Hi my beloved Cutie Friends,

I have been in a stupper for some time. Not sure if it is because of the pandemic or what. Every night I say to self "Tomorrow I am going to do some sewing or embroidery". Well, I don't. I bought yards and yards of Alexander Henry fabric and there it sits. Closets are full of fabric. I did make/donate lots of masks and even sold several. I do the usual things like house work and cooking for myself. I ate too many sweets. I spend hours on the computer and watching TV. Then I end up taking a 2 hour nap. The craft show is coming up in September and I am not sure if I will go or not, because of the Covid and I don't have much to sell. I have had a sore painful shoulder and neck since January. I went to Chiropractor, my doctor, and physical therapy, even got trigger point injections, still hurts. I see some family and a few close neighbors. My son and granddaughter have been getting groceries for me. I did venture to store for a few items but get anxious when someone is too close to me. So for now for me it is still "maybe tomorrow". One thing for sure is I do enjoy looking at Cute! Hugs and flowers to all, Suzanna

1 comment

by hightechgrammy 27 Jul 2020

Suzanna, it sounds like you are having quite a time of it all. Maybe you could just make a couple of things. I love Alexander Henry fabrics! What design did you get? Jan

Hi Jan, great to see you on here again. I'm making some masks for our local Cafe and hope to finish those off this week.
Our schools all went back last week, so I'm back to babysitting duties in the afternoons collecting kids.
We've been more involved this past year with Ben and Dana (2 eldest children) due to family issues, so that's been challenging.
Trev is still working and of course from home. He is an adult educational teacher so everything is online due to the Coronavirus issues. He does have a face to face meeting this week with one of his companies, which seems odd as he has hardly been out in his car other than just going to our children's places and Bunnings, which is a massive hardware store! Hope you are keeping well. Love Chris

1 comment

by hightechgrammy 27 Jul 2020

thanks, Chris! I have missed you! I use the basket you sent with the flowers when Benny died and I always think of you and how you care so much for everyone. How many grandbabies do you have now??? i"m Glad Trev is still able to do so much. what do you mean adult education teacher - does he teach teachers how to teach?
Hugs to you and your family

Welcome back and hope you manage to stay with us. I have been doing all sorts of things. I had a lot of projects that definitely needed attention. Mostly trying to get the house in some sort of order. It's amazing how we manage to accumulate stuff and then forget we have it, but don't need it. So my hubby and I have managed to clear a lot of things out. I also do a lot of food dehydrating. I have finished dehydrating all but 2 #10 cans that I own and am now helping a farmer friend. We are managing to save 90% or so of his crops as they ripen. My hubby and i have also been renovating a 21 year old 30 foot 5th wheel that is almost done now. It is stationary to be used for weekend get aways. I haven't had any trouble finding things to do. I keep trying to get into my sewing room but first I need to clear away the rest of the non=sewing projects. It's been amazing how much I can find to do. I haven't been bored, just missing friends and family who do not live near us.

2 comments

by mrskiki 26 Jul 2020

Oh Karen, you need to put aside the idea that "this has to be done before I can sew"! I was like that with housework for a long time and now I moderate-do a bit of housework and then go to the sewing room. I go into withdrawal if I can do some sewing at least every other day! Hugs. Nan

by hightechgrammy 27 Jul 2020

I agree with Nan, sewing can't be the last thing you do. We need to put the things we love first - not just the people first, but the things we love doing. these are the things that make us happy - not all that other stuff! I say that, and yet I do it too! My husband for some same reason told me it's okay to stop at the fabric store when I go to the grocery - like giving me permission to buy fabric! I've purchased way too much, but I do love having it, feeling it, smelling it too! I think having lots of fabrics is like having lots of HOPE!

I have been sewing masks (of course!) and when I tired of that I started on Christmas gifts. I love the ITH notebook covers for men and women and now working on some towels for kitchen with Christmas designs. Staying home has been ok but after a while I long to go shopping just to look! We did do a bit of camping and found the campgrounds to not be packed as we had anticipated. I guess going during the week helped. It was nice to get out, even though the temperature was 100+ as the Guadalupe River was nice and cool to sit and float in. Now back to staying home. Hugs. nan

1 comment

by hightechgrammy 27 Jul 2020

Nan, which notebook cover designs do you like? I have a couple I want to make. I designed/digitized a couple of neat covers and I'd love to put them into a design!

I was busy sewing scrubs at the start of lockdown. Then my poor sewing machine decided it had had enough so off it went for tlc. Now its back and I am able to sew again which is brilliant. Just repaired a pair of trousers for a grandson, all highly exciting. The order of the day has just been getting on with life though a different life. Today I have had my hair cut for the first time in 6 months and I dont recognise myself in the mirror

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by hightechgrammy 24 Jul 2020

Boy, do I know. what you. mean about the hair! I looked in the mirror and saw my grandmother! My mom always said she thought old women looked bad with their hair long - now I see what she meant! Isn't it great to get your machine back! I just picked one up and left the other. I had but 2,220,000 stitches on my new one - mostly masks.

Ahhh nobody wanted to play. Maybe because it is posted in the sewing section. Hope you have a great day.

So sweet of you for asking. I am handling the pandemic just fine. Not at first because I had to put down my 14 year old shepherd.
I just had to have another dog and acquired a puppy shepherd/lab mix that keeps me on my toes. It is amazing what she can find. I sewed about 200 mask with my little sewing machine sitting on the kitchen counter, since I had to keep an eye on the pup. My embroidery machine is having separation anxiety. I still do nor feel comfortable of letting the pup in my sewing room.
I very rarely get out of the house. Having COPD makes mask wearing a bit cumbersome, but I do it when I have to venture outside. Mostly my children do the shopping for me, but that gets old after a while. Baking my own bread is fun. Fortunately I had bought 50 pounds of bread flour when it was still available. My son brought me a flat of blackberries with the request to make jam.
Pretty soon I have to get back to quilting. Great-grandchild number 5 is expected in January. I am blessed, because I have a hobby and a great backyard. Often I think about people that live in the inner city in an apartment during a lock down. How miserable that must be.
Hugs and stay safe

1 comment

by hightechgrammy 27 Jul 2020

Crafter, I can't remember your real name! I'm 70 now and my brain is showing it! I think I'm burned out on making masks - 700 is about enough. But I have another 100 all set to finish! I'm taking a break for a while and making other things that are more fun. I know what you mean about the masks and oxygen. Mine drops about 20 percent with it on,m so I'm always pulling it away from my face. We have bought entirely too much on Amazon!
Blackberry jam is the BEST! Except maybe raspberry, or rhubarb. or.....