I had to get up very early (for me) today as the washing machine repairman was expected at around 8 am.
He appeared at 7:59 and was out the door by 8:30, and my machine now has a shiny new belt and a clean drum. Gosh, just can't wait to do some laundry! (sarcasm)
I located some 32 ct linen at a local needlework shop- after searching the internets to no avail , I finally manage to find some within driving distance. The shop is only open from 10-2 4 days a week, so wasn't high on my radar but I phoned them on the off chance they might have linen in stock. I suspect that as well as my fabric, I'll return home with some beads and fancy threads. Bee Hive Needle Arts specializes in counted canvas, so they carry threads and ribbons from all the best places. I'd visit more often, but our schedules usually conflict with their opening hours, and it's a half-hour drive or so away; with the lead pipe remediation going on in Pittsburgh it can take an hour!
Progress is being made on the things I'll need for the upcoming retreat. My muslin is all washed and ready for me to cut out a Verdun woven t-shirt. The pattern has been glued and taped together, so that's ready to go as well, although I'll be tracing my size on to swedish pattern paper. It's easier to work with than printer paper. I haven't figured out what sort of fabric I want to make the Actual Shirt from yet.
The previously mentioned linen has been found, so I can make up kits for the little drawn thread bag. I suppose I should pull together the sewing supplies I'll need, too, just in case something has disappeared in the black hole that is my sewing room.
Speaking of that, if you were a length of pleated linen with about 4" of smocking done on it, where would you hide? I took a class at convention last year for a pleatwork tunic. I've located the extra fabric from the kit, but can't find the actual tunic and instructions from the class. It's here somewhere; I probably put it somewhere safe. Perhaps I'll check the suitcase I used...
