Today I bought two patches for my denim jacket.
The top one is because I love knitting. The bottom one is because I hate people. 🙂 🙂 🙂
More masks and a small garden.
I’m still sewing masks. Not as many as when the stay at home order began. I have a small pile of masks that I can launder and re-use, but masks are fun to sew and good practice. It’s gotten a lot easier and I’m getting used to my sewing machine. My lines are straighter and the machine doesn’t jam as much as it used to. I should say, I don’t jam it as much as I used to! I’m getting into the flow and hoping to start some slightly more complicated projects.
There are so many awesome designs out there, it’s hard to stop buying fabric
I also did some gardening a couple of weeks ago. I don’t have much space to plant so I use a lot of pots.
The woods are right behind my house. A lot of small animals come out of the woods from behind the bench. I’m convinced Saint Francis of Assisi is inviting them to spend time in my yard. I’ve seen cardinals, robins, chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits sitting in front of him. Last week I saw a large hare sitting in front of him!
I can never get a picture, though! I scare them off if I sneak outside and pictures taken through my living room window are that’s OK. I love these little animal visits.
I also love my jack o lantern planter! I keep it out in every season! This is Salem, after all.
Stuck at home. Learning how to sew (again). Send snacks.
It’s been three months with limited human/outside world contact. I’m working from home, and grateful to be able to do so. I’m tempted to roll out of bed and over to my computer in my jammies every morning, but my co-workers randomly video-call me from time to time. It’s nice to do a load of laundry or get the slow cooker going in between working, but I’m losing all concepts of time. I didn’t even realize I got paid last Friday until Monday! My days are all the same: Watch the news/work/play Animal Crossing New Horizons/work/dinner/play Animal Crossing New Horizons.
Funny how art imitates life, no?
I go into the office once a week. I’m one of the lucky 10 people who get to go to work for a few hours to do tasks that can’t be done electronically. We all wear masks, we all stand far away from each other when we talk, and–God help us–sometimes when we talk we actually take a step back from each other.
Taking walks during the day is nice, though. Otherwise, my trips to the office and the grocery store are the only other times I leave the house. (Full disclosure: My local Joann’s is “not really open but open” if you want to buy materials to make masks and PPE. I’ve taken a few road trips…)
So what to do while self-isolating at home? The psyche-health experts recommend taking up a new hobby. Does drinking count? Lately I’ve been all about the margaritas. When the CDC recommended we all wear face coverings in public, it seemed like a good time to get out my sewing machine and take another crack at sewing.
Face masks seemed like a simple way to start, a simple but necessary thing. The CDC recommendation gave way to a state order, and I wanted to be ready. https://www.missouriquiltco.com/msqc/tutorial/DIY-face-mask The Missouri Star Quilt Company has a good, simple pattern for non-medical grade masks. I’ve made several of these by now for myself, and I’ve given them out to friends and co-workers. I’m worried that when we all eventually return to work, we’ll be wearing masks for a while so I want to have enough on hand in between laundry days.
This is the first mask I made. Just ignore the dead succulents in the background. Dig that awesome retro chair vibe! The pattern uses fabric to make ties. It’s a little time consuming with all the pressing, but I actually really like making fabric ties. It’s a useful skill to have. Considering every sewing retailer online is regularly sold out of cotton twill tape, it’s a great option.
Who could have predicted that face masks would be THE must-have accessory of 2020? At least I can use a lot of fun fabrics that hopefully will make some people smile while we’re all out and about, looking like we’re all going to hold up a liquor store.
I’m happy to say that I’ve branched out into other projects as well. CHECK IT OUT….PILLOW CASES! I know we all made them in 7th grade Home Ec class or whatever, but I’m PROUD!!
Currently I’m halfway through a tote bag using some amazing fabric with Miss Fluff tattoo-inspired sailor girls and mermaids. Fingers crossed I don’t F- it up!
I love my Singer 3232–it’s PURPLE! My one complaint though is that the threading tool is extremely hit-or-miss. I have quicker results with the good old “lick and squint” method of needle threading. But I’m quickly making friends with it.
Seriously, at this point I should just sign my paychecks over to Spoonflower…
A Little Magic
It’s a magical day at work when a co-worker gifts you with a handmade Harry Potter wand!
Sometimes Boston looks a little like Diagon Alley…
…and Samantha Stevens lives nearby.
Current Mood:
Feeling a little stitchy and witchy today.
Today’s Tarot Card: The Hierophant
Today the cards called me out on my BS 😽 and I totally deserved it! I asked about my health. How should I focus on getting healthy? What should I do? Now, I know what I need to do, but I asked anyway. I pulled the Hierophant. The White Sage Tarot’s Hierophant, says use better judgment. It says you hold the answers deep inside you. Now, I don’t need to tap into my higher power to know that I shouldn’t have eaten a pint of Ben and Jerry’s for dinner last night (we’ve all done that though, right?!), or that I shouldn’t have skipped the gym this week. But, yes, I asked anyway, and got a gentle scolding in return.
Was I “testing “the tarot? If I’m honest, yes. I pulled a card hidden waaay down in the middle of the cards. It didn’t stick out or call attention to itself in any way. I had to slide it out from the bottom, and I got the answer I needed (and already knew) just the same. Sure, I was being a brat, but the tarot presented me with the advice I need.
I know how what I should do: I should eat healthier foods and exercise to get and to keep my A1-C down. I know that a pint of Ben and Jerry’s was a spectacularly bad choice. (Bad but delicious. It was Chocolate Therapy, in case you were wondering). Sometimes I sabotage myself by buying ice cream or a frozen pizza for dinner because I’m too lazy to cook. I know it’s wrong but I do it anyway. Yeah…I need to stop doing that.
The image on the White Sage deck is so very different from the traditional Hierophant. This beautiful fawn is napping peacefully, safe and secure. No worries. She’s presenting me with the silver key so I can hold the key to my success in my own hands. The message is loud and clear: “You got this—as long as you do what you’re supposed to do!”
Today’s Tarot Pull: 9 of Wands
Every morning I pull a tarot card for a little advice and something to meditate on throughout the day. I started this practice a couple of months ago as a way to get acquainted with the tarot and to learn the cards’ meanings. Wands have been coming up hot and heavy for a week now. Wands represent the element of fire. They represent passion, creativity, strength and overcoming fears. Wands can mean the start of a new project; they also represent spirituality. It’s no coincidence that wands are showing up as I re-start my tarot journey—my new project.
Today’s card is the 9 of Wands.
New projects, spiritual journeys and persistence can be represented here. For sure the wands—and this little budding flower– are encouraging me to pursue my interests, to make progress and to overcome my fear. I’ve studied tarot in the past but always kept my practice hidden. (You can blame Catholic guilt for that—I sure do!) The little bud will grow into a strong, graceful bloom, and I am ready to “come out” with my tarot practice. My interests, “weird” or not, are part of who I am.
In the traditional tarot decks, this card shows a man with a wand, being partially blocked by eight other wands, indicating a delay or obstacles to overcome to get to the finish line. The White Sage Tarot image is the opposite: calm, serene, encouraging. The wand at the forefront is beginning to bud. There is a small, soft bud on the vine. It looks like a pussywillow! See the pretty pink ribbon? It winds loosely and gracefully around the vine. The other eight wands are behind the first one. The large vine may seem like an obstacle, as it blocks the reader’s way, but it also looks like it’s being offered as a gift for the taking. It’s up to the reader. No obstacles here.
God and the universe are giving me a green light to be myself. Actually, I’ve had it all along.
My interpretations here are based on traditional card meanings as well as my own personal interpretation of the images on the deck I’m using.
The Journey Begins
Thanks for joining me!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Keep On Keepin’ On
This is the time of year when I look forward to crisp autumn days; sunny, but not too cold. Days when a denim jacket, paired with my favorite chunky crocheted cowl, is just right. But lately I’ve had no such luck. It’s rainy, cold, and dark. Not the best weather to go apple picking or for going on day trips along the coast. It’s been so chilly around here that I was seriously thinking about buying one of these:
The cold weather is, on the other hand, perfect for staying inside and working on the Cozy Stripe blanket I started back in March.
This is a free pattern from Attic 24 . I love Lucy’s bright and cheerful blankets. I’ve admired her blog and her patterns for years. Being able to make granny square blankets was the main reason I wanted to learn to crochet. When I was ready to start a blanket, I went to Attic 24 to pick a pattern. There were so many gorgeous patterns, and in the end I chose the Cosy Stripe. I figure it’s a great place to start. It’s sort of half-way to doing granny squares; double crochet plus crocheting into the spaces between stitches, but with no circles. It’s perfect for a beginner—simple and soothingly repetitive but not boring. I love the color changes and seeing the stripes grow!
I started my Cosy Stripe in March, and worked on it on and off for a couple of months. I picked it up again in July and worked on for the rest of the summer in air-conditioned bliss. Sometimes it seemed like forever to make one stripe. I timed it, and it takes me 45 minutes to an hour to do one stripe. I crochet in front of the TV though, so occasionally I look up at the screen. Yet I also miss a lot of what’s happening on TV…
I’m using Stylecraft Special DK, the British-made yarn suggested for the pattern. It’s 100% acrylic, reasonably priced, and comes in a ton of beautiful colors. One ball sells for approximately $2.44 US. It’s very soft to the touch. I shopped the U.K.’s Wool Warehouse . They have a special Attic 24 shop online, where they sell project kits for Lucy’s patterns. This kit includes 15 balls of yarn (one of each color needed) and the pattern printed on double-sided cardstock. The kits come in a wonderful mesh project bag. It sells for £26.50, which is approximately $35.00 US. The pattern makes a twin-size blanket. I want to make a full-size blanket so I ordered two kits to double the width.
Ordering from Wool Warehouse was a pleasure. My Cosy Stripe kits arrived in a little over a week. I’ve placed more orders with Wool Warehouse since, and have been very happy with the products, customer service and delivery time. I’ve ordered another Attic 24 blanket kit, an Attic 24 bag kit, and some yarn for a few other projects on my to-do list. I enjoy British magazines like Inside Crochet, Knitting and The Knitter, so Wool Warehouse is a great place to buy yarns not made in the U.S. that can be hard to find here.
These colors are amazing! Ending one stripe and starting the next is so much fun.
I’ll be working on this blanket for weeks/months to come. But that’s OK. I’m perfectly happy to sit and crochet in front of the TV. I’ve been enjoying a wide variety of programming such as Shetland, Expedition Unknown, The Shining, and Trolls, to name a few shows.
The blanket is now big enough to keep my knees warm while I work.
Oh yeah, speaking of warm, I broke down and bought that Harry Potter pajama onesie. I kind of feel like a giant toddler in it but I regret nothing! It’s soft and snuggy and warm! Just don’t expect to see any photos of me wearing it on here.
Perfectly Plump Pumpkins
Finally, it’s October, my favorite time of the year! Must be the season of the witch. It’s time to run Amuck (amuck, amuck), because it’s October in Salem, MA, and here, we celebrate Halloween All. Freakin’. Month. Long. Parades, carnivals, haunted houses, and food trucks—we got those. Crowds, traffic, long lines , price gouging, and an increased police presence—we got those, too. Pumpkin patches, fried dough vendors, hot apple cider, and dogs in Halloween costumes are some of my favorite things about October. Even though the crowds are getting larger, and they start earlier and earlier every year, I look forward all year long to the cooler weather and festival-like atmosphere. After all the activity, November makes me a little sad, with its empty streets, as everything quietly returns to normal. (Cue the rolling tumbleweeds.)
But for now, there’s most of October yet to celebrate, and what better way to celebrate October than by knitting some pumpkins?
Tomorrow night is the Great Salem Pumpkin Walk, a self-guided tour of pumpkin displays, activities and entertainment. Circle of Stitches, Salem’s LYS, put out a call for handcrafted pumpkins to make up a window display for the Pumpkin Walk. I put down the gingerbread house I started crocheting for Christmas already and picked up my knitting needles and some stash yarn and got to work. Fun Fact: This project was the first time I’ve ever used Poly-fil. I loved stuffing these pumpkins till they were nice and plump!
The pattern is Autumn Pumpkins by Jan Lewis. It’s a free Ravelry download. The purple pumpkin is the size that the pattern creates, with a cast-on of 30 stitches. I increased the number of cast-on stitches to 45 for the plain orange pumpkin, and 60 for the striped pumpkin.
Of course my pumpkins cried out to be part of a pumpkin patch, so I obliged them, with a little help from a witchy friend.
I want to snap some pictures of Circle Of Stitches’ window display, but getting downtown and back for the next few weeks is going to be an effort. If I do make it, it will be either by bus or on foot.
Road-tripping along the North Shore is another of my favorite things to do anytime of the year, but especially in the fall. There are a lot of yarn stores in Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley, along with farm stores, u-pick opportunities, and of course food! It’s all about the food…
Happy Ginger Home 