A Finish!

Next Halloween, can you remind me that I have written down the number of kids we've gotten for two years in a row? And still not used the number to plan the candy reserves, which should be low.

I finished my mother's Christmas present, and I'm bringing it to the framer tomorrow. So here's a crappy middle of the night picture.

By the Sea
c.2007 Heidi Roesselet
Yankee Stitcher
called for WDW floss
some random overdyed blue linen

Grandma

You all know how much I hate the idea that only grandmothers are crafters, the one embodied by the "not your grandmother's craft" slogan. Well, Craft Magazine* got some elder stateswomen of craft together to respond. I'm going to have to get a copy of that. One of the respondents is mom to Naughty Secretary Club's Jennifer Perkins.

*And betz white on the cover. How can you go wrong?

Woo Hoo

Screw William Penn. It was this.





Edited to add explanatory link.

A Christmas Winge

Last Saturday, the dude and I brought boxes and boxes to the post office to send things to our European friends and family. We got a heaping helping of bad news. The P.O. has discontinued surface mail. On some level--the level where gifts I send in October show up in March--this is good news. On another level I spent over $200 sending about $150 worth of crap to England.

Next year everyone's getting gift certificates to amazon.co.uk.

This also means that, in the future, anything that doesn't fit in an envelope isn't being shipped to my European stitching friends. Sorry, gals.

GTG

Yesterday the dude and I conquered our fear of strangers and opened our house to some stitching goddesses. We had a little tea party and talked stitching, politics...and since we were on a roll, sex. We left out religion but that's only because the dude and I never think about it. Except when we are being unAmerican and trying to quash all religious belief. True story.

If you've never met up with other bloggers here's a funny thing that happens. You introduce everyone by their real name followed by their blog. So we had Jennifer "Sweetpea," Jenna "Shooting Star" or as we found out "Pole Star" (more porn later), Lee "Lake Stitcher" and Rachel--or as I always think of her Ruthrachel--"Willing Hands." Oh, also Terry came along and even though I tried to banish the boys to the study, they wanted to talk sex and politics with the womenfolk. We had a pleasant tea party with egg salad, cucumber, and devilled ham sandwiches; pumpkin bread with cream cheese, scones, and cupcakes. Some people actually stitched. I blabbed and blabbed which is a side effect of being socially retarded.

Rachel brought me a little gift--the bag matched my outfit and my bedroom (what? you don't dress to match your bedroom?). She made me open it. (This led to a little story about opening presents in public, which I find to be one of life's humiliations. Only because I never know what I might say.) I'm glad I did because it was lovely and lovely things should be shown off to those who will appreciate them. (See below*.) Lee brought me some cute and cheerful fabric and as soon as my Christmas stitching is done I know exactly what I am going to do with it. Thanks, gals! Those other ones brought nothing, but really, what can you expect? (Their company was pleasure enough.)

Sampler Girl
Tea with Jane
Stitched by Ruth for me.


Fabrics from Lee.
Look for them again in the near future.

I did work on the mermaid for about 30 stitches but I was talking too much and miscounting.

When we said goodbye, the dude and I jumped in the car for Sunday dinner at my cousin's. During dessert, with the kids out of the way, we scripted a porn movie. Because that's just what you do at Sunday dinner. It all started with me telling my sister she could have more icing by sucking it out of the pastry bag. It led down a predictable path. Or maybe not so predictable. But this is a family blog. Anything more of this talk would be unAmerican.

*Not photographed the matching tin of tea. Matching. I'm going to have to keep it in the bedroom.

Sistahs

CJ is ready to send the traveling pattern on to its next destination. Join the sisterhood. Hop on over to her blog and leave a comment!

That Piecework Biscornu

You saw that biscornu that won the PieceWork Excellence in Needle Arts Awards pincushion contest, right? (If not, it's over there <---.) Well, the new PieceWork has the directions for a companion piece, the Blackberry Truffel Tuffet, which I like a little better because it's a little less gaudy. Just a smidge.

You might want to put your thinking cap on because they've announced the 2009 contest: brooches. I can't find the rules online (duh) but I seem to recall that the deadline is April 1. Or thereabouts.

Also they reminded me that you should come to Philadelphia. PMA is exhibiting quilts from Gee's Bend. This exhibit has traveled across America, but this is the last stop. It closes December 14. PMA also recently opened a whole new building devoted to costume and textiles. (You should look through those pages because there is a lot of interesting information about how they created the new storage for the bags and hats and textiles that textile geeks can deeply appreciate. You will also see how absurdly some project conservators dress. Pay attention. There will be a quiz.)

While you're here, you can take the short trip to Lancaster to see Rags to Rugs: Pennsylvania Hooked and Handsewn Rugs at the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum; there's lots to see in that area for textile enthusiasts. And eat.

SAL with Michelle

This Sunday I made good on my promise to Michelle and dug out my Emerald Mermaid.

Check here for the before. (I think there was work done since February that went unphotographed!) Here she is now:

There will be more action on this one because I have two stitch-y Sundays planned. People are coming chez van Schurman this weekend (whee!) and in two weeks there's another alumnae club craft circle. And, my mother's birthday looms (in cross stitch time*). Also, you know Michelle, she's really nice and I promised her.

*Most people would probably say that April 4, 2009 is aeons away. But if you subtract a month for framing, two months for beading, and the very slow progress I've made in the last year, it's like this piece is due tomorrow!

We have a Winner

The good news is that I've actually shipped the last anniversary prize! I'm still working on getting other things in the mail. Why do I have to go to an office eight hours a day? I have things I want to do!

Without further ado, our winner is:
16 Sadie

Congratulations, Sadie! Please send me your snail mail address. My e-mail address is in my profile.

In other news, I bought camera batteries! Now I have lots of photos to show you. But I'm going to spread it out.

I'm starting, however, with the fabulous birthday treats Edgar sent to me. Edgar wasn't my SBBC partner, but my partner was unable to send anything. It was so kind of him to put together this awesome treat for me! Lookit:

I don't know what is up with blogger. It keeps turning that photo around. Crazy. Anyway, there's By the Bay Needleart's Summer Hill, Casey Buonauguirio's Pink Plaid Pear, Cricket Collection's Ghosties and Ghoulies, and Imaginating's Seashell Silhouette. Five luscious skeins of Crescent Colors silk floss. And la piece de resistance, a Prairie Schooler ornament from "Santa Rides" finished in Pyn Keepe style. Edgar chose the horse because that is my Chinese zodiac symbol. How thoughtful! Here's a close-up.

When the dude saw it he said, "That will look so nice on your Santa tree*." Edgar also sent some adorable chocolates, but the dude's been helping me with those so no picture. Thanks Edgar, you're a mensch! And a fabulous present-giver.

* All handmade Santa ornaments. I like how it is "my tree"--yeah, and I get to put it up myself too--but when it comes to anything else in the house, he gets bent out of shape when I say it is mine. None of us is consistent; we're living the contradictions, baby.

October Giveaway

Sure, it's true that I haven't sent last month's prize (it's in an envelop in my desk waiting patiently for me to have the energy to walk a mile to the post office on my lunch hour). Nevertheless, it is time for this month's drawing!

In celebration of my fifth year of blogging, may I present the third in a year of anniversary giveaways. Comment on this post only between now and October 20th. On the 21st, I'll use the random number generator to award this prize. Another of Amy B's squares from the fall sampler published in JCS. Love this! Stitched on 32 count linen with the called-for flosses. (I'll, um, iron it and finish it before I send it to you. Also, turn your head toward your left shoulder because that's the correct orientation. I got no time. I gotta slap this shit up as it comes!)

Great Headway

Between unpacking, celebrating my birthday, boozing it up with strangers, and plans for the rest of the week, I don't know when I'm going to get another chance to say, hey! So how are you? I've really missed you.

When we were in Bermuda, I got a lot of stitching in. I finished October's anniversary prize (more on that soon) and made great headway on both By the Sea (my mother's Christmas present) and the confetti stitching that is DD's RR*.

By the Sea

Yankee Stitcher

called for WDW floss

some random light blue fabric
Sorry for the craptastic photo. Our camera batteries are dead, and we only had one new AA battery. Somehow the camera knew I was trying to use half-used batteries from other devices. How does that work? (Really, I don't care to know.) So you're stuck with phone photos.

*No photo. We promised each other not to show our RRs so the final would be a big surprise. I think the big surpise is that it's two years late. And I'm not complaining about the confetti; it was my choice.

Back to Reality

I refused to watch the news while we were away, hoping rather than expecting* that the global economy might improve. I feel horrible that I was galavanting cavalierly while things were breaking down, but I guess I was contributing to the economy. And let me tell you, with the price of food in Bermuda, contribute we did.

We had a fabulous time! Fabulous! If you ever have a chance to go there, go. It's a beautiful subtropical island, but there was plenty to entertain the dude, who sits on the beach like an old man, in his shirt and hat with a towel on his legs. In the shade. (He's not that pale; his arms are tan.) (Though looking at that photo, his legs sure are pale.) We went to the caves, the zoo and aquarium, the World Heritage site of St. George's, the Dockyard, and the Swizzle Inn (turns out I prefer a Dark and Stormy). And yes, we got ourselves to the beach.

I got two cross-stitch patterns while we were in Saint George's. One is a map of the country with each parish in a different color. You'll see that this year because I am stitching it for the dude for Christmas. The other is a moongate, like the one seen here. Only without the adorable (relaxed) couple here.

If it is any consolation, I'm back to being totally stressed.

*Back in the days before vacation, I went to a lecture by Penn Law and Wharton professors. They clearly didn't seem to think the bailout was a good idea nor that it would work, and I wasn't that surprised based on my own research (knowing I was going to cover this event.)

Naughty, Naughty, Naughty

Is she here?

Is she there?

Who knows?

I thought I'd share a link to an interview threadbare did with Jennifer Perkins, creator of Naughty Secretary Club, a jewelry maker and remaker. She does a lot of reimagining of found objects. And she has a new book out.

I first read about Naughty Secretary Club in Bust magazine. I bought a ring from her; it says, "How about a nice tall glass of fuck you?" Even though bad people stole most of my really nice rings, they left my resin ring. So, at least I got a word in to the robber...

Oh, and she has a blog.

Sexy Shoes

Michelle said, "You cannot make a statement like 'I had the sexiest shoes' and then not share a photo. Must see!" For you, Michelle.

This photo might not show them to their best advantage. You should see the heel. They're not on zappos, the source of all shoe-goodness.

Bermuda Dolls

Since I write from Bermuda (maybe, maybe not) I thought I'd share my dolls from this country. The first is a souvenir from one of my parents' trips to the islands in the late 60s-mid70s. I'll let you know if I see anyone with a basket on her head, but I'm guessing not.

The second is a Gombey Dancer. I may have bought this when I went to Bermuda with my grandmother, cousin, and aunt. The trip was a high school graduation present from my grandparents. My aunt and cousin were such sticks in the mud, I shouldn't have bothered to go. We went shopping once or twice. We toured some hotels. And I saw some flowers. When I said my cousin and I should go to the Swizzle Inn for some nightlife on our long weekend, he said he'd rather watch a movie at the hotel. (I couldn't go alone because after the minibike disaster*, there was no way I was driving a scooter. Nosiree.)

This trip is going to be so much better!

*This incident occurred before we realized the extent of my clumsiness. But the dude has decreed we are taking taxis and public transportation on this trip. Good thinking, Dude.

More Marketing

Okay, so I said this crazy thing about sending press releases to bloggers.

Here's someone to tell you how to do it. [via whip up]

Missing Recipe

In my review of the JCS Ornament Issue, I mentioned two missing recipes. Well, I said there were two but only gave you one example because my magazine was in the recycling. The second recipe is Imaginating's Candy Cane Cookies. Judy from Imaginating says the missing stuff (like the alphabet chart for her ornie) is supposed to be on the JCS website, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Oh, they got the kits up there soon enough. But go ahead and click on the survey. Uh-huh. Out of date. As usual.

You can find the cookies here.

Lists

I need a packing list. And a birthday wish list. And a list of things to do before we go*. And I need about... 24 more hours**; that should do it. Did you figure out how to create time, yet?

In the "things to cross of the to-do list" file, we did get into camp today. We're going in April. Will we see you there?

*Do not break into my house while we are gone. All of the neighbors are watching. And someone's coming to stay but you won't know when. And if they find you taking our shit, they are gonna kick your ass. Also, I'm going to set some automatic posts so you won't even know when we're gone. Stay the fuck out of my house!

**This means that I may not get to the post office to mail things I promised to some really nice people in Europe. I hope they will forgive me.