Covid 19 - August 2020

August already and as I sit in my workroom there is a clear blue sky in front of me.  The weather forecast for the next couple of days is going to be very hot so possibly time to do some stitching in our cool lounge. I do hope you are starting to get out and about again and possibly thinking about a "staycation".

Our Facebook page has been quite active and I do hope you will consider joining.  See Ann's last newsletter for details.  It is a closed group so only invited people can join.

Below are photos I have received from members this month.  I am very grateful to them because without their contributions this blog would not happen.

Contribution from Clare R. 
​Inspiration from her garden and "work in progress".  I wonder who it is! I will be interested to see how this progresses.  Thank you so much Clare

Contribution from Judy J. 
I've spent a lot of time in the garden and read a lot more so haven't done a lot of sewing. 
Despite several attempts, I can't get the colours right. I've been working with my beads and soutache (Russian braid) but I'm not sure how I'm going to use it. It will probably end up as part of a box. I always tell myself not to do something symmetrical as it's more of a challenge but as you can see, I've made it difficult for myself again so progress has been slow.   
Your bead work is amazing Judy, thank you for sharing this!

Contribution from Christine H. 
Crazy patchwork with an Indian theme. I have been working on it for some time and enjoyed building it up with a mixture of hand and machine embroidery. Now I have to decide what to do with it! 
Love the colours.  Thank you, Christine!

Contribution from Ann K
​After a 7 month absence from the sewing room I’ve been making up for lost time and having a play.  I’ve also made face masks for me and hubby.  The masks have now been modified to a state where they are wearable in relative comfort!  A friend sent me the Pam Ayres poem which sums it up very well!
I’ve been playing with crazy patchwork - something I’ve not tried before, and this is the result.
I’m planning on doing some Shibori indigo dying next week so have been preparing the fabric and trying different designs.  I’ll post the results afterwards.
We will look forward to that Ann.  Great weather for dying!  Thanks for your contribution.

Contribution from Amanda R
Slightly unusual project just finished, a wigwam for my grandson's 2nd birthday. It was fun to make. ​
And what a lucky boy to have such a talented Granny - hours of fun ahead.  Thank you Amanda!

Contribution from me
I am continuing with the light-hearted theme.   No stitch involved but I thought I would share my grandson's 7th birthday card.  I try and choose their current interest and Minecraft is the order of the day.   More recently I managed to get hold of a pack of Harry Potter fat quarters and oh, wasn't I flavour of the month!  I would not have been surprised if he had gone to bed with it on.  Pikachu masks are for his brother.

Also as you can see, I am slowly continuing with my Sue Stone course, Stitch your Story and this month I have been concentrating on mouths, lips and teeth.  As with my previous samples, some are better than others but that is how we learn!  As suggested, I have tweaked a couple with Intense pencils, which I adore.
​

Contribution from Annie J.
I tried Momigami with Cas Holmes (Sue Stone's Stitch Club) and used the paper with textiles to produce a landscape ready for stitching to add some texture. May use all 3 together as a triptych or none depends on the final results!
​Thanks Annie.

Contribution from Lindsay
It has been exciting watching the progress of Lindsay's garden design.  She tells me that the machine embroidery is finally done and now lots of beading and hand embroidery to do, but she needs a break. 
​We are certainly going to have some amazing work for our exhibition next year.
Thank you Lindsay!

Well that's all for this month.  I hope you enjoy seeing members' work and I do hope you will consider contributing something for September.  If I could have images emailed to me by the end of August, it would be appreciated.
​Ros
​
PS Just received an email from Maria apologising for not sending anything this month.  She is well and just been busy catching up with her family.  Getting her priorities right!!