I started this on Saturday and work full time, can’t believe I finished it in enough time to leave a review with photo!
It was a challenge but at the same time I couldn’t put it down. Love projects like that.
This is “Blackwork Panel 2” which I found on Etsy.
Really pleased with how this one came out! Instead of the suggested colors I used black and a dark charcoal. The color difference is subtle but really lovely in person.
It was a long one, and I stitched it all over the country and even throughout the Caribbean. It’s also the most blackwork I’ve done to date, my next piece will be 100% blackwork, I’m in love with the style and have some confidence now.
This is a plastic 3 drawer set up I got at Target for about $16, and then I ordered the foam trays from Etsy (here’s a link for the foam trays), 3 trays were about $35. Honestly, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done for my hobby space!
I really wanted the Bisley chest and of course who wouldn’t want the DMC but for some reason crossing that $100 mark just for a storage system seemed like a lot.
I’m probably going to order another set or two of the foam trays as well as extra drawers for future Me when I run out of space.
Anyways, I didn’t bother leaving space for threads I don’t have, but not dealing with that tackle box system has been nice and I’m actually working through my stash instead of just buying it because I’m too lazy to hunt it down.
Brought my cross stitch with me, I found a really cool bag made especially for hoops and all that you need and it’s made everything so easy!
We’re off on a road trip today and I found the best cross stitch bag for travel! Here’s where I got it.
I’ve got 2 hoops inside, this one was inside (stand obviously won’t fit) and a ton of supplies including balls of yarn for tatting. It’s secure, and really nicely made.
Weird grey square is there because the mods pulled this down in my last post, it’s cover a folded up chart for another WIP that is’r what’s currently in the hoop, about 10% could be seen. Maybe we can employ a little nuance here? I get the need to protect artists but there’s no way someone could have inferred how to turn that into a full chart from what was showing.
They’ve been turning up in counterfeit bags for years, anyone can order and program them with ease and without a big cost. These are what I found with a 4 season search on Amazon.
If you’re interested in pre loved bags do yourself a favor and learn. Spend some time digging around on website, articles. Look at photos etc.
But trusting that screenshot from an NFC Chip Reading app is going to help you, or cross checking the one you download once you get a bag is about as effective as solving algebra problems by chewing gum.
I posted a little over a week ago that I’d scored a fun cut of meat. Finally got to it today, it was fun to do. Very tender and tasty.
I did “stud” it with some garlic and rosemary like I would a leg of lamb. I seasoned it pretty heavily with Holy Cow and Holy Gospel then left it overnight to chill. I smoked it at 200, on super smoke, until it was 160. Then set it in a deep pan with some Merlot, Beef Stock as well as carrots, celery, garlic, onions and some other herbs.
I turned it up to 330, covered as tight as a drum with foil and let it go until it was 205 and tender enough a tooth pick slide in and out easily.
The meat didn’t fall apart but the bone slipped out without any effort and it was basically fork tender. Meat was super juicy and so tender it was like stew meat.
It was $28 and enough meat for 3-4 meals for us. Not too shabby!
Spotted one while shopping at WalMart tonight. I’ve asked at my normal grocery store (HEB) and they’ve said it’s special order and around $65-70. So I’ve never taken the leap.
But I did tonight since this seems like a fair price for one.
Anyone have any tips or suggestions? I’m pretty experienced at this so I know at a minimum I can make it tender and juicy, but I’d love to really nail this cut of meat.
For context I’ve got the following I use frequently:
Graceful MM
Favorite MM (old model)
Pochette Accessories(NM and vintage Epi)
Pochette Felicie
I want/need something in between the small ones and the Graceful. I know these two are very different but these are the ones I keep coming back to.
What might be really holding me up is that I love the look of that Speedy but know I’d likely not like the size of a 30 since I’m looking for something smaller than a Graceful.
So I’m curious. Which of these would you choose and why?