Laundry Soap

I was running low on laundry detergent and finally got to the store (Bi-Mart) to get the ingredients to make another batch.  If you've never made your own laundry detergent, why not?  It's less expensive than pre-packaged, lasts longer and is so easy to do.  Yes, you can use it in HE machines...not that I have one (sigh).  The last batch I made lasted me 11 months and cost me $15.50.

I got the recipe from Being Creative.  The first batch that I made did not have the washing soda because Bi-Mart didn't stock it then.  I also couldn't find Fels-Naptha soap so I used Ivory.  This time, I was able to get the soda and Fels-Naptha!

Here's what it cost me for the ingredients:

• Borax - $3.79
• Washing Soda - $3.99
• Fels-Naptha - $2.97
• Sun Oxi-clean - $4.98
• Baking Soda - $4.36
• sales tax - $1.73

That puts the grand total at $21.82.  This also made more than the last batch so instead of 2 jars, I have 2½ jars.  Well, actually 3 jars but one is about half the size of the others.  I kept the little scoops from the oxi-clean to use as my measuring cup for each load.  For a regular load, I use ½ a scoop.  For a really tough load, I use a full scoop.

I bought the jars at Bi-Mart last year. I decorated the two jars using stickers as stencils and used paint pens to apply the black.  I then removed the stickers to leave the clear areas.

The laundry room smells really good right now 'cause I just finished mixing it all up and putting it in the jars.  I shouldn't need to buy or make detergent for over a year!

Here's my lovely detergent:

Happy Stitching and washing!

Stacy

Daily Progress Photos - round 2

Here is the next round of daily progress photos on Sisters Three.  I actually have a few more recent photos, but I think I'll save them for yet another post.

Friday, July 4:

Sunday, July 6:

Monday, July 7:

 Tuesday, July 8:

Wednesday, July 9:

Thursday, July 10:

Friday, July 11:

 

More to come soon.  I just need to upload them off my iPad.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Daily progress photos

As requested, here are my daily progress photos on Sisters Three by Paula Vaughan.  Clicking on any photo will bring up a larger version.  Each photo is where I finished that day.

 

 Saturday, June 28:

 

Sunday, June 29:

 

Monday, June 30:

 

Tuesday, July 1:

 

 

Wednesday, July 2:

I didn't stitch last night - I spend Thursday evenings with my Mom.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

WIP Photo

I've been working on Sisters Three for a few days now.  Each night that I work on it, I don't really notice my progress so tonight I decided to take a start of the night photo.  Here's that one:

Later on, I'll take a photo showing tonight's progress...such as it is.

Well, I didn't remember to take the photo last night, but here's the progress that I made:

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Stitching Answers and an Image from the Past

I had quite a few questions recently about how I stitch, especially the HAEDs that I am working on.  Thanks to Carla for these particular ones.  All of Carla's questions and comments are in purple.

Are using 25ct evenweave or aida?

Aida?  Ugh.  Sorry, I'm an evenweave snob.  Actually, I don't believe Aida comes in 25ct.  I could be wrong - it certainly wouldn't be the first time.

I'm stitching  my current projects on evenweave with the exception of my PTP Floral Arrangement, that one is on 40ct. linen.  God Speed and La Belle Dame are on 25ct.  Sisters Three and Rapunzel are on 28ct. The Sistine Chapel is on 34ct. linen - I guess that makes this one an exception too.  Don't ask me where I got that unusual count - I have no idea.

Are you one over one or two over two?

Unless the pattern demands it because of quarter stitches, I tend to stitch over 1.

Sisters Three has a bunch of quarter stitches, so it's 2 over 2.  God Speed is also 2 but over 1, it needed the extra coverage due to all the black.  La Belle Dame, Rapunzel and the Sistine Chapel are 1 over 1.  PTP Floral Arrangement is 1 over 1 but I'm only doing half stitches.  Recently, I've learned that this is also called "tent stitching".  Why?  I don't know.

Do you prefer the over one and do you camp your floss?

Yes, I personally prefer the over one.  Do I camp (or park) my floss?  NO!  I've tried.  I can do it that way but I can't stand the "messy" appearance of all those strings of floss everywhere.  I grab a length of floss and stitch with it until I get to the end of that length or run out of stitches to do in that color.  Apparently, this method also has a name:  "cross country stitching".  Where that name came from is beyond me.  When I learned to stitch, it was simply referred to as "cross stitching".

I would certainly love to read and share any bloggity blog about your experience with HAED with my TW Stitchers as we ALL are slowing building quite the wish list on the HAED website.

Feel free to link to my blog for inspiration or just the occasional dose of silliness.
I have done a couple of TW's in my time.  Here's a picture of one of them.

I love what you have been doing and it's beautiful work....oh please Goddess of HAED, will you grace us with your wisdom?
Well, I don't know how wise I am, but hopefully my remarks have helped.  Since Carla mentioned TW, I will offer some comparisons between TW and HAED.

Both companies offer gorgeous patterns.  Here are some of the differences:

	TW Designworks	Heaven and Earth Designs
Blended threads	Yes	No
Fractional Stitches	Yes	No
Embellishments	Yes	No
Specialty Stitches	Yes	No
Backstitching	Yes	No

All the things that make TW's designs so pretty and unique, also make them a bit more complex to stitch.  HAED uses only full cross stitches.  Yes, HAED requires a lot of full stitches but that's all. 

Both companies' designs require patience to complete but the results are worth it!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

La Belle Dame... progress photo

A few nights ago, I finished page 10 on La Belle Dame Sans Merci.  This page was almost entirely black.  Boring to stitch and it seemed to take longer than I would have expected.  Oh well, it's done anyway.  The next page is only about half black.  ;-)

The next project in my rotation is:  Sisters Three by Paula Vaughan.  This one will eventually go to my youngest sister.  She doesn't have internet so I don't have to worry about her seeing this!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Images from the Past: Smalls

Here are some more pictures of items I've finished awhile ago.  All of these are smaller items.  While I prefer HUGE projects, every once in a while, I just need a finish.  ;-)

I stitched a bookmark for myself.

 

I stitched a coin purse to hold my nickels for my bowling league.

This was for my grandmother.  She kept it on the top of the couch so no one would lean/sit on it.



 This was for a friend's wedding.  Her theme was hydrangeas and this matched her invitations almost perfectly.

This little ornament hangs on my mother's Christmas tree every year.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy