10,000 Comments

Oh goodness! I don't blog for a week and then it's twice in one day. I'm inching up to 10,000 comments. (I'm also closing in on 2000 posts!) I've got a little prize for my 10,000th. I bought this puzzle at a thrift store a few years ago. Cool, huh? I know I'm also going to have to cull the fabrics before I put them in the dresser. (That organizer, such a stickler!) So who knows what treasures will join the prize?

Commentary

This is going to be one of those awkward posts where I respond to your comments. Unfortunately, I have yet to find an adequate way to create a conversation with my faithful commenters. It's a drawback to blogging, for sure. I am working on several presents, but without any good photos. Oh the perils of NaBloPoMo!

I'm so glad you liked the mermaid I did for my mother (Abbey Lane, Beneath the Sea). Unfortunately, the boxes made from frame molding couldn't be made from the molding I chose. Next time, choose the box first and stitch the piece to fit, like most normal people.

I'm glad you are taking things away from the Maggie Monday stories. She would be pleased to know that she is providing you with life lessons. Thanks to Thanksgiving I got some dirt on Maggie for next Monday.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I can't remember the Thansgiving poem that the English fascist read. The dude didn't even remember the poetry, but he drank a lot more back then. (I'm just kidding; we all remember different moments, even when we're all in the same place; don't we?) It was definitely by someone odd that you wouldn't expect like William Burroughs or someone.

I guess a lot of you missed this post, or else, you people are completely humorless. Because a giant naked Cuban man in an alpaca poncho? That's funny stuff.

I've enjoyed hearing your opinions on the Crazy January Challenge. It's interesting to consider all the possibilities. (Except, of course, not doing it!) I've been considering and reconsidering which patterns to do. I think I've narrowed it down to 14 but that means I have to find another one to do. I won't be posting the final list for a few more weeks, so there's still time to lobby!

Replies

Oh, goodness. There was something else I meant to say about bringing stitching to the world but it slipped my mind. Then something a commenter said brought it back. By the time I got to blogger it was gone. (Is that anything like By the time I get to Phoenix?)

Ah, yes. Here's another example of publicity gone wrong. I have only seen one mention of Frank's video/free lesson offer--in Needle in a Haystack's e-newsletter. (It's not even on their blog.) I read the blogs of several shops and none of them have it. I read a couple of general craft blogs--not there either. C'mon, it's a no-brainer to send the link to Craft:. And, although I am not one of the Facebook faithful, I haven't seen it there either. Ok, it's on the Hoffman Distributing website--but how is it getting out to the non-stitcher, the ones who don't know about Hoffman Distributing, the ones they are clearly trying to hook? (I started drafting this and before I could post, Annie Beez popped Frank up on her blog. Good for you!)

Now to the comments: The mermaid is for my mom. I'm not sure I have a thing about mermaids as much as my mother does and her little obsession makes it very easy to stitch things for her. (I am keeping this one for myself, however.)

Stella has a fan club. Who knew? Last Saturday we had a date with the animal behaviorist. Stella has a little problem with putting things in her mouth. Unfortunately most of those things are attached to me or the dude (arms, clothes, hair, feet). So we wanted to see just what would work. Stella has a whole new arsenal of toys, mostly of the chewing variety (we're keeping Kong in business). And we've got lists of things to do with her. Like I had nothing else to do. Oh, that's right! I didn't.

Aw, momma, why you tellin' everyone my business? You're embaaaaarrasssssssssssing me.

New (to me) Blog!

Marie Claire Idées, one of my favorite magazines, has a blog. {via CRAFT Magazine} If you're like me and your French could be better, they still have all those pretty pretty pictures that make you wish you were more creative, or more French, or both.

Thanks for your comments about Tall Flowers. I plan on framing it, probably in a plain black frame to echo the blanket stitching.

I have a full report on the trip to KC, just need to upload some photos.

Quick Note

Hey! I've hit the 20% commenting rate on this post. But not all of you were truly delurkers. Nevertheless, I appreciate those of you who did step out. (See? It didn't hurt at all!)

Odds and Ends

I went to the fiber store this weekend and bought a bunch of flosses that I needed for my Monthly Mania charts. I got back to work on February today which means I have finished neither April nor February, as you can see. While I was at the needlepoint store, I found these Nano cover needlepoint kits that are still not shown on the AMH website. I got the pink and green one.

My at home project is Mirabilia's Emerald Mermaid. I am working on this as part of the SAL with Michelle. So far she's just an arm (the mermaid, not Michelle). She does violate the "Selfish Stitching in 2008" mandate, however. Maybe I'll start something new and selfish this week.

Thanks to all of you who kept a good thought for my sister. Last week, we finally found out that she does have a spindle cell tumor, but it is benign. The pathology took so long because spindle cell whatsit is so rarely benign that no one in the lab had seen it. They had to send it to a pathologist at Harvard. Of course, my mother thinks it was the nuns in Canada that Father Rick had organized. I think the diagnosis just confirms my feeling that my sister is a freak of nature.

It's supposed to be Delurking Week, but I can't find anything on that for this year. Last year I found out about it on, like, Friday so I didn't participate. Now I am ready but the nation, nay, the world is not. Why so cruel? I know only about 10% of the people who visit here comment. I know I don't always comment because sometimes I don't have anything new to add to the "conversation," but still 90% of you? Recently, I wrote in response to SharonB's post about commenting that commenting rarely feels like entering a conversation. I know how difficult it is sometimes to respond to the comments. There are lots of things that keep me from responding, the main one being which medium to use? It's a pita to e-mail partly because of the yahoo address Anna has and partly because you sometimes have to search out a commenter's e-dress; or if you respond in the comments, you worry that the original commenter won't reread the comments to see your response; addressing comments in posts just makes my posts too long...and on and on. But I will ask you one thing: lurkers, would it kill you to comment?

Blogging Every Day

The nablopomo people sent me a link to this new group: Blog 365. I'm crazy to even be thinking about it, aren't I? I know I won't be able to blog from stitching camp--I can hardly get mobile service. And what about the trip to Thailand? No, the more I think about it, the less sense it makes...unless...guest blogger? best pal I'm looking at you.

I will be participating in (Inter)National DeLurking Week (2nd week of January), which means I'll be out there commenting, and I hope you all will come out of the closet and give a shout out to me too. I love me some comments.

Throw Away Post

Wow! You read me, you really read me. I thought that last post was a little throw-away where someone would take issue with me being mean or something. But no, I speak with the voice of the stitchers! (And just for the record, I have taken a class with the Bent Creek gals--Acorn, with a little squirrel "practice piece" at Needles and Niceties--and they are a lovely pair.)

I've started a new ornament, and I worked a bit on Summer Place, but I've got nothing to show you. It's getting too dark to take pictures when I get home from work. I want summer back!

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Note for Steph and Todd
I don't keep a regular diary and there are some things I want to remember about Labor Day for next year. Don't mind me.
* Next year, Monday not Sunday
* Eat before we go
* Start at the water park
* Bring a change of clothes

Response

Hey, is it better if I respond to comments here, or in the comments? I do want let you know that I think about what you write in the comments, but sometimes my posts are so long without me responding to the previous post's comments... Half the time I only respond in my head, which I know does no good at all. I could dedicate one day to responding to all the comments...or something.

So, the trip to Maine is the cheap vacation because I'm going to my parents' house. I won't spend a cent, no matter how much lobster I eat (and let me tell you, it's all I'll eat when I am there)--and that even includes a trip to Yankee Cross Stitch...see the post on the last trip to Maine. My parents are very generous, and I do appreciate them. Well, I do now a lot more than I will once I've spent a week with them.

Although I have finished the March baby's sampler, he won't get it until December. And don't forget about the one that I sent two years late. And, now that I think of it, for which I have not been thanked. People. Raised, apparently, by wolves.

I'm glad that my research skills, such as they are, are appreciated. I think you think it was more work than I think it was. Remember, I spent 11 years of my life doing research. Back then I had to do way more reading and organizing that information was far more difficult. My boss would say I was just being modest (she would, she said it just yesterday). I always respond, "I think you're being generous." So thanks, everyone, for your generosity. And you know, when it comes to pumpkins...I'll do anything. One day, I may have to make a similar list for willows, my other weakness. Even after chasing down all those pumpkins, there weren't any that I felt liked I needed to add to the list, so maybe I'll be safe with the willow trees.

As for being queen of lists, I thought it would be funny to write a blog that was just lists. Of course people beat me to it.

Punchy

From the comments:
OMG, it's you! I've been wondering who in the heck is doing punchneedle.

Chelle, I hate to disappoint you, but it's not me. You are looking at the sum total of my punchneedle experience. I know I've seen some punchneedle on the blogs. Kali's done some. I know I've seen it on someone else's blog, but it's eluding me right now. But a google search of "punchneedle blog" turned up 28,700 hits. Unfortunately, one of them was mine... Nevertheless, there's someone out there doing it. (It only took me three days to find this little bit of punchneedle that I had done. So how much longer do you think it will take to find the needle?)

Commentative

I don't encourage you, do I? I never tell you how much your comments mean to me. How I check my e-mail wondering if, when, you'll comment on what I have to say. So here it is: me, responding.

I'm shocked, shocked, that no one was appalled by my father's firm grasp on the MREs from Vietnam... about 30 years past their sell-by date, as it were. I will bring the camera next time we journey to the center of the attic, but I can offer a shot of the goodies I'll be putting on e-bay after camp.

I'm glad to know I am not alone in my feelings about the EGA. Jo's so lucky, and even Katrina because she has alternatives. If I have them, I haven't found them through a google search. I do wish working women, and especially women with children who work outside the home (all mothers are working mothers), didn't perplex people so much. But it's good to know others are struggling with the issue. It is through this struggle that we will persevere! (Or, I'll win the lottery, stop working, and find something else to complain about.) Even though someone was willing to admit that the boards can get to her, you all were so kind to ignore the part where I make fun of a dead girl. It's great. You think I'm funny, and the weird parts you sort of ignore. Now imagine if you knew me in person and had to negotiate those landmines.

Nevertheless, I hope I get to meet Michelle when she comes to Philadelphia.

I found both Adorn and Sew Simple at Borders, if that helps.

And as always, many thanks for your kind comments on my work, the cards, the stitching, all of it.