Post 173 : Deliveries and delivering

Today turned out to be delivery day.  A number of things I had ordered over the last few weeks turned up in my letterbox. I really appreciate companies that pack in a way that ensures the parcel will go in a letterbox. When you live in a apartment with a secure entrance it makes a big difference to know an item can be delivered even if you are not home, especially in times like now when notification of pending delivery is often not happening because of distancing efforts in transit facilities.




My Ink and Spindle Corea linen arrived. I bought this to make more carry bags. The linen is a lovely weight and weave and I thought I might embroider directly on to it. Probably birds.

I had almost forgotten that I succumbed to a remnant sale from KimoYES.


These are mostly vintage hand-dyed cottons, but I was also seduced by a very shiny piece of synthetic, which, if all else fails, will make a bag for gifts.

The added incentive was, with every order, a free pack of fabric and elastics to make two face masks!

Unimaginable prior to 2010.



I was also pleased to receive the scarf pins I ordered from Beechworth. My daughters scored one too.









My final treasures for the day were two masks from Bundarra, including one with flannel flowers (still in its packaging). I now have a good supply just in case.

Since I had shopped yesterday for today's dinner ingredients I got going early to make my pastitsio with feta in filo pastry. I cooked rather too much pasta so made a small one as well as the family one.

I had two long and enjoyable phone calls from a neighbour and a Guild friend. The former call sorted out our response to a council consultation about a parking variation and the latter clarified some of my dilemmas about the counted bag and accessories. It's just good to be in touch and talk.

 Today Fionn has footy training after school and the younger girls had a pupil-free day, unfortunately finishing in a 4pm orthodontist appointment in the city, so it was just be Brigid and I until after 5 when the others dribbled in. So I could relax and stitch knowing the pie was ready to cook.

I had intended to take a photo as it came out of the oven, all golden. but by then I was focused on getting the food on the table. It's a shame - it did look good.









I remembered the beads and managed the four-sided stitch edge before going on to stitch in the lining, doctor's flannel and the closure.

I'm very pleased with the result. It's a really neat little needle case.

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 77 Mostly distribution and research

I managed to capture the dove's routine this morning - because the Vergola roof was open on the balcony when I raised the blind, and I thought fast enough (that's the hard bit first thing in the morning!).

She sits on the corner of the roof, cooing loudly. She let me open the door (slowly and quietly), distribute the seed and close the door again.











Within seconds she descended and eyed me through the door





before tucking in, beginning with the seeds furthest from the door.

She isn't greedy. but leaves some to come back to later in the day.


I had a busy morning. It is WES Wednesday - the second Wednesday of the month, when, in non-covid times, the World Embroidery Study Group would have been meeting.  I had a presentation to send out to the group today, and I wanted to include a photo of the finished sampler I have been working on over the last couple of days. To do that, I had to finish the sampler!

I still had one side of the bag to ladder-stitch together before I could insert the cord.  The ladder stitch side was straightforward.  Inserting the cords was a bit trickier. Attaching the tassels neatly was the trickiest part.

It just took time and patience. I am very pleased with the result. The blue looks very good. It is a close match to the colour that Carmina used on the tablecloth from which the motif is taken.

I used a perle 8 cotton - and must replace it. There is maybe 35cm left on the roll!

The other side of the bag has another of Carmina's motifs, this time in ecru, as was most of her work.

I'm not sure what I will do with this bag, other than using it to illustrate the story.

When I finally sent out the presentation to the WES Group, 11 of the emails bounced. The pdf file was too large for most people's inboxes! I could see no way through other than to take extracts from it and send them in an email to the group.

I hate making a mess of sending things to the group. It means some people have two versions and cluttered inboxes. One member of the group contacted me this evening to say she got the pdf file (16 mb) attached three times to the email! I don't understand that at all. I checked my send copy - only one pdf attachment, yet hers definitely had 3. Email gremlins!

As I was finishing the bag a friend phoned to say he was in the area and would like to call in for a coffee. Mad scramble to get dressed and vacuum up the threads. This is the first time I have had a visitor, other than my cleaner, since I returned from England 55 days ago! It was great.

When he left I did a research task for my brother. Unfortunately, most of this activity has nothing worth photographing.

I have several deliveries coming in the next week - a couple of books for this research, some wine, some clothing and some fabric to embroider. I was getting Australia Post notices all day.

I finished reading Martha Grimes' The Dirty Duck. which I really enjoyed and have no memory of having read before. I also watched the second half of the 1970s BBC Murder Must Advertise, Mini-Series 3 of Lord Peter Wimsey with Ian Carmichael. It's a little too Bertie Wooster, but enjoyable nonetheless.

I stitched five hexies together while watching this. I haven't decided what embroidery project I will tackle next. There's a lot to choose from.  I might finish my knitting and stitch hexies while I think about it.

Post 76: Hair - Dawning of the Age of....

The day dawned beautifully - pink and grey, rather than red, so no warnings for shepherds.

I managed to read some more of Martha Grimes' The Dirty Duck which I am really enjoying, before I had to head off to the hair dresser.

The trees in the city are really turning now and dropping leaves. I hadn't noticed the little grove next to the Catholic Cathedral before.










It was great to see my hairdresser, and to have my haircut. Salons are now permitted to make longer appointments, so we made an appointment in 8 weeks time for a perm.  I'm relieved.

I deposited my soft plastic recycling in Coles and did a little bit of shopping - more grapes, carpet cleaner, chocolate biscuits - and some proper scones.

Back at home, I got stuck into my sample bag again, finishing the eyelets for the drawstring using Punto Gigliuccio - called Pea Stitch in English. Carmina used this stitch a lot, and I can see why. 

It's shaping up nicely, even if crumpled.

I made two twisted cords and two tassels, ready to insert.

In the meantime, I'm joining the two sides together with ladder stitch. Tomorrow I should be able to press the bag, insert the cord and attach the tassels. I think it will look quite good. It doesn't live up to Carmina's best work, but it is a kind of cover version - a tribute that  demonstrates her designs.

Susan rang me this afternoon. She is back in her apartment, speaking to Jennifer a couple of times a day and getting her head around being in self-isolation in her home. It's been a bit of a journey.  She's unpacking her bags, but also the experience.  Jennifer has that challenge as well.

I have nothing like their challenge or their journey. I am glad, however, that a few friends asked me to keep this blog going when I got home to self-isolation. I had no idea it would still be going 77 days after I set out for England and that the journey would morph into something quite different.