New Tool–Numbered Tape

When I use hardware cloth for embroidery, I make my designs based on the spaces not the threads (wire). I am currently working on a piece consisting of three panels. Two of the panels will mirror each other. I needed to make sure that I followed my design without mistakes.

I number my grid paper designs, so it occurred to me that numbering the hardware cloth spaces would make for an easier go.

Numbered Tape 1

It worked great and saved loads of time. No more counting before making a stitch.

Why the double numbers? So the numbers can be easily read however I am holding the hardware cloth.

Numbered Tape 2


Everyone Loves Brugmansia

I love Brugs. I became aware of them when we were living at the beach. We often would take walks to the beach in the evening. I kept noticing a lovely fragrance and found that it was Brugs. The plants were cut like trees and had large white bell flowers.

When we moved to SLO I decided to have a Brug garden. I bought one plant. I loved it so much, I started buying seeds of different varieties. At one point I had over 100 plants. And my gardens smelled great!

The Brug flowers are white, yellow, peach, white with a blush. Some are double flowers. They all are beautiful.

Then I realized I wasn’t the only one who loved Brugs. Everyone loves them. No matter how much I fertilize the Brugs and give them systemic, damage occurs.

Brug Damage 1

This is damage typical of cucumber beetles. The beetle looks a bit like a green ladybug.

Today I found this wormy guy on one of my variegated potted plants.

Wormy Guy

You may not think he can eat much until you see this–

Leaf Damage

I think that Spider Mites are the worst of all bugs. They are difficult to see and an infestation can occur rather quickly.

Spider Mites

Spider Mites on a Double White Brug.

This is an image of a Brug that was a cutting from a Brug that I grew from seed. It likes to grow tall, about 20 feet. We try to keep it pruned to about half that height, to allow for an easier removal of spent flowers.

White Flowers

When I prune my Brugs I always take cuttings. It is a superstition thing for me. I tend to be rather aggressive when pruning. The cuttings will be my back up plants just in case the parent dies. These are a few current cuttings that are ready to be planted–3 Brug varieties and Solandra Maxima.

Brug Cuttings

The Solandra Maxima has large flowers with a lovely fragrance. I bought a plant from a fellow at the Saturday Farmers’ Market. He told me that it is a vine. Actually it does not behave so much like a vine. I have found that it is somewhat shrub-like. I took cuttings and have it growing in four different locations in my gardens.

This is the result of a cutting from my original Solandra Maxima plant. The plant is filling in a corner niche quite nicely.

Solandra Maxima Plant from Cutting

Soon there should be flowers that look like this–

Solandra Maxima Flower


Trolley Needle

I was researching embroidery techniques and ran across reference to a Trolley Needle. Appeared quite useful, so I ordered one.

Trolley Needle

The tool is used for keeping thread flat and in order when doing needlework. I will not be able to use it for a few weeks because I sustained a repetitive stress injury of my hand and wrist.

Another item that I keep in my tool chest is gaffer tape. I wrap it around the edge of hardware cloth to prevent snags and frays of fiber and my hands. I like that it sticks nicely but does not leave a sticky residue.

Gaffer Tape

These are a few panels in progress that may be part of a triptych.

Needlework In Progress


Trolley Needle

Gaffer Tape

Mayo Clinic Repetitive Stress Injury

Baylor Health Repetitive Stress Injury