Before the pause...

I am fnishing up packing. I have hurt my back and jammed my finger so I am taking many breaks today between filling boxes. I had thought this would be a quick pack and instead it has seemed to go on forever. I think its because I spread it out over a few weeks. Even though the first week I did not put a lot of effort into it. I only filled a few boxes each day. It still feels like this has turned into a monumental job! The movers come tomorrow. The front room is a wreck with empty boxes, packing material and various stray items littered around the room. I venture into the maelstrom and try to bring order from the chaos. Soon this will all be just a memory.

I had a bad thing happen this week but it looks like I will be able to salvage it...make lemonaide from lemons as some would say. I had pulled out my Paisley project and started working on it in the evenings along with the Paisley belt that I have been working on. It was SO close to being finished and then the unthinkable happened. I guess its because everything is such a whirlwind here. Being in the middle of packing and having my studio topsy turvy, things dont always get placed where they should. Somehow a black streak showed up on the front of it. I had been marking everything with a permanent marker on the white tape they provided to seal the boxes with. I noticed a few times if I slid a box on top of another when the marker was not completely dry it would smear a bit. I can only assume somehow that my piece was placed upon a box for a short time. I dont remember doing that and D usually doesnt touch my work but thats my only explanation. Fortunately the only noticable places were on the background material. I almost cried! This is a piece that I have put unmeasurable hours into. Instead...I cut it out! I was shaking when I did it and D's eyes got as big as saucers when he saw what I was doing but I did it anyway. I left a slim 1/8" seam allowance on all edges and I fused it to a piece of my hand dyed velvet in a gorgeous blueish black colorway. I am now slowly stitching a thin black slinky ribbon all around the edges to cover the seam allowance. It was way too thick to turn the edges under. I thought it would be a last ditch effort but instead it has turned into a face lift. It has made this piece pop like never before. I am so thrilled with it! I wish I could show you pictures but I'm afraid my cord to the camera must be packed as I cant find it....well truthfully, I am sitting at my ironing board as a desk and about the only thing left in this room unpacked is my laptop and my project Im working on. Everything is packed *grin*

So I will show you pictures later...how much later I have no idea :( I will be unplugging the box in the morning and I will be without internet for an undetermined time. Thursday I will be in Strasbourg in my new home ready to settle. The sound of that sounds so good. Finally, I will settle for while. At least two years, maybe longer. I am quite happy about that. I do like to wander, but even gypsys stop and rest occasionally ^_^

So until I see you all again I wish you warm sunshine and soft breezes and lovely spring flowers. Take care!