can get a little nippy.  He can't be trusted.  Buster on the other hand would be a great therapy dog.  He is very chill. 

I did join the Victorian Motto Sampler fabric club, at least for a little while.  I signed up for 40 count but, may change it periodically, get some 46 and 36 count.  She will let you do  that.  You can cancell at any time with notice.  I'm looking forward to it.  I will try it for a few months.  I can always use fabric. 

Hope you had a good weekend.  Remember good hand hygiene wash for 20 seconds is the best defense for these viruses.  Hand santizer should work too. 

Keep on Stitching
Monica

Normalcy

Finally, I feel back to normal.  My eyesight got back to normal on Wednesday night.  Up until then, I was having difficulty focusing to stitch.  I had to use my boosters that magnet onto my glasses.  Its like wearing a pair of cheaters over your glasses.  

I finished Mary Miller 1842 and am really pleased with it.  The finished size is 9.5x13 inches.  I got a premade frame at Hobby Lobby that is 11 x 14.  It won't be evenly spaced  but, its close and decided a rustic wood frame I paid about $19 was worth the quarter inch difference on the side.  I do love the colors!  I know a lot of folks like red on their samplers.  I like red houses too but, I think that is why I really love this one, the colors are not typical.  

A few close ups of some of the motifs in the bottom section.  The birds are just so quirky!

I have started looking for areas where I can put my initials in or sometimes, if the alphabets are single colors, I will do my initials in the alphabet in a different color which is what the girls often times did.  I did them over one. 

Feeling normal again, I took a trip to Green Bay.  I was going to go with my lovely husband but, that changed.  He was going to take Henry to his camp on Friday but, Ed was having car problems.  We went to help him jump his car on Thursday but, it wouldn't start, the gauge said the battery was fully charged so thought maybe the fuel line was frozen.  It was -14 at 7 am and his car is parked outside at his apartment.  We took him to get some Heet.  He only lives a couple of blocks from where he works and he walked to work then got a ride home on Thursday night.  We had to get to a Tax preparer appointment.  He was up early on Friday and tried to start it, still no success.  Bob went over there and they took the battery to an auto parts store, had it tested (it was dead) and bought a new battery.  Working just fine!  Because he was did all that, when I asked him if he still wanted to go to Green Bay he jumped at the chance not to go.  My friend Arttie was going to GB to get her step daughter to sign her tax returns and her husband didn't want to go either.  Long story short, we went together.  I dropped off some of my picks from Nashville Market, picked up a project (like a I really need one) and visited with Kendra.  We went to lunch, Hobby Lobby and Barnes and Noble.  Quick trip but, spent a lot of time in just a few places.  Usually, we get hustled through these places. 

I picked up With Thy Needle and Thread/Brenda Gervais Quarker Sewing Tray, the thread and I had some fabric at home.  Currently, I have a little basket on the table by my chair but, I have to usually dig around it too much.  I don't really want to order the tray from her website because you get three trays in different sizes and I don't know that I will use them all.  I'm not even sure I really like  the way those trays look. I know we were going to Hobby Lobby and could look for something there. 

I found a napkin holder that will work perfectly.  There was another little wooden box that matched it that will probably be good for something.  I picked that up too.  There were 50% off so only cost me $7 each.  It feels like chalk paint.  I will sand them down a little, paint them and then Briwax them.  I took the leather piece that said "Napkins" on it, super easy.  

I'll excited to start this but, going to wait until the end of the week.  I want to work on Sarah Braizear for a week or so.  

That's pretty much it for now.  Got some energy back.  It doesn't hurt that the weather the last two days has been wonderful: sunny and in the 40's.  

Hope you had a great weekend!

Keep on Stitching!

Monica

I Survived

I am finally up and being productive.  I went to work yesterday after being out of commission since February 5th.  I thought I was getting better and tried going to work last Tuesday but, no such luck.  Ended up at the doctor's office and prescribed an antiobiotic, steroids and an inhaler for bronchitis.  Didn't start really feeling better until this past Saturday.  Went to work until yesterday and made it the whole day!  Feeling even better today.   I think the cough may last for another couple of weeks.  

 By Thursday was feeling like doing a little stitching but, not much more than that.  I am nearly done with Mary Miller.  Since I took the picture, I have filled in quite a bit of the house, the top of the bottom row of windows and the door.  

In the meantime, got my ornament for the Stitching Bee Ornament challenge done.  Prairie Schooler Snowy Nights.  

Super sweet picture of Henry Ford.  Doesn't he look like an angel?

Posted this picture of Buster on Instagram.  I love his little crooked mouth. 

We got a couple inches of snow last night, now it is blowing around.  Its 25 but feels like 12 degrees.  Kind of slow at work so I'm able to go in late and leave early which is a blessing this week. 

Hope you are all healthy and having a good week!
Keep on Stitching.
Monica

Bleach Just Couldn't Kill it

I surcame to the crud.  There wasn't enough bleach/clorox wipes/hand sanitizer to kill it.  It doesn't help that when Bob coughs, he coughs in to his hand that it in the shape of a tube thus, projecting it even further in the room (insert exploding head).  I am on the mend.  Called in sick on Friday but, I think I should be good to go tomorrow.  Fever is gone, still a little congested and the cough is getting better.  I am hoping after this I'm immune to the coronovirus....bad joke but, that would be lovely.  Hope it doesn't get to that point. 

I've done a little stitching but, not until Friday evening.  I was out of commission Wednesday night and Thursday was the worst.  I got the horse done along with the motifs at the same level.  I will probably save the house for last.  It is going to use a lot of floss.  People were complaining they had run out of thread.  When I got the pattern, I figured I would need more Terrapin because that was the border color and Mustard Seed for the house....Just to be on the safe side.   Glad I did.
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 The boys have been wonderful nursemaids.  Henry generally falls asleep trying to keep on eye on me.  Buster generally sleeps on my lap, holding me down so I don't float away. 

It snowed all day but, not very hard.  We got about two inches.  It was pretty watching it.

Hope your weekend has been healthy and your week will be too!
Keep on Stitching
Monica

If I Don't Get Sick, It Will Be A Miracle!

Bob was at a convention last week, Tuesday to Friday.  With his mom's recent health issues, I asked Katy if she could come home for a few days...just in case.  Side note:  I always figure if I'm prepared for the worst, it won't happen.  She had an interview on Monday and drove up after that.  She had a cold but, not really feeling too bad until the day she left.  Bob came home sick.  Both have had a terrible cough.  Katy is good at coughing in her sleeve, sanitizing and washing her hands.  Bob on the other hand, not so good.  He is getting a little better especially since I explained to him I really don't want to get what he has.  I work in healthcare and if get this, I won't be able to work unless I wear a mask.  If you can't breath the last thing you need is to wear a mask.

I finished my first motif on Mary Miller and only have a little more lettering to finish.  I am excited to be getting close to the other motifs.

I found some samplers on the Kitten Stitcher that caught my eye

Sheepish Antiques:  Sarah Salter circa 1815.  A sampler to her grandmother

Scarlet Letter:  Sarah Brown.  To the memory of her brother who died. The colors will go wonderfully in my house. 

Scarlet Letter:  Perform'd by Ann Parnell 1799.  Lots of wonderful motifs!  This one should be loads of fun!  Love the "Perform'd"

We have had some pretty mild weather and no measurable snow.  I don't think there really isn't any snow in the near forecast.  I'm happy about that.  

The Silver Needle had a sale this weekend too.  Everything was 20% off so I got the fabric for Jenny Bean Parlor Series.  It is an odd cut.  I had some 40 count that would fit the bill but didn't want to mess up a nice big piece of fabric.  

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and have a peaceful week.  

Keep on Stitching

Monica