Thursday, June 19, 2014

Free-Five Very Naughty Kittens and One Naughty Dog...just kidding

Greetings to everyone,
Before I get to the subject, I want to thank everyone who went to my Early Work Mercantile and helped make it a success. I can see that much of the traffic comes from my blog, and I am truly appreciative.  Thank you!

Now, on to naughty animals.  First is a picture of a beautiful alphabet book designed by Ellen Chester that I had worked so hard on.
It was displayed on an antique desk in the living room.  I spent months and months working on this, and even used expensive silk, which, as you know, I am a DMC person.  I even used ties from the hospital gown my hubby passed away in for the closure.  Maybe morbid, but it was special to me.  Here it is now :(
One of the kittens knocked it off on the floor,  and a dog (probably Oliver) peed on it.  I even consulted with the dry cleaner, and he said I had no choice but to rinse it in cold water to get the pee out.  It is ruined.   So upsetting, but it is my choice to have my animals, and I guess sometimes things happen :(

On top of that, on the same day I experienced a horrible Facebook experience.  A couple of months ago I decided to try Facebook out, and was having fun...for awhile.  I don't understand why some people have to be so nasty!  Oh, well..

While browsing around, I happened upon this lovely casket design by Just A Thought.  Judy O'dell is her name.
I will never have one of those extremely expensive wooden needlework caskets, and this is a very reasonably priced design with detailed finishing instructions.  I am going to order it soon.  I think it is a beautiful design.  I understand it was an on-line class a couple of years ago, so you may have already seen it.

Rain, rain, go away...that is all it seems to do here.  Thunderstorm watch as we speak.  Some things in the garden are doing well, others not so much.  Here are a couple photos.  As you can see, the hostas are happy.

As a final note, I can't believe that I have over one hundred thousand page views!!  This is amazing to me that so many people are interested in looking.  I so appreciate that you take the time to ready about my little life and farm.  To celebrate, I will be back next time with a small give-away to thank you for your readership.

Melinda

24 comments:

  1. Oh oh, naughty furry faces, but love your work. Beautiful gardens, the Hosta is wonderful, Blessings Francine.

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  2. Beautiful yard! Sadly there are some people who enjoy being nasty because their on-line bullying makes them feel superior. Try your best to push that aside and consider the source. Here's a hug and a smile from me.

    Saundra

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  3. So very sorry that your beautiful book was ruined by your pets. Of course it just would have to be something as precious as this. I wonder what on earth made your dog pee on it? As for the nasty comments, try to forget them. You give such a lot of pleasure to a lot of people, myself included. I'm many miles away in France but I love reading your Facebook page and Blog.

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  4. Oh my gosh, that's so so sad about your beautiful stitched book! So much work! :( I'm sorry. But you're right -- our animals are our loves and I guess we have to take the bad with the good, huh? Your garden is beautiful!

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  5. Your gardens look beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. I'm also sorry to see your beautiful book looking this way. I don't know if this will work, but awhile ago I read somewhere on line that somebody had an accident where the silk had run and somebody suggested putting it in water for a few days changing the water when needed. I think it worked, but it would be a bit hard for you to do this seeing how it's a book. It could have been on Sampler World on Facebook.

    I know that you have had a bad experience with nasty comments on Facebook but the majority of people are really lovely. Don't let somebody who got out of bed the wrong way ruin things for you. After all they are just jealous of what you have and do. If you are in Sampler World or another F/B group similar to it post your photos and hopefully somebody will remember how the other sampler was fixed. I can only remember putting it in cold water and not letting it dry out until the threads had completely run. Hope you can fix this beautiful piece.

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  7. Oh no. You know I am reckless! I would remove the covers and dip the pages in very strong bleach quickly and then into cold water. The silk will eventually stop bleeding but I don't know if it will lighten the runs or wipe out all color in the threads. But I'm reckless! I don't like/do Facebook. What a yard!

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  8. First, your yard and garden look just beautiful. I feel so very bad about your alphabet book!! I think I would try Marly's suggestion. It just might work. I can't think of anything better!! I am not much for Facebook. So sorry you had a bad experience!!! People can be the best and the worst!

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  9. Melinda ~
    Oh, my heart aches for you. That was one of the most wonderful cross stitch creations I had ever seen and I didn't know the story behind the closure. Your furbabies are very lucky to still be alive :)
    Sorry you had a bad FB experience. I didn't know you were on there. I just sent a friend request and hope you won't abandon being there.
    That casket design looks like another very detailed project, but you are a master at them!!!
    Your yard is beautiful. We finally got some much needed rain overnight. The grass was already turning brown up here.
    Sending you big hugs!!!
    Lauren

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  10. Dear Melinda,
    You bring such joy and inspiration not only to me but to many others. I have enjoyed your blog so much. Thank-you for all the sharing that you do. I am so sorry to see what has happened to your needlework book. I know I would shed a few tears over that one. Our pets are part of our family and we love them dearly, but there definitely are those times.....Your yard and garden are just beautiful! Sending a hug your way!

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  11. You could try one of the enzyme products sold at pet stores, for cleaning items that have befallen similar fate. Sorry about the nasties on FB but they have serious issues...pls ignore! As a former Ohio native I love seeing your photos. And good on you for providing a loving home for the fur babies.

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  12. So sad about your stitching. Your garden is lovely! You can block people on facebook and also set it so that only your friends can see your page. Facebook has it's plus and minuses for sure!

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  13. Heartbreaking about your book. Alas it has happened to me before. Those dang fur babies. Beautiful flowers! Janice

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  14. Oh Melinda i would take all you naughty animals if i could have you lovely gardens with them. So sorry about you needle book , but i was wondering if those shout color catchers would work quilters are always using them to prevent bleeding of dye especially in red and whit quilts. As for the ugly comments on fb blow them off as i have to say you are one accomplished needlewoman and im very lucky to own some of your work, and i enjoy you blog very much so pleasekeep up with your posts.

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  15. So sorry to hear what happened to your book. I hope you can try some of the suggestions in the comments and that something will work! I like that you said you were an advocate of dmc thread. I am too, l love dmc :)
    Sorry you had a bad experience on fb. Unfortunately there are bad eggs that upset the apple cart. I find that most are not though, especially in the Sampler World group. Have a great weekend!

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  16. Oh my goodness....your book is lovely and I especially like that you used the ties from your husbands gown. I hope you can clean it some how; even if there are runs it is beautiful. Your garden is AMAZING!!!! Congrats on your posting record....wow!

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  17. How sad to have put a great deal of work into a project and see it now damaged. May it still be a treasure to you, with added memories !
    Your gardens are beautiful ;)
    Rose

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  18. So sorry about your mishap...I hope you might have a little success with some of the suggestions. Your gardens are lovely! You are a gifted gardener for sure!
    Robyn

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  19. Oh Melinda, so sorry about your needlebook. Our pets are so loved, but they can also be so frustrating at times. Your gardens look splendid and I love that casket! Like some others who have commented, I don't "do" FB, but sorry you experienced some nastiness there. Hope your weekend is wonderful.

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  20. Amazing gardens! Love all the special objects you put in them too!
    Sorry about your book too. I bet the animals are "sorry", they didn't mean to be bad!
    Marg

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  21. Look at this way you have one of a kind piece. Things happen with pets but we love them anyway.

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  22. How heartbreaking! Your alphabet book was gorgeous and I can imagine how sad you must be. I'm trying to find a positive - like now it really looks like an antique - but I'm not believing it myself.... I'm so sorry.
    Now, for the mean FB people - mean people suck! Don't let that person take you away from FB, I'm so glad you're there with your inspiring home, stitching and gardens!
    Love the casket - like you, I'll never own one of those crazy expensive wood ones. I think this one looks like a LOT of work but it's every bit as pretty as the wood ones! Can't wait to see your progress pics as you complete it!

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  23. Feel for you on the beautiful sampler book but I believe your dog may have prevented the cats from clawing it to shreds by marking it with urine. Perhaps after washing it, and putting it back together, you'll discover it has a worn faded charm to it that wasn't there before, along with a story :) The morning we were leaving for Brimfield, our K.C. knocked over my prized Arts & Crafts stained glass lamp and broke one of the curved slag glass panels which no one seems able to repair. K.C.'s gone now but the lamp reminds me of her and it appreciate it for that. I guess you now have a Wabi Sabi book and I have a Wabi Sabi lamp - imperfect, but still beautiful :)

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  24. Melinda, as a fellow pet owner I empathize with you! I have found a product that has been very helpful in removing urine stains. I am not connected with the company in any way, absolutely none, but I've cleaned lots of pet fluids from carpets and upholstery, have used lots of cleaners, and this one works better than the others, it's called Folex, and I get it at Lowe's. It might be worth a try. I always look forward to your blog posts. Your projects and garden are inspiring! Don't let the *&%$#!***s on FB get you down -- unfortunately there are some evil people in this world. If you need any more info on the Folex, email me -- I buy it by the gallon!, and there's more info about it on their website.

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