Opening full time is but 2 days away.....excitement mounts

I had to go to the office yesterday as Mary was having difficulty with a report, and while there I stopped in the shops to see what the plans are for Friday's opening.  John has put into place plexiglass shields at the front counters as you will see in many shops, restaurants, hotels as they start to re-open.  John made a stand for the front as you come in the door of Salty Yarns, which holds the sanitizer which is now required upon entering the store, signs in the window stating masks and sanitizer is a requirement and we are armed with sanitizer sprays for the constant wiping down we will have to do.  We have multiple pens ready and containers ready so when a pen is used it must go into it's own container and be sanitized before it can be used again.  Sara wants to have only 4 people at a time because she's unsure about the social distancing thing.  She was cutting fabric and without realizing people were getting really bunched together at the fabric table.  Because both shops are connected I've suggested we open only one door so we control the flow, but this is definitely a work in progress.    Mary has been so proactive she not only had the signs made, but she also had distancing markers made.  But if you've been in our shop you realize that we barely have the room, but we're looking into how we can utilize them.  Mary, of course, in the hotel won't have that problem, but so many more problems than we will have in the shops I'm grateful I'm only involved in the shops.  However, Friday is the day...we will be back in business however we are limiting customers in at any one time.  Mary noticed the Paradise Plaza, which opened last weekend is running full...apparently they are not concerned with social distancing but we're not filling up the hotel at any time this summer, or until things are more settled and the pandemic is handled.  But I'm sure we will have issues coming up daily as we get used to life now, so please bear with us.  I  got the 2nd piece done for the galvanized tin, the Quilting Bird by Hands on Design.  So it's now in place which means no matter how you look at the tote you will see stitching and supplies readily available.

As you can see I have not only added the Quilting Bird, but also the Salty Yarns needle nanny provided by Shiela Fitzhugh (thanks Shiela) as well as a pair of scissors to what was the back side of the tote last week.  But now you don't know which side is front and which side is back.   As I come across ...goodies I will be adding them with magnets so eventually, everything will be near when I need them.  My chart and q-snap can be inside the tote along with anything else that can't be attached by magnets.  Of course, once Quilting Birds was finished that meant I could start something new.  Because Memorial Weekend is upon us, and such a Patriotic occasion, I picked Brenda Gervais, Souvenirs of the Heart-Star Spangled Spectacular.   I love  Patriotic pieces, in fact, have a hallway wall at home that is dedicated to Patriotic stitching so this will definitely have a home there, once I get to take it home.  I was so anxious to start this I missed an important instruction, it's over 1 thread on 28 ct. and I started stitching it over 2 threads.  As it grew the first night I kept thinking it seemed a little large for a pincushion, but plowed on, until close to midnight when I again questioned the size.   Then I read the pattern and of course found the problem.   It only took me a minute to decide to carry on as I had gone too far.  And as most of you already know I really don't care about size on most things and switch fabric sizes from what the chart shows often.  While I normally don't show my work until it's finished, I'm breaking out of the box and showing you some...

 Pardon the wrinkles and the parked threads, but I think you can see what's going on.   I have definitely had issues of my own making.  I'll be honest, my eyes are having problems seeing some of the differences in codes and colors.  Of course, I knew the vines were going to be green so I used the Pine Needles but looking at the graph I didn't realize there was a change for the leaves so I kept right on stitching.  You can see it on the right.  I began to wonder why there were 2 greens on my ring so I checked the chart closely under the daylight and of course realized the vine was one color and the leaves another.  I just couldn't stand tearing out at that point so I moved to the other side.  There you can see the difference in the 2 greens.  You can also see this is going to be twice the size since it's over 2, (suppose to be a little over 2" x a little over 3".)  But that's O.K. with me because it's a cute design and I'll figure out a different finish with little or no problem.  I told you before I had started "For the Parlor" by Shakespeare Peddler.  Well, it was put on the back burner to finish the Quaker Bird and Souvenirs of the Heart but I'm going to get back to it as soon as I'm finished this.  However, it will be an ongoing project as there are 8 parts.  I'm working it on banding...again please excuse the wrinkles.

I just have to finish the two borders on the side and the first section will be history....yeah!

And then there is one more that I'm working on and have been very periodically but now will start working on it more often to hopefully have it done by July 4th...

Not quite 1/2 done on this one.  It' the Heritage Sampler from Plum Street Samplers.  I started this last June but quit working on it after July 4th to work on fall projects.  Brought it back out last month and started working on the pumpkin patch but will put more time on this now to get it finished in time.  I love Plum Street Sampler pieces and have the sister chart to this already in my todo bag so I really do need to speed up my stitching to get all of this completed.  Having so much fun with all that I've got going on, I just need to stay awake longer.  I felt a cold coming on last Saturday so I took some NyQuil and rested a little too much.  That stuff is like a sleeping pill for me.  I slept through the night woke up on Sunday feeling just a bit better so spent the day sleeping with the t.v. on and finally on Monday was over it, but I lost 2 days to sleep.  Trying to make up for that by staying up longer but that backfired when I tried to go to sleep Monday, couldn't get to sleep so finally stopped trying at 1:30am.got up started stitching and at 5:30 started working on the computer and didn't take a nap until noon.  So my sleeping is so screwed up time-wise.  But last night went to bed around 2 because I didn't want to put my stitching down and woke up at 7:45 just in time to get to Walmart to pick up my groceries.  Whew, too much sleep.  I still say if you can, stay home.  But if you can not please wear a mask and gloves to stay as safe as possible.  No one looks great in a mask and gloves, but it's better than taking a chance.  Will keep in touch.  Keep your needles moving.  Love seeing your projects on social media.  Keep it up....

Reopening-May 22nd with Covid-19 rules in place....

Decisions have been made and now we have to figure out how to do that, putting into place a safe work environment and making it safe for our customers.  While the Mayor and Governor have declared things can open, including retail stores, this weekend, we will be closed for another week as we try to figure out how to implement the safety measures.  We are gloved and masked so we are ready, but it's figuring out the rest of it.  We can have 50% capacity....I'm not really sure how many that is.  6 feet between each customer, etc.  So it comes down to this...we may have to restrict how many come in at one time, but I'm afraid we are going to have to count on you, our customers, to keep the social distance to 6 feet.  The rockers will be out front so you can sit if you have to wait, but oh, my I'm too old for this.  Anyway, the news that I'll be back at work next week is O.K. as I can't complain after having been off since March 14th, but now I'm back to full time I think...oh, my have I mentioned I'm going to be 72 next month.  Is there a law I can't work?  I say let's implement that one.  No, I'm just kidding.  The only thing that gets a work out when I'm in Sea Trader is my mouth because I rarely get out of the chair, although since I'll be constantly sanitizing the shelves, etc., I may get quite a work out now.  Now that I have a goal of next Friday I've been working on the finishes and today I have another one.  Well, it's halfway done.  

The design is from a  Heart in Hand Wee One series and it's called Stitching Bird.  I got the galvanized tote it's shown on from Hobby Lobby.  I decided to attach it using magnets on the stitched piece and that way I can change it if I want to later.  After attaching it I thought it looked a little bare so I had the needle holder on a metal cart beside my stitching place so I added it above the bird and the fact that it shows a tomato pincushion was perfect, and then I started thinking about the things I would need while stitching and so I put a magnet next to the stitched piece and put my scissors on it, I took my threads which I already had on a metal 2" ring and attached that ring to the handle.   I'm sure before this makes it to the shop I will be adding things as I find them.  And with everything attached using magnets it's so easy.  And I stuck the piece I'm working on in there so now everything I need to stitch this piece is in this tote.    So easy to find when I need it.  This tote would be an excellent place to put all the needle nannies you collect.   Plenty of space here.  Anyway, I said it was 1/2 done because I'm in the process of stitching Quilting Bird which will be put on the opposite side so it won't matter which side you display.  You could do seasonal displays this way and if you attach using magnets you can easily move things on and off.  The Stitching Bird design is stitched on 32 ct. Ant. White linen using Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, and Gentle Art fibers.  The only thing I changed is the spool you see on the design that's really a micro spool which I added thread to and it replaced the called for JABCO button because I didn't have the button home and didn't want to go down to the shop to get one.   I added a real needle to his beak, just because I didn't feel like stitching the one on the chart and added tiny pins to the pincushion because I like real next to the stitched and I had them.  It's a fast stitch too, which you know I love and need at times.  Yesterday I finished the Brenda Gervais "Project Quarantine-Stay Home and Stitch.  After I finished the stitching I first thought about framing it because I stitched it on 32 instead of 36 and thought it was a tad too large for a pincushion.  But after studying it for about 1/2 hr., I came to the conclusion it could be a drum.  I talked to Sara to get her thoughts and she agreed so a drum was born.  I used Weeks Dye Works wool for the top and bottom.  The drum was stitched using 32 ct. linen and the suggested threads.  It was also a fun stitch.  It didn't have much that I could embellish but I did put a real tapestry needle in place of the stitched one which has a loose thread in it, in the hand of the stitcher on the right hand side.  On the pincushions, I also used real pins.  

And that is going to be my stitched piece to remind me what we've been going through for the last

 3 months.  I have another finish to do tomorrow and I love the piece but the finishing I'm not so sure about.  In any event, I'm done work for the day so I'll end this and again please stay safe and if you can stay home.    And those who can't perhaps we will see you next weekend.

Finally finishing has begun

I'm happy to report that I finally got around to finishing something.  Honestly, I've about driven myself crazy with my lack of discipline that has come with the pandemic.  Before I was finishing each project as soon as I was done stitching, at least for the past year.    However, one of the projects I finished yesterday was from 2015 ... oops, but in my defense, I was having a terrible time understanding the directions.  Now the directions were very clear, typed out and any normal person could have put this together in a minute, I'm sure,  but I was not there.  Which is why I kept putting it back in the finishing tote unfinished.  But circumstances made me have to do it yesterday.  Sara's birthday was yesterday, May 12th.  I got notice that the items I ordered for her about 10 days ago, which would have been here in plenty of time prior to the Pandemic, would not be arriving until May 13.    At first, I panicked just a tad, it's not like I could go shopping,  So I thought I should finish a piece of stitching and make it her birthday gift and I could give her the things I purchased when they arrive.  Plus I had a couple of things I was saving for a goodie bag for her so at least she'd have something to open.  First let me say that I loved this project, in fact, Sara originally saw it being offered by a group, could have been Shining Needle, and asked me if I would like to have it.  I took one look and said, OMG yes!  I loved it from the start, loved stitching it and the bargello heart is a favorite of mine of all time.  The project is called Sweet Heart of Mine by Barbara Jackson.

This was such a wonderful stitch and I enjoyed everything about the design.  My finishing experience was of my own making.  Barbara's directions were clear, but for some reason, I was blocked from getting it.  So in the end, I had to just finish it the way I normally finish things and I'm pleased with the outcome.  FYI, the original version has the scissor sheath finished differently and while I was on the road to doing it separately, just like the needle book which is done as instructed, I liked it attached so changed that part of the finish.  The needlebook, etui were done as close to Barbara's instructions as I could personally understand.  In any event, done and gifted.  Because I was set up for finishing, I decided to finish Erica Michael's Needle Berry as well.  I have fallen in love with her berry designs and have a stack of them lined up to stitch.  I chose the Silk Berry patterns but instead of using the silk gauze, included with the pattern,  I stitch over one on linen.  I usually use 32 ct. linen as it's easier for me to see.  I would love to be able to stitch on 36 ct. over one, but that became too arduous for me so I backed it down to 32 and love that as well.  I choose the silk pattern charts because they are packed with more detail than the linen charts.    I didn't realize that at first until Stasi Buhrman and I both did the Scary berry last year.  Stasi did the silk version and when she brought it to me to see I was amazed at the amount of detail which mine did not have.  So now I always stitch the silk design on linen.  I stitched using the colors listed and love it.  

Today I move on to another finish, the Quarantine Project by Brenda Gervais.  I loved this the minute I saw it and thought, how appropriate that I have a stitched reminder of such a tumultuous time in our lives.  Anyway, I'll give you an update once I have it finished.    I started my next new project, Jenny Bean "For the Parlor" from Shakespeare Peddler.  The first section is almost completed and I'm loving doing this one.  I picked a banding which is approx. 8" wide to stitch and it fits beautifully.  Of course, I'm still working on about 5 other projects at the same time, and when I saw the new Plum Street charts I had to have My Peaceful Home and A New Constellation.  I am forcing myself not to start those until I get a couple more finishes out of what's already started.  Well, that's what's been happening in my nest.  Please stay safe and wear a mask when appropriate.  I want to see all of you when this is finally behind us.