{What is THIS?}

Have you ever had something that went completely WRONG? No...? Well, I had something in June. Look at this; can you guess what it is? Or better; what it WAS...!

• After the painters had completed our home and gazebo, husband Pieter did buy a new storage box for the seat and back cushions that we always used in the chairs. 


• Looking at those cushions, I decided to have them laundered at our local Coin Laundry. Their huge washing machines and dryers can handle them far better than my mini Miele, in comparison. 


• So off they went and when Pieter did pick them up they looked like this...

Oh my! 

• At first I wanted to trash them, but I left them sitting there for a couple of days, till the rain stopped and I had light enough to look at them and THINK.

• The fabric looked like new but obviously they had put them in the dryer too long or too hot as the fabric had shrunk. 


• Also the foam had gotten out of shape. 


• No zipper...

• Out came my BIG seam ripper.


• I do have a small one too, but this meant serious business!


• Also my SUPER POWER READERS got retrieved...


• Now I was all ready for the fight!

• Yes, I pulled the foam out, cut it off a bit on the sides and bottom and put it back in again.


• Now I did recognize them as the nice cushions we bought ourselves on July 10 of 1998 at the Atlanta Home Depot Expo. 


• First we got ourselves four seat cushions and we went back on July 12, for four more to use for the back. 


• Perfect choice and we did enjoyed them for 14 years now. 


• Sadly all Home Depot Expo closed in the spring of 2009.


• Okay, I had to rip some more...

• DONE - all 8 were now opened up.


• Would I be able to sew them back up?


• I don't have an industrial sewing machine.


• Let's try, I do have spare needles so what's the risk?

• It certainly was not easy to sew them shut, with that thick foam inside.


• Why did they not come with an easy zipper?

• Ready for use!


• If only the sun would come out so we can have our tea in the gazebo.


• I promise to make a photo once we have the good fortune of a sunny day for putting them out.


• What do you think? 


• They are good to go once more for a couple of years or not?

On July 12, they will have their 15th Birthday; we better SIT on them to celebrate with some tea...

Related link:

{TIP for Fine Needlework SUPER POWER READERS} | previous post by me

{Blog Award & Update}

On April 15, I did receive an award from Laura, from the blog: Casita By The Lake. Thanks again Laura! 

I have written to her that I would mention this after our vacation on the Island of Curaçao in the Caribbean. 

So here it is; finally posted.

Gracias por formar parte de mi mundo: link photo.

Funny that this is in Spanish but it says: Thank you for being part of my world.

That's exactly what I like to say to all my loyal readers that leave comments for me; even when I can't get to my PC at times for visiting them. 

We are a special world and there is a lot of bonding going on.

Together we try to exist in an economy that is not the same as in the 80s.

But I do admire the thousands of women, world wide, that create the most beautiful things for their home, for themselves or for others. So many talents about!
For that very reason I will not pass it on to others as all of you are very deserving of an award!
Welcome to my newest followers and I hope you find something of your interest here.

In Curaçao I did do some cross stitching but being there, together as a family, there was not that much time for doing so. My special +6.00 reading glasses did help me tremendously though, considering that I have to always work with only one eye. One day I will be able to show you the results. Last year in Curaçao I did finish the edging around the Antique French Knotted Filet Lace.
Wishing you all a happy weekend and thanks for visiting!

Related articles:

{TIP for Fine Needlework SUPER POWER READERS} | previous post by me

{Crochet Edging on Antique French Knotted Filet Lace} | previous post by me

{Crochet Edging on Antique French Knotted Filet Lace}

Yesterday I did write about my new SUPER POWER READERS for Fine Needlework. Here I show you how I painstakingly finished off the Crochet Edging on an antique French Knotted Filet Lace embroidery with cherubs. Only using my +2.00 reading glasses. This was in the end of February while on vacation in Curaçao.

Using the DMC Cordonnet Spécial with a VERY fine crochet hook.

How would I have loved to use my SUPER POWER READERS here!

DMC Cordonnet Spécial in a size 80. It is a mercerized 6-cord cotton and one of the very finest.

Used for tatting and lace crochet around linen batiste handkerchiefs.

The crochet hook is only 0.75 mm. You do pinch yourself with it, as it is that sharp and fine.

 The reason that I did add a crochet edging on this antique French knotted (by hand, like knotted fishing nets!) filet lace is to have it framed between acrylic sheets.

Sheltering it from getting soiled and thus preserving a nice heirloom.

From Milan, Italy came my transparent acrylic bolts & nuts.

You will see the finished project in another post!

Yeah, for doing the linen stitch on such knotted net, I definitely would have needed my SUPER POWER READERS. One can only admire the woman's hands that created this in the previous age(s)...

Such fine work in the linen stitch!

Below this post is a link to a blogger friend who owns a tablecloth with cherubs, done on machine made net. Have a look at it!

Closeup of the knotted net and the embroidered linen stitch + my minor accomplishment of the crochet edging all around...

Laundered and pressed it is now ready to be framed. 

You will see that in another post!

Does any of you have some antique filet lace pieces?

Related links:
{TIP for Fine Needlework SUPER POWER READERS} | previous post by me
Filet Lace also known as Embroidery on Knotted Net, Lacis, Filet Brodé and Point Compté) is a needle lace created by darning on a ground of knotted net or netting. Shown on this link is the linen stitch on knotted net.
Filet Lace is... some history and info
Mezza Mandolina and Embroidered Netting very clear example of hand knotted netting in excellent photo
Netting shuttles see the needle and shuttles used for knotting

{TIP for Fine Needlework SUPER POWER READERS}

For us girls with somewhat 'older' eyes, we can now do our Fine Needlework with SUPER POWER READERS! No more squinting and straining your eyes. Mine arrived only after our trip to Curaçao where I did manage to do some fine counted cross stitching and VERY FINE crocheted edging around two pieces of antique French filet needle lace. Will show you that tomorrow. The batteries of my magnifying tool had given out... so I  only had my reading glasses and the sunshine to work with! 

But here is the TIP for you, to obtain from Solutions such great SUPER POWER READERS, till the maximum strength of +6.00.

• These are my SUPER POWER READERS in bronze and yes, in a +6.00!

• They are very reasonably priced at $ 29.98 and they do come in a pretty hard case.

Maybe a great idea for starting your fall and winter projects or for finally finishing a project you started years ago...?

• This company also sells Bi-Focal Sunglasses.

I received mine and keep them in the car all the time. 

Practical for reading, e.g. iPhone without having to change your sunglasses for reading glasses.

Both are great products and I highly recommend them.