Regular newsletter readers will know that I’ve been working from home because of pandemic restrictions due to my husband’s job as a nurse.
Life at home
I am still home and Kelley is minding the shop filling online orders and doing curbside pickup since ABQ Sewing Studio is currently closed to the public, with the exception of sewing machine demonstrations by appointment. Kelley is taking appointments (limited to 2 people at a time, call 519-205-0523) to show the Coronet longarm quilting machine, the sergers and the sewing machines.
Online shopping is in place for everything else. If you are within driving distance, we recommend using the pickup option in the shopping cart as the mail has slowed to a snails pace…
Squirrel!
I just had to stop typing. There’s a decorative pond just below the window where I have my laptop and a cute grey squirrel was trying to lap up some water. All the wildlife in the area counts on my little pond in the winter for a quick sip.
But today the top of the pond had a thin layer of ice, making that impossible. In the middle of the pond, there’s a piece of driftwood that gives the birds a perch. Up ran the squirrel who then peered into my window. Understanding squirrel, I could see he wanted me to remedy the situation. I have been summoned…
I’m back at the computer again and a speedy nuthatch has beaten him to the first sip…. Now the Gold Finches are zooming over.
So you can see my world has narrowed a bit since I was last at the shop. That’s okay, I have found lots to do.
Zoom with the London Smocking Guild
Late last week I had a last minute request to make a short appearance on a Zoom call with the London Smocking Guild. They have 10 fiesty members, two of which I know, one from long ago yoga classes and other gal I’ve known for a bit from my days at The Marsh Store. She also won a sewing machine from the shop when we first opened. Their president wanted to know if I could introduce the shop over 15 or 25 minutes during their meeting on Monday evening.
That posed a bit of a quandary since I am home and not at the shop. But with Kelley Richardson’s capable help we did it. Kelley went over to the Studio Monday night and did a tour of the shop introducing everyone to the fabric, notions, patterns, sergers, quilting and sewing machines. And then it was my turn here at home where I took the group through a tour of “A Quilter’s Home” – the quilter being me!
A Quilter’s Home
I had been dragging my heals with the Christmas decor (nobody but Rob and I will be here over the holidays) but the Smocking group provided a good reason to get with it. I did a blitz Monday and got the house all dolled up.
I think the Sugar Plum Fairy must have taken pity on me and sprinkled some high energy dust over my head. Running up and down the stairs, clipping the neighbours hedge for cedar (with permission), and arranging little vignettes was all done on Monday!
We took up a lot longer than 25 minutes of the Zoom call but it was great fun for all. Even Harry and Snuggie made appearances. Kelley suggested we should do more of this in future. If we do, I would have to figure out the next holiday decor slot, Valentines Day. Yikes!!!
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