Cold and Snow

It is record cold today.  Ten below zero.  Rather crispy outside.

I put some Snow-Tex on the Putz house.

It looks awfully rough to me.  I want snow drifts that are soft and rounded looking.  I went on Youtube and found out that you can add paint and water to Snow-Tex.  The next step says to thin glue with water and paint it on and then put on glitter.  I'm wondering if that will smooth out some of the roughness.  We'll see.

I was afraid to read the rest of Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.  I thought it might be too grizzly.  But then I read where it is essentially a detective novel.  So then I thought that it probably has a positive ending.  So I read the rest of it and it turned out fine.

I started a new project.  I happened to be wasting time on Pinterest.  I looked at some Yoko Saito pins.  Then I saw a video of someone working on one of her patterns.  That's what I needed, someone to show me how to start.  The video was in French, and I don't speak French but just watching what she was doing was enough to get me started.  She used what I think was a fabric glue pen.  I checked and yes, I have a Fons and Porter fabric glue pen.  She used a seam ripper to help turn the edges over on the applique piece. I have one of those too.  So I tried it myself and got started on the stems of the kit I got for Christmas.

I used a light box to transfer the pattern.  It is hard to tell when you are working on a light box if the lines are dark enough to be seen.  Some places I overdid it a bit but I don't think it will show when I am done.

I'm running out of Crescent Colors Whatley Woodlands.  So I'm off to get some more for the lettering of Anne Hathaway's Needle Book.

This will be folded in half and seamed together to make the front and inside front of the needle book. I bet I can finish this part today.
I'm off to my LNS with my fingers crossed that they even carry Crescent Colors.
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Pitiful

I got a pitiful amount of stitching done yesterday.  I spent way too much time trying to resolve issues with my Nexus 9 and it's keyboard.

 They don't like each other and refuse to speak to one another.  Haven't resolved the problem yet, I'm still working on it.  I am not a computer person so that doesn't help.  Since there are no manuals or directions it is a shot in the dark and an email to the support person.

I got only a bit of writing stitched on the Anne Hathaway Needle Book.  The overdyed thread looks great in the letters.

Thanks for the encouragement to just do it with the Snow-Tex.  I am going to today.  I promise.
We are having a cold snap here so it is best to stay inside.
Drawn Thread has some new designs up.

 Yeah!  I ordered complete kits for two of the three.  I meant to order all of them but evidently I forgot to click on "Add to Cart" and I only ordered two.  Oh well.  I should feel guilty as I haven't finished the Spring Fling project - yet.  But I know where it is.  That's a plus.
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Embellished

I put the embellishments on the front of the Anne Hathaway Needle Book.  Boy does that add so much!  I really like it.

I also started some of the lettering.  I really like the font.  Most of the rest of the stitching is this lettering and I wasn't sure I would like it since it is over one.  But I like it.  There is hope that I can get this done someday.

Confession:  I'm always afraid when it comes to trying something new.  That's why I haven't put the Snow-Tex on the Putz house.

 What if I mess it up?  What if I ruin it?  I know I just need to march into this like a bull in a china shop and whatever happens, happens.  It may turn out fine.  I need to think positively.
The bathrooms are clean, the walking is done.  Now to tackle some fun stuff.
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Next: Windows

I filled in the rest of the front on Anne Hathaway's Needle Book.  But now I need to go back and do lots of embellishments like the cross hatched windows. So that's my goal today: get the windows done.

I have been working on one part of my Moss Creek kit.  I've been a little scared of the word "Schwalm" but so far it has been fine.  I am working on the over one flowers so it is slow going.

 If I can get the other side of the flowers done the next part is putting a design in the heart.  There are several to choose from.  I think I need to practice just a but before I attempt it.

I picked up the Barbara Jackson SNS ornament, put on my special goggles and finished the lady's dress.

I really want to finish this but I keep getting bogged down.  This is worked on 40 count linen and working over one is not easy especially if you are old and blind.

Downton Abbey or Golden Globes?  Maybe some of both tonight.
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Ready

I got the Putz house all put together.  Now for the embellishments.  I've been to Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's looking for Snow-Tex, Quick Grip glue and superfine silver and crystal glitter.  I got them all so now I'm ready.

I worked a bit more on Anne Hathaway's Cottage needlebook.  There is one symbol that is not in the key (+) so I had to guess what it might be.  It is a dark color so that eliminates a lot of floss.  I discovered that I did the entire roof wrong.  I cross stitched it but it was supposed to be done in slanting gobelin.  Whatever.  I'm not changing it.  I think it looks fine.  It will be easy to fill in those little rectangles on the rest of the front..

I was able to get to the Y to walk.  I only got 2900 steps yesterday.  That's what I get when I don't make an effort to walk.
It is still very cold here, -2 this morning.  How far away is spring?   Answer:  Too far.
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Two Roofs

I happen to pick of Anne Hathaway's cottage needlebook yesterday.  My goal was to get the roof done.  And I did!  

It is starting to take shape.

Then I finally got the painting done on the Putz house and let it dry. This morning I have been gluing all the parts together. 

I should have started on the house I like the least instead of the one I like the most.  I'm learning as I'm going along what is best and what not to do.  It looks a bit messy.  The painting is not very good.  But I''m hoping that glitter will cover all the imperfections.  I really like this kit and think it is well done.  I'm almost ready to glue on the roof.  

We have had "challenging" weather. 

 Too much snow and too much very cold temperatures.  Although it is three times as warm as it was yesterday.  It is 15 degrees instead of minus seven.  DH has not attempted to go to the store yet today.  I'm just staying home and staying warm.  There will probably be no walking today.  Rats.  Miraculously, the sun has come out.  Now if we can just get the snow plows to show up.

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Tying up Loose Ends

I did several small things yesterday.  I finally sewed the cording around Eleonora's Box scissors case.

Then I finished off the Comfort and Joy ornament - now that the Christmas tree is put away for another year.
I still need to adjust the scallops on the felt back and add loop for hanging.

I put in the gold specialty stitch in the border of  Eleonora's Box top.  Then I ironed it and put on interfacing.
I think it looks good.

Unfortunately, one has to work out dimensions of the box on one's own based on the size of the stitched pieces.  I wish I could cut the mat board and mount this on it but I have to wait to check the sizes of the other pieces.  I haven't sewn on the cameo yet.
This is the new thing I've been working on.  My Putz house.
I put gesso on all the pieces.

Then I painted them.  The color was darker than I wanted so I painted a top coat of white.  I still have to paint the other sides.

It will be a lot of fun when I can start putting it together.  Hopefully the glitter will hide any painting imperfections.
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