SAD CONFESSION

I come today with a sad confession.  I am not dealing with this continuing pandemic very well. On top of it I am not dealing well with the direction our country seems to be going in.  There is so much hate. So much fear of others. So much distrust and on top of it all so much greed at the top. I pray I am wrong but I fear I am not.  As a result though I have my spurts of creativity and productivity, there are many days when I just don't feel like doing anything. It's like WHY BOTHER!

I need to get over this.  There still is much good in our world and hopefully in our country. All these thoughts make me feel very old.  Oh yeah, at 70 I guess I am real old. I don't understand a country where lies and bullying are acceptable by a large group. I don't understand name calling, though I should because I was called many names as a young teen. I don't understand the feeling of what I WANT IS WHAT IS IMORTANT!  It is my right to do what I want even if it puts someone else in harms way. I definitely do not understand conspiracy theories. I feel so out of what seems today to be the normal way.

Maybe this all just needs to be chalked up to my being alone, on my own, in my home for over two months now.  My companion is my TV and with that the news. NOT GOOD! I try reading and listening to music, but  can only do that so much. My ADD kicks in big time.  I need to get back to sewing, but since I am done making the masks I was asked for I don't know what I am sewing for.  I guess being alone at home right now I am having a crisis of what am I here for while the world is suffering.

Enough!  Tomorrow WILL be a better day.  It has to be.  I can't go on like this. One good thing I guess is I have rediscovered that I can cook.  I hate doing it for myself, but I can do it and have committed to two real meals a week. Tonight it was spareribs.  Yes they were yummy and they came with leftovers for tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a sewing project complete to show. I do have things I would like to do. I just need the incentive. I need to get beyond the feeling I am just existing and not living.

AND IT GOES ON.....

T

Things have been slowing down in my life.  I think I am getting real close to reaching my limit on my alone time.  I've now been working on embroidery projects that I have no idea what I will do with,  IT has become sewing just to have something to do.  IT worked for a while but know it seems to becoming rather pointless. I am making things I ave no idea whatsoever I will do with. Here are a lot of the blocks I have embroidered.  I need to do something with them.  The best I can come up with is I will create a Corona wall in my house with the small wall-hangings I've made during this time.

Actually I am working on some blocks that could end up as a baby gift.  That is if I ever need a baby gift.  It would be a small quilt called Fairy Blocks.  Each block relates to a fairy tale. Here is one of those blocks.

 I really like them as they have the look of hand embroidered blocks. I will post a picture here of the quilt if and when I get it finished.

What else is going on here?  Well today Florida went over the 50,000 make of Covid cases.  As a state we are now open. Yet the casers keep going up each day. I can barely wait to get back out into the world. But I won't yet. I am not yet comfortable with what is going on. Florida seems to be not reporting cases in a reliable manner. At this point all I can say is who knows. As hard as it is becoming I will wait. I may be an old lady, but I am not yet willing to put myself at risk of checking out on this life at any time soon. I need to have more time with my kids.  We need to make up the time we missed in April. God willing we will.

It's Hard

Yes it's hard to think of things and to post on a regular basis.
Time seems to have no meaning at the moment. At least for me that seems to be reality. I wish I could understand how time passes. When I wake up I have to go through a serious of events and passings to let me know  what day it is. When "Stay at Home" rules take event time seems to no longer have any meaning. 
That said,  what have I been doing? PUZZLES!!!! I had to clean off my kitchen table and make room for puzzles.  This is my second once and it shows different places around the DC area. The unique thing about this puzzle is that on the back of each piece is a fact about the area.  Easy but fun!

What else have I been doing?  I can not lie, The last week has been a challenge. I am feeling very alone. I know there are people out there who care for me, and I care for and love them, BUT I have no real contact with them..  I want a hug! I need a touch! Physically I am alone, and I am shrinking into a nothingness because of it. For those of you who have even one other person in your space give thanks for that person. You have a contact with humanity other than that of virtual reality. My mind can only play so many games to think that it has contact with others. 

So I am going on to put together another puzzle and plan more sewing projects. When will this end? Or will this be the prison I will find myself in the rest of my life?

HELLO!

It's been a while, two weeks.  I have thought about coming by and posting but just haven't been able to actually get here.  Life has been a growing challenge the last two weeks. I don't even know how to put into words what I have been thinking or feeling. As is usual with me my thoughts and emotions bounce around like a ping pong ball.  They seem to change with every passing hour. I'm content to be alone/ I hate being alone and crave human and personal interaction.  I have so much I want to do/ I just can't seem to do it. I love sewing/ I hate my sewing machine.  I want to go spend some money/I am very happy that I haven't been spending money.  I really want some bourbon/I don't want to drink.  I am a mass of contradictions these days and it is driving me crazy.  I just don't see the point of any of it anymore.  Enough said.

I have been accomplishing a few things.  I've been sewing and finished two projects.  Though I have made about 20 more masks since last post I've spent most of my sewing time on things I have wanted to do. I finished the little wall hanging with the painted blocks. I am very happy with how it turned out.  I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what sashing and border fabric I wanted to use. Or whether I even wanted to use sashing.  With the help and advice of some friends on Facebook this is what I ended up with.  I think it is a cute and happy little wall hanging.

The other project I finished was another small wall-hanging in honor of Cinco d' Mayo. It's bright and colorful and also I think very happy.  The designs are taken from traditional Mexican fabrics called Otomi. I love the brightness and almost whimsical nature of these designs.

 

I have spent some time going through the thousands of embroidery designs I have accumulated from my membership in Anita Goodesigns All Access Club.  It's time to begin using some of them.  I have a few more waiting in the wings to be done. Stay tuned!

IT MUST BE SUNDAY

Yes, it must be Sunday, because I worshiped on line this morning via Facebook.  Yes, it is an new world at the moment.  I must admit though it's kind of nice to be able to go to church before I even get out of bed in the morning. Much more cozy that most church chairs or pews. 

After church it was time for a cup of tea and to read the newspaper. Then get into activities of another day.  Work on the computer, do a Sudoku puzzle, make lunch (I don't do breakfast) and then plan out the rest of the day.

I actually started and finished a project I've been thinking about for a while.  Coloring on fabric.

About six months ago I purchased Derwent Inktense Pencils. I've played around with them a bit but not been too happy with the results. Last week I watched a YouTube video on using them on fabric and discovered that I shouldn't have been using water with them but rather Textile Medium. So I decided to give them another try.  I've been thinking for some time that it would be fun to stitch out a red work embroidery design and then color it in.  That is what I did.  I found an Anita Goodesign pattern called Baltimore Album and chose a few of the blocks to stitch out. This is the design I started with.  I stitched it with black embroidery thread and did place some batting behind the background fabric.
Here is my beginning of coloring. I started with the leaves because I thought the would be the easiest to deal with.  I wasn't sure how I would handle shading so it didn't look flat, but decided not to worry about it and just jump in and see what the result was.  I started with coloring the whole leave with a very light green, then put down a little bit of a darker green at the bottom and finally added just a touch of very dark green at the bottom of the leaf. Before going over everything with a stiff paint brush dipped into a tiny bit of textile medium the look is very pale and streaked.  You can see all the pencil strokes.


See the rose at the right.  It certainly doesn't look like much. Below is what it looks like after blending it with the textile medium.  It is much brighter and vibrant. I am very pleased with how my shading has turned out.  I think I am hooked on this. I plan to do two more blocks and then turn them into a wall hanging.







 Below is the block that is finished as far as the painting goes. I still  have it in the embroidery hoop and tomorrow will put it back into the machine and using My Design Center create some stippling to quilt around the flowers.

WHAT HAPPENED TO YESTERDAY?

The answer is I have no idea. Where did yesterday go? I know I did finish another 4 masks and delivered them to the folks that asked for them. Other than that I don't remember what I did. Oh wait....I did take part in a ZOOM meeting with friends from several of my sewing and embroidery groups. It was fantastic to see those friends and see what all they have been doing. I think it will become a weekly meeting. Gives me some incentive to keep creating. 

Creating....did I do anything today???  Sadly no. I am running my dishwasher....I guess that's not very creative. It was a rough morning.  Once again at 5am weather radio went off warning about severe thunderstorms moving into my area. Yeah they were pretty bad and it seemed the radio went off every 30 minutes or so till 7am. At that point I feel asleep again and didn't wake up till 11:30. When I get up that late it seems nothing really gets done. Oh well tomorrow is another day.  Hopefully one with a calmer start.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE!

I haven't been here for five days.  I guess that's because not has been happening the last five days. How many days in a row can I talk about making masks?  Yep, still making them. Fortunately not in the quantity I had been. Now I do between 2 and 6 a day. I keep trying to get a ready made stack of them for future requests, but requests of 2 or 3 a day keep the shelf empty. I've worked a bit on my scrap quilt from the strips left over from the masks. Sadly I mostly seem to fritter the day away on the computer. 

I'm basically okay with being home.  I was however surprised on how excited I was when a friend came by with her husband, also a friend, to drop off some elastic for more masks. It felt like Christmas even though we only talked with her outside my lanai and myself inside it on the opposite side where she was.  

Oh, a good side benefit of this "stay at home" period is that I've video chatted with my kids three times now in the last three weeks. It's wonderful to see them when we talk even if half the time I feel like I look like a train wreck. 

I am a bit concerned that the powers that be are planning on beginning to reopen Village activities in a week and a half.  Personally I have decided that I will be staying home through at least the end of  May unless something dramatic happens.  Funny thing is the politicians are all pushing for businesses to reopen.  The health care experts are against it.  I just saw a poll that said an overwhelming portion of the population, Democrats and Republicans, feel it is too early to reopen things.  The politicians don't seem to care though.  They seem to be more worried about our economy than lives and public health. 

So those are my thought as of tonight. I have more, but I have learned that it is best I keep them to myself or at least only express them around like minded thinkers or the remaining few that still like a good discussion about what is going on in the world, our country, state and community.  To many don't want to discuss. They just seem to want to say you are wrong and don't know what you are talking about. Period--End of Discussion. So I will keep them out of here.

Tomorrow I am going to have my first experience with a Zoom meeting.  Not sure how that works but it will be nice to spend some time with sewing and crafting friends even if its over the computer. 

After that maybe some sewing that will result in a project I can show here, 

Nite!  

  

NO MASKS TODAY!

Not only did I not make any face mask today, I didn't work on anything that had a connection to Covid-19. That means I didn't work on my Covid quilt either.  I did sew though.  Went back to embroidery and made a cute little wall-hanging. I actually started it and finished it in one day.  For me that is impressive. The only thing not done in the hoop was the binding. Also adding the crystals.

THE OUTSIDE WORLD STILL EXISTS!

Today I escaped for about an hour.  It was wonderful!!!!!

I started the day after my tea and a shower with finishing up a few face masks requested by people.  For the moment I am caught up and done.  I made two for some neighbors here in the Villas.  When Kathy came to pick them up off the lanai she left me a gift.  It was wonderfully fun.  A roll of toilet paper and a Noni Biscotti. They are both appreciated.

I also made to special face masks for some long time Disney friends. Of course they were made up of Mickey and Minnie fabric.  Rich and Laurie live in what is called the Historic side of The Villages.  It's about 10 miles north of here.  I had to go to my mail box to pick up my mail.  I go one day a week. After getting my mail I headed north to deliver the masks. 

It was a beautiful afternoon.  Sunny but cool, which was a wonderful surprise as the day started out cloudy and slightly rainy. My drive was lovely.  It was both reassuring and sad to see how few people were out and about.  Usually on a day like today the cart paths and golf courses would be full of people enjoying the weather and outdoors.  There were some golfers I saw along the way, but not many.  Also there were a few walkers and joggers along the paths but very few.  The reassuring part of this is that people are taking the threat of this virus seriously, which they didn't seem to be doing early on.

Spanish Spring was a bit eerie.  The parking spaces were empty and obviously the stores were all closed.  No one was walking around and the only sign of life I saw was a lone person manning a carryout table at Gators Dockside. They seemed to even be the only restaurant open for carry out.

As empty as everywhere seemed to be it still was wonderful to be out in my car and seeing things different than the walls of my home. I am planning on taking a drive once a week, just to help with the cabin fever. Though it would seem that our esteemed Governor is getting ready to open the state back up for business.   Personally I don't think it is time yet, but I can only control my own behavior.  As lonely as I get at times these days, I will still remain at home till I am comfortable that by going out I will not be putting myself at risk.   

31 DAYS ALONE!

It's now been 31 days since I have been touched by another human being.  That is the hardest part of all this.  I can talk with people. I can even see people. But no touching allowed. I now have a better understanding why they say babies that are left alone in their cribs and never touched do not thrive and may even eventually just fade away and die. Touch is very important. Now I don't think I am at risk of dying from the lack of touch, but I don't relish another month or more without it.  Every day gets a bit harder.

I did get some sewing done today other than face masks.  I will have to get back to them tomorrow.  It still amazes me that as one of the richest countries in the world that so many have to rely on homemade face masks made by volunteers who ask nothing in return.  I may have made well over 150 masks to give away, but that is nothing I read and hear of people who have made over 500 and some over 1000.

So what did I sew on today? I started out with this pile of scraps.  Leftovers from all the masks I have made to date. Most of the scraps are strips or what some quilters call "strings".  Since I had mainly strings, I decided to make a string quilt.  I wanted it to be a bit different than the normal string quilt so decided to make it using rectangular blocks rather than square ones.  I remembered that one group I used to belong to suggested Sewing string quilts onto a foundation of used drier sheets.  That is what I did.  I think I may have mentioned this in an earlier post, but today I got serious about it.  One thing I can say is that it sure smells good when you press the block.

 After sewing the strips on the dryer sheet foundation using a sew and flip method I trimmed them down to a 9'" x 6" rectangle.  This will end up being a finished 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" rectangle. I don't what the quilt to be too big.  I'm thinking a lap quilt that I can throw over myself when sitting and reading a book or watching tv. That is if it ever gets cold in FL again. Other than a rare series of days, on and off, this winter it has been very warm.  Today and yesterday it was in the 90's already. I will probably make the quilt either 6 x 6 blocks or maybe only 4 x 6,  I need an even number of blocks in
each direction because of the design I have chosen to arrange the blocks.

This is my first panel made up of 8 blocks. So far I am liking it. I have another 5 blocks done, but have discovered I seem to favor one direction of placing the strips on the diagonal.  I need to remember to make them the two different ways. 

If there was anyone reading these posts I would ask what do you think.  Since no one does I will simply say I like it.

JUST ANOTHER DAY!

It's Tuesday....at least I'm pretty sure its Tuesday.  Everyday it seems to get harder to remember what day it is.  Thank goodness my phone not only gives me the date, but the day of the week. Everything with which I used to figure out what day it is, is gone.  No club gatherings, no work, no appointments, really nothing not even any church to prepare for.  Every day is just like every other day in this Covid-19 world we are living in. Even TV seems to be the same.....news stories about Covid-19 and more and more reruns as new production is ended.

Between yesterday and today I made another 15 face masks.  I had planned on rejoining the quilt guild here in The Villages.  Kind of glad I didn't get a chance to before all this craziness started.  I just heard a rumor that they received a request for   2000 face masks. YIKES!  Don't get me wrong I've been glad I've had the ability and the means to make the masks I have, but like I've said before I really don't do well with repetitive sewing. It becomes a real chore.

So what else did I do today???? Well I'm working a lot of Sudoku puzzles and even venturing out into the world of other more challenging (for me) puzzles using a grocery store puzzle book. Some a am fairly good at others I find totally frustrating.  One thing I discovered is it is good to hold on to things even when not regularly using them.  It's been a while since I have done anything with this booklet. Check out the date.
Yes, I've had this for awhile.  I remember cleaning out the magazine rack several times
over the years, thinking I should through it out.  I guess I now know why I never did.  Something must just have been whispering in my ear...."one day you may need to work with this again!"  Well that day has now arrived.  This is why I just can't go along with the decluttering thought of if you haven't used it in a year, get rid of it.  One never knows and it's not like I could just run out an buy another puzzle book at this time.


So what else did I do today?  Well, I decided it was time to fix myself a real meal. Not just a sandwich or a chicken breast but nothing else or not even just cheese and crackers.  I cooked! I roasted some fresh asparagus, sautéed some mushrooms, and broiled a steak. It was good. So was the red wine I enjoyed with it, however I have to say I don't make a steak as well as a steakhouse does.  I am really looking forward to a good meal out when this is all over.

Tomorrow will be another day.  Since I've already determined to day is Tuesday, tomorrow will be Wednesday. I will venture out in my car.  I will stay socially distanced and I guess I will wear a mask.  I need to go get my mail.  This is the new world order.....going to get mail is an exciting event because it takes you out into the world.

DAY 28!

Simply HAPPY EASTER!

IT'S ANOTHER DAY LIKE PRETTY MUCH ALL THE OTHER DAYS.

Saturday, April  11: First let me say Happy Birthday Dad!  I miss you but am glad you are at peace and not living through this mess.  Though truth be told mom could probably use you by her side  right about now.  If you can reach out and give her a supportive hug. She's one amazing woman, but I know she's lonely right now.

Among other things today I began to work on my CoVid-19 lap quilt. It will be made up from scraps left over from all the face masks I've made.
This is just a small sample of the scraps I'm working with.  I've decided that I will just do a strip quilt or what some call a string quilt. The goal is to get it done and have it as a memory of this time.

I have been saving used drier sheets to be used as a foundation.  The strips will be sewn on to a sheet.  One nice side effect is when pressing the sewn pieces it sure smells good. I am putting the strips on an angle and because of the size of the drier sheet they will be a rectangular block rather than a square one which is usual.

 This is what the blocks look like after they are sewn and before they are trimmed. So far I think I have 8 blocks completed.  They pretty fast and are pretty mindless to make. I figure that I need 30 or 35 blocks to make a lap size quilt that has a small boarder around the main blocks so I still have a way to go.  Hopefully I have enough scraps left from the masks.  If not I guess that will give me another reason to make more masks. On the right here are what the blocks are like after they have been trimmed to 6" x 9". 

Tomorrow is Easter, but obviously I can't go anywhere. I will watch church via Facebook.  Different but glad we have the technology to do this. There are several community events planned during the day that we can take part in from our yards as a sign of solidarity. I'll see how they go. Other than that I will do more sewing on my quilt. I also will be praying for Jeremy as tomorrow he begins shadowing and learning how to be part of the ICU team.  He is concerned about this and so am I.

DONE??????

I thought I was done. I hoped I was done, but requests for masks keep coming in.  A Baptist church approached a club I am part of and asked if we could make 100 masks for their volunteers at the church run food bank. I really don't want to make anymore but how do I say no?  I can't!  I will though say I can't start making them till Monday.  That will give me a break.

God help me for my thoughts asking why as the richest country in the world we can't produce enough face masks to fill the need.  Also why can't we produce and process the tests needed to know how bad this really is. In my dark heart I fear the answer to the question of testing is that our president does not want confirmation of how bad things really are.  He seems to be living in his own little alternate universe of things are rapidly getting better and we will be back to business in a couple of weeks. I wish!

So what did I do today since I didn't sew masks? Pretty much nothing.  Well that;s not really true.  I did empty, reload and run the dishwasher.  I also did my first online grocery shopping complete with delivery.  It worked well but it is real easy to spend too much. My only consolation after spending $200 is that it should be the only shopping I need to do for another month. This is a very interesting experience to say the least.

DONE!

For the moment I am done with face masks. I have made over 150 of them. Some have gone to California, most have remained here in my community.   Though I have lived in this community in the Village of Hillsborough for almost 8 years, I have not been particularly connected with them.  Partially due to my being single and feeling out of the main stream of  couples and partially due to my introvert nature. I don't do well with strangers. The making of the masks for my neighbors was my way of saying I am part of you. I am very happy that I did it for them, but I have to admit I am glad it is done. Here is the last batch of what I made.


What will I do next.  I'm not sure.  I want to catch my breath. I want to finis reading a book that I have been slowly working on for a month.  When I am ready to get back to sewing I think I want to make a CoVid-19 lap quilt with the scraps left over from all the masks I made. I should be interesting because I just grabbed fabrics out of my stash not worrying if they went together.  I think though it will be a while before I go back to my sewing machine.  From what it sounds like I have plenty of time.

ALMOST DONE

I think...I hope, that tomorrow I will be able to finish all the face masks that have been requested by my neighbors. This has truly been a labor of love. And I do mean LABOR! I normally do not make the same thing anymore than two or three times.  In the extreme case I may make something five times. By the time I am done I will have made approximately 125 face masks. I don;t care to ever see another face mask.  In fact I think I will gladly stay in my home just so I do not need to ever wear one.

I've been thinking of what I will do when I am done with the masks. First off I will probably not sew for a day or two.  I want to finish reading my book.  I want to once again clean my kitchen. This cooking every day is a messy business. I will change the sheets on my bed and do some laundry.  I will for a day or two do what ever I want when I want with no deadlines. I want to totally clean and organize my sewing room.  Then I want to make greeting cards.  I think you get the idea that no matter what I will not be bored. Actually I can't really remember when I was last bored. I guess that is a good thing.

As for Covid-19 it continues it's moving into The Villages.  The infection count and the death count continues to climb. Still there is very little information on what is going on here.  I can't help but feel that The Villages is more concerned about their reputation as a very healthy community then they are in keeping us informed as to what is going on in our midst. Oh well, I'm staying home. I am not ordering meals for carry out, and I fortunately do not need to grocery shop for at least another month.

Hang in there folks, we will get through this. And YES, Easter will come and we will celebrate the risen Christ even if we need to do so in our own homes.

I forgot to mention that tonight Jeremy and I looked at the moon together though we were hundreds of miles apart. It was beautiful.

IT'S TUESDAY

Yes, I missed yesterday. I can't explain it but I was exhausted. I simply didn't have the energy to write anything.  There hasn't been much going on here except for sewing face masks for neighbors. I can't keep showing pictures of those here.  That would be so very boring so not much to say. However today, though I have been still sewing, I am so proud of voters in Wisconsin. At the same time I am so disgusted with the GOP and courts in Wisconsin.  The GOP would not allow the primary to be delayed because of the virus, nor would they allow mail in voting.  The courts agreed. So peoples right to vote  was pitted against their health in a hope that Democrats would not show up at the polls. I can not even begin to express the disgust I have for the GOP at this point. Their mantra for this election cycle seems to be voter suppression because they know that is the only way they have a hope of winning.

I really hope that in a day or to I can get back to posting about sewing and embroidery projects I am working on. This is really stressing me out. It probably is a good thing that nobody reads what I write.

I forgot to add that tonight Jeremy and I looked at the moon.  Isn't it wonderful to be able to share the same visual experience despite being 100's of miles apart.

A DAY OF REST

It is Sunday. I decided to take a day of rest.  Well at least a day of rest from mask making.  I will get back to it tomorrow, but I needed a break.  By 9:30 last night I could barely keep my eyes open I was just totally exhausted once again.  I'm pretty sure it is not a physical exhaustion but an emotional one.  I also today took a break from watching any news on TV.  Instead I watched the original and the second Star Trek movies.  Wow has movie making technology changed!!!

Tonight I don't feel exhausted like the last two nights so I guess my day of rest was needed.  Now I will go and do some reading.  I've reached the point in Laura Bush's autobiography that I am ready to finish it.  I normally am not a non-fiction reader and need to get back to losing myself in a good novel.

The virus continues it's rise in Sumter and Lake Counties. Between the two as of this morning we are up to 183 cases of it and there have been 5 deaths.  Doesn't sound like much but that is an increase of 100 cases since yesterday morning and 3 additional deaths.  That is not good.  I hope I don't hear anymore driveway parties or social gatherings. 

EXHAUSTION!

Tonight I am totally and utterly exhausted!  Last night was not a good night for sleep. But then no night that contains only 3 hours sleep is a good night.  I've been awake since 4:00am and up since 5:00am.  The amazing thing is I did get quite a bit accomplished.  This was most of my day.

Fifteen face masks for my neighbors. Each takes approximately 30 minutes to make despite being called the 10 minute mask.  That's akin to calling Eleanor Burns quilts "Quilts in a Day" !  I also washed and cut out enough fabric for 15-20 more that I will make tomorrow.  Yes, the sweatshop is in full production.  I now have requests for 70 masks.  Well at least I am using up lots of fabric that I have been hoarding over the years.  Thankfully I have had one neighbor offer to help.  She has the machine and the skill I gladly supply the fabric and what little elastic I can come up with. 

It's easy to come up with fabric combinations for the women.  It would seem most of my fabrics from the past have floral themes.  Coming up with fabrics for the men is a little more challenging.  

I am not the only one in The Villages being asked to make masks.  I see on the neighborhood websites pleas for masks.  I wish I had the energy to make more after I finish the 70 I need, but at this point I'm pretty sure I will need a break so I don't crash and burn.  

The number of Covid-19 cases in The Villages continue to rise.  A week ago I don't think we had any or if we did it was only 2 or 3.  As of this morning there were 48, just in the Sumter County portion of The Villages and another 40 in the Lake County portion.  Also today the first two Villagers died.  So it begins.  

Despite it's rising presence here there are too many people still complaining that the swimming  pools, are closed as are the rec-centers and as of today god forbid the pickleball courts have been locked down.  Come-on folks we are all adults here.  Act like it! 

Part of me is very happy I have no desire to leave my house except when absolutely necessary, such as when I am out of food and to go pick up my mail once a week. There are way to many angry people out there who are carrying guns in their waistbands or purses. Yes, FL is a concealed carry state.  I hope I am wrong, but I'm afraid its only time before someone goes over the edge because of the stay at home order and uses their gun as a form of emotional release. Like I say I hope and pray that I am wrong. 

On that note GOOD NIGHT!

I AM A SWEAT SHOP!

I went out on a limb today and offered to make face masks for people in my neighborhood.  I've sent off a package already to my son and DIL in LA and now am moving more local. I know I have struggled to make these over and over again, but I truly feel I need to do this. I will make some more tonight and then tomorrow get serious about this.  People have offered to pay for them but I will not take payment. This is my mission to give back for all the blessings I have had in my life. I just pray that God gives me the focus needed to get these done and delivered. 

I believe this is a defining moment for our country. How we react and deal with this pandemic will show who we are.  Are we a people who look for ways to make a profit off of others suffering or are we a country of compassionate people who pull together for the good of all.

IT MAY BE APRIL 1, BUT THIS IS NO JOKE!

It was funny that rather than April Fools jokes and pranks being featured on Facebook today the posts are saying 2020 April Fools Day has been canceled. No prank or joke can top the joke Mother Nature is playing on us with COVID-19. Not sure I would call it a joke but it is what we are living with today, and tomorrow, and many more tomorrows.

Finally today our esteemed Governor, and buddy of our President, announced that FL will start a mandatory stay at home period till early May. I guess he had to get the President's approval before he could do it.  Staying in the President's good graces have paid off for the state of FL. what ever medical supplies and PPE items DeSantis asks for he gets,100% of them, no questions asked. Try and tell me politics are not playing a part in the distributing of supplies....I will tell you to open your eyes.

Okay enough of this, My frustration level with how our country is dealing with this pandemic is growing, but I really don't want to take over this BLOG. I need to be focusing on the positive things I see around me.

No sewing done again today.  I used up my energy and thought processes paying and scheduling payments for my April bills.  That is always stressful till I finish and find out if I have any money left in my checking account.  I am happy to report that due to staying at home and not eating out I will have money left at the end of April. Not much but more than usual and I am anticipating a continued lack of spending throughout April so May should be good as well. Te most exciting thing about paying the bills today though was realizing that the loan for my eye surgery last June is now paid off. YEA!  Now to work on paying off my dental bills. I will be so happy  when they are gone.

Tomorrow, I am promising myself I will get back to sewing. I also need to package up the face masks I have currently finished and get them sent off to Lindsay. I'm not sure if going to PO is considered essential activity so will get it done before the actual order goes into effect. Whoopee; I get to go for a car ride.  Ah, the small things that are now so exciting.  So enough for tonight.  I will now go read some more and then head to bed. 

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY

I enter a new decade today.  I am now 70 and this is a birthday different from all others. I have spent birthdays without family.  I have spent a few birthdays without friends. I don't think I have spent a birthday without either family or friends physically present. Yet today was probably one of the best birthdays I have had in a very long time.

I didn't really accomplish much if anything of consequence today, yet I experienced everything I could have envisioned given the world we are currently living in.   I lounged around in bed this morning and the first thing I did was talk to my mother. Not a small thing due to her lack of vision which makes it almost impossible for her to dial a phone number. What a wonderful gift.

I am not a big phone conversationalist, but I spent probably the first two hours of today talking to various friend who called to wish me a happy birthday.  Finally I got up, showered and made myself presentable for a video conference set up by my children so we could all be together on this day.

What a blessing that was.  Not only were all my children there, but so where other family members including my sister and husband, my sister-in-laws and yes even my ex. What wonderful time of sharing in our love for each other.  The best however was when everyone signed off except for my kids. We laughed and shared so much.  I am truly blessed.  Thank you so much for Stephanie and Joe for setting this all up.  I love you all and you made this time of social separation less lonely!

SEWING, SEWING, SEWING, and READING!

I'm now into week three of social isolation. I am not a big talker so I can't say I miss being in groups of people and having to make small talk.  What I do miss though is touch.  A simple hug or even a high five would be so very appreciated right now.  This is the downside of living alone. If you are married, have a child or children living at home, or even simply have a roommate life is very different for you than the person who truly is alone.  I can handle it now. Even with how much I miss touch. What worries me is how will I and other singles handle it after another month, or in the case of Virginia another two and a half months.  That said I will do this. I will survive. BUT when it is all over, look out world!

Enough of those musings. What did today bring for me?  It brought a time of devotions, a time for reading, time on the computer, and time sewing.  Today I finished nine more face masks. I made two different styles and made them this time with what I call "happy colors".  Thank to friends here I was able to use elastic for these.  I have enough elastic to do nine more tomorrow then I will need to go back to using ribbon for ties, The flat ones with pleats, on the right here are the quickest and the easiest to make. They will be the ones I do with ties. The ones below here take a bit longer and I don't know if I mentioned it before but they remind me of bra cups. Too funny.
 I keep saying I am going to make cards, but I haven't made it to that project yet.  I need to finish these face masks and get them mailed off.  Then I hope I will feel free to move on.

TWO WEEK MARK

It's now been two weeks, fourteen days, since I began this journey.  Yes, there have been times when I have gone outside of my home. However, they have not resulted in any contact with another human being. Even for an introvert this is getting to be really old and hard. I find myself just wanting to talk to someone in person. From what it sounds that will not happen for another month.  Can I do this? Yes I can. Will it be hard? Yes it will. I could  resort to doing nothing but sitting on my computer all day.  I confess that is pretty much what I have done today.  Is that the healthy thing to do? NO, it is not. I admit to having to deal with depression though-out my life. This is my challenge: To keep from descending into that dark place. I can do this. In order to do it though I do need to allow myself days like today.  Days where I have accomplished nothing of purpose.  Well that's not totally true, I did deliver to a friend some card stock so she could make some cards to thank and encourage others. I need to remember small things count.

No pictures to post here today. Tomorrow will be another day. I will work to deal with my demons that want me to just give up and sit out. God willing I will learn how not to be so hard on myself. God willing I will learn and accept living totally on my own, having no contact with anyone other than by phone or internet. To anyone who just might be reading this that has another in their home: No matter how difficult it may be at times be thankful for the human contact you do have. TV, the telephone, and Facebook are my limited contact with others.

Enough, time for me to move on. I am getting maudlin, and I do not need that right now.  I'm going to read my book, which ironically is now dealing with emotions surrounding September 11, 2001.

ANOTHER SATURDAY!

Well it's another Saturday.  Another week has gone by.  A very long week!  Just for fun I looked back through my posts to see what I was doing last Saturday. WOW!  I was embroidering Golf Towels and making a few zipper pouches.  I had totally forgotten about doing those.  It seems like I did them a year ago.  Well. maybe not a year ago but certainly a month ago. I guess, for me, that is going to be one of the biggest benefits of doing this writing. Time seems to be loosing a lot of its meaning. Each day and each days activities seem to blend into each other. It is going to be nice to be able to look back on these days and weeks, hopefully not months, and see what I was doing and what I was thinking as the time passed.

Today got a late start.  Last night was not a good night.  After going to bed around midnight; I found myself awake at 3:30. At 4:30 I decided to give up on sleep and got up and began cutting out more face masks and doing some basic sewing to get them started. Here is what the pile I was working on looked like when I was done around 5:30.

I checked things out on the computer for a bit and then about 6:00 decided to try and give sleep a try again.  It worked, but then I didn't get back up till around 11:00 I guess all told I did get eight and a half hours sleep.  Just in a strange pattern. 

I am debating with myself whether to just allow myself to sleep when and how long my body wants to rather than try and force the issue of keeping to a schedule when life seems to have no schedule any longer. As usual for me I can see both the pros and cons of doing this. We'll see how tonight goes. Of course it's already 12:30 and I am not in the least tired.

I finished 7 more masks today and cut out and once again did the basic sewing for 14 more. I don't think I will get them in the mail on Monday but hopefully by Wednesday.  Then I'm going to take a break on sewing.  At least sewing masks. I am having a very difficult time focusing on them.  They have become boring sewing.  I am not good at continual repetition. It's time to move on. I want to get into making cards. Thank you ones and ones of encouragement.

So tomorrow begins another week.  It will be interesting to see if it brings anything new and exciting. Bye for now to whom ever may read this.  I guess that means me. 

YES I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S FRIDAY.

Wow time may fly  when you are having fun, but it sure slows down to a crawl when you are stuck in your house by yourself!  This has been a very long week and I fear it is only the beginning.  That said, I have been keeping busy sewing. I had hoped to get some cleaning, decluttering and organizing done, but that bug has not bit me yet.

Today I focused on sewing face masks. Lindsay and Nate, my daughter-in-law and son, asked me to make some and send them to them in California.  So far I have sewn 20 of them.  My goal is 50 by Monday, when I hope to mail them. I still have lots of sewing to do since today I received an urgent request for 5 to go to Maryland. Of course I said yes. This means however I have 35 to make in the next two day.s I may need to adjust my mailing date to Tuesday.

I'm making two different styles. The one I began making is a flat pleated mask with ties.  It is the bottom one in the picture. I started with this design because I did not have any elastic. It is just not available anywhere. Lindsay ordered some to be sent to me, but it hasn't arrived yet.  My fear is it is back-ordered and will not arrive till sometime in April.

The other design is the top one and is a more fitted mask. It is the  one that needs the elastic.  I was blessed today by three friends who discovered that they had some 1/4" elastic in their sewing room and offered it to me. I think it is enough that I can get 20 or so masks made in this style. After that if the other elastic hasn't arrived I will go back to the flat masks.

I am very happy that I have plenty of fabric to make these masks.  They are not perfect and they definitely not as effective as medical grade masks, but they are better than nothing and probably better than having to reuse the medical grade ones for several days or more. I just wish I could sew faster.

My only question is why does our President insist that everyone has all the supplies they need in the hospitals when Drs. and nurses continually report how they are using makeshift supplies and reusing things that are to me single use items because they have nothing else. Someone is lying and I'm pretty sure I know who it is.

DAY ???

I've totally lost track of how many days I've been home alone.  Yes there have been a few forays out into the world, but none of them have included any first hand human interaction. The sad thing is I hear people, and I mean people in the know, say this is just the beginning for us in the USA and it could go on another month or more. Even as an introvert I think by them]n I might just be a babbling idiot that has not concept of what the date is or how to interact with another human being in person.

I have also decided to admit to myself that this is my journal or diary for myself on how I am dealing with and spend the time during this self isolation. No one else  really cares. No one else comes here, but you know that is okay.  I have been alone now for almost 10 years and I'm kind of getting use to it and don't really think or expect that it will ever change. Even when I was I teen I knew a life alone was going to be my destiny. I don't like it, but I accept it.

So what have I been doing today after my crash against the wall yesterday?  First off I enjoyed waking up slowly this morning. I really do love a slow wake up and getting out of bed.  Then after my cup of tea and devotional and prayer time I gathered things together from my pantry and drove them over to the UMC church by me which was having a food drive for one of the local food pantry's.

On the way home I decided to drive through "downtown" Brownwood. I was really bizarre. The music from the Villages radio station was playing but other than that the place was pretty much a ghost town.  There were a few people sitting or wandering around, but everything was pretty much closed down. Definitely a ghost town feeling.

Back at home I began on cutting out and preparing to sew some face masks which will eventually find their way to CA and the LA area. So much for today.  CoVid-19 is continuing it's march through FL and even Sumter County, yet too many people don't seem to want to take it seriously.  Not sure what I think about that.

I HIT THE WALL!

Yes, I missed the posting yesterday.  I did finish my wall hanging. I quilted it and finished the binding.  It is now hanging on my wall by the front door underneath another paper pieced water themed wall hanging. They look pretty nice together.

That is about all I accomplished yesterday.

Today, I have to say I think I hit a wall and sank to the floor.  I have really accomplished nothing.  Well I did go to pick up my mail hoping that the elastic my daughter-in-law ordered for me arrived so I could begin sewing face masks for her. It didn't. Also I have noticed the reading pillow covers that should have arrived in Hawaii on Monday still have not made it there.  I just hope they aren't lost somewhere in transit.

After lunch I just crashed and burned.  I tried to read, I tried to inspire myself to sew, but just couldn't do either.  So I just went to bed and took a nap. I was a little concerned about doing this as I am prone to bouts of depression and know I can't let myself go there right now.  I need to keep myself focused on the good and what I can do during these times. BUT, I must say when I woke up I felt much better.

I still haven't done any sewing today, but that's okay.  I don't need to feel bad about not doing that everyday. It's okay to take a break. I did go back to reading and was able to do so out on the lanai.  Though the temperatures are pretty hot, upper 80's, during the day the evenings have been delightful.
I've been reading biographies of our nations first ladies. Last month I read Michelle Obama's autobiography Becoming. Now I am reading Laura Bush's Spoken from the Heart. I am finding it very interesting and informative to see where our first ladies came from and how they handled their husband's political ambitions. I want to read Barbara Bush's and Hilary Clinton's as well but those probably will have to wait as our libraries have just closed for the duration. So sad.

I am hoping, praying, and even claiming that tomorrow will be a better day than today. However I am very grateful that I allowed myself to roll with the punches today and seem to have survived the down side. These are not easy days for anyone.

DAY 8 or DAY 4 Depending On How I Count

So begins another week. I have not left my house now for any reason.  The farthest I have ventured from my living room is the end of my driveway tonight when I put out the trash. I feel so blessed that I like my own company.  At least I do now. Who knows what I will feel about myself in another week or two.

I spent most of today watching TV and reading.  I think I needed a bit of a break from serious sewing. I'm still trying to pace myself so I don't burn out on any one activity.  I did do some sewing today.  I quilted the little wall-hanging I wrote about yesterday and got the binding ready to sew on. Also I uncovered some embroidered blocks that I stitched about a year ago.

I'm not going to tell you what they are going to become yet. Got to keep a bit of mystery in my sewing. Maybe tomorrow I will finish this project. If not tomorrow then Wednesday. Also I will finish binding the wall-hanging. Then I think I will move away from sewing for a while,  go into the craft room, do some cleaning, and see if I can remember to make some greeting cards. 

Oh wait I forgot; I will have to do some sewing. Hopefully on Wednesday the elastic that Lindsay ordered for me will come and then I will start sewing face masks to send out to California. 

So far things are going well here in The Villages. Only a few CoVid-19 confirmed cases, BUT they just started testing today.  Will be a few days I think for the results to come in. Hopefully we won't find a large number of hidden cases. 

So much for today's thoughts and activities.  I really need to get back to adding some more cleaning into my daily schedule. My house could use it. 

Another Day: Sunday

Started the day by attending a church service via Facebook.  A church I have been thinking about joining does online services. Well now pretty much all churches in The Villages are only doing online worship. It's been a long time since I have been to church. There are a variety of reasons for this, one of which I have been too lazy to get up, dressed, and willing to drive to go. Not good reasons I know but it is what it is.  However I really enjoyed watching the worship this morning. Maybe this will become a weekly thing and when we can once again join in personal group worship I will go. We will see. No promises. There are other issues with corporate church and worship I need to deal with.

After "church" I got sucked into the internet. This is not unusual. My computer can often be my downfall keeping me from accomplishing things. Around noon I decided I needed to get a few things done. I ate, I showered and I did some sewing! Also I talked  to some folks on the phone. Now,
for most people talking on the phone is not a big deal. However, for me it is. You see I hate talking on the phone. Not sure why, but I just do.  This isolation though from friends and family has made the phone pretty much only the contact I can have with anyone. I'm getting better about talking on the phone but it still is difficult. I think part of the problem is even in person I am not a chit-chatter. Small talk is not something I have ever enjoyed. My thoughts on the phone are get to the point, say what needs to be said and goodbye.  That doesn't really work in these times however. So, I will keep working on my phone skills, but if you call please be patient with me.  (Who am I kidding no one is reading this.)

Enough, lets get on to what corona crafts I worked on today. For the moment until I uncover other small projects, which I am sure are out there, I am working on UFO's that can not be finished in one day.  Today I worked on two different ones, First is a small wall-hanging that I have no idea when I began.  It is mostly paper pieced.  At this point I just sewed the blocks together. Tomorrow I plan on sewing on the borders, taking the papers off the back and quilting it. Then I will bind it and what happens to it after that who knows...... I do like it however,

Also I worked with some blocks I found along with pieces to make more blocks.  I will continue working on these and eventually they will be put together to become a charity quilt. One of my goals for this year is to use my sewing and quilting skills to help people who may need what I can produce.  These blocks are definitely just a beginning, but I found lots of pieces cut and ready to sew. 

So for a while now there probably won't be any finished projects, but I hope to keep working on these two. When they are complete there are many more waiting to take their place. You know I am really liking this finishing up things that I began who knows when.

The one thing that will take their place is making face masks for hospital workers.  Lindsay and Nate have asked me to help provide these for hospitals in the LA area, I have plenty of fabric I am just waiting for elastic that they have ordered for me. as soon as it arrives sewing masks will become my main project!

ANOTHER DAY AT HOME!

It's Saturday. At least I think it's Saturday.  Every day it seems to get harder remembering what day of the week it is.  Could this mean that the days of the week are an artificial designation?  Just a thought. I could go into my mulling over the meaning of time and how it passes but I won't.

For a lot of people Saturday means a day different from Monday thru Friday.  For a retired person, especially a retired person during a pandemic where we are asked to stay at home it's just another day.  That being said I did spend most of the day today sewing and playing around the house. I did do some laundry and the dishwasher is running, but that is the only house work worthy things I have accomplished.

I did finish the three remaining golf towels I had.  What I will do with them I have no idea. I do have some golfing   friends, but since I don't golf not many. Time will tell. One thing I do know is I will not be ordering anymore golf towel blanks.

While letting my embroidery machine stitch out these towels I also did some laundry, and yes I even put it away.  I am not good at follow through when it comes to laundry.  My usual tact is to wash it, put it in the drier and then let it sit  for a week or so.  Can you say wrinkles!!!!
Not a pretty sight when I remember to get it out.


Also today I finished the final two Disney zipper pouches. Well it should have been three, but when working on the third one I had a bit of a problem with the zipper and it was totally unsalvageable. Oh well, these things happen. I'm still happy with today's finished projects.  Into the pile they go.

Now I feel I must be honest with myself.  When I first started this journey through the corona virus and sharing and recording how I managed to get through the isolation and social quarantine, I had several people join in with me. The last few days I have been alone. No one has come back. So do I keep on. IF I do keep on do I write and pretend others are reading about my activities and thoughts?  I have decided, yes I will continue on. I live alone. I have no one to share my thoughts and accomplishments with.  Better that I get my thoughts out there even if it is into a void then keep them pent up inside. So I will continue this for myself if for no other. I need it. It may be an illusion, but I need to think someone out there is listening. On to tomorrow.........

STAYED AT HOME ALL DAY!!!

Yes, today I made it and stayed home all day. I did a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Some laundry, which come to think of it I still need to put away; read the newspaper; played some computer games; cooked dinner; and yes did some more sewing.  Oh and I also watch lots of TV while doing all the above.

One thing I have noticed since the club activities and other social activities have been cancelled is that it is getting harder to remember what day of the week it is. I am used to keeping the days straight by focusing on where I need to go on a certain day.  I currently have no where to go so I have no reference point as to what day it is. I'm thinking of making myself some silly signs for each day of the week to keep me straight. Ah another craft project!

My joy today was actually cooking a meal from scratch, No prepared foods involved. What was it you ask? Irish Stew! Not exactly a meal for a 90 degree day but yummy none the less. The secret ingredients for wonderful flavor are Guinness Stout and a hearty red wine. I used a Cabernet.  I now have food for the weekend and maybe beyond.

Sewing today was a move back to machine embroidery.  I'm trying to keep things changed up so hopefully I don't get bored with any one thing. Many years ago I took part in a shared bulk purchase of golf towels. The plan then was to embroider them and do a craft show, hoping to sell them. Well that never happened. Over the years I have used some and made them for gifts for friends who golf. The rest have sat in a drawer just waiting for their time.

Today the time came for two of the towels.  Three more might get their day tomorrow. A question that keeps popping up in my mind as I make all these items is what the heck am I going to do with them all.  I guess I'll ave lots of Christmas presents done early this year.

Day 4: I Cheated Once Again

Okay, I confess I once again cheated and left my house. I had to go to the Post Office, but it was a quick in and out to mail off a package to two wonderful little girls in Hawaii. Also I needed to go over to a friends house to oversee and pay for the power washing of her home.  She is stuck in MD because of all this Covid-19 mess. While I was out I decided to make one more trip to the grocery.  Glad I did because I finally found a 6 pack of shelf stable boxed milk.  Yea! I won't have to go with out milk in my morning tea for a very long time now. But today's trip out was my last one till who know when. All my excuses to leave home are used up. So I will tart my count down over again and lets see where I end up and where my community is 14 days from now.

I don't have a whole lot of hope for my community. While out today I decided to take a quick spin around one of the squares: Lake Sumter Landing. I drove by four outdoor bar areas and they all were crowded with people. Today they had to close all the pools because they were all crowded yesterday.  People where not following the social distancing guidelines. We now have two confirmed cases of the virus at our local hospital. So it has arrived.

Enough of the reporting. When I was home what did I sew today?  Last night before bed I went into my craft room and found a basket with pre-quilted squares that I had prepared for zippered pouches who knows how many years ago. So I finished them.   I also found some quilt sandwiches that Haven;t been quilted yet. Those will be dealt with tomorrow. Yes they are all Disney related!

When one unpacks a basket used to house works in process, one has no idea what might be found.  I thought I was done with pillowcases for now, but no I found one that I started several years ago for a class I taught on making pillowcases so I finished it. Also a Disney themed project. So I guess I got my Disney fix for the day.

As I finish all these projects the question becomes what am I going to do with them?  Some are meant to be given away to specific people. Others have no plan for disposition at this time. They will probably be donated or maybe I will actually do a craft fair this fall. For now they are just being stacked up.

Stay well all and do find something fun and maybe even meaningful to fill your days.

Day 3....Things are beginning to get old.

Okay, today I have been productive and active, but already I can feel I am getting restless. This is not good. We are only at the beginning of a very long challenge. It's not that I mind being alone it's just I'm getting restless with what I have available to do. I guess that's my ADD kicking in.
So today I did finish up my pillowcases that I had cut out. That makes six this week. I still have 5 to make, maybe more, but I don't have the fabric I need for them so they will have to wait.

Other than my sewing today I did some laundry and will have it all folded and put away before bed.  I also read some and then did some work on organizing things on my computer. It's amazing how quickly files can get out of control on the computer.

My house is now nice and clean.  It was power washed today.  Power washing is something they say should be done ever six months. Personally I think every year is more than enough and actually it's been just over a year since mine was last done.

Tomorrow will be another day.  A bit more sewing, yes a trip to the post office to  the reading pillows and a trip to a friends house to supervise and pay for their power washing. After those outings I think I am out of excuses to leave my home. This is going to be interesting. Thought it would be for just two weeks, but things are changing day by day.

Survival of Day 2

Day 2 is ending.  I do have to confess I did leave my house today for a few carefully planned errands. First I went to the local post office to pick up some flat rate priority mail envelopes and boxes. While I was out I thought what the heck and went to Winn Dixie to get some jam and bread to go with my peanut butter. Final stop was ABC liquor store for a reserve bottle of bourbon just in case I am stuck here for weeks on end. I will need to go back to PO to mail off the reading pillows to Hawaii, but that will be my last stop and errand out for at least the next two weeks. No promises after that because at that time a quick trip to the grocery will probably be needed.

Now to my final craft report of the day.  I did finish

the binding on the placemat.  I have to say this will not be a placemat for me. It will go on my kitchen wall. I have to say I am really loving this finishing up of projects that have just been languishing on my sewing table. For me if I stay healthy this self imposed quarantine can be a god send. When I have choices of staying home and finishing things or going out and doing things I really am a master of project finishing procrastination. There is a silver lining to every dilemma.

Tomorrow I will go back to finishing more pillow cases and also begin to tackle the pile of laundry that needs to be done. Also need to do one of the things I really do not like to do. Empty the dishwasher.....I know why?????

Day 2! HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

There's no group celebration this year, but before I knew that would happen I made this t-shirt to wear to the festivities at the Lake Sumter Landing square tonight.  Rather than just ignore it I thought I would share it here.  I purchase the t-shirt from Michael's.  I think it was only $4.00 and then designed and cut the design using my wonderful Scan n Cut.  Like the market tote yesterday it was cut out of HTV (heat transfer vinyl), but this time I used the glitter vinyl to give it a good dose of bling.

As a little side note to the design: Did you know that the shamrock and the four leaf clover are two different things,  Shamrocks only have three leaves where, obviously, the four leaf clover has, well, four.  The shamrock is the symbol of St Patrick's Day not the four leaf clover.  St Patrick used the shamrock to explain the trinity.  The four leaf clover is what is considered to be lucky, not the shamrock.  This is because they are rare and it is the fourth leaf that is considered to be the leaf that provides the luck. Just a little bit of St. Patrick's Day trivia.

Since the above t-shirt was made last week it does not qualify as today's corona-craft. Today's challenge was to finish several projects that have been sitting on my sewing table, actually my dining room table, for over a month.  So far I have completed two of them.

They are reading pillows that I made for two cute and wonderful  little girls in Hawaii. These are a combination of machine embroidery and sewing.  The front panel with the embroidery is a pocket for a book. We share the love of Disney! They will be winging their way across the Pacific as soon as I can get to the Post Office.  I do need to get there before they decide to close them down. Do you think they might????

I also sewed some binding onto a place mat.  It's not done yet, but hopefully will be before bed tonight. If it is I will come back with a photo of it.  Also will give an update on how the second day of home alone has gone for me.

Ta Ta for now.