Category: Uncategorized

I’ve been very busy with my cross stitch. I work on the Fruits of Plenty, every month when a new section comes out. In between I need another project. I have just finished the first one.

This is Ephrata, I ordered the kit from someone on Etsy. It came with an ugly Aida cloth. So I had this large piece of linen, I intended to use it for the SAL, and this piece was left over (Didn’t use it for the SAL, but that is another story). the colors of the thread on this background aren’t great, but they wouldn’t have been great on the Aida, I think it was also overdyed yellow.

I signed my name with the year.

There are two lines of the brick color, I simply followed the chart. on my own, I would have scattered more brick in the piece. Oh, another thing, this came with the threads cut, so there were a few full skeins but most weren’t. Yes, it is DMC, which is a good thing, because I ran out of thread in the yellows.

Not much leeway on the sides. I knew that going in. This means that there is no way I can frame this. But just looking at the shape, it is more of a bell-pull. So off to Etsy I went and looked for hardware. There isn’t a lot, most is metal, and expensive.

I found these laser cut wood. they come in a number of sized, they weren’t expensive. They arrived within a week. They are from FripperiesMP, I highly recommend them.

I but on a backing, I interfaced the backing so the piece would have some body and weight. I am very pleased with the result. Right now it hangs in my workroom. It may end up being gifted.

I took a very small break from cross-stitch and followed the video instructions to make this tomato. I had bought the printed fabric over a year ago. the video really helps, Collage Quilter. Basically, I cut out the pieces of fabric and glued them on the background. She gives the dark, medium and light areas. Not hard to figure out, but it helps when trying something new.

One great suggestion was to use the reverse side of fabric, especially in the highlight area, because having the red hue ties it together, stark white or even off white might just not look that good. Although, years ago I took a class on painting flowers, the instructor said – the highlight is white, the shadows are black!! In order to get a three dimensional feel – that is a must. She had a very good point, but rules are meant to be bent, especially since I’m working with fabric, not paint.

I cut out the tomato, notice how the edges are not scalloped anymore! glued it to a background fabric. Next, a border and quilting. Then, I have 5 more vegetables to go. I’m not making one quilt, although I couldn’t, I will make individual pieces and figure out what to do with them later.

Leah

Many years ago, like maybe 20? I went in and used this library, it is a treasure trove of art and architecture books. I hadn’t been here in a very long time. Sunday drive and walk, went for a visit.

I don’t feel like doing the research. I do know that Brand was one of the founders of Glendale, and yes he built this Moorish style home. When it became a library? I don’t know.

Library, art gallery, Its’ all here. but at the moment it is closed.

It is set in a beautiful park setting and there were a lot of people, playing soccer, hiking, even a jazzercise class!

From the steps of the library looking back at the palm lined drive up into the park.

Forty years ago the Drs. house was moved to this location. It used to be down in the city of Glendale, but a developer wanted the land for apartments. So I guess the city forced him to share in the costs and to move the house up here. A number of Drs. lived here in succession (well, down in the previous location. Hense the name. It was built in the late 19th c. a Lovely example of a Queen Anne Victorian. Notice the oval decoration on the veranda.

It repeats along the side of the house. I have seen advertisements in the past about events here. You better believe that as soon as I am able, I will come back to see the interior. This lockdown sucks!

Even the gazebo has the same wonderful design. There is also a small Japanese garden, not open to the public, but I’m hoping it will be soon.

Another oddity, a monument dedicated to preserving the local trees. Notice how the cross is very prominent.

This was erected in 1928, back then, even the Greens accepted the Cross as a good symbol. No way they would do so now!

There is a sign saying that parties and picnics are not allowed – C0vid BS. I am very happy to see people ignoring that. For all the admonitions that we stay locked down, here in SoCal, we don’t get out in beautiful nature. Heck, its’ all we have at the moment, and guess what, much healthier than being locked inside.

The one that got away, probably from a party the day before.

Strange fruit, very well protected, that much I can say about it.

Finally, coffee down in the little shopping district. I love how they all have a clock, memento from the days when not only did people not have a phone with the time, many didn’t have a pocket watch.

Btw, $4.50 for a small cappuccino is highway robbery. It was a nice treat, but wow, people who spend this kind of money every week? I don’t get it. No wonder people back east say that Dunkin Donuts has the best coffee – much cheaper as well.

Leah

The third section arrived on March 1. I couldn’t wait to start and I did.

I am very happy to say that this chart works with Pattern keeper. I spent over $100 to get the tablet, the program and even to buy some patterns. None of them worked. So the fact that this one does, was a sigh of relief. Yes, it is fun to work off the tablet. although now I am back to my Ephrata project, and using paper is fine.

Are mistakes being made? Of course, some get frogged and others are left alone. As another person who is doing this project and posting on IG, said, I have personalized the project. We all do!

Some people do one color at a time, I find that I enjoy seeing the design grow, with both colors.

I try to follow the chart accurately. So I sewed those two stitches, the ones in the upper right square of this ‘flower’. Then I figure, I can go beyond this months’ chart and simply finish the flower, as I started to do so, I realized, Jacob made a mistake, we shouldn’t have two stitches here, only need one! This flower is very symmetrical, not everything is, but in this case, yes, there is an extra stitch.

Not complaining about Jacob, we are all human, we all make mistakes. I do have a big complaint about Jacob. I have enjoyed his YouTube podcast until his recent one, his last one. He decided to talk about politics, American Politics. No I didn’t listen to all he had to say, one minute was enough to let me know, that Mr. Woke wants everyone else to know that he is one of them. Btw, since I pay attention to world news, I happen to know that Holland is being rocked by its’ own political scandals. There is an election, the same corrupt politicians will maintain their power. So be it, but believe me, Jacob will never talk about his own dirty laundry, just mine. I won’t boycott him, he designs incredible cross-stitch patterns. I will even watch his podcast, if it returns. Am I disappointed? Yes. Am I surprised, no not in the least. All I will say is, as a gay man in Rotterdam, it wouldn’t bother me if the many new Arab and muslim residents of his town show him how displeased they are with him. I’m not saying murder like they did to Theo Van Gogh, but if they yell at him and his husband on the street – so be it. That is all part of the wokeness he celebrates.

Off my soapbox and back to cross-stitch. Here is my solution, instead of frogging a stitch, I simply added another and brought back symmetry. To be honest, had I done nothing, it wouldn’t have mattered, by next month I would have forgotten all of this. But right now it bugged me, so I fixed it.

Yes, I went way beyond the block for March. There is someone on IG, either Japanese or Russian, who is able to follow the overall image and create a lot of the pattern. She is either very young or has a very strong magnifying glass.

I have a feeling, that once I have gotten to October, I might complete the whole border. We shall see. Meanwhile, I will probably start another large cross-stitch project, not necessarily from MFE, there are other good designers I’d like to try out, and if they happen to work with Pattern Keeper, all the better.

Leah

There was a dinner, there was a nice nature hike with one son and a day at the beach with the other two.

The boys chipped in together to get me this gorgeous Lapis tray.

Look how perfectly it fits in to the dining room!!! I have good sons!

Granddaughter needs dolls! So I found a baby doll that looks like her brother! Don’t tell me boys and girls are the same, she handles dolls tenderly, her brother, throws them around.

At the beach, getting Aytan, waterproof implant in place.

Capturing the moment.

The cousins went into the cold water, they are young.

The sand was nice and warm.

Building up static electricity.

creates a golden halo

ahh, that red hair, its’ my grandmother all over again.

Leah

About 30 years ago, I hung wallpaper, alone. It was very difficult and arduous. I had to soak the paper, book it and very carefully hand and smooth. I have to say, I did a good job, after about 12 years, it came down and paint went up.

So when three strong guys showed up and started working, I felt like a queen.

What took me days, just took them a few hours, they did a great precise job.

Up against the blue! Its the blue in the wallpaper that determined this paint.

This side is really impressive, a lot of small areas to fill.

Like this, they did it!

Yes, we are getting a new register cover…. I can stare at this paper for hours, it is much more complex than first view would indicate. Teale at Pearl and Maude is an amazing artist. Btw, the name of her company – is the name of her two grandmothers.

We pushed the buffet back into place, these incredible sconce were hung. Not easy at all, the electrician came without his assistant. So Joel got a real workout holding these up, they are heavy!

Lit up. Still waiting for the new chandelier, and a large mirror between the sconces.

They don’t jump off the wall, white one white, and yet, they are a statement piece.

Casting shadows.

Even bigger shadows! We are almost there, waiting for the chandelier and chairs for the breakfast room, as well as the reupholstered chairs for the dining room and cushions for the window seat. I will be hosting people on folding chairs, this is too beautiful to wait until completion.

Leah

I will be celebrating on the weekend, yes, another year around the sun.

I already got my gift from Joel, a beautiful pair of earrings. Yes, I chose them myself from a wonderful website, Raintree. They have popped up on my IG. I so prefer to go to a wonderful craft fair, look, try and see. But that is not allowed in CA. So I am thrilled that I was able to support a small business in Vermont.

What a beautiful presentation.

Sapphire in pink gold. Yes, I pulled out my macro lens to capture this.

These kind of details can only seen with this kind of lens. Ah the workmanship!

The facets of the gem, the meticulous work in gold

enough with the pictures. I will love wearing these. It is indeed an exquisite birthday gift.

Leah

The painters are here, they are amazing, the prep work begins.

Yikes! this wasn’t the color we talked about. Well, George explained to me that an unpainted surface needs a primer, rather than white, he went with a deep blue.

The top has one coat of the final color, I am breathing easier.

Much easier! wow is that gorgeous! it makes the tile around the fireplace pop, it shines! Once the wallpaper is in, it will make the blue of the paper look amazing. The one thing I do have to do is replace those 4 knobs. Will work on that.

Breakfast room painted in the champagne color, it has a lot of pink in it. Yet, it reads as a nice southing neutral to me. Tying the two rooms together, this cabinet was also painted blue. You really can’t see it, I could see when the doors were put up against the blue wall, there is a slight difference. George didn’t do the dark primer on these doors, they are slightly brighter. I have a very sharp eye for color.

This is what you actually see, it really ties it all together and I can’t tell you how much I love this.

This is the before of the breakfast room.

Here is after, yes, I need to rehang pictures, but I’m cogitating on that right now.

Remember the kitchen? I hated this awful dirty yellow. Another friend told me she had done something similar, I bet her didn’t look this dirty. I thought, we have painters here, we’ll just add in the kitchen. Of course this turned out to be the biggest part of the paint job, we had a lot of things to move, it took the whole week to put up a new ‘skin’, sand that skin and then paint.

First of all, this was the texture beforehand, this is inside a cabinet with glass doors. So, I just asked them to paint the new color, not sand, I HATE this kind of wall finish, it is cheap, it is ugly it is awful. Now inside the cabinet, no one will see it, but this was the whole kitchen, and on top of that the awful yellow.

Here is a smooth wall, 1000 times better!

I need to put some of the decorations back, but I do want to wait. I feel like I had too much stuff. Right now I am just enjoying a much nicer, cleaner kitchen.

Leah

I made the mistake of trying brioche lace knit. For me knitting is supposed to be relaxing. This isn’t, but I’m trying to power through.

Initially I was using yarn I had on hand. That didn’t work well, two different types of yarn. So I went back to my LYS and bought the same brand, red yarn. That helps, I’m still waiting for better needles. Hiya Hiya has a very good set of interchangeable. More on them when they finally arrive!

Meanwhile, at the same time I ordered a cord key.

In the past I had a set of Knitpicks interchangeable. Awful, in the middle of a long lace row, the tip would disengage from the cord and I’d be left with a mess. I liked Knitpicks Palatte yarn, but even their yarn isn’t that great.

Anyway, a friend on IG shared this little tool, I bought one for a friend, when I went back to buy one for myself, most were sold out, so I’m really glad I got this, now just waiting for the needles…

It is very slow knitting, at least I’m getting good at fixing mistakes…

I know, looking at images of cross-stitch isn’t that interesting, which is why FlossTube channels tend to be very boring. I have found one or two where they actually share some good information. So if this is boring, stop reading now.

Have I been making mistakes??? Yes a ton of them, a lot of frogging is happening and I can’t always reuse the thread. So hopefully I have enough since this is a kit. Sure I can always buy more DMC, but I don’t want to.

See the two flowers? I had to frog both of them a number of times!!!

I’m really trying to follow the charts more carefully! I promise. Interesting, these two sets of leaves are much easier than those flower. Guess what there are two more sets of flowers to come…. But I am actually really enjoying this. The slow methodic work is wonderful for my soul.

And now I hear of a few young women I know who are pregnant, and that means baby quilts! Which I love.

Leah

The dress was easy enough to make.

But then I moved on to the hat, not hard to make, but…. I’m concerned about the size.

One thing I did was pick up some fake flowers, flowers make everything better.

This was one sprig that I cut up and pulled out the glue gun, that big leaf? Its covering the other stems.

I was concerned that the hat is too small and the dress might be big.

Yup, hat to small, but I think, because of the flowers she loves it. The dress is perfect!!! A tad long, which is good, cuz this little weed keeps growing.

She wanted the hat on!

So happy, yup she came and gave me a huge hug.

Put on her pearls and now she is Maggie!

I will get more fabric and make more dresses, not so sure about the hat, I’d need a better pattern. Nothing wrong with this pattern, just too small.

Leah

One week melts into the next, not much happening. Oh wait, I met a friend for lunch!!! That was lovely. Otherwise, I miss the days when I could go out and explore. So crafting it is.

I finished the February section. I am loving this soooo much! I am getting better, counting really helps. Yes, there still are some minor mistakes, I am not a robot. No one will see them, and if someone does – good for them. As you see I went beyond the blocks in a few directions. I’m not the only one, others are showing their work on IG and are dong the same. One of the things I love so much about this is the variety of design – rather amazing.

Its back to this project, and even here, I can feel my improvement. Once again, I really need to pay attention.

Yes, this one is simply mirror image. Makes things a little easier when I move from one side to the other, I can look over and see what I have already done.

My local LQS Candy’s Quiltworks is having a sale. I went in and bought some fabric, not for a quilt, I’ll show you soon. Turns out she has quite a selection of Cosmo embroidery thread. This is from Japan and I’m using it on the SAL. Using DMC on the Ephrata project. Are these any different? Is one better than the other? I don’t know, but I bought some for another project I have in mind. Can you tell that I am beginning to accumulate more things for cross-stitch…

I bought fabric, the watermelon is for masks for my grandson. His dad will make them. I hate that kids are forced to wear masks, but he has to in school. he also loves watermelon. When I picked up my middle grandson from his preschool he said he hates being there because of the mask. Breaks my heart. So we went off to a new to us park and I set them free. They immediately found other boys (some wearing masks) and had a blast, running, climbing, chasing. Just being boys.

Oh the second fabric? I will make a dress for may granddaughter. Now that she is walking, wearing dresses makes sense. I have to go buy new patterns, I got rid of all of the ones I used for Shira.

Leah