Finally!

 I'm finally feeling like I'm accomplishing something!

Granddaughter Eva requested some new face masks, and I made her six this weekend: 2 green/blue, 2 green/yellow, and 2 blue/yellow. I decided to make a slightly different style this time, using a box pleat instead of three regular pleats. I found it much easier to finish, and Eva likes the look. I think I may make a few with box pleats to wear to school!

I also finished the pillowcases for my lavender eye pillows, something I really thought I'd finish two weeks ago. Better late than never!

Yes, I've been tatting...

I just don't seem to have accomplished much!

I'm working on a cross bookmark for my friend Irene. I had it about half done when I realized I'd forgotten a ring and chain section at the beginning of the second arm. I'm working in size 40 thread, and I could have untatted it all, but I didn't. I snipped it off and started over!

I'm still working on round 5 of Tat-a-Renda's Harmony doily. This round is so simple, but I keep mixing myself up!

I'm also test tatting an Ice Drop pattern for Lynne Urwin. I would have it finished, but I have lost my place in the pattern several times... not Lynne's fault. I just got distracted! Sometimes it doesn't pay to try and do two things at once!

School colors

Granddaughter Eva started her college classes today. Her school colors are blue and gold, and she requested some face masks. Those are cut out and ready for sewing, but I decided to start with tissue holders. They're fast and easy to make, and I'm sure she'll need a tissue every once in a while!

The mad monk

Last week pretty much got away from me. The start of the school year is like that, and I'm in a different role this year... something new to try out!

Friday afternoon I finished the pillowcases for my lavender eye pillows, or so I thought! Apparently, I've lost my ability to count. I only made one pillowcase for each pillow, and I had promised two. I did get the new batch of pillowcases cut out, but that's as far as it goes.

On Saturday, Mom and I did laundry, delivered produce from the garden to daughter Carol, went to JoAnn Fabrics for three yards of muslin, and then ate lunch with Carol. Whew!

When we got home, Mom took a nap and I helped Dave freeze green beans. There just was no energy left for any kind of crafting.

My brother David came to visit today. He arrived late morning, and we had quiche for brunch. I am really enjoying making and eating quiche again. I can't imagine why I stopped making it years ago. I guess it was no longer the trendy thing to make.

I finally got around to a little crafting after dinner tonight. I had forgotten to make Carol's mask with the mad monk, Rasputin. I'll deliver it tomorrow, and then she can spin her tale of how she was born on the steppes of Russia. It's a long story, and totally fictional!

Sewing in the dark

Today was a great first day of school! Most of the kids seemed happy to be back, and everything went very smoothly.

With they hybrid model our school district is using, I'm able to get home by about 12:30. Mom and I had a quick lunch, and then we headed to Kankakee so that she could register to vote. That also went smoothly, and then we hit a rough patch... a really rough patch! I was trying to show Mom around the area and I wound up driving through two slow areas of road construction (slow by small town standards) and a long stretch of country road that was being re-graveled. My car was a dusty mess!

Mom and I chose to drive to a car wash and then do some grocery shopping. By the time all was said and done, it was almost time to start supper. I did a little sewing, but not much.

After dinner, Mom and I sat on the porch for a while, just enjoying the sounds of the cicadas and the traffic going by. When we went in, I decided to finish the first part of sewing my lavender eye pillow pillowcases. Tomorrow, I plan to zig zag, trim corners, turn, and press. Then they'll be ready for delivery!

Getting ready!

Students come back to school tomorrow! It's hard to believe that this classroom hasn't been used for five months. The teacher who left really had the room in pretty good shape, but there were a few things left behind that needed to be taken care of. I spent some time in the classroom trying to make it a little more cheerful. So much has been cleared out to make it easier to keep the rooms sanitized.

Our school colors are green and gold, and I happened to have some fabric left from setting up daughter Carol's room 15 years ago.

The bulletin boards really don't have much on them right now, but I hope to add a little more interest in the coming weeks. I'm very excited to see the kids again!

When I arrived home, Mom and I had lunch together. While Mom was napping, I re-did my seating charts and took care of a few household tasks I had been putting off doing.

After dinner, I prepared the pillowcases for my lavender eye pillows. They're all ready to sew!

Nothing to show again

I'm so sorry faithful readers, but I have nothing to show.

Mom and I spent Saturday morning cleaning. Daughter Alison and my sister Janet came to visit Saturday afternoon.

Sunday I spent in bed with a sinus headache. I'd really like to find a way to avoid them!

Today was back to school day. I'm a long-term sub this year for high school science: Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, and Biology 2. I'm not actually teaching. I'm simply monitoring students while they take their coursework online. I did have to dust off my computer skills to create seating charts for each of the classes. I'm amazed at how much I've forgotten through four years of retirement!

I hope to get back to having some fun tomorrow!