Post 171 Forgot the beads!

I can always get myself to sleep by thinking about the detail of my latest embroidery project, the steps that have been taken and the next steps to take. Last night, as I was thinking about the next steps in the Counted Bag, I realised that I had completely forgotten about the beads that are meant to be the finishing touch on each side.

So  this morning I dug out one of the beading 'shoes' from my unfinished Margaret Lee beaded bag project and set to work to rectify the omission.




Each side of the bag has 24 beads, so I had to stitch on 96 beads without going through to the lining. It presented a challenge - as much of patience and care as embroidery skill.

I did manage it, but it took the whole morning and then some; probably about 4 hours. I'm quite pleased I made the effort.

It was JEMS day and I needed to pick up Niamh at 3pm. She had had a good session and was full of the fabric cutting tool they had been shown how to use and with which they had cut shapes that she thinks will be made into a cushion.  There were only 3 JEMS there, so they had been able to have a good go at the machine.

We went to the Queen Street Cafe again for milkshakes. It will never replace the Red House which closed, but I think it could develop into a place where we are known and our needs anticipated. Niamh had a chocolate brownie rich with very thick dark chocolate and caramel and I had an excellent rhubarb friand. Over time I may be able to convince the manager to serve lime milkshakes!

Katherine was very busy picking up and delivering from parties, netball, and football. We all met up for dinner of Anthony's barbecued meat, baked potatoes, and vegetables. Delicious, - and my red meat allocation for the week!

Back at home, I attempted to attach the cords and tassels. The cords are made and in, and one tassel is finished.

A plain tassel doesn't take long to make, but one with a needlelace head takes longer. I got one finished, but common sense has prevailed and I'm leaving the second one until the morning.


It is constructed and just waiting for the needlelace. That's a 45 minute job - with my wits about me- so not to be started at 11.45 pm



It will still be there in the morning - and the bag has had enough of my time for one day!

Post 170 Deliveries, Visiting and Construction

I promised to visit my friend Lorraine in Calvary today but I had notice that the slippers I ordered from New Zealand were to be delivered, so needed to wait until they came, since they would not fit in the letterbox and can't be left outside the apartments.

They arrived around 1pm,  neatly stored in a calico bag.

These are replacements for the pair I have had for at least ten years, and which I mended last year. The last split across the back was the damage that decided me it was time for replacement. It's not that I mind spending the money. I have a resistance to throwing away what can be repaired or recycled.   I may yet wash and reuse some of the wool from the old slippers

The old slippers were once the same colour as the new. They have been washed several times, but look a lot more like an old sheep than the pristine new ones!

The package also contained the two new pair of possum wool socks I ordered. These are the warmest socks ever, and my old ones have worn almost transparent.


As I set out to visit Lorraine I had a peek at the building next door. The pile driver had moved away from our building, but there are reinforced, cement-filled holes close to our building.











As I crossed the square the ground was littered with seed pods from what I think is a cassia tree - sometimes called Golden Shower.  it's a long time since I've seen so many pods.

The view from Lorraine's room is every bit as good as Jennifer's was - and my balcony just as clear. This time I knew the routine, registered my contact details and had my temperature taken in the entrance foyer.












I arrived home to find a DHS delivery note in my letterbox, to say they had missed me and I could pick up my parcel from Pack 'n Send down the road. I went straight there to find this large, flat parcel. I very much prefer Australia Post, who would have fitted this in my letterbox. Inside the 40cm, floppy envelope was the small bundle of 100 aluminium nose guards for face masks. They have adhesive on one side and can be attached to the outside of a face mask across the nose and bent to shape. Or they can be inserted inside the mask. I'm happy to add them to any of the masks I've made.



The rest of the day was spent on my counted thread bag. I outlined the base in four-sided stitch
Then attached the two side pieces.





By the end of the night I had it together, with the base piece inside.


I now need to make the cords and tassels. I think I shall leave those for tomorrow.

It was another splendid sunset tonight. I hope Lorraine was able to enjoy it from her hospital room.

Post 169 Pilates, shopping , bag construction

Today was Pilates day. The builders arrived next door at 7am. They were background noise without disturbing me. Jennifer called from home where she had slept well, in spite of being wired again for her sleep ECG. After all the wiring on Tuesday night in hospital, the technician had forgotten to put in the card to collect the data! Last night she was wired up at home!

I had a good Pilates session. I can see improvement on several things we're working on.

From there I went to North Adelaide to get four things on my shopping list. I came home with 3 shopping bags full.  Just as I got in, Panaiyoula called to see if I wanted to meet for coffee. A bit reluctantly, I declined in favour of putting away the groceries, catching my breath and progressing my embroidery. We are hoping to catch up next week.


I was up to constructing the bag - which requires the iron, measuring, cutting - and reading instructions.







The bag is lined, with a Liberty print that comes in the kit.

I got one side pinned and one side stitched this afternoon.


Around 4pm the building noise seemed to get louder. On investigation, the pile driver was right on the border of my Western-facing balcony. Hopefully it will now move away from our boundary.









By the time the sun went down the builders had gone for the day. It was pleasant stitching and watching the evening descend.

4 sided stitch for base .

Insert to base of bag.

I got the insert that forms the base of the bag finished.

I'm working on the bag base, which needs to be outlined with four-sided stitch.

So there are quite a few elements to the construction. I have to attach the lining to the outside on the remaining side, join them together and make the cord.

I also found some Aida fabric that I think might do to try the embroidered Icelandic motif that we will be discussing next month in World Embroidery Study Group. I feel excited about that.

Tomorrow I hope to visit Lorraine in Calvary - and maybe finish the bag!

Post 168 Guild Group Meeting

A friend asked for the name of the shawl pattern I’m using. It is called Garter Lace Triangle Shawl from Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls.

There is a very similar pattern called Eyelet Hole Shawl in The New Prayer Shawl Companion

Six of us gathered at the Guild today for the first meeting of the World Embroidery Study Group since March. We all sanitised our hands and signed in with our phone numbers and time. Most of us brought a coffee (or maybe it was tea) with us. We sat at the ends of tables as set out but swivelled their chairs to form a widely spaced circle. We are different to most Guild Groups in that we don’t regularly stitch, but discuss areas we are researching. 

We caught up on what each had been doing since our last meeting in March. Most of us had been making masks and shared experiences and tips. Gardening has been a popular activity.

We worked out a program for monthly meetings for the rest of the year if we continue to be able to meet. I had intended to take photos, but forgot as I got absorbed in the meeting, enjoying the company and exchange , while monitoring our maintaining Covid protocols, it was a great joy to be able to share in the same room. At the end of the meeting we sanitised all touch surfaces including the door handle and key as we left. 

This afternoon I wrote up a summary of the meeting and sent it out. While I was doing this I had a call from Lorraine - the friend I missed in the hospital yesterday. She too can see my balcony from her window. If she’d had a torch she’d have sent me a Morse code message! She could see me waving. Strangely heart warming. I will try to visit her on Friday. 

She would have seen the sunset very much as I did. 

I’m working to finish the counted thread bag. I now have the four sides embroidered.  Tomorrow I hope to be able to iron the pieces and begin the construction, which is a fiddly process.

In the meantime I began outlining the squares for the cube pincushion in four-sided stitch.

Post 167 Hospital visit

It was an exceedingly grey and damp day in Adelaide today. Our Winter rain has finally arrived.

My plan for today was to visit Jennifer at Calvary Hospital and call in on Lorraine, another friend in the rehab ward of the same hospital.

At 11.00 am the rain was pelting down and Jennifer called me to suggest I cancel coming. By 11.45 it looked like a pause so I set out. Of course, the rain returned within a couple of minutes.








I had on my rain jacket with a hood. The coat was wet, but I was dry when I arrived. It is the first time I've been inside this new hospital.  I sanitised my hands at the entry station, but no-one directed me to the desk where I was meant to register my details and have my temperature taken. I just found my way to Jennifer's room. The precautions are good - but need the security officer at the entry sanitising station to get a replacement if he needs to leave.
It appears to be a well designed and organised hospital.

Jennifer was looking pretty good. She goes home tomorrow, with outpatient appointments to manage her medications. Tonight she has her heart and breathing monitored .
We worked out the thread colours on the remaining parts of her embroidery panel. I should have taken a photo but didn't think of it until I was home. I got another 10 row pattern of my knitting done while there. 

Before I went looking for Lorraine I went downstairs, registered and had my temperature taken. Unfortunately, Lorraine's door was closed - presumably for a treatment or visit from her doctor.

I managed to get home just as the rain returned.





Work had recommenced on the building site next door this morning. As I returned home the heavy equipment was at the front of the block.

Some readers have asked about Myrtle and Turtle. They visited on Sunday when there was no building work and Turtle came briefly again yesterday - again, no building work. No sign of them today.


















Late in the afternoon the sun broke through the clouds for about 15 minutes. It makes such a difference.





Jennifer sent a photo of the gear she has to wear to sleep tonight. It was switched on at 8pm. I do hope that somehow she has managed to fall asleep. She will be very glad to get home tomorrow!





It was one of those evenings when the sunset turns these buildings gold.






The last side of the bag is almost finished. I am enjoying the Breton Stitch. I shall be sorry to have no more after this side. The other elements of the project don't use it.  By Thursday I should have the challenge of construction.

Tomorrow is the first meeting of the World Embroidery Study Group since March. Quite a milestone.

Post 166 Cars, Doors and Family

My car survived the night in the street, and I got it to the  Crash Repairer at 9am as requested. I had to pack up the numerous shopping bags in the boot, and all the useful things in the car itself - hand sanitiser, sunglasses,  face masks, walking stick, keys, pens and a Tshirt waiting to be altered. These, of course, are needed in the loan car.

The crash repairer is in unlikely premises - except in Adelaide where stone houses like this are common and not infrequently used for businesses.

The loan car was in use by staff - 20 minutes away. It is a Yaris, a car I drove between about 1995 and 2000. It didn't take too long for me to remember how to use an ignition key but unlocking the steering wheel took a bit longer.

The heavy  door to the apartment carpark was being repaired between 8am and 11.30 so I couldn't return there. With the building work,  street parking is at a premium and impossible by 10 am. I had a podiatrist appointment and some shopping to do, so I went to Frewville, getting the feel of the car, did some shopping, drove back to the podiatrist (which is within walking distance of the apartment, but does have off-street parking for clients) then went to another shopping centre to deposit soft plastic recycling and go to the Post Office - an elastic mercy mission. 

It was here, at 11.30, as I was about to head home, that I received the message to say the repair to the garage door had been postponed to 2pm-5pm. Grrr! I was home by 12, so no harm done. It was still a lot of unnecessary messing around.

I had this evening's meal prepared, so was able to get organised, put shopping away and spend a couple of hours embroidering.

Jennifer rang. She is now being discharged on Wednesday, with outpatient appointments to keep monitoring and adjusting her meds. If the meds do not improve her breathing, a pacemaker is on the cards. I have promised to visit her tomorrow.

The kids arrived after school. It is such a privilege to be part of their lives. They are so interesting to listen and talk to.

It wasn't a big photo day I'm afraid. I was too focused on getting the hang of the loan car!



I did do a few rows of knitting, but mostly I worked on the last panel for the bag.

Post 165 Balcony to Balcony

This morning I had a call from Jennifer to tell me she could see my balcony from her hospital bed. She had moved to a cardiac ward and her room now faces South. She sent me a photo of her view(top left). I have zoomed to my balcony (circled lower left). she could not see me waving, but she saw the white towel I briefly hung on the balcony rail.

I have circled where I think her room is in the photo to the right.

She now expects to stay in hospital a bit longer for rehab while doctors adjust her medication and teach her to manage her breathing.

We spent a bit of time discussing and sharing photos to find some thread that Jennifer needs to finish her embroidery piece.

The thread on the left is the one she has been using. The thread on the right is one I have in my stash. We both hope this thread will work for her. I hope to get these to her, along with some felt and scissors, on Tuesday.




In the afternoon I went down to Grange for Sit'n Stitch with a friend. We missed Jennifer but caught up on our conversation and knitting. I managed another ten rows o knitting - a complete pattern repeat.

This is a 40cm needle. It won't be long before I need to lengthen it.





I got home in time to park my car in the street before it got dark. The door to our garage is being repaired tomorrow between 8am and 11.30am and the door will not be usable. Unfortunately, I need to get my car to the crash repairer by 9am tomorrow. Rather than move it out of the car park by 7.30 am tomorrow morning, when parking in the street outside is severely limited because of the road closure for the building work next door, I decided to leave it outside tonight.  I have a loan car for the week, but, of course, once I pick it up I won't be able to bring it into the apartment carpark until 11.30. So it looks as if I will be doing some errands.

I finished all the four-sided stitch around side three and began outlining side four.





What with messing around with the car and getting ready for family dinner, I won't see much progress tomorrow.




Better get to bed. It wouldn't do to sleep in tomorrow!