Life in Lockdown….
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Just over two weeks ago our state went back into Stage 3 lockdown… thankfully it seems like it is working as the daily cases are going down… but we still have about 4 weeks to go to see what will happen next….
I actually don’t mind staying home, I certainly have plenty to do, but sometimes lack the motivation 🙂
First up I want to apologize for not replying to comments on the last posts. We’ve had a lot going on in our personal family life and I got overwhelmed. I just want to say thank you for all the comments, I did read them all, but I have started a blank slate now and popped them all away in a folder… hopefully now I can stay on top of replies!
So, what have I been up to? Well, first of all, like many other Victorians, I’ve been sewing masks since they became mandatory just before lockdown…
Listening to Abba on Youtube made it a little less boring 🙂
I made 8 and chain sewed of course… the hardest part was the pleats – I really struggled to keep them even, but then in the end decided they would do…
I didn’t get a photo of the finished pile because they went into use straight away and are now in the wash 🙂 Clearly I need to make another batch!
Update:
I mostly followed this tutorial for the mask, with a few tweaks 🙂 :
Reverse Nose Fold – Pleated Face Mask – NO NOSE WIRE REQUIRED – Tutorial
In other sewing news, I started playing with all these lovely bright fabrics…
I wanted to start a new QAL, but the design got a bit out of hand… I kept adding to it, and I have decided to scratch it and start all over again 🙂
I also am starting a quilt for a customer (family friend) using these pretty fabrics:
More on that another day….
In the kitchen I’ve been trying out some new recipes and playing with a new toy, my Tupperware Mando Chef:
I’ve never used a mandoline before – I know there are lots of people who use them in the kitchen regularly, but I always thought they were too much hassle. I got this one as one of my rewards for being a Tupperware Lady, and finally got up the courage to try it… and I love it!
It was easy to use and easy to clean, so that is always good in my book. I used it to cut plain slices for this cheesy potato bake:
It was yummmy…. Now I need to use my mandoline for other veggies – there’s a lot you can do with it apparently…. do you have one and use it?
Hope you are all having a good weekend and staying warm (it’s 4C in our town today!)
I like you mask pattern. Can you share the source?. It is slightly different from what I am using. I will search you blog but thought I would ask. I am on a mask making “push” this week-end.
Joy, thanks for sharing that tutorial!! I like that much better than nose wire!! Unfortunately, I think masks will be the new norm for quite a while. We trended up when things opened up here, but are trending downward for several days now. Of course, school just started, so we’ll see how that goes. Your cheesy potatoes look awesome! I have a mandolin that I use quite a bit in sliding veggies. Very helpful. Enjoy yours!
I understand about getting so into other work/projects that you don’t have time to blog or reply to comments (my own blog is a case in point). I don’t have a mandolin, but recently bought an industrial sized salad shooter that I really like. In fact, I have lots of zucchini to grate with it maybe this afternoon.
I look forward to seeing what QAL you come up with.
Yummy potato dish! I used to have one like it but the plastic did give way eventually! lol
The masks are a good project–school has started here and the classrooms all need extra masks!
I hate the pleats, too, but you get in a groove doing them eventually!
I have used a mandoline many years ago, not sure where, but haven’t one myself. I love your brights bundle & wonder what will become of it. I’ve also a baby quilt to make & am looking forward to doing it for a baby boy. Take care, stay safe & huggles. PS: I’ll ring later today.
Hey I do hope everything is ok…….some times the ride is a little wild so long as you make it to the other side………
I do like the fabrics chosen for the friends quilt……..
We have a mandoline and I get the other half to use it………im not a fan……to many bits to worry about but I get him to use it at times…….since it was something he thought he needed………
I’ve had two, one that was just the fixed blade and one from Pampered Chef. When I got the PC one, I gave the old one to the thrift store, and regretted it. The PC one has a ‘safety’ feature that lifts the blade as you run the slider over it. It is noisy and didn’t work all that well. I kept it for a year, but it was such a pain to use that I gave it to the thrift store just a week ago. I’ll be looking for another basic one again. I love making zucchini ribbons with one, impossible to do with a knife. I made waffle cuts with yellow squash, potato slices for French baked potato casseroles, and lots more.
Hi Joy, Your new colors to play with are pretty and I love the colors for your customers quilt. I have a mandolin but have not used it a lot. I am afraid I will cut my finger or thumb off so Bob does it for me! Nancy
THose fabrics look pretty, look forward to seeing what you make. You baking looks yummy, and somedays I need the motivation too. Good on you for sewing masks, I haven’t done any, yet. Stay safe and glad to hear from you.
Just a word of warning about using a mandolin – watch your fingers! I agree that staying home is perfectly okay – I have lots to keep me occupied so there’s never a chance to get bored. Looking forward to seeing what you’re making with those yummy fabrics!
The pleats on your masks are very neat and even. I didn’t bother since people will have them open when they are wearing them anyway. I don’t have a mandolin like that, but I do have one that makes cubes, which comes in really handy for potatoes and other vegetables. I really like it. Your potatoes look delicious!