Post611 Creativity and Helpfulness.

 

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I was just getting out of the shower on Thursday morning when I caught a glimpse of colour and movement in the native frangipani tree outside. I grabbed a towel and my DSLR and managed to get quite a few shots of a single Adelaide Rosella feasting in the flower-laden native frangipani. 

They don’t come often, so I was in luck.

Early the same morning I woke to a brief pre-dawn glow which I also captured. 

Just before I left for Pilates I had another request for phone help from my neighbour. We caught up when I returned in the late afternoon. By then the problem, whatever it was, wasn’t evident. She thought she was missing phone calls. We spent a pleasant hour catching up without finding a problem. We did solve the problem of her fearing my personal files had somehow leaked into her email. She had clicked on the website link in my signature!

She had bought me a bunch of flowers for all my help. The look fabulous in the shell vase - such a vibrant colour! She has also bought herself a little counted Aida embroidery kit, so I don’t think this will be the last call for help, although she does seem to understand charts.

On Friday Simela called to say the slate frame I had enquired about had just arrived.

 I had planned to go grocery shopping but went straight to Create in Stitch and picked up a 60” slate frame, coming home to set it up and move the needlepoint on to it. I mounted it with the whole canvas visible as I was working a border. I spent most of the weekend working on it, blocking it around 6pm on Sunday. Detail in my embroidery blog.

It was wet on Monday. I began sorting out my Christmas cards, went looking for a glue stick, and ended up sorting out all my embroidery hoops and frames. I identified all the pieces  of the first stand I ever bought, a large oval one from Victoria House in Berrima. I haven’t used it in decades but it was a very good tool. On the pillow is another large wooden stand superseded by my Lowery. In addition to the slate frame, there are a couple of lap stands and a variety of frames and hoops. Some are now organised in bags and I'm looking for bags - which i intend to label - for the other piles. I had three roller frames, which will go to the Guild trading table tomorrow. a small reduction. It seems I need to do this exercise a bit more frequently to stay on top of my possessions. 

The apartment is looking like a messy studio. In addition to frames, hoops, stands and a blocking cushion, there are Christmas cards, a half-knitted cardigan front measuring against the finished back and a tote bag. One of the things about living alone is that the your lliving room is shared only when you have visitors. I have another week before I pack it all away. 

Today I dashed out to Create In Stitch to pick up a copy of Crewel Work Then and Now, but the copies weren't in. I've put in my order and can wait. From there I had a podiatrist appointment which resulted in a serious discussion about the pros and cons of political involvement and ambition. My feet have improved.

I have delayed posting this again tonight as I wanted to finish the names of the female bishops on the second side of the tote bag.  It's done. I have some unexpected questions about it. Do I add a row of mitres and crossiers? Are the faces too unhappy? Do I have copyright issues if I photograph and print from it? It's WES Group tomorrow. They'll help.

I received news this week that my last remaining uncle (aged 91) had died. It's good to be surrounded by creativity and helpfulness.