Last class and home again

 I'm home again, after a very, very long day of travel. I am not sure why the trip home always seems to take so much longer than the trip to the destination, but I was beginning to think that road would never end.

But before we set out for the drive home, I had one last day of class.

The Artisan Workbox was not like any class I've taken before. There were no written directions, so we jumped right into actually working on the component pieces for the construction of the etui that will live in the box. 

This is a slit for a pocket. I also have a model pocket that will be attached to this piece and the beginnings of the internal structure of the etui and a pin cushion. I also have pages and pages of notes and loads of photographs, but I'm thinking it would be a very good idea to work on this one right away while I understand what my notes mean.

Don't remind me that I say that with every class I take.

Yet another class

Today I lined a box with a lovely silk for the sides and a rich velvet for the bottom.

I almost got the pin cushion that will live on the inside cover of the box stitched, and I learned how to make the pockets that will fit inside the needlework case. 

This was a very productive day, quite unlike my usual time in class where I rarely stitch and never get anything done. 

I could get used to this!

Morning, Glory!

It's cold and rainy here at Ocean City, but I actually stitched in class! Wonders will never cease.

I also ripped because I can't count and follow a chart at the same time in a class, but it's all fixed and everything is fine now.

And I indulged in a bit of retail therapy. Aside from replenishing my needle supply and replacing my broken clip & flip magnifiers and picking up a skein of AVAS I need for a sampler project, I found this:

I saw this design by Ellen Chester on Facebook the other day and thought it looked like it would be fun to stitch and a good travel project. And then I decided I would really rather stitch it in silk, and Salty Yarns has a nice supply of Gloriana, so BDE and I had a color consultation and I'm going to work it in this. It's a little more muted than the original colors, but I think it will be fine.

There are two more days of class and two more projects to add to the pile of things I want to do right this minute. (I need more minutes.)

And, interestingly, Dearly Beloved has been checking off items on his Honey-Do list while I've been gone. I am beginning to wonder if I should leave him alone more often. He seems to be much more industrious when I'm not around. Hmmmmmm . . . .

 

A very, very, very fine house

 At the moment, it doesn't look so very fine. Actually, it looks as if it barely survived a typhoon.

This is the paper mock-up for the etui from the class I've been taking with Jackie at Salty Yarns for the last couple of days.

I am assuming (and hoping) it will look more like the photo on the front of the instructions.

Both BDE and I have been coveting this project since I first saw the photo of it, and finally, it is within our grasp--plus, I have decided that the pattern for the pin cushion that goes with it would be absolutely adorable worked in gold metallic thread with green and red silk accents as a Christmas ornament.

So many stitches . . . so little time.

And I have three more classes during this trip. BDE may have been more realistic and is only taking one of them.

Or she has realized that she is going to get all my stitching stuff anyway, and has the patience to wait.

Leafing Out

 The next band of Carmen has these lovely, lovely leaves.

This pattern forms a framework across the band. I would love to get that done today, but I am doing the pre-trip laundry, then I'm going to start packing for this week's gallivanting with BDE to Salty Yarns for classes with Jackie. I continue to stalk Jackie.

Besides, the minute I make stitching plans, something always interferes. Therefore, I am NOT planning to stitch leaves today between loads of laundry and organizing stitching supplies.

Slowly, slowly

I have been stitching, very slowly and somewhat painfully at times, but, quite frankly, I'd rather stitch with some discomfort as opposed to not stitching at all. There are just too many pretty things in the world that I need to stick a needle in to waste time!

And, I am thrilled to announce, I have finally finished the part of the border that surrounds the first band on Carmen.

Now I have options.

I could go ahead, while I have the border pattern in my head (more or less), and work the border areas for the next band. Just to get them out of the way, you understand.

There is a little zigzag interior border that I could zip through.

Or there is a new band pattern, a lovely new pattern, that I can't wait to stitch.

Do you even have to ask? I'm going to start the new pattern today. 

Radio Silence

 

This is Ethel.

She is supposed to keep my wrist stable while it recovers from being hyperextended when I tripped up the stairs. She is also supposed to stop me from re-injuring myself.

I can stitch with her, but it's slow and awkward. Hopefully, though, she will do her job quickly and efficiently.

In other news, I just had the recent Covid shot, recommended for people over 65. Every other one I've had has left me tired and vaguely achey. This one did me in--unbelievable fatigue and chills and fever--and to top it all off, I had a dizzy spell and keeled over. Luckily I landed on the best padded part of my anatomy, but I have a rather large bruise. And I have bruises elsewhere as well, so I am stiff and sore.

These times do try us.

Hopefully I will have something of a stitching nature to show in the near future.