I Made it Monday: Blue Ribbon Edition

One of my goals for the new! improved! blog is to have a post on Monday featuring something I've made. This isn't original to me; I was poking around other craft blogs and saw that there are memes for that. But if I learned nothing else in grad school, I learned that recognizing a good idea is a talent, and I've got it. Thus the adoption. Now I know I am not the best at making stitches every day (each day, two words) but in any given week I do make things: cards, dinner, cookies, whatever. I am going to make it a point to share more of those things.

I will also keep in mind that most of you are cross-stitch friends and that one of my goals was to finish-finish more of my stitched pieces.

In fact, you may remember the tiny smalls I stitched back in January. Pictured here is the one I stitched over two. Lots of you encouraged me to try Vonna's finish with the pocket watches. It took me forever, but I finally got around to it. In fact, I did it the night before the dude was due to drive his fair entries down to the Maryland State Fair*. Because there was a Christmas ornament division, and I thought, why the hell not? I also sent Little by Little's Star Light Star Bright.

This past weekend was our traditional trip to the fair. We met best pal and her family and another family, and had a time eating larvets** (deep fried cream cheese with mealworms), cheering on the sausage eating contest (go, Brave Astronaut, go!***), and watching the kids go on rides.

The dude entered his fabulous melon jam, tomato salsa, and mustard relish (a hot dog relish--"pickle" for our British friends) in the contest. Or should I say award-winning mustard relish! He took second in the "other relish" category. But he was really robbed on the melon jam. We both really thought that was his best (perhaps only) chance!

And my ornament that took first place! (Sorry about the horrible photo. It's in a case. I also don't know how they mangled my beautiful bow so badly. I was really proud of that bow!) (I promise a better photo when I pick it up. And fix the bow!)

Now we can both rest on our laurels.

*Residents of any of Maryland's surrounding states may enter.
**One time only. Not because of the bugs. It just wasn't that interesting. As someone said, "more like a dare than a food." Also, I was raised on grilled cream cheese sandwiches which is pretty much what this tasted like.
***One time only as well, I'm guessing. 

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?

One Woman's Quest

Hey, remember last summer when all those guest bloggers stopped by to tell you about their favorite projects? Remember Adrienne Martini and her seven-year sweater? She's got a new book coming out. Simon and Schuster is having a big giveaway in honor of Adrienne and her book about knitting the Alice Starmore pattern Mary Tudor (click through because the finished project is A-mAz-ing!). There are 24 copies of the book up for grabs, but the grand prize is a $250 gift certificate to your favorite yarn store.

Stop back here on March 22 because I'll have a brief interview with our friend the author. (Does that make me sound connected or what?)

Art Star Craft Bazaar and a Winner

Yesterday the dude and I ventured into the city for the Art Star Craft Bazaar. There were a lot of t-shirts, and despite the vendor called "Cutesy but not Cutesy" (shouldn't that be "Cute but not Cutesy"?) there was nothing even remotely twee. It was delightful to see so many things that I would actually want to buy. And weird stuff. A lot of weird stuff.

But first, I have to tell you about the soup dumplings we had. Oh.My.God. Little pouches of deliciousness! The soup was out of this world, and the combination--wrapper, soup, pork meatball--was just sublime. The scallion pancakes held their own as well. It was so amazingly good. If you are in Phillie, go to 11th and Race. Go! Sakura.

We hiked over to the bazaar at Penn's Landing. I would love to have pictures but I forgot the camera like the dufus that I am. Like I said there weren't many things I wasn't interested in. So we had to control ourselves. The dude got a wooden bookmark with a little skull on it from beacon bookmarks (I should have gotten the one that says "Analog." That's me.) Then we saw this fabulous photo of a little Laotian girl having a bath in a big bowl by Gene Pembroke (Click through: Gallery->Asia-> "Bath Time, Laos"). Perfect for the upstairs (pink, burgundy, and brown) bathroom. Then we bought a faux-bois reusable sandwich wrapper from Chez-Sucre-Chez who also sold cross-stitch, bless her. Finally, we went back to Emmalynne Photography because I had been thinking about this one picture the whole way through. (It's the middle right with scissors and wooden thread spools.) That's going in the craft room.

Anyway, it was a very nice day, and you can sort of replicate it by going to the Art Star website and clicking through the list of vendors. Really, they're almost all on etsy.

And now, you've all been waiting patiently...the winner of May's giveaway: Donna, needleworker not in paradise! I'm really pleased that her number came up. Donna's blog was one of the first needlework blogs I found (also Nicole's and Melissa's); I think we all started within a few months of each other. It seems very appropriate for us to celebrate together.

There are two more chances for you to win. In August, we'll celebrate my sixth year of blogging much like a 41st birthday. Until then...

Chosen

Wow, putting you to the test was fun. I guess I like hearing people's opinions. Thirty-three of you voted for fourteen different projects! And one voted for a project that wasn't even on the list. (I think it was title confusion rather than hallucination.) If you voted for more than one, I only counted the first vote. And if you said I should finish the one closest to being done (people, I don't have that kind of spacial sense!) and then mentioned something else, I went with the something else. The problem is there's a tie: Tree of Life Window and Anna's Bird both received five votes. And Apple Sampler got four which seems statistically insignificant, so I'm having a run-off. (And since my senator Arlen Specter changed parties, you can too.)

The choices are:
Tree of Life Window--Heartland House Designs This is based on a Frank Lloyd Wright window (Darwin Martin House in Buffalo). I have not been to Falling Water; it's in Pittsburgh which is very far away considering Pittsburgh's enticements. The back story on this one is that I started it as a gift for a gay friend's commitment ceremony. Very masculine. But then I wasn't invited. So I put it away. I don't even know what I am going to do with it when it is done. (Doris, maybe this is my way of doing that.)

Anna's Bird--Good Huswife This one only seems to come out when I go to camp, but it is for me. It would look great in our dining room which is painted "Fragrant Clove" (rust for the regular folks, "deep terra cotta" for the designers, and DMC 920 for the stitchers).

Apple Sampler--Curtis Boehringer Also for me. I fell in love with this one when I saw it in the Cross Stitch Sampler. It's why I bought that issue of the magazine, and it's why I subscribed to the magazine until it folded. (Then subscribed when the editor of CSS started Fine Lines until it folded. Or she ran off without any announcement to speak of!) (Speaking of magazines going out of business, RIP Simple Scrapbooks. To be incorporated into Creating Keepsakes.) I carried this pattern around for ages until I finally decided it was time for me.

So those are your choices. Maybe I'll leave it until Monday. My parents are coming back through PA this weekend on their way home, having bought a new house in Florida, so I might not have a chance to stitch until then. So vote again, here, by Monday.

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And in the Giveaway:



Rachel is the winner! Congratulations!

April Giveaway

Are we still doing this? I'm just kidding. I want there to be 12 winners, and, let's face it, the only way that's going to happen is if we do it once a month. So here we are celebrating five years and eight months of Stitch Bitchery.

I'm so sorry that I didn't have time to make something special for you, but I spent too much time gallivanting around the country. And this month is ending soon.

So I sacrificed myself yesterday and had a good wander around Joanns. I made sure I went into a complete daze. Good thing too, because I found myself standing in the clearance aisle and this trim just leapt out at me. It seemed so "Blackbird" to me. And since they are the bloggers of the moment, I had to build a prize around the trim. I went back to the fat quarters and found the appropriate fabric. Pearlized pins and some white 32 count linen for you to tea or coffee dye round out this months prize.

To win, stitch the Blackbird sampler (I must still be in that fog--I forgot who I was for a minute) leave a comment on this post only. I'll draw it on my parents' anniversary and nephews 8th birthday, April 30. It will really be a banner day.

Winner, Winner

Aussie Stitcher wrote to tell me that she's received her prize from last month's blogiversary drawing. That thing really flew to Australia is all I have to say because I just mailed it a week ago.

I love how Tanya finishes her pieces a bit off-center, and I thought that would be perfect for this piece. I did decide to go with a pillow instead of a wall hanging, mostly because I have become so awesome at making pillows. It's my go-to finish. As I was photographing this delightful pillow, I was thinking everyone needs one for Christmas. But then I exhaled and realized, a woman's got to know her limitations, with apologies to Clint.

I found the wooden star buttons as I was wondering around Joann's in a daze--am I the only one who does that? You go to the craft store to buy something specific and once you find it, it's like you're in a Vegas casino, where you can't head straight for the door. Instead you find yourself wandering through the button section or the scrapbooking section or the frames...and you realize you are feeling lightheaded, like you are out of your mind. My sister used to call it my "Ben Franklin orgasm" back in the day when Ben Franklin was a craft store, and not an old man wandering around Philadelphia.

Anyway, I forgot to buy lining fabric for my tote, and I really want to finish this today. Let's hope I can get out of Joann's with my head screwed on straight...as it were.

Finishing Frenzy, Picture 4

Ange's prize has arrived and I can show you how I finished it. The pattern is a 2007 freebie from Ink Circles. I used the colors called for but not the fabric (calls for a purple fabric). I backed it with a blue paisley, I couldn't find a color closer to the periwinkle of the pattern. I actually found a fabric with Celtic knots on it at Joann's, but it was light blue and brown. (Maybe someday I'll pick the backing fabric first and choose floss colors to match. No, where's the fun in that? Then you couldn't search through yards and yards of fabric for a (near) perfect match.) I made and attached four small tassels as well. I think it came out pretty cute. Ange claims she won't be able to use it as a pincushion, but I am of CA Wells's opinion that you should use your needlework. Use it! Wear it out! Don't save it for "good"!

Oh, who am I kidding? I can't even get my pieces out of the finishing pile. (Except when I can.)

There is no verdict yet on the Irish Potatoes. She claims to have been too sick to try them, but I know she's just chicken. ;)

There has been even more finishing--I finished two pieces for my birthday exchange partner. You won't be able to see those until they arrive. But soon.

March Winner

Our March winner is Aussie Stitcher! Please send me your address, and I'll pop it in the mail.

March Giveaway

Patti asked, "When is your next giveaway, please." Well Patti, it's right now!

This month I decided to stitch something more primitive since there are so many of you Primitive Bettys and Sampler Girl fans. Unfortunately the Sampler Girl pattern I was thinking of--Mary Lincoln's Tree--was so big I would have been sending this gift in July. For a change, I bit off what I could chew! I found this freebie from Sheepish Designs.

I'm thinking I might finish this as a wallhanging, but I'm also thinking it could be a primitive-style pillow. It'll be a surprise! Won't that be fun!

I'll draw this on my five year seven month anniversary, March 21. Comment on this post only.

I'm pleased to report that I have taken the last stitch on the second present for my birthday partner. Which means I'll be able to show my work again. And have some time to work on the mermaid. I am slowly but surely rebuilding her!

Finishing Frenzy, Picture 2

January's winner, Danielle, has received her heart pillow. This finish is based on similar ones I've seen at my LNS, Strawberry Sampler. They usually have a much smaller stitched piece in the corner, but I really liked this pattern. I have for a very long time...it's from the original Cross Stitch and Needlework, August 1999. "Playful Patchwork" designed by Kathy Moenkhaus. The original pattern also had a moon and a star, and three color combinations were suggested. I chose the pink version.

My photo is a little wonky because I didn't have a 12" pillow form for it. I just stuck my bag of polyfill in it to show it off. The backing fabric is the same as the piping--homemade by me, booyah!

I'm glad Danielle likes it.

For all of you who think you cannot finish, I am a slave to Simplicity's Simply the Best Home Decorating book. They show you everything you need to know about making all kinds of pillow styles with all types of trim (and all sorts of other home decorating projects. Some day I will make a slipcover for a chair, too). And if I can do this...anyone can. I am not widely-known for my patience.

Winner

And the winner is....

Ange!

In addition, because I think of the celtic knot as my little St. Patrick's day draw, Ange will also receive the bizzaro Philadelphia treat, Irish Potatoes:

They are neither Irish nor potatoes. And they look like dirt! But they're a "Philadelphia tradition for over 100 years." If you want to know more, go here. I am a full service website.

(Ange, please send your snail mail--my e-mail is in my profile. Thanks!)

A Finish and Some Addition

I finished the middle section of Flea Market Souvenir! Now I think I must turn my full attention to the mermaid. I've neglected her for far too long--and my mother's birthday is creeping up on me.

Don't forget, I am drawing the winner of the Celtic knot tomorrow! Today when I was at the grocery store I saw the perfect accompaniment for the pin cushion. It's a specialty of southeastern Pennsylvania, well Philadelphia particularly. And it's perfect to go with a Celtic present. I don't want to give too much away, so no telling--Cathy, I am looking at you. Anyway, it's a special surprise. Go to this post to be entered.

Good News /Bad News

So you know how my job wasn't really working out? Well it's over. The whole thing reminds me of when Janeane Garofalo and Jerry Seinfeld broke up. It's really the thing both of us wanted. Only I had to let them do the breaking up so that I didn't get the fuzzy end of the lollypop. The weird thing was how easy it was to take. I mean, I've been working since I was 14--28 years--and I've never lost a job. I thought it might be harder. This isn't the best time to be unemployed, but it's going to be a whole lot easier to look for a job when I am not being drained by the one I have. So YAY. But we're not going to be able to go to New York and see Speed the Plow like we talked about*. Boo!

More good news: Danielle is the winner of the pillow. (Please e-mail your snail mail address.) There is some bad news there. I had intended to make the piping and sew it together tonight, but the dude wants to take me out to "celebrate" or whatever. So I won't be able to send it until next week. The good news is that it's going to be easier to get to the post office. Lots of people who are owed things will rejoice! (I'm looking at you, Lee.)

Finally, one of my many talents is translating American to English, so I'm sorry to report all you Brits who thought you could resist Ina Garten's siren call with the fleur de sel caramels, golden syrup substitutes for corn syrup. You can't escape.

* Part of my 101 things. I've been posting there again if you've given up on me.

Anniversary Giveaway!

Okay, blogger is doing that stupid thing where it turns the pictures and no amount of editing can change its mind.

I'm sorry it's been a while since I posted. Things aren't easy for me at work and it's affecting, well, everything... so let's pretend I don't work!

Hooray! My blog is 5 years and 5 months old. I've been stitching and unstitching and restitching this prize, a heart for Valentine's day. (I knew I should have stitched a bitchy valentine!) I still need to do some backstitching which will make this look quilted.

I am going to finish it as a pillow, and those fabrics are what I will use. Your prize is the pillow without the form. It's easier to mail that way, even internationally.

I'll draw the prize Friday night, and if I hear from you soon enough, I'll send it out on Saturday. Comment on this post only.

The only news I have about my mermaid is bad, so I'll save it for Monday.

Thanks for reading!

The Five Year Four Month Anniversary Winner is

Pam!
I forgot to take a screen shot, so you're just going to have to take my word for it. Pam, send me your snail mail address; my e-mail is in my profile.

Fifty entries! Wow. So now I know, you'd rather have stuff I buy than stuff I make. Hey, I can do that. Much easier.

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Today was a mad day of cleaning--the place was a sty--and cookie baking, which the dude acknowledged was hard work. We made Clementine's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, molasses cookies, and peanut butter blossoms.

My sister and cousin came for dinner--homemade lasagna--so they could see the backsplash. Fabulous! Thanks for the complements on that. At least none of you said what my sister said, "Now you need white cabinets." (I had just said I need new cabinets, but that's because I hate the insides. I'm fine with the outsides.)

We had cookies for dessert. Between the ones that got eaten and the ones set aside for presents, I think we're going to have to make more. I volunteered to bring them in for our Christmas potluck on Tuesday. More molasses cookies, I think.

My two flatfolds are drying, so photos tomorrow.

Thanks for all the well wishes on my 64-month anniversary. And for the compliments on my kitchen. Thanks for stopping by. I know you have a lot of blogs to choose from when you waste time on the internet so thanks for reading and commenting on mine. Buh-bye.

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.

And the Winner is

Lunchqueen said...
Congratulations on 5 years!! I read your blog all the time. Sara
Sara, please e-mail me your info.

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Thanks to all who read and especially those who leave comments and send me messages. At last, I've found a way to bring lurkers out of the closet! Lately I've been getting backchannel messages and I find it intriguing and delightful. I appreciate all my readers including the ones who have been with me so much of the past five years (I'm looking at you Donna Jo and Lee and Melissa) (And no doubt I've forgotten someone and made them feel bad) and the newbies and the people who haven't been with me for all five years but have gone back and read every word. You all rock!

Remind me not to set the blog to post automatically when I am away. I hate how that Superstar post came out. I really should have thanked you or told you about the trip to Maine. Instead I was all like, "me me me."

There are some good stories to share from the past four days, but my mother's computer is slow and we couldn't get a wireless signal on our computer even though she assured me my sister's been able to use her computer up there. Anyway, lots to tell but I am completely distracted by the fact we were robbed while we were gone. Which one of you bastards had a hand in that? They took mostly jewelry but fortunately I scooped up a pile of the good stuff on the way out the door Wednesday night. If only I'd taken the diamond necklace the dude gave me as a wedding gift or the ...you know myriad other pieces both sentimental and expensive. I've got to go make a list...