Art, Craft and Needlework, May, 2020

[Harriet]

April sheltering seemed to have themes of rediscovery (of unfinished fabric objects) and thoughtfulness. Not a surprise in a month of concern for the well-being of others and staying home during a kinda profound time.

Harmony began cross-stitching on a rediscovered housing project
DeeClutter began crocheting on a rediscovered ripple afghan project
BookSaver sewed up 45 mats for displaced and homeless pets
Twins' Mom thoughtfully sent some of her handmade greeting cards
Harriet gave up space to the other artist sheltering with her
blessed has set her knitting aside until some household projects are complete
Missing Nancy, whom we hope will be back to tell us about her creativity soon

May is uncharted (get it, cross-stitchers? a little pun. very little.). We don't know whether we might as well call this month a "sheltering" one, or whether perhaps that won't seem the definition by end-of-month at all. But no matter what, creativity will buoy our spirits! Let us know what fun you are having with yours.

[CathyS]

I need to know how any of the cross stitchers/embroiderers here store their stash.

[Harmony]

I'd like to know how YOU store yours! I have a piece of poster board with holes punched along both sides and the holes numbered with all the numbers of what's needed for my picture. The floss is looped through the appropriate holes, but it gets all tangled together if I'm not careful. Certainly not a good system and I don't recommend it.

[Twins' Mom]

When I did counted cross stitch, I wound my floss onto small plastic bobbins and labeled each by number. They were filed numerically in a flat box with sections. I don't remember if I let dd have them for crafts or just sent to the Goodwill finally when I hadn't touched in years and years. The card was similar to this: https://www.michaels.com/dmc-cardboard- ... K5EALw_wcB and the box was similar to this one (although I think this is nicer with the labels and all!) https://www.wish.com/product/5d5f5656f8 ... &share=web

Back then I also had a printed small folded card - I think it came from one of the stores? and I checked off on it what colors I had and kept it in my purse when I needed a project. Then I could consult and see if I needed that color before I bought new.

I don't think my eyes are good enough for counted cross stitch anymore - at least not the way I used to do it.

[BookSaver]

I delivered 72 cat mats to the animal shelter volunteer on Wednesday. She gave me more fabric to cut and sew, but I'm setting those aside for a couple of months to do a few other projects for myself.

This weekend I want to sew those ripstop nylon shopping bags that store inside their own small attached pocket. Pattern from Linda MacPhee Workshop in Alberta, Canada.

[Elizabeth]

For your amusement, this is a mask I entered in the governor's statewide mask contest:

Mask.PNG

[Twins' Mom]

I love it Elizabeth! (Almost) makes me want to get my sewing machine out, like I need another hobby!

[Harmony]

You look like a Geni! Very pretty.

[Harriet]

dd21 says you look "like a hot belly-dancer" (she had no idea you dance). Both of us like the colors and fringe! Reminds me of my bathing suit - it may have a sensible grip on me underneath it all, but the style is all in the skirt.

I think that's an imaginative contest idea to relieve some tension and seriousness. This from someone who saw at least 100 people today and not a single full face (at the eye, ear, etc. doctors' offices).

[Harriet]

I've been outside helping photograph dd21's latest batch of sculpted pendants to support the consignment art gallery that's in the town where she has her internship. This time they each encase stones or quartz crystals which are more of a challenge because of the way light can catch (or ignore) an iridescent stone.

The colors are generally teal with black and silver, but a few have colors to match a color in a stone. The last thing they needed was a busy background, and brick or burlap were good backgrounds individually. I chose an ecru foliage fabric as the grouping photo background for just a little interest without taking away from the pendants. Her serious camera does a good job but we were surprised that a few of the "keepers" were taken with a phone.