Scribbles & Bits

How Often Will You Read a Post That Mentions Frank Lloyd Wright AND Rupaul?

Behold!  The Greedy Cat Bell Pull is finished!!!!  You can click the picture for a bigger view if you like!  All my pictures are clickable.  Have I ever mentioned that?  I guess I just always figured everybody knew.... 

I guess I shouldn't get too braggy, though, because it's not actually finished.  All the stitching is, and really, that's the hard part.  I still need bell pull ends, though.  And I think I'm going to run some trim of some kind up the sides so it looks a little more complete (and blends in a little less with the wall).  And I thought I'd throw in a close-up of one of my favorite parts of it.  On my monitor, it shows up sort of weird and griddish with a lot of white showing, but I'm pleased to say that it doesn't look like that in person. 

So after finishing a long and somewhat complicated cross stitch project that in some ways tested my patience, what's the most logical thing to do?  If you said, "Why, start another one, of course!  And this time, make sure that your patience is tested every, oh, 8 or so stitches," then you are obviously my long lost twin, because (unwittingly) that is what I have done.  Ok, technically, I was pretty excited to start it so I started before I finished the bell pull, but that's a detail, really.  It's a cross stitch version of Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisteria Window.  I love Wright and I love this window and, when I started this kit, I figured it wouldn't be so bad.  You look at the chart and there's hardly any stitching at all.  I'd be done in a week, tops!  Ha!  How many times am I going to think that and be proven wrong before I get it through my head?  There is not a lot of stitching, but there is a lot (a lot!!!!) of color changing.  I think the most stitches I've ever gotten out of one color before having to change to another is 16.  I think the very smallest has been two.  Don't get me wrong, it's lovely, but this isn't something I tote to work or the waiting rooms with me.  This is something I settle in for, with tea and cookies perhaps.  It's also been a learning experience.  This is the first time I've ever cross-stitched on linen.  It wasn't too hard to get into the routine of crossing two threads instead of one.  Also, the embroidery threads are pretty short, so my usual trick of taking a long piece and folding it in half and then just catching the loop to start the whole thing hasn't worked.  I've been leaving a tail and then catching it with a few stitches.  Also not hard, but kind of slow and time consuming. 

So what have I had on hand for coffee breaks and waiting rooms?  This washcloth.  The pattern is from Yarnplay and I'm using the hemp that is recommended (I'm really sorry I can't remember the brand name, but the color's cinnamon).  Anyway, this is the front, and this is the back.  Remember how Rupaul used to say that when she'd first come out in her new dress in her show?  Does anyone remember when she had a show?  Does anyone remember Rupaul, actually?  I should probably hide my head in shame.  I love Rupaul and I loved the show.  Anyway, this is the second time I've started this washcloth.  The first time I started it, I was really nervous with all the doctor visits and everything so I screwed up the pattern (sad, because it's a simple enough pattern.  That's why I chose it as opposed to, say, a sock).  So I had to rip it out.  I threw a rubber band around the base of the needle I'm purling on to and that solved the problem, so at some point I'll have this bad boy finished! 

I Caved, But I Had To (I Just Didn't Know It Yet)

So you see the beautiful pile of Yarn Pirate yarns I caved for!  As always, the colors are glorious, the yarn amazingly soft, and the workmanship excellent!  The colors (from top to bottom, left to right) are: Karma, Quicksilver, Sweetheart, Cocoa, Celery, and Posie. 

I was also extremely lucky to be the winner in her 500th item contest!    I won a beautiful limited edition colorway called 500 and she very generously knocked off shipping and sent me awesome goodies!  There's a tissue holder with the Jolly Roger emblazoned upon it, an awesome wee knitting book, and two delicious smelling soaps, peppermint and citrus spice by Burt's Bees!  Thank you so much, Georgia!  It is all so very awesome!

Now I said I had to cave but I didn't know it at the time.  This is true.  I caved because of the colorways, but now I can use an even better excuse.  I'm going to be having foot surgery (the first of apparently several) in a couple of weeks and will be on modified bed rest for a couple more (at least).  It was a bit of a surprise and it's all moving very quickly.  And I'm freaked out because I've never had any sort of surgery before and I'm going to have a general anesthesia and oh the scary things they (and lots of other people) tell you.  So I'm just sort of ignoring all that part and focusing on the afterwards.  Modified bed rest means major things to me: time to unabashedly craft (knit, cross stitch, embroider, whatnot), read, watch movies, and become a gamer (roxxor!!1!).  I will obviously need lots of yarn to get me through this time (and all the time I've been and will continue to spend waiting in the waiting rooms and offices to pass the "the dr. will be with you in a moment" moments).  Now having mentioned all that, that may also mean that posts will be even patchier than normal (I know, how is that possible?).  So, um, there ya go.

(Silent) Poetry Reading

Snapping your fingers is optional. For more information, click here (via January One).  And now, my contribution:

The Cow by Ogden Nash

The cow is of the bovine ilk;

One end is moo, the other, milk.