Friday, February 20, 2015

Still Snowed In ... & Fabric Question

John has been making trips down to the mail box nearly every day since we've been snowed in. Can you see his footprints through the snowy driveway?
Here's a closer look   : )
As you can see, the road is plowed & clear of snow.  I also noticed after publishing my post yesterday that the nearest neighbors have had their driveways plowed.  I just don't get it.  In places we have lived in the past, if someone plowed or shoveled their driveway & they noticed that a neighbor was snowed in, they'd come over & ask if they could plow or shovel you out too. Oftentimes they didn't even bother to ask ... they'd just see a need & take care of it.  But oh no, not here in The Devil's Playground.  Sigh!  Bread now joins eggs, milk, & bottled water on the list of things we're out of.  Temps are predicted to be in the mid 20s today with no wind.  If this holds true, John is planning to walk to town (3 miles) to go to the gas station to see if he can get us some bread & maybe some eggs, then walk back.  I'd go with him if it wasn't for my stupid toe   : (

Tonight they are predicting another 3-5 inches of snow to fall here along with a "wintery mix," but yes, despite the hardship of not being able to drive anywhere, we're doing okay.  Can you guess what I'm making for dinner today???
Okay ... it won't be dinner, but I'll be making it   : )

Yesterday we saw an unusual bird feeding with the other birds.  We were totally puzzled as to what it was, but I did some research & figured it out this morning.  It's an Eastern Towhee.  Never saw one of these around here before!  
  
I did start kitting some designs yesterday.  I don't have a lot of the fabrics called for so today I'm going to see if I can find any substitutions from my stash.  Does anyone know of a nice white evenweave fabric (not linen) that I can purchase in a 40 count or thereabouts?  I have some 40 count white linen but it may as well be tissue paper that someone bombarded with spit wads. (For those of you who aren't familiar with these, spit wads are made by chewing a scrap of paper until it's a small wet ball-like mass, then either spitting it directly from your mouth or through a straw at something or someone.  This was sadly a popular pastime in my neighborhood when I was growing up.)  I am really saddened at the state of linen fabrics lately.  It seems that 90% of the time when I order a piece of linen, it is full of slubs that can't be removed without destroying the fabric, &/or it has a lot of "plant matter" woven into the fabric that is next to impossible to remove.  I happened upon a new fabric this morning (new to me) & wonder if anyone is familiar with it.  It's called Floba.  It's advertised as being an evenweave & comes in 36 count.  I can't use something like 20 count evenweave & just stitch over one because these designs I'm wanting to stitch include words & it's pretty much impossible to stitch letters nicely over one.  Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Also, if you know of any good linen fabrics, I'd like to know about those too   : )

13 comments:

Vickie said...

We love Rice Krispie Treats!
That Towhee looks very cold.
Stay warm and stay creative with the food options.

Robin in Virginia said...

Fabulous snow pictures! I am sorry to hear that you still haven't been plowed out.

Hmmm...hope you get some answers to your fabric questions. I know that 123 Stitch carries Zweigart based linen in 36 and 40 count. Not sure how slubby they are though. I know I usually don't have issues with their 32 count. Floba is sort of an oatmeal colored fabric.

Stay warm!

Robin in Virginia

Maggee said...

Our snow from earlier is now frozen pretty solid. So solid that if you walk on it, you really walk ON it! Leaving no footprints! We are about out of the same staples here, but tomorrow temps should warm enough and ice melt enough that I can get out to shop! Can't help with the fabrics. Hugs!

Mrs Milkybar Kid said...

Look at all that snow! As for fabrics, I love Floba, I stitched on it for the first time last year (35/36ct) and loved it and plan on using it for some Scarlet Letter samplers this year. It comes in a range of different colours and is much much less slubby than linen! I've always found Zweigart linens not to be too slubby, I stitch on their linen regularly, using 28 - 40ct depending on the project.

Justine said...

Sorry I'm no fabric expert but you made me laugh with spit wads! Sadly a popular pastime in the 70s and 80s where I grew up (NW England) too. I hope you enjoy the Rice Krispie treats. I'm not as worried about you as long as I know you have chocolate!

Terri said...

There is a fabric called Etamin that is in 32 count and it is an evenweave. Nordic Needle carries it, but I don't know if they have any higher counts.

Annette-California said...

Rice Crispy treats are a favorite here in our home:) Lovely snow photos! About the Floba fabric I've only seen on other blogs it being stitched on. And so far all have really enjoyed stitching on it. Have you given Drema a call at Needlecraft Corner store? I would see if she carries it and shes so good that if you ask her to take a look at the piece of fabric I know she will review it with you right on the phone. Hope you get the foods you need. I would have called the gas station and asked if they had what your looking for before the long walk! Good Luck love Annette

Julie said...

I hope Jon had a safe trip and you were able to get some supplies.

Karen said...

Sorry, can't help with the Floba question. Love your pictures of the little towhee; he's so cute!

Why do you call it the Devil's Playground?

Beth said...

Not terribly neighborly in your neighborhood! I hope you were able to restock the basics. Lugana is an evenweave that I find easy to stitch with. Beth

Pam in IL said...

No one (except me) helps clear snow around here either. Hope you were able to dug out and to get food.

I've purchased 36 ct evenweave from Dovestitch.

Sarah in Stitches said...

Yum - enjoy your Rice Krispie Treats! I've never used Floba. For evenweave I really like Jobelan or Lugana. They're so much easier to stitch on than linen! Good luck :D

Kaisievic said...

Wonderful snow pictures but sorry to hear you are starting to run out of the staples. Good luck with your fabric selection, too.