Thunk. Thunk. Is this thing on?

Wow! I've obviously been very lazy about posting. So what's been going on? I'm sure if you're reading this you heard me shout alllllll over the internets about being in the final issue of Fiberarts Magazine. So that's old news. (Check your newsstands!)

I did have a really cool exchange with DMC. I asked if they would send me info on the history of their company so I could write about them on Needle Exchange, and boy did they deliver!

Here are the links of you missed it-
DMC Part I
DMC Part II
DMC Part III

I also included a vintage cross stitching pattern from 1904 at the end of Part III, here's the first page.

Oh, fashion. Ye are a fickle mistress. Still working on lace. This current piece is sculptural and hurting my feelings. I have been taking breaks from it to spin yarn for winter sweaters. Party like it's 1899 over here.
Speaking of fickle, I am also currently obsessed with terrariums.

So these have been fun and cheap time wasters.

 Johnny Murder has become obsessed with floral design. 

He's pretty awesome. 

Speaking of parties, we've had a bunch of house guests this summer, and we've gotten creative with our smoker for dinner parties. Check out this magic- 

That's right. Smoked oysters. 

That's about it! I haven't been posting much because I've been trying to wait until I have finished pieces to show off, not just WIPs. Oh! But I have been paper piecing, and that's been surprisingly easy. Not the clippy clippy basting style, the stitch the pieces on to the paper style. Anyway, more soonish. In the mean time-