If I Had My Own Blue Box:

Today’s video includes: New glasses, my “shopping” experience, a look at antique straw motifs.

Today’s video contains making hats stands and what boxes I like for home.

We’ve come to a full week of social isolation here in NY and across the country. I hope everyone is well. This morning’s video is mostly chatting with a look at the pinballs from yesterday. I may add another video later. Please share your pinballs so we can see them. Give me ideas on what you would like to see below in the comments, some Q&A too.

Additional videos

Post excursion

Today’s video includes: a hello from Clara, declaration of not needing a bra, how-to make a thread pin ball.

Materials:

• Wool yarn for the core or scraps of cotton and batting
• Crochet cotton
• A long needle
• Needle nose pliers
• Crewel wool, wool yarn, or embroidery floss

Changing thread

Work from both ends or “poles”. This shows how to cover the crochet thread on the very end that I skipped in the video.

Thread pin balls saved in my tablet

Potential Future How-tos:

• Pen wipers
• Woven ribbon pincushions
• Requests????

Today’s video includes: good morning, Bingo tonight, buckles.

Mentioned in the video:

• Video of “I Will Survive” rewrite
• Shire Books on Amazon
• Buckles by Elizabeth Aldridge
• Buckles by Ensembles of the Past

You may also be interested in this tour of GCVM’S MacArthur house.

I ooopsed in the video saying Day 5. This really is Day 4. I think my planner starting on Monday is what threw me.

Today’s video contains: Clara chasing her tail, a snip-it of straw history, thoughts on artists in this time, a look at some of my favorite pincushions.

Mentioned in this video:

1. Pincushion filling comparison -“What’s Inside”
2. My mug of the day (I don’t think I got this on video because I made it too hot) – GCVM salt glaze mug
3. Walnut pincushions

I almost didn’t post this one because I am out of sorts. But, one of my goals is to keep this real. So, here is day 3.

Today’s morning video covers: Headdresses, this week’s must-dos, a summary of what I collect.

Mentioned in Video:

• Timely Tresses post on a headdress base https://www.timelytresses.com/updates/mid-19th-century-headdress-base

I changed my mind about where to put these. They will now be on both blogs for the duration of the event.

Today’s video includes:

• How did Clara’s vet visit go?
• How did I get started?
• Where to get silk for winter hoods/bonnets

Please comment below with questions or what you want to hear.

Mentioned in the video:

• Ensembles of the Past on Etsy: https://etsy.me/2IL7yDC

• Ensembles of the Past website: https://www.ensemblesofthepast.com

• My tea – TeaLicious Trendz in Webster NY – Looking for a website

Btw – On the first day, the first video was viewed 267 times between the two blog locations. Wow! Thank you.

Show’n Tell Video

Link to “What is in Your Sewing Box?” older blog post.

About a week ago, I decided I would do a video series to keep connected to my community during the evolving virus situation. I told myself I would do a video a day during the isolation period. Initially, I envisioned this as the time I would be home while school was closed. But, this morning with so many friends and followers already practicing social distancing, working from home, and in areas where schools are closed, I decided to start the video series.

These videos are meant as a way to stay connected. I plan to talk about history and fiber art related topics. There will likely be some show’n’tell. I would like ideas about what you would like me to talk about. I could do a Q&A session if you like. Please add comments below about what you would like to hear.

I am also deciding where I would like to place these videos. I am currently thinking my old Anna’s Updates blog would be best so people can choose to go see them there. The link is over on the right or at the bottom depending on what device you are on. I added a subscribe button to that. (the rest of the posts are older.)

If I can get my phone to upload quickly, I am going to aim for 10-15 minute videos.

Here is today’s:

On this day, 20 years ago, I learned to fly. Not with wings. Not with an airplane. Not even with a hot air balloon.

I still remember the feeling of completely letting go and accepting whatever happened next. It came seconds, if even, after passing a salt truck and wondering why in the world it was out. It was just raining.

It wasn’t just raining as the elevation change.

The small pile of ice slush on the left edge of my windshield caught my eye, and

I hit the patch of ice.

My back tires went left. My front went right.

I caught it and lost it. Spinning the opposite direction.

I hit the incline.

The ground went down.

I and my truck went up.

Sky. Snow. Grass.

Sky. Snow. Grass.

Sky. Snow. Grass.

I had gone into the air and rolled three times into a field, landing on the passenger side.

I knew I needed to get out.

I grabbed what I could. Books had gone flying all over inside. I am pretty sure I grabbed my phone and purse. I climbed up and out my window.

I remember thinking “hot” and “balance” as I looked down my undercarriage. I jumped to the top side.

I came around my truck to find another one, a bigger gray one spun halfway down the hill and a man walking towards me in shock. He said something about not being sure what he was going to find.

I never did learn who he was.

He drove me to the nearby farm house.

There I learned this happens in that spot every year, sometimes a couple times a year.

My brother came. I must have called him. So, I must have grabbed my phone. I still can’t remember if it was Carrie or Summer with him.

Was sure I was fine. But, then realized I couldn’t remember my answers to questions I knew I had already been asked.

See, my seatbelt held me securely in place. But, the back of my head repeatedly smashed the back window. I had glass stuck all through my hair.

“Okay, call the ambulance “

The first first responder appeared with an awful expression. I owned the same vehicle as her son. She was actually shaking more than me. I wasn’t so keen on her holding my neck.

I learned a couple things about myself with that ambulance experience. I have great difficulty giving up control. I have a very difficult to find heartbeat.

Off to the hospital for 13 days and cat scans. I refused the pain killers they tried to give me. I was convinced I was fine.

Concussion

Home I went with orders not to sleep. How different that would be now with what we now know about concussions.

My brother and someone else watched me through the night. I can’t remember who was there.

I never stalled the truck.

I couldn’t put my hair in a ponytail for a year. It still acts up some times.

Sometimes, I think if I were a cat this would have been one of my nine lives.

Sometimes, I think this was Gods way of redirecting me.

I hope my regular readers don’t mind the modern focused post. That day my Grandma was in an accident as well as a friend and coworker, who was in a far worse one. I am think of both today too.