Feb 6, 2009

FIDDLESTICKS AND PIFFLE

I give you Exhibit A:And now, Exhibit B:

Do you notice anything glaringly wrong with the first pic versus the second? Do ya'? Well, I didn't either for a good two hours yesterday until I finally realized that I had some stems and leaves on the right side IN THE COMPLETELY WRONG PLACE.

This was a rather interesting exercise in Chart Reading 101 for me, and I confess to having to break out the copy machine and the yellow highlighter. When I first started stitching, Aunt Chrissy showed me how to make a working copy of the chart and then use a highlighter to mark off the stitches that you had just completed. I did this for about two months before I got cocky and decided that I could work from the original chart and not make any marks on it at all. So there. Guess this one really showed me.

After frogging, I settled in to get some of the strawberries and flowers completed. I think that I have blue flowers to go and then I'm on to the border and letters. I will confess that I didn't even realize there were letters on this until last night, so if y'all want to send me back to Stitchy Kindergarten, please feel free to do so. (I just hope I fit in the little desks.)

Stewey has informed me that if I don't do laundry and housecleaning today he's going to call the ASPCA. I made the mistake of joining their organization so that I could get a window decal (to tell the local fire department that there's a pet in the house in the event of fire), but Stewey thinks this is some kind of fraternity for him to gather with like-minded puppy tots that are so "neglected". I explained to him that there are pups out there who don't even have a nice warm bed to sleep in...let alone freshly laundered sheets and a snack on the pillow each evening, but he didn't seem interested. Methinks I've created a monster.

I do hope that you have a splendid stitchy weekend, wherever you may be. We are expected a BIG THAW here, so I'm thinking that a car wash and garage clean out might be in order. Happy trails!

13 comments:

  1. OK, I think there's something crappy going around, because I can't count worth a damn! Wait 'til you see my next update on Lo How a Rose. Thanks for making me feel unalone.

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  2. Coni, I think you might be better off using a colored pencil (erasable is even better) rather than a highlighter. All you need is to drop that highlighter on your fabric one time (been there, done that) and the resulting ink splotch will consign that project to the circular file. The Voice of Experience speaks.
    I would love to meet you sometime at HOS or Needle Nest, and maybe we could do lunch too. Howzat?

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  3. I, too, have stitched without a working copy and highlighter, with the same results. I KNOW we can count, we just start counting at the wrong places! So anything bigger than 4" x 4" gets a working copy and highlighter.

    My husband just cleaned out the garage (temperatures in the 70s) and I can't tell you how happy that makes me each time we drive in. It will be worth it.

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  4. Sorry the frog came to visit. But glad to see that you got it fixed and mr. frog has gone outside for the big thaw!

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  5. I second the comment about not using a highlighter - I've made that mistake, too.

    I'm sorry about the frogs!

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  6. Hate that frog! Now that you point it out I do see it :-(. I stitched Strawberry Garden for my mom, well actually it was for me, but ended up on my mother's wall. Not sure how that always happens. Anyways, it was a bit tricky following the chart and all those Lazy Daisy stitches. Love seeing it again! You are making great progress on it.

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  7. Sorry about the frog echoing around your house. I do love this pattern, though! I would never be brave enough to do a pattern w/ highlighting (good idea re: the colored pencils - thanks for the tip all you commenters!)... ok, so really I'm too ANAL to not stitch w/o highlighting. Enjoy the thaw! It's supposed to be gorgeous here too...

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  8. Oh darn, that looks like some serious un-stitching. I hope you've recovered. And er... highlighting things on working copies of charts? There are stitchers who do that? Well, no wonder the things I stitch never even remotely look like the original!

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  9. Beautiful design by BBD.
    Kick that frog to the curb.

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  10. Even with the frog problem the piece is coming along beautifully. This is in my to do basket as well. It is a good spring design so maybe I should bring it out and encourage spring to come.

    What do you have between your stitching and your Q-snaps? I have not seen that before and am curious. I just started using Q-snaps and I have lots of questions about them.

    Dawn

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  11. You poor girl! I'd have to lie down if I found a mistake like that! Hope you got it all straightened out... it's a gorgeous piece of stitching!

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  12. Oh, frogging is the WORST. This is a lovely piece, it's going to look so lovely when you are all done.

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  13. Oh a visit from the frogs - how unpleasant. We've all been there though! :)

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