Travel Project

This is the travel project I brought with me to the literary festival. It’s a simple pattern, and I finished it by the end of my shift. The most difficult part was finding a place on the table for the book with the pattern when people came to talk. The reason I brought this project was the base – the aida cloth surrounded by pink satin – was created from scraps a long time ago. It was waiting in my embroidery bag for the perfect project. “Self,” I said, “today this is the perfect project because I can do most of it at the festival.” I opened one of my cross-stitch books and chose the bird pattern because it didn’t need a lot of thread. I chose the spring-ish colors because I knew I could see them regardless of the light level at my table. The visitors to the table liked what I was doing, and I like the result. I’m still not sure what I will do with it, but at least I’m not staring at a blank canvas.

Luck and wisdom!

Donut Day

My trusted made-up food holiday calendar says June 2 is National Donut Day. Who am I to disagree?

A mixed dozen – perhaps a metaphor, perhaps just dessert

I even felt that I deserved a donut or two, since I finished the row quilt top.

The best part was getting down to the bottom of the fabric pile and finding just enough of this blue for the final row.

I used every bit – there are no scraps to bedevil me. Sing hallelujah!

As I was separating the fabric I didn’t use in this top into new collections, I noticed a kit for sun printing fabric. Heaven knows how old it is. I have a vague memory of buying it years ago at a silent auction. I’ve moved it around the sewing room every since, waiting for the perfect project. This week I decided there is no such thing as the perfect project, and who knew if the prepared fabric would react in the sun anyway? I gathered up a few objects and put the whole lot out on the patio.

Doilies and vases, forks and scissors, whatever I could grab

When I ran out of stuff to put on the squares, I used the weeds growing between the pavers.

Using weeds for art beats pulling them any day

Wonder of wonders, the stuff still worked.

A salad fork and a spatula

It even worked with my beaded wire reindeer.

My Christmas reindeer in blue

Yes, I now have another collection of fabric waiting for a project, but the squares take up a lot less room than the kit. Reason enough to celebrate with another donut.

Luck and wisdom!