Jan 7, 2012

VIEWER MAIL

I'm not normally on the 'puter on a Saturday, but inspiration struck during breakfast and I decided to get my next column for Needlepoint Now sent off to Miss Elizabeth.

(How's THAT for a shameful plug?)

(And before you encourage me further, I should probably warn you that the title of the column is "Coming Soon to a theater near you....Needlepoint, The Musical".)

(As I told Miss Elizabeth in my apology/email to her: There is a reason why people like me should not have coffee machines that brew on demand.)

(Yes. I have forsaken my beloved Capresso for a Keurig, ladies and gentlemen, and I'm never going back. The only problem is that I now refer to the pods as "Crack Cups", which completely mortifies my sister when I announce (quite loudly, I might add) in the Bed Bath and Freaking Beyond that "I NEED CRACK CUPS, AUNT CHRISSY! I NEED THEM NOW!").

But I regress...

Bronny asked about the windowpane linen that I'm using for the Sam Sarah monthlies. Well, Bronny, believe it or not...it comes that way! It's called 28ct. Newport Natural and it's made by Zweigart. Cool, huh?

Paisley has thrown the proverbial gauntlet and hinted that L'Hiver needs to be finished this year. I agree, Paisley, but you do know that there are three other seasons, right? And you do know that I'm a nutball of the highest order and am already stressing over the fact that if I finish ONE of these damn things, then I need to finish ALL of them, and that they should all be finished in the same year. Right?

Sherry, the big red sunflower piece is actually a painted canvas that I'm needlepointing. It's a 13 mesh, and was a gift from Aunt Chrissy several years ago. I have finished quite a good chunk of it, but I just never seem to get it done. This year, though. This year.

Whitney...oh, don't be afraid to start the Threedles piece! What's the very worst thing that could happen? 1) You could fall in love with it and then obsessively rush off to purchase very single thing that this designer has ever done (witness my own Laura J. Perin obsession), or 2) You hit a schlumpadink wall and put it in your WIP pile. Either way....I'm with ya' sista' and will be right here cheering you on. (Metaphorically speaking, of course.)

Hey, Phyllis! A "ready made" is a picture frame that is already painted and assembled at the Michaels or the Hobby Lobby or the craft store mega mart near you. Instead of going the custom framing route, I am sometimes able to find a great "ready made" that I can pop a finished piece into and then feel like a framing genius! Try it! I promise that you'll get a good cramp from patting yourself on the back. (At least I did.)

Laura, as much as I would love to tell you that I whipped out "Snowflake Serenade" this year, the truth of the matter is that I started that one last January and got about 3/4 of it done before putting it away. So my needles didn't smoke exactly. They just plodded along at my usual dopey pace. (I'm not a fast stitcher, people. I promise you that. It's all an illusion, and if you peek behind the curtain you'll see my pile of WIPs that is the approximate size of a Buick. So when I finally do finish one, chances are that it only needed an hour or two to get it to the FeeNee stage.) I'm a complete fraud. A big fat complete fraud.

And finally...Ginny asked me if I was going to frame "Snowflake Serenade". Yup, Ginny. I think I am. Unless I wake up tomorrow and am able to figure out how to use the sewing machine without stitching my sleeves together...framing it shall be.

I think that about covers it for now, kids. There is a small patch of sunshine coming in the back door, so I guess it's time that I go re-position the living room furniture so that You Know Who can catch a few rays! I wouldn't mind it so much were it not for the fact that he insists I spritz him with Evian every fifteen minutes and that I ply him with umbrella drinks. Damn dog.

15 comments:

  1. I got a Keurig for Christmas, so I could break my Starbucks addiction. I called it Starcrack.

    Now I'm going to steal your term "crack cups". I love it!

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  2. I LOVE my Keurig too! I order right from Keurig.com....they have about 200 varieties of coffee and tea to chose from!
    All your work is beautiful whether it took you 2 months or 2 years to finish! Happy stitching!
    ~~Gayle~~

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  3. Yours is always the first column that I read in Needlepoint Now!

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  4. I'm not a coffee drinker, so no Keurig here...but as I am a tea drinker my dear, sweet BIL (and Class of 88 ND alumni) gave me a Breville tea maker for Christmas.

    Oh...the joy of waking up to a pot of perfectly brewed hot tea!

    I share your fear about L'Hiver. I refuse to even start one, as much as I just KNOW that they would look beautiful as a set of cushions across the back of a daybed...if only I had a daybed in my stitching room!

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  5. Ah...nothing like a Spinster "fix" on a Saturday afternoon. You always bring a smile to my face!

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  6. Oh what a wonderful Mom you are sunrays and spritzing,i wish someone would do that for me however my husband does crack my back for me so no trips to the dr.
    Crack cups oh how I love the term, so funny.

    Happy day to you.
    Catherine

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  7. Good thing Aunt Chrissy isn't around my husband. Not only does he (we) call our k-cups "crack", but he also rides the Target carts up and down the isles. He gets a running start, jumps on and rides the cart as far as it will go. The men laugh and the women just shake their heads. Now that is embarrassment!

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  8. We were lucky enough to have some sunshine yesterday too - I was working from home and the computer I was on (a desktop) is in a room that faces East - opened the blinds and enjoyed!! Love your finish...

    I was reading this post and your comment back to Sherry made me think - I don't think I said anything about the red flower (though I do like it and look forward to seeing it finished) but then I had to smack the forehead and remember I am not the only Sherry in the world (although the name of my blog makes one think that's not so...lol...after all itsallaboutsherry).

    I will be checking out the article - I love your writing!

    Crack cups - you crack me up!!

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  9. Our hotel had a Keurig. Good thing everyone in our family has one because the same theory applies whether it's the tiny one cupper in the hotel or the industrial version my parents have. (Exactly how many ounces does that cup hold?)

    Gayle, everyone knows you go to Bloodbath and Beyond to buy the cups with the ubiquitous 20% off coupons. It's the only way to get crack cups for a decent price.

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  10. I can't believe I did not remember you starting that last January. (I've been stalking--um FOLLOWING!-- you for awhile now). I think last year when I saw your progress I decided to add that to my wish list. And no, you are not a slow stitcher. Believe me, you have WAY MORE finishes than I do. Happy Stitching! Btw, if you enjoy stitching while watching a series, may I recommend to you Downton Abbey? Season 2 starts tonight on PBS in our local area. Check it out!

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  11. I can be your official BOAF cheerleader: L'Hiver, L'Ete, L'Automne, Le Printemps! All for Coni stand up and holler!

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  12. ROTFL about the crack cups!! I am using a french press that I picked up in England for a song...it`s my favorite thing! I understand about the coffee obsession!

    Kisses to Stewy and Bosco..

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  13. Coni, I so enjoy reading your blog. I love your writing, but most of all I love your sense of humor that starts my darkened day with a chuckle and/or a laugh. Thank you. :) Cathryn

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  14. Been awhile since I commented..but just couldn't resist!!! You are To Damn Funny!!! Still love reading your blog and about all adventures. I am still waiting on you to get your stuff together and get a stitchy mobile to come down here and bring me what I need. Tah for now!! Love to Stewey Aunt C and Bosco

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  15. Thank-you so much for the explanation..now I can buy frames and my husband won't even know..I already have a tendency to buy them (for photos). I've always been too afraid t frame my own finished works, I will have to give it a shot and see what happens!!

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