Post 391 Parcels and Projects.

Last Wednesday the World Embroidery Study Group met and I gave a presentation on the embroideries of Holocaust survivor Trudy Strobel, based on the book, Stitched and Sewn by Jody Savin. It's a story worth reading and contemplating in relation to healing - as well as horror.

At the meeting Junette returned some of our Inuit embroideries which she had borrowed for a workshop. Lee didn't want to keep hers, and gave it to me to 'do what you will with it'.

It's a lovely piece of embroidery. The walrus tusks are especially good. I took up the challenge and sorted some fabric to match it, and a zip.

It is now a pouch, with a pink felt back and cotton lining.

I hope Lee likes it and has a use for it, either personally, or in one of her numerous charitable endeavours.

Sometime in the last month I lost one of these tops - made in New Zealand from Possum Merino and silk. Possum merino is merino wool spun with possum fur. Possums are Australian natives and protected here, but were unfortunately introduced to New Zealand where they have become pests. Possum merino is unbelievably warm, and I loved this  top. I rang the places where I had worn it with no success. On Tuesday night, after much soul searching, I ordered another one. When I arrived at the Guild on Wednesday morning, there was my missing top, hanging on a coat hook near the shop! 

When I got home I rang New Zealand, but the new top was already with a courier on its way. I had hesitated, when I ordered, almost ordering a purple one, but decided I loved the red. It arrived today. I could return it, but I'm happy to say one of my daughters has claimed it. 

On Thursday at Pilates my coordination had improved - a result partly due to my using the vibrating machine in between classes. On Friday, while food shopping, I bought a couple of small pots of impatiens . They look lovely on my back balcony. The flowering succulent I bought a couple of months ago is now blooming beautifully on my front balcony.

For two days in a row I was lucky with deliveries - one arriving a few minutes before I left for Pilates and the other arriving just before I left for Sit'n Stitch.

There was, however, quite a contrast in the packaging of the two. On the left is half a metre of linen that came from North Adelaide - about 3km away. On the right is the handwoven wool- just over a metre- that came from the Ukraine. It took 40 days and was absolutely beautifully packed, wrapped tightly in brown paper, in a soft cardboard box that fitted perfectly. The stranded cotton label is there to show the size of the weave. 

The wool is for a project for my Viking embroidery workshop for the Certificate Course next February. I have also ordered some finer wool twill, to reflect clothing for both workers and elites.  The linen is for Catherine de Medici embroidery, and the company does not have a retail outlet. I get so frustrated by the packaging that I've decided not to buy from them again. I have already asked them to pack in an envelope that fits through a letterbox slot.

 

At Sit'nStitch Susan finished her Margaret Light piece, Jennifer starting a new crochet project and I worked on my latest shawl.

My dove friends have become sufficiently used to me to come down each time I hang out washing or otherwise set foot on the balcony, and stay and feed if I put out seed. The seed is very close to where I stand to hang out washing. I'm careful not to step too close, but they are fairly tolerant.

On Saturday I got a bit carried away with an example in a book I was reading, in a chapter called 'Elements of the Code'.  The book was given to me by a member of the Guild Library Team.

It fits with what I found out about Bulgarian embroidery, and is potentially another topic for the World Embroidery Study Group.

Of course, I had a go at embroidering it. I had some red evenweave fabric already prepared for a potential drawstring bag. and thought it would be appropriate given the association of red with the mother goddess.  I charted it, and used a Valdani Perle 8 thread variegated in purples through to pinks.

The first attempt was over one fabric thread per square.

The second attempt, over two fabric threads, was better.

I'm now thinking of exploring embroideries of the Mother Goddess in different cultures over time.

We had 8 at Katherine's on Sunday, with a couple of friends of Katherine's coming for dinner, making us two under our current home entertainment limit. It was a lovely evening, good company and good food. 

Sunday saw me back at the Guild for the completion of Melissa Walker's Madagascan Moon Moth.

My construction went pretty well, but I hit a few problems when I went to mount it in the box I had bought. 

The moth was slightly more 3D than the display space of the box allowed.  In the end I cut a space in the mounting board around the body of the moth.

Even then, the back board supplied with the box still squashed the moth body. I slept on it, then re-lashed the piece and covered the back with black silk. This enabled me to fit it in without a back board.

It fits fairly tightly, but I have devised a system of bracing with pieces of satay sticks, coloured black, across the corners. It is perhaps not the best solution for such a 3D piece, but it is fairly secure and avoids the worst of squashing to retain it as a potentially useful object. 

I found it very difficult to photograph the top of the finished box. In the end, even using a dark photographic box, I still got some reflection on the glass. This is the best of a bad lot. 

It is a really lovely design, and Melissa has more in the pipeline. Some members of the class are planning display boards of moths. I have enjoyed making it, and I love Melissa's classes. I don't think, however, I've solved the problem of a practical display use for such a fragile object.

Today I had a hairdressing appointment. My hairdresser of more than 5 years has resigned and today her replacement cut my hair. Not surprisingly, she is another remarkable young woman with a passion for improving women's lives. I feel very fortunate to be served by such young women.

I've managed to lose a further kilo this week. I've lost 6.4 kilos since I began, 52 days ago. I'm happy with that.

Since taking the girls to netball this evening I have finished the Berehinia bag and made cords and tassels.  It's about 25cmx15cm. 

This is the front and back views.

Time to get back to my knitting.

Post 386; A week in lockdown

My first day in lockdown was spent reading a little, working alternately on two embroidery projects and progressing my knitted shawl. A couple of friends checked in. Panayoula was supervising her grandchildren’s exercise at the local park and Jennifer was settling down to Sophie’s Universe. I also tried calling the electoral office because my package of information for the upcoming Local Council election - now by post only - did not contain a ballot paper! The office is locked down, and only taking email. The Council  office is also trying to contact them on my behalf. They called me on Thursday, but were not allowed to email me a ballot paper. There isn't time to turn the ballot around if it's mailed, so no vote for me.

Thursday dawned wet, cold and miserable, but I was inside, dry and warm. I’ve been tracking the numerous purchases I’ve made, especially the three still outstanding for my Viking Embroidery workshop next year., one from Russia, one from Poland and one from Ukraine. The last two seem to have reached the point of export, but may or may not have left the country. The following, however appeared this morning against the box of runes I ordered

21 July, 2021 06:10

Released From Russia

, Rossiya, Russian Federation

I track a lot of packages, and haven’t seen the term ‘released’ used elsewhere, as accurate as it may be. However, tracking tells me it has now reached Australia - which is an advance on the other two, which have no information outside the original country.

The Nutmeg Mill I had ordered from Peters' of Kensington arrived, along with a Spiraliser. I had researched a nutmeg mill to replace one that had broken. Ikea had very attractive wooden ones, but when I checked, nutmegs didn't fit into the storage area. They store a range of whole spices, but not nutmegs. Left is the box they arrived in,. Right is the packaging.

It drives me up the wall. These items are not that fragile!

I came across the spiraliser while searching for the nutmeg mill. Some of the recipes for sugar-free meals use vegetable spirals, so I thought I'd give it a go. At the moment, in lockdown, carrots are the only suitable vegetables I have in the fridge, but I'm looking forward to trying zucchini. There is a finer setting but I didn't manage to get it working on the carrots.

I spent much of Friday on the Moth and made good progress.  Anthony kindly dropped some bacon and broccolini into my letterbox so I can try another recipe from the Low Blood Sugar  book. 

That night  I cooked some mushrooms with French cutlets and a salad.

I also caught up with my brother and spent some time working out how to chart a couple of pieces of Vala Georgieva's Bulgarian embroidery pieces ready for next year's workshop. I haven't charted anything before so it's a challenge.

Saturday turned on rain and storms. It should have been a Certificate Workshop - Junette on Inuit embroidery. I was supposed to do the report. Of course, lockdown saw it cancelled.

Around midday, in a brief pause in the rain, I noticed an Adelaide Rosella on the bare branches outside my back balcony. He/she stayed long enough for me to grab my DSLR and take some shots. 

Most were blurry but one or two hit the mark before it flew away. A lovely moment in a cold and wet landscape. 

I tried another recipe from the 8 Day Blood Sugar Diet book for dinner, using the bacon and broccolini that Anthony delivered the day before. It was very simple and very delicious. I look forward to repeating it with the remaining broccolini and some of the bacon.

I kept working on the Madagascan Moon Moth and went to bed with the fourth wing well underway.

Jennifer has finished Sophie's Universe. Here is is spread out on a bed before it is packed and sent to her niece once we are out of lockdown. That, incidentally looks like being on Tuesday night, so I will know before the blog is posted. Another two cases were reported on Sunday, out of some 23.000 tests, both linked to existing cases and both in quarantine. Health authorities here in S.A. have done a terrific job of finding and isolating cases - and the community has been diligent and cooperative. It's hard, however, on the kids, who are at home trying to keep up with schoolwork.

I finished reading A Deed Without a Name by Dorothy Bowers, one of the Golden Age of Crime writers. She wrote five books before her death in 1948 aged 47. It has an interesting scenario, some well portrayed characters and a a police procedural plot. It is a bit convoluted and verbose, but I'll probably read more. I am now following up a  suggestion of my daughter on Goodreads and reading Alice Roberts' Ancestors: a prehistory of Britain in seven burials..

My major lockdown achievement, however, is finishing the Madagascan Moon Moth embroidery. I did enjoy it. It felt, however, like a reward to stitch the sequins to the 'eyes' with French knots - using two strands of cotton, after working the rest of it in one strand!

It is now set aside until (hopefully, if, as Hank Williams used to say, the Good Lord is willing and the creeks [= the Covid numbers] don't rise) the second, and construction, day of the course in August.

Today, Tuesday, dawned very windy, with a forecast of rain and possible storms in the afternoon. I risked hanging out the towels I had washed and they were dry in a couple of hours.

One of my dove friends turned up while I was there in the hope of seed, and, I suspect, shelter. Before long the pair were there. The wind had blown over the seed container, and some had spilled under a chair, close to the window to my sewing and office room. 

Interestingly, neither would venture under the chair, even when I had gone inside. Once I swept the spill clear of the chair, they came back, cautiously approached and ate some of the seed.

In between the Moth, I've been playing with herringbone stitch on the next bag for the Guild's Exhibition at the Hamra Gallery in September. I've had a lot of fun with it. There's a lot of variations to play with.

I’ve finished the embroidery tonight. Now all I have to do is turn it into a bag.

Our lockdown ends at midnight tonight. Masks are mandated and 4 square metre space requirements in shops, public spaces and hospitality. I haven’t been out all week, so might do a shop tomorrow and have another blood test on Thursday. I have now lost 4.1kg in 30 days.

This, I think, is the last time Feedburner will send an automatic email with these blogposts. Next week, hopefully, I will manually post to those who have subscribed. 

Post 385 World Embroidery, Madagascan Moth and back in lockdown.

 A lot of water has passed under the bridge since last week's post - literally, in that we have had quite a bit of rain in Adelaide, and figuratively, as we are now in lockdown for a week after a cluster of 5 cases of the Covid Delta variant has been identified here.  The Guild has of yesterday, closed, so I have been fortunate to spend 2 days there in the past week. Next Saturday's Certificate Course and next Monday's Basics2Beyond will be cancelled.

The World Embroidery group met last Wednesday. As I pulled in and parked I noticed the amazing flower appearing on the succulent. I was early enough to go and have a good look at it. 

It was a wonderful world of elegant flowers and insects.

It took us a while to get organised for the meeting which was a presentation on Marghab embroidery by Phyllis. Marghab is a form of Madeira Embroidery introduced and promoted by the Marghab Linen company as a way of providing employment for women after WWI.The Guild's Museum has a collection, some of it seen here.

Pat also has a collection (tree and boat on the far right) and Maureen brought along a beautiful Madeira  supper cloth (left). There were 11 members at the meeting and lots of discussion and sharing. It's a great group, and I'm so glad we got this meeting in before restrictions came back.  

I wore the wool felt coat I made a couple of years ago with a Zenbroidery mandala I had worked and appliqued to one pocket. I take it for granted, but several members were interested and Junette took this photo (thanks Junette). It got me thinking. I've worked all the Zenbroidery I have, so - yes, you guessed it - I ordered another one to work for the other pocket.  Tree of Life this time.

On Thursday I picked up a new top fromTS before going to Pilates.  Martine is adapting my program to help with weight loss - the vibration machine is challenging, but I'm getting to like it.

On Friday morning I helped a friend make a video for a 25 year celebration of a school at which she was principal. It was a challenge and a lot of fun.

In the afternoon, at Sit'nStitch, we admired Susan's completed blanket. The brilliant colour changes were not obvious until it is spread on a bed. It's magnificent. Jennifer has about 5 rows to go on Sophie's Universe.      

Somewhere last week I read a suggestion that stitchers should keep a list of their unfinished projects. I had never thought of that, but realised it would be a good idea. Instead of a list I decided to photograph, not just projects I am still working on, but kits I haven't started, or projects for which I have gathered the materials, but not started. The result, executed over Friday and Saturday is a bit daunting. I've attached the photographs of most of them at the end of this blog. If I put them in here, readers will never reach the end!  I'm pleased I did it. There are a few things there I had forgotten about.  

Sunday was the first day of a two day Guild workshop with Melissa Walker on her Madagascan Moon Moth. It was a terrific day. We worked on one wing. The second, and final, day of the workshop is in a month's time. It's not obligatory, but clearly desirable, to finish the stitching in the month, so construction can  happen at the second day. 

I put in quite a bit of work at home after the class, and again on Monday night, to finish the first wing. I'm finding it quite addictive - and I don't want to add it to the photo catalogue of unfinished projects! 

I've now outlined all the pieces with wire and am in the process of buttonholing around them. Maybe this will be my main lockdown project.

We spent a bit of time discussing how to display. Veronica suggested a brooch, but it isn't strong enough. I have now ordered a box with a glass display lid. In for a penny....

Monday's sausage and vegetable bake dinner was pretty successful. I had two potatoes pieces and was a bit worried it would break my diet, but it doesn't seem to have done so. As of this morning I have lost 3.6 kilos in 23 days. It's been a bit slow this week - but heading in the right direction. I hope I can sustain it in lockdown.

Yesterday I visited my doctor to check that there was no health impediment to renewing my driver's licence which there isn't. It's a ten year renewal,  so I have to have a new photo taken. 

This morning I headed out to Mitcham Services SA with my form filled out. It was managed really well - socially distanced, all wearing face masks, in line with restrictions issued last night. I haven't seen the photo, but the attendant says she'd be happy if it were her photo.  I had intended to buy coffee beans on the way home, but didn't remember until half way home. Since my doctor also gave me a referral to have another fasting blood test, I figured I could do that tomorrow and get the coffee then. However, when I got home and checked my phone, I discovered we were going into full lockdown from 6pm tonight. Other people rush out and buy toilet paper. I can't face lockdown without coffee beans, so I headed out again to Frewville Foodland, where parking was at a premium, but the store wasn't too crowded. I have my coffee, a supply of vegetables, fruit, soup, meat and muesli. Ready for anything!

Back home again, I had a nice long chat to my friend Pat in Sydney who has pulled out a jumper she knitted some years ago, but couldn't figure how to assemble. She's now working it out. The other good news is that a friend who had a melanoma removed a few weeks ago has had further surgery and a negative result. 💪

Before I finish and attach the photographs of my unfinished projects and untouched kits, this is the new kit that arrived yesterday from Queensland. My argument is that I need this for my Anglo-Saxon Embroidery researches for WES.

The first two of the photos below is mostly of unfinished projects or ones for which I have an idea and have gathered the materials. The remaining four are largely untouched kits. Yes, I do realise, that in the course of a week I have added two projects not yet in the photo catalogue! I won't run out in lockdown.