Friday, February 17, 2012

Linen Woes

I have been trying to buy some designer suggested fabrics for projects I want to stitch in the coming months but I am having a less than happy time doing so.  Quite a few of the fabrics I need are not to be found anywhere ... at least anywhere I have looked.  I've Googled them all without success.  The 35 counts seem to be almost nonexistent.  I therefore thought I would just go ahead & substitute with a 36 count.  I was able to find a fabric or two this way but the place I did find it only sold it in 1/2 or 1 yard cuts.  Since I only need less than a fat eighth size it really would not behoove me to buy that much even if I had that kind of money.  I have even thought of substituting with a like color of fabric but have likewise come up empty.  It's impossible to tell what a color is truly like by looking at it on a computer monitor.  Also, colors differ from one manufacturer to another so for instance the color "straw" could be a dark gold when purchased from one source but a light tan when purchased from another.  I once heard tell of a supplier who sold her fabric with DMC color comparisons noted in the descriptions.  What a godsend that would be!  Unfortunately I have never found her.  Does anyone know if this supplier exists?

In particular I am searching for WDW 35 ct Straw & Parchment (although I'll take a 36), R&R 36 ct Creme Brulee, & Lakeside 36 ct Vintage Examplar.  I'm also on the hunt for 28 ct Chardonay & 28 ct Cranberry Bog.  Does anyone know where I can get any of these fabrics?  I have no idea who the manufacturers are for those last two.

My WIP is coming along rather well.  Does anyone want to venture a guess yet as to what it is?  You need to tell me both the name of the designer & the name of the design.  Just saying "it's a howler monkey" or "it's a bowl of soup" won't do   : )

This is International Hermit & Stitch Weekend (see my sidebar for details).  I really enjoyed participating last month & have been looking forward to this month's weekend!  I can't believe it's the second IHSW already this year!  I'm telling you, before we know it, it will be fall again!  I plan to finish my current project this weekend & hopefully start another ... assuming I have the fabric!!!  Actually the next project I have in line is in kit form so the fabric is already there ... hooray!

I woke up at 3:30 this morning (3 hours of sleep) & finally got out of bed a little after 4:00.  True to routine I made my morning cup of Hot Cinnamon Sunset tea & a cup for John as well.  He will heat his up in the microwave whenever he emerges from the bedroom.  This is always a source of horror for me ... not John coming out of the bedroom but him heating up his tea in the microwave.  I try to be a tea purist ... certain teas are best brewed at certain boiling points & one should never, ever reheat tea that has cooled!  Of course if I was a true purist I guess I would be using loose tea rather than tea bags.  Anyway, what I'm trying to tell you here is that while the tea was brewing I popped a loaf of sort of homemade bread into the oven to rise.  All you homemade bread purists will shudder at the thought of me making homemade bread from a frozen loaf but I'm giving this a try because I miss my dad's homemade bread.  My dad was a cook & baker in the Merchant Marines.  He often baked while I was growing up, his specialties being nut horns & homemade bread.  The nut horns were only made at Christmastime but every Sunday he would make a huge batch of bread dough which would be turned into buns, breadsticks, & loaves.  I'm sure my chubby thighs & large behind are a carryover from my gorging on his luscious bread creations.  Dad stopped making bread when he got older & no one in the family, me included, ever had the brains to ask him for his recipe.  Honestly ... his bread would have been Jesus' choice at the Last Supper.  I'm sure dad is in heaven now baking it for God, all the angels & all the saints.  Well, I was talking with my aunt a couple weeks ago & she told me that the closest thing she has ever found to dad's bread is Rhodes white bread loaves.  I have searched every highway & byway I've traveled in & near my area & finally found a grocery store selling this bread when we went to Richmond the other day.  I just started the bread baking now so I will let you know if it is indeed close to dad's.  I hope so   : )    

14 comments:

Trace4J said...

Good luck finding your colors. Your dads breads sound wonderful. I so love hot fresh bread and rolls. Im so hungry now. :)
Hugs to you
Trace


www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

Maggee said...

HI Shirlee! I can help with the fabric--because R&R fabric is the main 'job' of my LNS owners! Yes, I have access to all R&R fabric at any time! I know I can get you 36 count Creme Brulee, and I know they have 35 count fabrics, though not the colors because I have not used any of that count of late. And they are the designers of Cranberry Bog which I believe they have not dyed in a while because the dye is unavailable. But I will check on that next week when I go, IF you like! Just email me to discuss! Maybe by now you have yummy bread?!

Vickie said...

I hope the bread is just what you were looking for Shirlee. :)

Siobhán said...

Definitely send an email to, or give a call to Drema at www.needlecraft-corner.com. She doesn't have a lot of her stock listed on her website since the linen stash fluctuates. I have my CC# on file with her and just send her an email with what I need. She can offer suggestions, send what she has, offer substitutes, etc. Plus she has a brick and mortar shop and usually has great sales. I've ordered from her for years and am very happy. Also, Lois at www.elegantstitch.com has a big fabric inventory, and will cut fabric to size.

Anonymous said...

Hello there,
Tea is a favourite at our house! If possible "Esprit de Noel" from "Marriage Freres". I use tea both ways!!! And with some good bread!!! HUMMMMMMMMMM! Lovely!
Being a cross stitcher for some years, I tend to use the usual fabric. Only if I buy kits is when I use a different type. Love the fabric I bought for a "Renato Parolin" scheme I made with trees!
Portugal/Lisbon is a difficult place to find good fabrics. Paris is the place for me!!!
Hugs and a cup of tea

Nicola said...

How fustrating, I often have the ssame problem trying to source fabrics and threads via the internet.

There is nothing quite like the aroma of bread baking in an oven.

Wishing you a good weekend with lots of stitching time.

Rosemary said...

I have been searching for stitching blogs since taking up the needle once again after too long of a break and I'm very pleased I came across your sweet blog. You have a wonderful place here and I'm going to be sure to come back for more visits.

Your story about your dad's bread made me think of some of my late dad's favorite foods. We didn't get the German coffee cake recipe from him and I am sad about that. BTW, Rhodes bread doughs are actually very good. Okay, not homemade but awfully good.

JulieF1962 said...

Welcome Stitchery in Crystal Lake, Illinois has some of those fabrics. www.welcomestitchery.com

cucki said...

aww your dads bread sound so lovely..
i love hot fresh bread so much :)
have a lovely weekend with stithcy hugs..
good luck dear for finding the right color..
happy stitching xxx

Carol said...

Your dad's bread baking story brought back some wonderful memories for me, too, Shirlee. My dear father also baked loaf after loaf of two kinds of rye bread--I've never tasted anything so good in my life :) I can almost smell it right now...

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

Shirlee,
Good luck finding what you need!

I love warm homemade bread ~ YUM!!!

Prim Blessings
Robin

denise said...

i think country stitches carries what you are looking for.you can also try 1-2-3 stitch or the stitching postin baltimore,md. denise

natalysneedle said...

Try calling ABC Stitch or 123 stitch as they both have lots of linens. Also In Stitches has a large selection of Lakeside linens. I believe they are the ones that give a DMC equivalent.

TheCrankyCrow said...

Sounds like you got a good leads with your fabric and I'm glad. I have no help to offer. I hesitate to buy some patterns unless I know the fabrics used are available as well - and the last time I really got snot upon. I was sent the wrong patterns and the wrong linens and the individual has still not made things right, despite being a very "popular" and "in-demand" designer. Boo hoo.

And...ahhh....fresh homemade bread...yummm...On bread-making days growing up, we'd sometimes just have fresh, hot, homemade bread with homemade hot cocoa....one of my favorite meals....And I have no idea whatsoever what you're working on. Put us out of our curious misery already and TELL us!!! ;o) Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin