How is everyone doing?  I'm sure cabin fever is setting in especially with the nice weather starting to make an appearance. 
I have been keeping busy with sewing masks and surgical caps for frontline workers, plus holding virtual classes with students as well as my grandkids!  Of course there is the cooking and sharing videos on YouTube for sewing and instructions on simple meals. 
As awful as this virus is and as hard as the isolation is, it might be a blessing in disguise giving families time to re-introduce themselves to each other.  It has given parents a chance to introduce children to the kitchen, household chores, teach them responsibility and patience.  I only hope these lessons will not be lost once we go back to "normal" whatever that is.... 

The hardest hit are the elderly in Long Term Care homes, my heart breaks for them and the families who worry, I know first hand how hard it is with my mom in a home.  The staff are amazing and working under impossible conditions, the management is pleading for warm bodies to work, no experience necessary, just a willingness to help. 

This is truly a sad, sad situation my wish is that the powers that be will learn that they can't ignore the cries for help from these establishments.  There should be no more part time workers only full time, well paid staff with manageable hours.  ALL homes should be scrutinized and inspected by mystery inspectors, much like mystery shoppers do in retail, to get a real look at them not be ushered in by appointment only. 

These homes should not be money makers for the owners, rather an oasis of wellness for the most vulnerable who have worked their whole lives and only ask to be treated with respect in their twilight years.  Each meal should be treated with the reverence of a last meal, as it may very well be for someone's mother/father/uncle/aunt/grandparent.  They deserve, rather earned, that right don't you think?! 

Well on Thursday was the first time I had a virtual class of 6 people!  It worked out very well, the quietest class I have ever taught, it was pointed out that there is a "mute" button available, where in a live class there is not!!! LOL!!!  It's the truth!

We are at the beginning of semester 4 with this group of ladies, almost the end of book 1 so we opted to continue online with the drafting part.  Hopefully we will be able to do the sewing live, sooner rather than later... 

On Thursday the class learned how to draft the Raglan sleeve for woven fabrics.  Even online they get to do the dreaded storyboards!  Deep down, way down students actually love them especially when they have to draft a pattern a few months down the road...

The class went very smoothly and we even finished early :) but there is homework:
Homework is to draft one raglan sleeve pattern using personal measurements and two more using different measurements. Trace the pattern pieces on the personal size pattern only.  (So there will be 3 patterns total, two will be colour coded only, the pattern pieces traced for only 1.) 

Next week we will be drafting the robe on page 96, 97 with the shawl collar and double breasted front.  Please have ready a basic block using personal measurements for the robe we will be adding the sleeve and collar in class. 
Have a great 2 weeks and stay safe

In this unprecedented time of a global pandemic my wish is that we will all come out of this unscathed or as little as possible...
It is extremely difficult to be away from our loved ones for such a long time, thank goodness for technology that helps to keep us together virtually if not physically, I have my mom in a long term care facility that is very concerning.  She is doing well and is adamant she is not going anywhere!  I seem to be caught between a rock and hard place, can't bring her home because of our ages, we fall into the high risk category, not allowed to go and visit for obvious reasons catching/spreading this dreaded disease so here we stay worried sick, praying, pacing, sewing to keep busy.  Not much more we can do...
I have been making masks for the nursing home along with a couple of students we made 200 masks total for them to have in stock in case they don't get a shipment from their suppliers.  Currently I joined a group in Barrie who make masks, caps, gowns for medical professionals, I tried my hand at the surgical scrub caps and they are great!  The pattern was available online, it was easy enough to figure out so I decided to use that one rather than drafting my own (why re-invent the wheel?), tweaked it a bit to streamline the cutting and sewing I can make one in less than 10 minutes!  Made a video too so others can streamline the work and get more in the hands of the ones who need them most. 
Have a good day, stay home and be safe.