Saturday, May 23, 2020

Pulling Weeds and other fun stuff

Things have been fairly quiet at Arthur Acres during this lock down in Kentucky.  While lots of places are beginning to open back up hubby and I choose to just lay back a little longer.  Not too eager to get this 'plateau' in reverse. We will sit back and let others be the guinea pigs and clear the way.

I am not a gardener.  Never have been and never pretended to be.  Had my fair share on the farm.  I also did not inherit my mother's green thumb.  However, even I can only take so many weeds.  I chose to take advantage of times right after a light rain when the ground is fairly soft to try and relieve my flowers from the weeds that seem to dominate.  Of course the weeds win but I do keep trying.

My biggest entertainment and pleasure at this spot in time is to enjoy my bird feeder activity.  Such color!  I love all of them - except the crows.  I put out a different suet block and it seems to be attracting the crows.  Not my birds of choice! Guess we won't be replacing that particular suet soon.  I have noticed that the orioles and the rose-breasted grosbeak have moved on for another year.  I enjoyed them so much and was sad to not see them anymore.  But he the cardinals, goldfinch and hummers add color along with the cute little rose finches, bluejays(not my favorites but I like the color), and the red headed woodpeckers with their brothers.

F-2-F Classes

We are sad to report that another retreat has 'bit the dust.'  Our scheduled retreat with the Minnesota Stitchers has had to be cancelled for 2020.  I don't think anyone was surprised but it is sad to see the venues have to be put on hold for another year.  So many get such pleasure out of visiting, stitching, networking, etc.  But it is for our safety so we certainly cannot fault that.  Look out 2022!

ONLINE MYSTERY CLASSES

Things have been moving right along on our online classes.  Lessons are being posted timely and shared with the participants.  Participants are providing some feedback.  It seems many are taking advantage of the 'stay at home' request of most governors.  We have met our first major obstacle in this venue however.

Since canvas painters have also be under lock down all over the world, we have not been receiving any new product to replace our inventories.  This includes items that we have selected for our new upcoming classes. Our next new design being offered up for class is Lovable Llama by Gayla Elliott. This cutie is scheduled for a first class session mid-July.

We took a poll and it appears that a majority of participants have not been able to get their canvases.  Well it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you don't have a canvas you are not going to stitch.  We have decided it best to move the date back for the introduction to this guy.  We will revisit in June/July and see what the situation is for the expected inventory receipts around the country.  We are hopeful to start him in mid-August at the latest.


He/she is so cute that we are all anxious to start playing with the possibilities.

In the same boat (no pun intended) is Two By Two- Noah's Ark from Strictly Christmas.

We'll just have to wait and see how quickly the painters work through their backlog of orders.

Don't think that just because some newer designs need to be pushed back some that you can slack off!  Oh no!  On an opposite note, we added Just Add Water, by CBK, that is a companion to our recent Just a Sip. Since this is a design of a series, there are canvases out there for this one.  We may move this class up in one of the slots of the newer canvases that have been pushed back.  

While several of you asked for this companion piece be added to the roster, not enough participants have committed to make it a class.  If you are wanting to participate in this class mid-July then you need to sign up right away.  Send email to duodesignsinc@yahoo.com.  Otherwise, we will likely drop this piece from the agenda due to lack of interest.

ETSY SHOP - duodesignsbySandra

We were able to add a few more stitch markers for knitters to the shop and have moved a few surplus class pieces on to new homes.

PAY IT FORWARD - HEARTS A to Z SAMPLER - FREE DIAGRAMS

TRELLIS




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