I have lost all concept of time, most of the time have no idea what day it is or what time it is. When Sara called me one Saturday and asked if the mailman had been at my house yet I informed her that the mailman doesn't deliver the mail on Sunday. As you picture her rolling her eyes and thanking God I didn't live with her she said, "Mom, first of all, it's not Sunday, it's Saturday!" I stopped listening after that and went back to the computer. But I really can't tell morning from the afternoon, I'm no longer getting up at the crack of dawn, which frankly I don't like because I love the crack of dawn. But I'm sure many of you are feeling the same way so just know you are certainly not alone. You would think I would get a lot of stitching in...and that would be wishful thinking on my part. I started out devoting a few hours a day to getting new merchandise on the Salty Yarns web site. Organize and set goals is what I told myself. Initially, I was putting 10 items on the Salty Yarns site per day....for about 5 days and then I got bored and that number came down quite a bit. I was also being distracted by my living room and dining room mess. I stitch in the living room and I had just put stuff on every chair and 2 sofas in there and in the dining room where I work on my computer, I had dropped bags on each of those chairs. In the kitchen, the grocery bags with cans and jars in them are still sitting on the floor. It's distracting to have so much clutter sitting around. So I decided to clean it up..dedicating one day to each room. I started with the living room and spent a few hours, putting everything where it belonged and then dusted (first time in 2020). It had something on every surface, even if it is stitching related. Now everything is put away and it's relaxing when I sit there with no clutter. In going through the totes with stitching in them I did uncover a finished little Easter bunny from about 5 years ago. So the next day I decided to get it finished since I've also just piled my finished pieces on the table and haven't been finishing anything. When I don't have my usual Friday deadline to get models in the shop things just fall apart here. But here it is...
It's from the Sue Hillis "Easter Parade." The book has the cutest Easter ornaments (there are 5 different designs in the book), and I had picked this one to insert in a pocket watch to wear. However, that idea was from 5 years ago. While Nashville for the needlework market in March, I picked up this cute 3" pitcher and felt I would find something to attach to it. This project was the perfect piece. I attached it to the picture and added the rick rack to break up the white on white and it fits right into my Easter display. I had kitted several projects for the Nashville trip and as usual, didn't do much stitching at all. One of those projects was
Mr. Bunn E. Tail. It is a Brenda Gervais, With Thy Needle & Thread project and since it was already kitted, I pulled it out and proceeded to stitch it. It was an easy stitch but I was concerned about the finishing but decided to worry about that after the stitching. A couple of nights later it was done and joined the pile on the table. I decided to pull it off the pile and do the finishing yesterday. I'm thrilled to say it went together very easily, especially since I used my oval templates to get the correct size oval so he could be a stand-up. Once he was sewn together, bottom sewn on it was time for his tail, whiskers and his nose. In the finishing instructions, Brenda tells you to use the picture for the placement of the nose, easy, glue a cotton ball soaked in a coffee solution and dried in the oven. I had some roving so I balled it up and sewed the tail on. While I don't mind using glue and have done it frequently, I don't do it if I can sew something. I didn't have any sisal rope fibers, but I find that carpet thread or button thread will work well since it is stiffer than regular thread and will stand up on its own. Mrs. Bunn E. Tail is definitely ready to move into the shop. One more project off the table.
Mrs. Bunn E. Tail was worked on 36 ct. Winters Brew from R & R Reproduction and stitching using the called for fibers. Button eye, whiskers made from carpet thread or button thread and a tail attached made out of roving. Fun and fast project and easy finish.
Last night I also finishing the stitching on the tomato pincushion, Thank God! That almost did me in, so now I can pick out new projects, well I already started on Erica Michaels "The Needle Berry" and I really am enjoying the stitch. I've got a couple of band sampler projects but have to get in the shop to get the banding since the width I brought home is too wide for one and too narrow for the other. Oh, the trials of the stitcher's life. To add to my list of "to-dos" is the governor's order for masks as of last Saturday. So I spent one day just watching you tubes on making masks and finally picking one, then running back and forth for supplies, ironing, cutting, etc. It's not that hard as many of you have found. Getting elastic is the difficult part. So I went to my stash and found the package I knew was somewhere, along with a couple of other packages, which I didn't know I had, so I was good to go for a few masks. I was more concerned for the girls as they are the ones who go grocery shopping. Then it was on to the men and the children. After getting everyone's masks the correct size I took a break and will make a few every few days until we have a surplus. I'm so excited to be getting rid of some of my fabric, which I keep buying even though I haven't made a quilt in years. Well, I'm off to start something, cleaning, dishes, laundry, who knows, but I do know stitching will be done sooner rather than later. Hope you are getting plenty of stitching in while you are home. It won't be too much longer stitchers, but please stay home. It's better to be safe than sorry.
