Making masks and rescuing birds

 I spent  most of the day in the studio trying different mask patterns from Youtube. Here are the results and the favorite, Make DIY's mask at the post below on Youtube. I converted the measurements into inches for the mask, just below the pictures:

Make Fabric Face Mask at home// Easy Face Mask Pattern//DIY MASK is the post on Youtube.

Both Mr Wazoo and I love this mask! It has great coverage and is very comfortable because it doesn't touch your mouth or fog up glasses!

There is no need for the nose wire because it fits closely all around the edges.

Mine has the fun frog fabric. Mr W opted for the aboriginal one.

I cut the elastic at 10 inches and added an adjustment bead to the ends for a more personal fit.

Because it has no wire, it can be worn either side up. I see I had it with the pattern upside down here. Oops!

To make the mask, you need two pieces of fabric (I lined one with lightweight fusible interfacing for a bit more security) 11x8 1/4". The measurement for the triangle you cut off is 2 1/8". When folding the bottom and top in, measure 2 5/8". When folding the top and bottom to shape the mask, align the edge of the top/bottom with the edge of the end of the mask. See how she tweaks it to have the shape before sewing these ends down. Make the casing big enough to fit your elastic. Mine was 1/4", so I sewed the casings a bit bigger to be able to pull the knot in.

Here are the others I tried.

I didn't like the fit or design of this, although it did offer a big space in front of the mouth.

I just think it is really ugly.

This one fit tight. Touched my lips and the sides didn't lay flat on my face.

It had good coverage, but wasn't as comfortable as the Make DIY's mask.

This could have used a nose wire because it crept up on my face.

I also didn't like using two fabrics on the front. Won't do that again. 

Totten's mask was nice but too fiddly for me. The Make DIY mask is so straightforward and doesn't need a template. Two thumbs up!

Meanwhile, Mr Wazoo has been busy in the yard and I thought I'd share a picture of the garden outside the studio. We have had loads of huge butterflies on the butterfly bush as well as hummingbirds. Yesterday, a tiny hummer hovered outside the window a couple of times and looked in. That was strange, but exciting. Later, while I was sewing, I kept hearing a little chirp chirp chirp that sounded very close. I had the door open, and looked out the screen door to see where it was coming from, and there was the tiny hummingbird, his foot caught in the screen! I gently pushed the screen spline out and then carefully removed his toe from the crack between the spline and the screen. He clung to the screen, trembling and unmovable. Mr Wazoo to the rescue! He got a cup and coaxed the bird off the screen into it. Then, he turned the cup to the great outdoors and tapped the bottom until the hummer took off, landing on a nearby tree. I saw him later on the feeder. At least I hope it was him...

The hydrangea are turning a pretty shade of pink and the brown eyed Susans are in all their glory. The butterfly bush is the tall shrub next to the hydrangea.

From the inside, I almost missed the hummer on the screen. He was about 2 inches long and very colorful. 

His tiny toes were like a sliver of sewing thread! I worried I might damage him with my manipulations. He looked at me and never tried to poke me with his beak or get away. 

From the outside, after I freed his foot from the screen, he sat in the same place and trembled. Mr W coaxed him off and on his way. Our good deed for the day.

Last night the storm clouds cleared and revealed a near full moon over the mountain. It was still hazy from all the rain the day before, and it looked mysterious in the sky with tree branches silhouetted against it. The camera in the phone isn't perfect, but you get the idea. There was another huge thunderstorm overnight, but today looks glorious so far. It's a good day to sew. 

I'll be venturing out this evening to the evening guild for the first time. I'm a little wary of a crowd indoors at this time, but I will play it by ear and leave if I need to. We'll see. I'm the secretary, so I kind of need to be there.

Moon over the mountain

After running in the yard, playing with her toys in the studio and a big zoomie after supper, Penny crashed in my lap and commenced snoring. It was so funny, I had to catch it on a video. She is a good, if noisy, sleeper!

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