A "little" stitching update.

You might remember last post I showed you a few "ingredients" for my next project. Well it is show and tell day! 

I have been away for the last 2 days to a retreat at a friends camp up in a very secluded part of the woods. It is such a wonderful spot. There were 13 of us in total during the run of the 2 days we were there; some for the whole time and others for just a day . (More on that later)

One of the projects I took to work on was a stitchery for the project I spoke about. "Green calico and vintage ric rac from a yard sale find, a rescued bran bag from a bakery I worked in many years ago, a bit of embroidery floss and a free pattern from the internet."

After downloading a stitchery pattern I traced it on a piece of the muslin "bran bag". Then I embroidered it. After all the stitching was complete I made it into a clothespin apron. I wanted a real VINTAGE feel to it so my fabric choices were important...muslin, calico, and polka dots; vintage ric-rac and an embroidered stitchery of kittens doing laundry.

Basically just an apron with a large pocket accessible from both sides to hold your clothespins. I didn't have a pattern and just "fudged" my way along and surprisingly didn't need my ripper too many times. I did however wound myself in the process. With all the laughing and chatting going on, my attention wandered for just a sec and I ran through the end of my thumb with the sewing machine needle. Needless to say it is much the same as driving...when your foot is on the pedal your eyes should be on the road straight ahead.

Just a small wound so I forged ahead and finished my project. As luck would have it I awoke to a lovely day for line drying clothes, so after returning from an early morning appointment in town this morning, I was able to put my apron into action. Works great! I love it!

I can stand at the line and have all my clothespins very handy and when taking things off the line they just get dropped back into the pocket. After use I hang it on a hook in the "mud room" and it is ready for action when needed.

 A Clothesline Poem (Anonymous)

A clothesline was a news forecast, to neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep when clothes were hung to dry.
It also was a friendly link, for neighbors always knew 
If company had stopped on by to spend a night or two.
For then you’d see the “fancy” sheets and towels upon the line.
You’d see the “company tablecloth” with intricate design.
The line announced a baby’s birth, from folks who lived inside
As brand-new infant clothes were hung, so carefully with pride!
The ages of the children could so readily by known;
By watching how the sizes changed, you’d know how much they’d grown!
It also told when illness struck, as extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too haphazardly were strung.
It also said, “Gone on vacation now,” when lines hung limp and bare. 
It told, “We’re back!” when full lines sagged with not an inch to spare!
New folks in town were scorned upon, if wash was dingy and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows, and looked the other way…
But clotheslines now are of the past, for dryers make work much less.
Now what goes on inside a home is anybody’s guess!
I really miss that way of life - it was a friendly sign;
When neighbors knew each other best by what hung on the line.