She Stitches Zombies

"We've seen enough geeky cross-stitch projects to know that this craft has moved far beyond alphabets and 'Bless this mess' signs."

Translation: Thank god hipsters came along and rescued cross-stitch from the old ladies who we continue to mischaracterize.

A friend of mine posted this link on facebook from io9 ("a daily publication that covers science, science fiction, and the future"). While I could do without the sentiment, it is a pretty amazing stitched piece by Cross Stitch Ninja who posted on the Sprite Stitch forum. It is a page from the Walking Dead comic. I'm glad it's getting all this attention, but gah, enough with the "cross-stitch is really twee" trope. I've had it.

Manly Men Men Men

My almost-BIL (my cousin's husband) had a birthday this weekend. I made him the manliest bouquet you have ever seen--booze, cigars, and moustaches!

Another pinterest success! I got the original idea here. I found the printable moustaches here. Something was up with my printer, so they printed in plaid rather than in black. The best screw-up ever! I had the pot in the basement. I bought a styrofoam disk and moss at AC Moore to hold (and cover up) the bamboo skewers I got at the grocery store. I had a really nice guy help me at the local cigar store (no web presence, d'oh). I looked for a printable "happy birthday" but the one I really wanted said "happy birthday, babe" which would have been totally inappropriate. So I made it myself in word. Everything is attached to the skewers with Glue Dots glue lines. Just a note, they worked much better on the square bottles than on the round ones. Total cost: $45 but you can make different choices about the cigars--which is where most of that cost came from.

The birthday boy liked it.

The guy at the cigar store said, "that's a great gift and presentation."

Its' man approved!

Maggie--We Can't Wait for--Monday

My aunt sent me this note, and it struck me as funny. I just had to share. Also, it's been some time since we've visited the antics of this 91 year old determined to live on her own.


Maggie boiled over her lobster chowder on one of her burners  So not to let the microwave feel bad, she did the same in it. Since she didn't know how to pull out the drip pan to clean it, I told her to ask her housekeeper, Eva, to do it. When Eva was there yesterday, she said that all four burners had caked on gunk that was impossible to remove. She suggested getting new drip pans. Now to the best part. Remember that Maggie's kitchen was done over two or three years ago with all new appliances. Maggie says they must have given her a dirty, used stove because she never uses but the one burner and all the rest have dried gunk on them. Here's the kicker: It took her three years to notice!! I'm not arguing with her, it's not worth it. Her stove is by a company named "Summit". If Duane Rolfe wasn't in jail for beating his sister to death with a baseball bat, I would have gone to McDonalds to find an exact fit.* Jerry and I just picked up some replacements and hope they fit. We also bought the aluminum ones to cover the new ones in case someone breaks into her apartment and gunks up the new drip pans.

*No doubt this is horrifying, but this detail plopped in the middle of the story made me laugh out loud. (Because I am a horrible person.) McDonald's is a family owned kitchen shop in business since 1890 or so. Whenever new stock came in, they'd move the old stock further back in the store. It had everything. Break your grandmother's pyrex dish and need one to match the remaining lid? McDonald's. Need a percolator cord? McDonald's. Need a part for something you found in the thrift store? McDonald's. They always had everything you needed (and even shit you didn't). The store was piled to the rafters and they always knew where to find anything you asked about.

**That's just a photo of a stove from wikimedia commons, not the stove in question.

Mermaid Tale

When I arrived at library stitching last Friday, I realized I had forgotten my cheaters. There was no way I was going to be able to work on this dark, 30-ct fabric without magnification. Fortunately the library carries a magnifier for reading, on a stand and everything. The librarian went and fetched it for me. I'm talking to her when this newish woman wanders over and says, "Black fabric? Good luck with that!"

First of all, honey, I'm a good 20 years younger than you, and so are my eyes. For instance, they can tell that's not black, but rather a bluish steel gray. Secondly, I've already made really good progress on this. It's not like I'm just starting it and have no idea what I am getting into. Finally, who the hell taught you manners?

You might think only my nemesis could be so delicate, but apparently everyone's a critic. In fact, the influx of new people has really diluted the nemesis's sway over the group. She has been much, much quieter over the past month or so. Which is nice.

But back to the mermaid, I finished the tail and added some pink streamers.

Before:

And after:

One of Us! One of Us!

Karen Nyberg, the American astronaut who went up to the International Space Station at the end of last month, brought craft supplies with her: fabric, needle, thread. She sews and quilts! She's planning on making something over the next six months, though she's not sure what. "But that's part of creativity is that it comes with the feeling of the day so I have the supplies in my hands to create if I get the opportunity and the creative notion to do so." 

Check out her twitter feed (@AstroKarenN) or pinterest (http://pinterest.com/knyberg/) to see fat quarters floating in space! Our people truly are everywhere!

Heralding a Summer's Early Sway

Thanks for all the love for the anniversary piece and my ornament SAL. I appreciate your stopping by and leaving comments.

This weekend, I'm in the midst of my 25th college reunion. I can't believe I've been out of college for more years than I was old when I graduated. Where does the time go? Yesterday, someone asked me if I were in the class of 1968. I was feeling pretty horrible until another classmate of mine got asked the same thing. I think they just want to think of themselves as 20 years younger than they are. Who doesn't?! Whenever I'm on campus--which is more often since I'm only five miles away--I think I am seeing people I know, but I am really seeing people I remember from 25 years ago projected on the current students. In 20 years' time, I'll probably be asking the '08 reuners if they are class of 1988.

Anyway, I feel badly for my friends who are staying in the (unairconditioned) dorms. It's 90' here with matching humidity. Since it feels like summer, I thought I might stitch some mermaids.

June 1-8 Off the Deep End
June 9-15 Ornament SAL
June 16-22 Emerald Mermaid
June 23-30 Teresa Layman, Mermaid

Of course, this optimistic list makes it seem like 1) I am not attending my 25th college reunion this weekend and 2) I'm not working all day at a library fundraiser and going to a volunteer appreciation picnic for my other volunteer gig the following weekend and 3) I didn't just join the library's cookbook club. I guess the short version is: I've made a schedule, but don't expect too much.

Last month, I was sort of derailed from even planning my stitching. I had the cough from hell. It's amazing how long ago that seems now. (Whereas 25 years ago? Seems like yesterday.*) And how even when you are dying from some minor illness, it's all forgotten when your good health returns.

You know how they say when you go to reunions the women look the same, but the men look bad because they are bald? The Haverfordians must have some good genes because while most of them are very "distinguished" (gray), they've kept their hair. Many of them have even kept their figures. One guy, I swear, has a portrait aging in his attic. But the women all do look just the same...minus the 80s hair. And let's all say a quick prayer of thanks for that.

*Isn't that a sign of dementia? ;)

Ornament Stitch-Along, Stitched...Along

I am writing this post so far ahead of the deadline it's not even funny. That is to make up for the Blackbird bird from last month that is still not finished. Still waiting for silk. {frowny}

This happy little snow guy is Bent Creek's Roly-Poly Snowman from JCO 2002. He is stitched on a random piece of fabric with the called-for colors. He is just such a happy little creature. I love.