Tag Archives: mask making

Some happy smiles, one ghoulish

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From the study where I zoom, a few smiles to brighten the end of your week!

You might see the little critters and images on the shelf under the lamp. You might also notice Anthony Bourdain near the rocker and behind the red box, a treasured piece by Saskia. Who inspires you?

When I saw how closely this fern batik approximates teeth and shared it with Elder Son, his enthusiasm at the prospect inspired a little effort.

It is still quite cool here, not expected to get out of the forties today. Rain later.

This little pouch is the second of two. For the boys. Inspired by you all. Threads by Deb, of course.

I’ll leave you with a comment Marti made yesterday, made in response to how full a stripped down life feels. As usual, she spins wonder and grace with her words.

Quarantine dress code

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Just so you know, I wear shoes until around four and then I switch to slippers. Because, structure?

On dog walks, of course, I wouldn’t dream of wearing my black velvet loafers. I wear sneakers. On days like today they get wet in pretty short order, but I still prefer them to my clunky waterproof ankle boots.

I get dressed upon waking. That’s a routine I’ve had for years, in part because I bathe in the afternoon and not first thing like most people. It seems more important than ever to stick to that. Sometimes, I take my bra off after dinner. With some satisfaction, I’ll fling it over my head in the direction of the staircase. That’s a tiny departure from routine.

Finn, in his own manner of sticking to routines, ate through the pocket of K’s good Gortex rain jacket two days ago — prompted only by the residual smell of treats. Damn! Do you know how expensive Gortex is? The only jacket I’ve had made of the stuff used to belong to one of the boys. K ordered a replacement, the SAME DAY, which in case you don’t know, is a big departure for him. No shopping around. Quarantine cutting through the usual structures about spending on self? Maybe. At some point in this mask making process, I’ve decided, I’ll ask for donations. If for nothing else, to cover the cost of thread, which as my fellow stitchers know, is not cheap! Also, depending on my stamina, I may ask people to sponsor masks for nursing homes to the tune of $13 a pop. Five residents in a Newton nursing home died this week at a place that’s been asking for masks.

I may make EIGHT today and still have time for afternoon edits. Starting Netflix series “The Stranger” for entertainment — pretty good, so far. Thankfully K is not like me. I cannot write with background talking or music playing, but he can. Ours is an open floor plan.

DAY 28 of containment. Full moon last night.

Good question

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Yesterday, a friend who is also my writing teacher called from the edge of Crystal Lake, where she sat and needed to talk to someone besides her family. It was in the 60’s and beautiful.

I mumbled about how mask-making was interfering with working on my manuscript — how it was a conflict.

“Dee Mallon?” she quipped. “In conflict?”

I laughed. “Yeah. Who would I be without my conflicts?”

I’d like to know.

Such good writing is emerging from this peculiar time. One of today’s prompts was to write about homesickness.

Here’s a little of what I wrote:

Out on the street, I would wander in a drapey tank top, necklaced, smiling, hugging every passerby, strangers and friends alike. Heads bent toward each other, the smell of skin every time like going home. …

Mask making, easy version

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1. Cut three rectangles 100% cotton 6 x 9″

2. Lay two rectangles right sides together. Position third on top (it will end up inside).

3. Cut two strips of 1/4″ elastic, 7.5″

4. With right sides together and inner layer resting on top, sew all the way around except for a three inch opening for turning. Secure ends of elastic into corners of the short dimension, taking care not to catch elastic as you sew one end to another.

5. Turn “envelope” right side out

6. Pin three pleats on each end

6. Top stitch around twice.

There are other more complicated versions, but my pea brain needed something simple. (This mask example doesn’t demonstrate the inner layer).

Here’s the video of easy mask-making from Courier Press.

I washed my fabric first because my basement imparts a bit of a stink but my understanding is that hospitals will wash upon receipt.

My hope is that I can deliver these to a local hospital. Mass General, maybe.

Personal coronavirus update:

1. The guy who my son was supervising this week who is symptomatic and in quarantine doesn’t qualify for testing — meaning C won’t know definitely whether he’s been exposed. The good news is that, being in a lab, both had protective equipment on.

2. My brother reported that the CTs that he’s seeing of PUI’s (persons under investigation) are routinely showing alarmingly damaged lungs.