Did you know that the beautiful Blue Bell is considered an endangered species in the UK? According to Lady Carnavon's blog this week, more than half of the worlds plantings are in the UK. Encroaching development is threatening this stunning flower. However, many groups are actively seeking ways to protect the plantings and restore or create more beautiful drifts like this one. Often found along or in ancient pathways, to even step on one will kill it. A very dear friend, now in Glory, used to yearn for the show of Blue Bells in her native Texas. It was a sentinel event for her, a signal of Spring.
As we each identify our own moment to sense the coming of the long awaited Spring, it is often the appearance of the first Robin, the first Daffodil, or the greening of the woodland trees. Each gives us the promise of warm weather and blue skies. Each event gathers us into the next season.
As needle workers each plan their new projects or work on the those already in progress, it is a good time to set a plan, one that will accommodate your activities and habits that occur during the warm weather months. I remember sewing in the basement as a younger stitcher during the hot weather. Before air conditioning, I so enjoyed working on my projects using the ancient treadle machine. It was all I had and I felt so accomplished and organized in my little corner.
This corner of my studio is as clean as it gets right now. I am preparing to return to full time nurse duty tomorrow. Husband is having his 10th surgery since retirement. His hands are severely damaged from injury and arthritis. Artificial tendons, bone removal, and repositioning will occur to his right hand. This is his dominant hand. He will be fully casted after this. I will be busy. My sewing time will be very limited. I have a basket full of blocks to be trimmed, patterns to download to USB sticks, and books to sort.
I want to return to more hand work such as cross stitch and embroidery. Since I have a large library of books and periodicals the inspiration is endless, maybe even too much! I want to work on everything I see! I have 6 quilt tops waiting for finishing, my long arm has an issue on the frame. Somehow a few bolts holding the top rail to the table base have gone away. Is it possible that the thread fairies have been busy? Maybe working at a speed too fast and causing too much vibration? In any case, I will search out replacement bolts. The originals have disappeared, gone, kaput!
My vision for this blog is evolving. With the intrusion of "bots" and limited time to sew and post, I will be popping in now and then until I can have something to share. There will be a structure in place hopefully by sometime in May. I will try to keep to a schedule so you will not waste time visiting with no new info. Many blogs have gone away for so many reasons. I understand. I am not ready yet. I even have my Christmas in July Projects sorted and in project bags.
I have some beautiful silk threads ordered. Au Ver A Soie - Soie 100/3 Silk has become very popular among sampler stitchers. It is a single ply twist that lays beautifully on your linen. There are several greens that are impossible to find, you can tell that Spring is in the air by the high use of the greens! I have searched almost every needlework site for a specific sage, no luck. Of course, in my search I found a totally New To Me online merchant who had a stunning little pattern that called to me. A small cross stitch with Colonial design worked on black Aida will be a nice Summer project. The name of the pattern is A Colonial Garden by Plum Street Samplers @ JT's Stitching Corner. It has been a while since I worked such an intricate border. I have an appointment for an eye check in May, things are changing and I am considering magnifying glasses to make close needle work easier.
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