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Golly! 508 notifications to delete today! These represent attempts by outside actors to get past the firewalls. Guess I need to be here every day for a bit to make sure to keep the numbers down. Serves me right for going away for a bit, eh?

Your time and effort are much appreciated - I wish you could put it into stitching instead!

Me, too -- but that doesn't have anything to do with keeping an eye out here. In fact, I deleted those 508 (and today's 211) with a single click. What always concerns me more is someone hijacking a member's username -- that's when we get nasty stuff that you all can actually see. Anyway, I will alert Alex and check with him that all the systems are working properly.

SuperSerinde Glad it doesn't take too much of your time.

Index fingers rule, ok!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

!!!!!!!!
So skilled.
So clean & free of cat fur.
A marvel.

Regards,

Richard

richardandtracy wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 1:59 pm So clean & free of cat fur.

I am astonished every time again when my RSN assessments come back with full marks for the "no alien fibres" requirement

Really beautiful, Mabel.

Just thinking about 'Alien Fibres'.
Does ET pop in for tea very often?

The other thought is.. Would they classify my gran's hair being used for Henry VII's hair in the picture below, as an "Alien Fibre" these days?



The image was done by my great aunt Minks for her City & Guilds Embroidery (in 1912 if I remember correctly). She used human hair as she couldn't find any silks fine enough in 'hair colour', and her sister was an easily available source.

Regards,

Richard

That is a seriously beautiful piece of work Richard!

Not sure what they think of using of real hair nowadays - it was of course not uncommon in Victorian times. I will admit that I was tempted in the Jacobean module to put in some of Lexi's fur into her crewel wool counterpart

My great Aunt's embroidery is about 14" (400mm) square on a 20" fabric. I think it's simply amazing, always have.

Using Lexi fur would have been fantastic. If you do stumpwork, possibly a little stash of Lexi fur could be used as the padding..
With our long hair Maine Coons, we're getting rather a lot of loose fur coming out <everywhere> for us to felt if we so wish.

Regards,

Richard

Your great aunt was a seriously gifted needlewoman, Richard. The level of C&G stitching was seriously high.

How long is Main Coon fur, on average Richard. Just idly wondering if it can be spun... (not by me, I quickly add).

I'm guessing, as I've not actually applied a ruler to our cat's fur, but the neck ruff averages 3 inches long, tail fan up to 4 inches long maybe a bit longer, and on their flanks usually around 2 inches. However, the cute little bit on top of their noses is down to 1/16". Toby's ear tufts extend nearly an inch from the tip of his ears, and his tufts between his toes are over half an inch.

Ozzie often looks as if his ruff is swallowing his head.

Regards,

Richard

Happy Easter to all.

You will have noticed that there is a surfeit of chocolate eggs and jelly beans. Decided against a "hunt" this year, due to Storm Dave (I mean, who thought that name had any gravitas?). It also saved them from the elephants and the marsupials, the latter like to stash them in their pouches, but don't understand why they melt... These are not "any flavour" jelly beans, by the way. Just the usual sort, although the white ones taste of coconut, so consider yourselves warned.

Not a coconut fan?

A very happy Easter to all!

WE ARE BACK!!!!!!

After a few days of blank screens I can see the forum again - phew! Favourite beverages all round.

I always think it’s just me.

I was also relieved this morning! And the sun's shining! Win!

Yep,

Really nice to be back.

I was herding cats yesterday. Metaphorically, rather than actually. Part of the testing the 11 'High Up' visitors were at my work to see was outside, so I was very relieved it was dry yesterday (though very overcast). Fortunately the design was approved and we are progressing with it. A positive result. Something for a small sherry to celebrate with, I think.

Regards,

Richard