AT IT AGAIN!

I'm frogging again! I really messed up my Beatrix Potter sampler. I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and started stitching the inside of one of the medallions sideways. I put it aside for a couple of days and am now thinking maybe I'll pick it up again.

Then there is the Friendship RR. Sara's arrived in the mail today so I started stitching the proper heart. Well, sure enough I messed up on my count. It has to be frogged over halfway up.

I'm blaming all this bad stuff on the little procedure I had done on Friday. I had a little thingy removed from a very miserable place (above my waist). This was the second go-round on it. Had it frozen off last time. This time the doctor did a little cutting. It was about the size of a quarter. She didn't do stitches, which was good. She cauterized it and it's having a time not bleeding. Everything went bad because of my........attitude?

The good news is that I've redone the Traveling Stitcher and have- YEA!- figured out the pattern for the needlebook and carrying case. I think I'l look for the fabby on Thursday. I can use the part I messed up for a little pouch for buttons, safety pins, etc.

DH sent me an email this morning. We have a chance to go to the Arizona Biltmore in July. We've been before and it's a WONDERFUL place (pictures in my Kodak gallery: password shown, other code is rolltide1969@cox.net). The only problem is July. It was hot as hades in November. I can guess what it would be like in the summer. But it's such a great place to go. Maybe we'll make it. Some great reading and stitching time.

This is going to be the first ever Easter that I've worn black! I usually go for something pale and it's the one Sunday a year I absolutely wear a hat -platform and all. Well, we're doing the second part of our Easter music on Sunday morning and the orchestra has to wear concert black. I'm going to become really creative with this one! I bought a nice, short black dress for Sunday morning and am going to wear a long, black dress on Wednesday night (the first part of the music). I'm even going to treat myself to a new pair of black shoes. I need them badly and this is a good excuse to buy them. But no 5 " stilettos. People might talk!!!

I also agreed to play for the Sunrise Service at Resthaven (Cemetery, just next door to the church). The day will start VERY early for me. I really don't mind. I can do it one day a year. There's nothing "early morning" about me.

Wish there was more to tell. It's a little boring right now. I'm going to my LNS tomorrow and maybe I can get into some trouble.......

AN OLD FRIEND FROM THE PAST

Remember these two ladies? It wasn't Saturday night at my house unless Are You Being Served? was on the tube. Who can forget Mr. Humphries? Young Mr. Grace? Mr. Rumpole?

These two ladies are unforgettable: Mrs. Slocombe and Miss Brahms. Mollie Sugden and Wendy Richards in real life. Unfortunately Ms. Richards passed away a few weeks ago. At her service this past week in London was, you guessed it, Mrs. Slocombe. I thought for sure she must be gone by now but there she was, being attended by a younger, nice looking young man. It was good to see her and know she's still ticking, but sad about Ms. Richards. I wonder how Mrs. Slocombe's pussy is doing (get your minds straight: it was her cat, Toodles). Can you believe? Love the spunky little hat. Bet the old girl could do some damage with that cane.

I finished my Dad's little cushion this afternoon-well, maybe partly. I added some cording but it was dreadful. Maybe I'll add some buttons or something to the ends. On the cushion are his ring and his Civitan medallion and ribbon. I'm going to do one for my mother next.

Deborah's RR arrived and that's next on the agenda. I hope it will go to Ann in the next few days. This is my first RR and I'm so excited. Something to do on a rainy, dull day.

Photos from the Daily Mail Online.

THIS AND THAT AND JULIE'S FINISH

Yes. I actually made it to church, Donna and Julie! One of God's miracles!!!! Got there 30 minutes before the service started. Since I quit taking my little white anti-aging pills I stay up a little longer. And forget things, too. And grow wrinkles.

Julie, the Peacock Chair is

unbelievable! All of you guys, go to Julie's Stitchyknitter's Journal and check it out. So cool!

Donna, I have 5 stitched so far and am going to start putting them together. I have some great breast cancer fabric (that sounds funny!). And I've finished the Lizzie Kate (?) Peace, Love and a Cure and am thinking about making it into some type of patchwork knob knocker.

I did come home from church and napped. Later we met our friend from Plaquemine, Doris Pettus, for dinner at Ruffino's. The food was wonderful as usual, but I got a little nuts and ordered my favorite pizza-Margharita. No, that's nothing to do with the drink (which is NASTY). It's named for some Renaissance queen or so. I have to say that it was a bit of a dud. There's a little place here in town called Schlitz and Giggles. They make the genuine article. A Margharita pizza is one with a paper-thin crust, sliced Roma tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and olive oil. Tasty! No red sauce-which Ruffino's had. No no.

Doris is great. She lost her husband a year or so ago. She is a corporate travel agent and is pretty good at her job. We talked travel tonight: she's going to the Mediterranean this fall. We both love London and we talked about places we visited. London is my favorite with Rome a close second.

We talked a lot about the Vatican and St. Peter's, as well as St. Paul's in London. She didn't like Russia and I want to visit. I didn't like China and she would like to go there. So that's why we're all different! Boring world if we were all alike.

We're supposed to be getting the new roof this week. Right!!! Heard that before. I'll be even more glad when the hole in the bedroom ceiling is fixed. It's just a couple of months until hurricane season starts all over. Unfortunately, Michael's new promotion will mean that he stays here in the city if we have a hurricane.

Enough gibberish. If I'm lucky I may have some pictures to post tomorrow. Ann, my friend at With My Needle, has completed her heart on my Friendship Sampler Round Robin. You might stop by and see it. She does beautiful work.

So for now, ta.

A QUESTION ABOUT FABBY

On my last post, I had a question from Craft-i-leigh about aida and other fabrics. So here goes:

I used aida for many years because it was the only thing available: Michael's, Hobby Lobby and Hancock's. I didn't order by mail because I didn't have a computer and even now I'm hesitant about ordering fabric over the Internet because I want to be sure of the color. I have a friend that uses Vikki Clayton 35 ct.. I have a sample of it and I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

The big complaint I always had about aida was that it was SO stiff. It was rough in my hands. And there were so many big holes. When I did my Marty Bell pieces I actually stitched in the sky because I didn' t want all those little square holes (I know. Sounds OCD and it is). I still use aida for some things, especially ornies. There is an aida that is very soft and I use it for table runners, etc. And it has a tiny bit of shine to it.

The first pieces I did on evenweave were the Cricket Collection's acorns. Somewhere in the archives of my blog you can see them. Probably around October or November. I got discouraged at first, but then went back to them with more care and finished them. They are beautiful and the colors wonderful.

I like evenweaves (linen) because it gives a more polished, complete finish: no little (big, to me) holes around. The only size I don't use is 40, simply because I'm old and it's difficult to see the threads. I'm participating in a Round Robin (my first) and I know some of the ladies will be using 40 ct., so I'll put on my big girl panties and do it.

The colors in linen are GREAT. They're a little limited in aida.

Another thing is that you can do is"over 1" on linen. When over 2 and over 1 are combined in a piece the finish is spectacular. Right now I'm doing the petit etui and it combines those two stitches as well as others (which are easier to do on linen). I guess the password is "versatile".

If you're ready to try linen I'd say get a small pattern-maybe a Christmas ornie- and try Use a 28 ct. fabric. And don't give up. It took a little while to get used to linen. It's not unusual to split a stitch. Sometimes you have to frog some stitches. Sometimes you can just compensate.

Go for it. And take your time. Get the feel for it like you did for aida. As I said, do something small.

I don't know if you've tried over-dyed threads. If you haven't, try them. I love them, too. And silk: it's just wonderful. It's more expensive so I used it more for "special" projects. Belle soir is my favorite. Vikki Clayton is great. So are the others.

I will tell you (at the risk of giving away a secret) that I'm going to do a special piece, starting in the next few months. It's going to be for a very special person. It's a Stoney Creek chart. It's LARGE and the only fabric I will use is aida. If I ever split a stitch on that one it would be a major disaster.

Don't be afraid. Step out and do it. You can! If I did it, any one can. Just ask Robin at my LNS. She kept at me until I started stitching on linen. Now there's no turning back.

Any one else out there that has a comment, please make it. Let's convince her to try!