Post 213 Reverse Appliqué Certificate Course Workshop

This morning's Certificate Course workshop on Mola Reverse Applique was a very relaxed and informal affair. Barbara is at her best getting students to learn a skill and apply it in their own way.






This is the basic design with which we were working, the same one I worked on in a class with Barbara in 2012 and had turned into a small cushion in 2013.

I had forgotten a lot of it - including the fact that I had done it!

I decided to work in different colours, based mainly on the size of the fabric pieces I had.
 

It  relatively slow work, layering and cutting out fabric, stitching down internal edges.

When I got home I decided to play around with the bird itself rather than build a background. I thought I'd try to make the bird flyI don't think the colours are really working, but that's OK. I will play around with stitches .

















This did prevent me working much on the Caterina piece. I wanted to get some reverse applique done before I forget what I was doing. However I returned to Caterina tonight to unpick the double back stitch hem I had worked on the wrong side of the work yesterday. I managed to replace the double back stich on one side and complete the hemstitch on most of that one side.

I was only aware of one avian visit today - Turtle arrived and helped himself to most of the remaining seed. I was away most of the day, so I don't know if I had other visits.

I went to Katherine and Anthony's for dinner. I took the seed container to refill with chicken feed, but forgot about it while I was there. I'll need to think of something else to fill the gap this week.


It was a really relaxed and productive day today. Unfortunately the Elastic Lady was not at today's workshop, so the masks will have to wait a bit until I see her again.

Post 212

Priority today was to make two or three masks for the Guild's Elastic Lady, who I expect to see tomorrow at the Certificate Course Workshop. Since I'd cut them out yesterday it took me less than an hour to stitch these. I added elastic, but left it  untied so it can be adjusted to fit.

I used a selection of elastic, including a very fancy stripe, that went well with the navy Japanese fabric.

Hope she likes them.


Before making the masks I went to the Post Office to pick up the parcel I missed yesterday. I was expecting three deliveries today but couldn't work out what this one was.

It turned out to be a couple of pre-publication copies of my brother's new book - the one for which I mentioned doing a bit of research and writing. I like almost everything about it - the cover, the size, the feel, the layout, organisation - the concept and content. It is not due for release until early November.

It turned out to be a book kind of day. Two of the three parcels that arrived were books.

I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the packaging used by some bookshops.  The one on the left, which arrived this morning, was a stiff cardboard package one and a half times the length of my 30 cm shoe by two times the length of my shoe. It won't fit in my letterbox, which means, if I am not home to let the postman in, it can't be left. The book inside was 20cmx 20cm. 

Later in the day, another book was delivered, in a paper PO package. The book inside was roughly similar size and it went in my letterbox easily.The larger packaging might be easier at the dispatch end, but it is annoyingly inconvenient at the delivery end. for those of us who live in secure apartments.

The large annoying parcel contained this book, which featured on the Guild's FaceBook page a week ago because it contains a cross-stitch portrayal of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.  I got it because Niamh talked a lot about RBG last week, and I thought it might come in handy.. It contains cross-stitch faces of 20 women, 13 from the USA  and 7 from other countries. None from Australia.Perhaps we should create an Australian version. I'll see what Niamh says.

The other book to arrive was by Adelaide artist Peter Drew, who created the poster of Monga Khan to challenge the stereotype of an Aussie, and, with the help of volunteers,  put them all over Australia . His book documents his experiences in so doing. I supported the campaign and am interested in reading his account

I had hoped to make significant progress on the Caterina project today, but did none of it before I visited a neighbour to discuss photo scanning. We, of course, discussed a lto more than that. It was a relaxing and pleasant afternoon







It was a cold day with some rain and wind.







This evening I finished the embroidery on the Caterina mat, and moved on to the hem. \Unfortunately, I stuffed up the double backstitch on the outer perimeter and will have to unpick it.

 You would think I'd learn to stop when I'm tired!


Still, the mat is looking good.

Post 211 Crewel and Pilates

My main goal today was to get to the Crewel Work Special Interest Group at the Guild. I had been to one meeting of this group last year and intended to be a regular attendee this year to work my way through the various printed linens I have purchased from the Crewel Work Company to fill the gaps on my Crewel chair. Corona Virus put paid to that plan until today.

This is only the second time the group has met since the Guild reopened. Like many of the Special Interest Groups, the returning numbers are lower than pre-Covid. There were only 3 of us today, but a couple more sent apologies and intend to return soon.

I decided to work on one of the Rabbits at Dawn pieces. As I did not buy a kit, I don't have a colour chart to work from. For this first one I chose colours close to the illustration on the Crewel Work website version. I have three more of these to do, so I can vary the colours as I go to get a development going.

I didn't realise that the group continues until 2.30pm from its 10.30 start and had to leave at 12.30 for a 1.00pm Pilates class. In future I will make sure I don't have a Pilates class on the fourth Thursday of the month.
There was a little dove drama again this morning. Myrtle arrived and polished off some of the seed I had put out.









When the Stormy arrived, Myrtle abandoned the seed and drove Stormy off the balcony rail.







Interestingly, at the end of this altercation, Myrtle appeared to be much larger than she had started out. Although I haven't found any confirmation, it seems to me that one trigger for doves swelling is aggression.

As she returned to the seed, she reduced in size. By the time she flew off, she had returned to the original size.






I'm glad I voted ahead of time for the Strata AGM at 6pm, obviating the need to attend. It was raining and cold at that time.

I put the crewel rabbits aside in favour of Caterina. I managed to work the border line and two of the corners. I found the corners, working on the diagonal, quite difficult.

Nevertheless, I like the effect.

Pilates was pretty good too!

Post 210

It was very showery this morning. I had the Vergola roof closed overnight so while the rain had driven in and wet the plants, the metre close to the door and windows was dry. After Myrtle and Turtle (looking a fairly normal size) paid a quick reconnaissance visit, I placed some seed in the dry space, further from the balcony edge than usual.

The  building work had started early, delivering the continuous  drone of a jack hammer in the corner near my back balcony.









It did not deter Myrtle, who returned about 20 minutes later and cautiously eyed the seed, dry but further from escape.

She approached the periphery











and worked quickly, pausing briefly to listen.


The drill droned on but her ear was not attuned to that.




She took a walk around, sampling the rain water,





surveyed the scene



then took a seed top up before returning to the rail and departing.


At midday a Guild friend picked me up on the corner to meet another friend at the Glenelg Surf Club for lunch. I waited sitting on a wall near a 15 minute parking space where my friend could pull in. Twice I made my way towards a car that pulled in only to find an alarmed looking young man who pulled quickly away on my approach. Guess I should have taken note of what car my friend drives! 

I forgot to take photos at the surf club, which has a very large dining room, with extremely well-spaced tables and a great view of the sea, which was very choppy today.  There were not many occupied tables, plenty of hand sanitiser and marked  places for standing to order and pay. We had a really relaxed catch up lunch.


Back at home I got out my mask-making gear and cut out three masks. I promised these to the elastic lady - the Guild member who, knowing I was making masks a couple of months ago, gave me two bags of elastic. I expect to see her on Saturday so need to get on with it. I have time to make them on Friday morning, but having them cut out puts me in the mindset.








The rain held off long enough for me to get yesterday's washing dry in the wind. I managed to get a decent photo of the tiny flower on the aloe. It's about 2cm long. It's an interesting colour palette and a lovely shape.

I received news from a cousin in England tonight that our Aunty Phyllis, the last of my father’s siblings, died this morning. She was 91. My image of Phyllis is that of the photo I scanned last week, taken on Boxing Day 1984 at her home in London. Her Christmas cards were always  the ones with the most glitter - as was she.

RIP Phyllis.

I finished the inner row of Catherine de Medici stitch tonight. There are still the corners to do. It won't take long to do those.They actually look quite good .  I have also begun the border line.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to go to the Crewel Group meeting at the Guild. I have numerous printed linens ready to be worked and attached to my chair.

There's more rain on the forecast.

Post 209 Doves and doing

I spent a very quiet day catching up with a few jobs - changing a dental appointment so I can go to the Crewel Work Group at the Guild on Thursday, voting online for the Strata AGM this week and a couple of hours finishing the bit of genealogy research I had promised to do for my brother a week ago.

I also spent some time grappling with a problem I am having getting used to the Catalina operating system on my computer. I think I will need to get some help to get on top of it and easily access my files.
It was a cool, wet and squally day here.  Foolishly I did a load of washing. The lisianthus provided the note of cheer. I hope the weather didn't dampen the girls' birthday, especially their netball trials this evening.

Neither the weather nor building activity next door prevent some dove visitation this morning, beginning with loud coo-ing and a bit of a chase along the Vergola. From the silhouette it looked like the fat Turtle chasing a smaller dove. I looked up this behaviour, and it seems to be called 'driving' . It usually occurs when the male of a pair observes another male hanging around. Rather than driving off the other male, he drives his partner away from the area.








This seemed to be what was happening here, although I did not see a third bird. The smaller bird flew away and the larger kept watch.

Some ten minutes later, Stormy, the young dark-breasted dove appeared and ate the seed like a vacuum cleaner.


Next thing, Myrtle arrived on the rail. Stormy moved very quickly behind the watering can and stood stock still.

As Myrtle dropped to the floor Stormy slipped like a shadow below the rail and away. It was so smooth Myrtle appeared not to notice.

She ate the few remaining seeds then stood sentry for a few minutes before flying away.

It isn't clear to me what is going on here. Is Turtle ill, or fluffing up in the windy, somewhat cooler conditions? Is it Myrtle he was driving on the Vergola, or a younger, potential rival, bird? Or is Stormy a rival female?


I don't know that  I will ever understand the story that is being told in this little dove drama. It is, however, a privilege to have a window on to some of it.

I chose not to scan photos today. I preferred to spend the time I had left after ticking off some jobs embroidering the second inner row of the Caterina project. It is quite slow work. I got halfway around.












The day finished as it began, cool, cloudy, with bursts of rain. I didn't get to hang out the washing.

Post 208

A leisurely day today, a bit unusual for a Monday. Tomorrow is Niamh and Veronica's birthday, and since the Netball trials are on and can't be missed, we went to the Ky Chow for dinner tonight, so I had a holiday from dinner preparation.

I went back to Norwood to a shop that was not open yesterday when I was there. I wanted to get a piece of jewellery for each of the girls. The maker of the jewellery was managing the shop today and just about to put the pendant she had made on the weekend into the display case. It was exactly what I wanted - a nice piece of serendipity.

I also managed to find some sugar-free biscuits and sweets at Norwood. Niamh had bands on her teeth last week and is off sugar for a while. I ran into Lorraine and Tim young in Coles. It was a real boost to meet someone I know in a supermarket and talk to them (socially distanced) for 10 minutes.  Such a simple thing, but so uplifting. The simple act of connecting is so important to our well-being.


The lisianthus I bought the other day are looking  full and lovely. Even so, I indulged in an orchid from Coles.

I did a bit of getting organised for the next round of scanning. I discovered pages of photos from 1988-89 at the beginning of a 1990s album. I could slide them out of the album undamaged, so did so and scanned them - 120 photos, which went through the scanner in 5 batches in about 20 minutes including storing and labelling.


It's a strange feeling, scanning photos on this scale. There are events, people and experiences that I have forgotten, like this article. I'm tempted to contact the Advertiser and suggest they do a follow up! Except, of course, that like other print media, the Advertiser now has few, if any,  journalists to do such work.


There is also a sense of how much has happened in my life, so many activities and so much energy.
The kids came here after school as usual, then, at 5.30, put their bags in my car and we drove to the Markets where we parked while dining at the Ky Chow. It was a pleasant, relaxed meal.




This evening I have finished the first round of running stitch on the inner row of Caterina. I'm pleased to be nearly through the counting. I still have a little bit of filling to do in the four corner spaces.











For now I am working the return row of double running on the inner round I have just finished. There's still a way to go on this project, a hemstitched and backstitched edge and some very complex tassels.