We're Feeling Good From The Pills We Took

So, I haven't posted much lately because last week, I fell and broke my knee, and I didn't think being hopped up on Percocet would make for good blogging. Actually, Percocet only takes the pain away. It doesn't do much else.

Thanks to Blogger, I just found an unfinished post with the following:

I just discovered designer Anna Maria Horner's blog (thanks to My Half of the Brain). Here's a how-to for a cute felt owl ornament. And a felt garland. And a dog leash. I love her handwritten entry. I still write letters sometimes but nowhere near as many as I used to. It's easier to send an email, but I don't even do that sometimes. Right now, I have 216 emails to answer. Some are from as far back as June. I get on my computer and I'd rather read blogs or blow up cute little creatures.

I can't put any weight on my leg for two months (just shoot me). And, I was thinking, well, I could use all this downtime to stitch and embroider. So, maybe I'll have a few million things that I've made to share over the next two months.

Postcard Giveaway

As you can see, The Apronista and Jane's Apron are having a giveaway this month. The prize is a set of apron postcards from Julie over at Jane's Aprons. You have three chances to win and the drawing is this Friday so go enter now.

I forgot to post this last night: go see the Pop Tarts (at least that's what I think they are).

And, Wolfgang Will Be Playing Bass

I was just at a blog where the blogger was sharing pictures of some cross stitched Christmas ornaments that had bible verses on them. And, that's fine. I don't really care what people cross stitch -- I was going to mention one thing I wouldn't want to see but that will bring a bunch of perverted googlers here -- but I'd much rather see this than something biblical. Also, worth mentioning are these. (That reminds me: I need to put some Simple Minds on my iPod.)

And, I think I've already linked to it but once again, here's the best knitted project ever.

Did you know you can make Shrinky Dinks from a piece of #6 plastic aka polystyrene? You can! Directions are here. [link via Not Martha]

Tillamook is having a macaroni & cheese contest. [that link also via Not Martha] I don't want to enter. I just want the winning recipes. I like to use different recipes for macaroni & cheese and am always looking for new ones to try. The last time I made it, I used this recipe but I changed it a little because I didn't have all four cheeses that Emeril called for. I think I had two kinds and just used two others that were in the fridge. (I also left out the essence because the bam thing annoys me to no end.) Between the butter, the half & half, and all that cheese, it probably has a gazillion calories in it, but it was really good.

There are embroidery lessons over at Crafty Daisies for the next few weeks. It starts with the basics (supplies) and instructions for a few stitches (with good pictures).

Once again, the title of this has nothing to do with the subject matter. I'm just using the upcoming Van Halen reunion tour as material for naming these things.

I'm Sure They're In It For The Money

One time, about 20 years ago, my grandmother came out for a visit and was being her usual bitchy self. I had had enough and had to get out of the house so I called Ticketmaster and got a ticket to a John Mellencamp show at Irvine Meadows for that night. It was a pretty good show. I had a nice drunk guy next to me who kept singing along to all the songs. After they John Mellencamp and his band came back out for an encore, the crowd started booing. Or so I thought at first. The nice drunk guy told me that Bruce Springsteen was onstage and sure enough he was. They weren't booing. They were yelling for Brooooce. Sometimes it pays to have a bitchy grandmother.

Van Halen Reunites

Wow! Sarah at kniting-and.com finished her yo-yo quilt. She made 1600 yo-yos for it using a Clover Quick Yo-Yo Maker. Color me impressed.

And, if you're keeping track of my yo-yo making, I have yet to do a single one.

Pat Cummings has put her Just For Fun Redwork Book of old patterns online. Designs include a pig, horse, dog, cat, owls, children, flowers, birds and a somewhat disturbing one (to me) of a little boy in short pants riding on the back of a rabbit, plus a bunch of others. Thanks for sharing them, Pat!

How's about making slippers from an old wool blanket? There's a tutorial here. [link via Craft Leftovers]

I know the title has nothing to do with what I've written but I have a hard time naming these things. Who had that blog where all her titles were song lyrics?

Or is that a mug?

Instead of posting pictures of their kids on their blogs, people should post more pictures of bunnies in coffee cups.

Check out the Just Nan chart for a lovely Christmas biscornu.

I still think biscornu sounds like something to eat. Probably because it makes me think of biscotti.

Speaking of biscornu, a member of Cyberstitchers has made up a bunch of them. Instead of using a typical pattern where the design repeats so it's the same from each side, she did them a little differently. I really like how they turned out. Nice job, Helen!

Did you know you can use wax paper as a substitute for tear-away stabilizer? I need to try this.

I Has a Corm

I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER? has a store now but I refuse to buy anything until they offer a Monorail Hamster t-shirt.

You know, if you're depressed and suicidal, go look at the Monorail Hamster, and as you watch him whiz around the track, say outloud "I has a corm!" and I swear you will decide to go on living another day. And, if that doesn't work, you might as well throw yourself in front of the Monorail Cat.

Well, I just cracked up for about five minutes.

Here's a fun quiz: Decide which of ten stories are for real or from an episode of Scooby Doo. (I got 60% right). [link via Pop Culture Junk Mail]

I Want to Marry This Fabric

Does everybody get weird messages from Blogger or am I the only lucky one? Like just now, I tried to log in and I got a pop up that said I needed to enable Javascript or some such thing. So I closed the window and opened it again and here I am.

Sometimes I get an error message when I'm trying to upload an image, but if I close the window and try again, it works. Go figure.

Anyway, I just wanted to share something that makes me drool. There is nothing on this webpage that I would not wear, carry, put my stuff in, sleep on, or drape over me. I love it all. When I get asked what my favorite color is and I say pink and green, I mean the colors on this page. If this doesn't inspire me to whip out a sewing machine and make something, I don't think anything ever will. Of course, I'm too broke to buy the fabric or the purse pattern but hello! I have other fabric! I have a purse pattern! I have a sewing machine! Time to wind that bobbin! Or whatever it is you do with them.

Biscornu Link Update

Maggie the Shih Tzu
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

Some time ago, I linked to a couple of posts on Craft Gossip where Heather, the needlework editor at the time, had shared two free cross stitch charts from Periphaeria Designs. Well, all the old needlework posts on Craft Gossip are now gone for some bizarre reason. I'm sure it has something to do with Heather no longer being the editor over at CG.

I stupidly did not save either chart, but luckily, they can be found on Periphaeria Designs (click on "Sample Designs"). I can hear them calling to me right now: "Make me into a biscornu! Make me into a biscornu!"

Actually, I can hear a dog growling. Lately, Maggie the Shih Tzu, will go sit in the middle of my bedroom floor and growl. I seriously think she is telling me it's time to go to bed, because she only does it after 2 am.

So, good night!

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today (almost)

Earlier this morning, it dawned on me that it was probably twenty years ago that I bought "Pleased To Meet Me" by the Replacements. It didn't seem possible it was that long ago but I checked the receipt and saw it was true. (Click it if you can't read it. And, yeah, I know I need to use a scanner next time. And yeah, I used to save record store receipts.)

I started thinking about the Replacements after I saw a link on Guava's blog to an article about Paul Westerberg. That got me to googling his name, which led me to his wife's blog, where I read he was 47 years old.

Excuse me? Did you say Paul Westerberg is 47? Are you sure? Dang. I don't even want to know how old Tommy Stinson is now. (He'll be 41 this year, according to Wikipedia. That can't be right. He was like 13 when he joined the band.)

It's not that I think 47 is old because I don't. It's just that I haven't been keeping up with Paul Westerberg the way I did with the Replacements, and I guess I forgot that people get older even if you aren't running to Tower Records every time they release a new record.

I once wrote the Replacements a fan letter. They sent back an application for the NKOTB fan club. Yeah, I saved it.

So, should I go clean my bathroom or take pictures of myself wearing my Replacements t-shirts?