#mendmarch book work

A few pages from the last month of creative frenzy.  I've been working on tons of projects, but nothing finished.  One of these days I'll wake up and magically projects will be finished, right? 

I went nuts beading a butterfly for this book.  My plan was to use it on the cover, but now I think that it needs to be inside to protect the beads.  This was my month long project each time I spent the night at my mom's.  Now I need a new project for my overnight visits!

#mendmarch / beginning a book

It's been an interesting few days being in "lock down".  My son made a point of reminding me that I don't go places very much any way, so this shouldn't feel any different.  True.  It does seem that when you can't go, all you want to do is go somewhere!  I've been trying to stay with my mom a few nights a week, and will bump that up until we go back to "normal" life. What ever that is... She looks suddenly so much older than last year.  I'm glad that I can spend time with her.

I have managed to keep up with #mendmarch and see the light at the end of the tunnel.  As the pile of butterflies and Haiku's has grown, I've decided that they will go into a book that will also remind me of surviving covid-19 and at some point remind my children of just how upside down life can become.  I began work on the first page this morning.  It needs more layers, but for now I just wanted to get started on something to show for the month of March and all the extra time I have on my hands.

Mend March

When #mendmarch began this year, I really didn't have much to mend.  I guess not having young children around, my mending has dwindled thru the years.  I really do like to participate, but put my own twist on the month long project.  There are daily prompts that you may or may not use.  I decided to use the prompt but to write a Haiku and mend a butterfly each day.  Nothing like making the project harder than need be. 
While I struggle to be creative each day, the writing has been difficult and rewarding.  One silly thing I discovered is that if I am driving, I come up with better ideas! I know it is illegal to text and drive, but writing and driving - is that ok? As all my daily posts are on instagram - I'm only posting a few pics here.

31 days of mending - finished

Happy to say that I was able to do a mend everyday during the month of March.  It was a good test for me to complete before committing to the 100 Day Project.  Yes, I will be participating!  It's always fun to do crazy things you don't really have time for...

This is the last of my mends:

#mendmarch

The month is nearly over, and I am pleased to say that I've kept up each day with a project for #mendmarch.  I may not keep up with my blogging goals, but that is another issue for another day...

This small mend is on a pair of pants.  The prompt was "Got the Blues.  Denim seemed like the logical mend for this day.  I'm always happy to use a little butterfly fabric for a project.

A hoard of french knots for "texture".

"Mixture"

It may be messy, but it was quick and easy!

"Childish".  This mend is on a pair of my son's pants and he said he would never wear the pants again! Imagine that?!  (He is 28).

The prompt was "radical".  This isn't actually a mend, but instead a group of dyed radicals marching to a demonstration in a field of french knots.  

I clearly didn't get the idea of the prompt "tee time".  My mind went to golf, not t-shirts.  I had a good laugh at myself after seeing what others were posting!  I struggled with a golf theme, but was given a list of golf terms by a good friend (my muse).  My explanation for this mend:  The fabric was dyed with rust (IRON= golf club).  The HOLE IN ONE corner of the fabric has been mended with GREENS.   The fabric is actually rotting away, so this mend will not last long.  May need to make a prayer FLAG from the fabric.  Next time I will mend a t-shirt and not agonize over the prompt.

Mending March / Neat

A "neat" mend is certainly not my thing.  Me, neat and tidy?  I am striving for messy stitching, although hard at times when I realize I was conditioned early on to make straight even stitches.  

A quick google search sent me a different direction.  A neat is also an old term for horned oxen!  I also learned that it is a bartenders term for a drink with no ice.  I went with the oxen.

The fabrics are all natural dyed using willow leaves, tansy flowers, walnuts, and black beans.  The little piece of blue is indigo. 

#mendmarch / Mend and Make Friends

I've almost run out of little French Man fabric.  Not sure what I'll sew this little patch on to, but it will be something special.  

#mendmarch

So far I've been keeping up with #mendmarch. 

Cross:

Tiny:

Shiny:

Haberdashery Porn:

#mendmarch / "pits"

I couldn't find a shirt that needed armpit mending.  So a little play on words?  Dye made from avocado pits on rescued lace.  Someday it will grace a lovely re-purposed garment.

#mendmarch / gusset

I have to admit, I had to google gusset to see what it was.  Now I know.  I also know that I did a horrible job putting them into this little canvas bag. Not my thing.

#mendmarch

#mendmarch / statemend

#mendmarch / day #5 - "Historic"

Historic - Famous or important in history.  When I think of historic, places and people come to mind.  As I was digging about my stash for inspiration I came across a history book I picked up in Germany from a little library.  I mended a torn page with stitch. 

#mendmarch / day 4 - Darn it!

Finding things to darn and mend for this months challenge is a bit... challenging.  Plenty of holes in Jon's jean knees, but no holes in garments I wish to hang on to. 

This leaf was an eco transfer project from this past summer and there was a small hole in the fabric. 
Perfect for a bit of darning for Day #4.

#mendmarch / day 2 / 5-minute mend

Sometimes it takes me 5 minutes to thread my needle!  What a challenge to complete such a quick project...

When I brought this dress home from the thrift store ($3.00!!!), I discovered a hole after laundering it.  No problem.  Today it gets a visible 5 minute mend.  To make it even more visible, I used blue instead of black.  Actually, that was a error.  I was stitching in dim light and thought the dress was navy blue in the wee hours of the morning.  Silly me!

#mendmarch / day 1: Get Your Kit Out

It didn't take much time to fill a basket with yummy supplies!