Still here and wearing the mask!

I've started this blog several times over the last several weeks, talking about our struggles with the shop and the hotel during this crisis, the I'd revise the blog,  a few days later revised it again and have kept that up about every week and today I finally erased it and I'm starting again.  While we are struggling with very few employees, etc., by cutting our hours to one shift it's helped us keep our sanity in the shops.  Every time Sara would try to figure out how we could run a second shift I said, no.  I'm 72 and while I can manage 1 shift I wasn't going back to doing 2, which ended when I was in my 50's.   Mary keeping the hotel 30% occupied helps since we don't have enough of a crew to clean it when its 100 %,  it so we are only renting what our crew can clean efficiently, so we're open, but it is definitely not our usual summer.  I try not to focus on the money aspic and just focus on what we can do. and tell the girls, "at least we got opened, as this could have been a total disaster if we hadn't opened at all."  I thank God every day for my cup being half full, although sometimes there are a few tears before I pull my big girl pants up and readjust my thinking. Knowing we are not alone also for some reason helps.  At least it wasn't something I did, I guess.  Anyway, we got a sign on all doors that masks are required and you must sanitize your hands upon entering at our sanitizer station.   I'm thrilled to say we have had complete cooperation from 99% of the people coming in.  Of course, a couple of people have come in and whined they don't have a mask, or don't want to wear one because it's not comfortable, and to each, we've said, "Sorry, without the mask you may not come in."  No one has thrown a fit, yes a few choice words about me have come out of their mouth, but I have selective hearing so I choose not to listen and then I tell Sara all about it.  It's provided us with entertainment.  But for those who have been in, we so appreciate your wearing your mask so we don't have to remind you.  It's for all our sakes, in my opinion,, and secondly, what do you have to lose.  Better to wear it and not need it, than getting COVID-19 and wish you had worn it.  So now you are caught up, almost.   I have had a problem finding my stitching muse.  She seems to have left town and I've been struggling to even pick up a needle and frankly have gone weeks without doing stitching.  It has about driven me crazy, but I just can't seem to get my stitch on.  However, I may be turning the corner on that as yesterday with great determination I sat down, turned T.V. on, and got out a project which I had started determined to finish it.  Then today, I decided to do the finishing on the Token of Love by Brenda Gervais, which has been done since June but waiting for me to do something,  and while it wasn't finished as I intended to do it, it's finished.  

Although I wanted to make smalls to put in the drawers,  I haven't done that yet, but that shouldn't take long once I get stitching again since I'm taking a couple of small motifs from the original design and making a fob, needle case and perhaps a pin cushion.  With the wooden chest, I had Vernon paint it black inside and out.   I had problems matching the blue in the pattern to anything to line the drawers and finally found Dove (Weeks Wool) to be close enough.  I covered the bottom of the drawers with no problem, but the sides just looked too bulky, but since I loved the blue on the bottom of the drawers I stopped with that and called it done.  I was going to paint the knobs on the drawers to match as well but finally gave up trying to match that blue with anything I had on hand.  Sometimes you just have to know when it's over!  Then I started the finishing of the Secret Santa by Hands on Design.  I started the series with Merry & Bright for some reason.  Sara picked out PTP Mint which very closely resembles the fabric it is shown on, and I used the fibers suggested.  I usually try to use embellishments to give the piece dimension, but I struggled with that.  In the end, I used satin stitch for his mustache and I used turkey work for his beard.  Oh, and I molded his nose by satin stitching a long triangle instead of a black outline which actually gave his face some dimension and I put in three stitches of red for his mouth between his mustache and his beard.  You can barely see it for the turkey work beard but that was on purpose.  I wanted his mouth to peek out not stand out.  I just realized I didn't put the bell at the end of his hat, apparently, I was going to make that dimensional and forgot.  Oops!  Anyway, to hang the ornament I used a simple 1/16" red ribbon.  And used DMC #5 pearl cotton #504 to make cording.  For the backing, I used scrapbooking Christmas paper.  Makes for an easier finish and I like the way it looks.  

 All in all, I love Cathy's banners and am looking forward to the 2020 Halloween banner.  My problem with this series is I'm a traditionalist and can't get beyond the color of the linen which is "so not Christmas."  So I'm a work in progress on this, I'm now on my 2nd Secret Santa and will be completing the entire series on mint.  By the time I get done I'm sure I'll love it.  And these stitched banners look fabulous when hung.  Well I know you stitchers have been productive because I check every day.  You give me inspiration and have helped move me towards my stitching spot.  So thank you and keep up the good work.  Stay safe, stay home if you can, and always wear the mask when you are out and about or in stores.  Thank you!