Behind a mask

 

The virus has effected us all in many ways.

Some of us have spent lockdown sewing, making masks that may, or may not protect us and our loved ones. When you feel so helpless, when the enemy is unseen, what can you do but hold onto a glimmer of hope that you can be helpful, that there may be a small chance that what you do might be a small hindrance to the microscopic virus.

I spent lockdown gardening, caring for my mother, and sewing. In June I had made around forty face coverings for friends and family when requests to buy them started to come in, so I set my business up and put things in place to start making masks for sale.

A lifetime of hoarding fabrics came into its own, and I made beautiful masks from fabulous fabrics.

At first, elastic wasn't available, so after using all the scraps from sewing boxes and my mother's ribbon box, I used hairbands, available with the weekly food delivery. Then, things started to move again and reels of elastic became available.

It became clear that my job as a museum education officer, working with schools and old people's homes, would not be as normal for quite some time, and then, this week, the inevitable happened. I was made redundant.

And so I find myself embarking on an adventure, a journey without leaving the house, an ambition suddenly forced upon me. My business must be my income now.

Wish me luck!

Holly x