Embroidereading Details (Contest, Contest, Contest!)

The Rules: Submit a photograph of your finished "embroideread" hoop--a 7"-10" hoop embroidered (by you and by hand) with a poem or a portion of a poem. (You can look here and here for examples that I've been working on--please finish your edges before photographing your entries--don't be sloppy and lazy like me!) Your poem may be original (written by you), child-verse (written by your child, grandchild, nephew/niece, etc.), or quoted (all or part of a published poem you really like). If you choose to embroider a published poem (not written by you), your embroideread should include the poet's name. When submitting your photograph, please indicate the category into which your entry falls (in the title or description). Your hoop may be embellished with images if you like, but please make the poem/text the focus of the project.
How to Submit: Join the flicker group I've set up for this contest, and post your bestest, clearest photo of your submission. Voila! (Note that by submitting, you're giving me your permission to use your photo on this blog and to generally brag about how cool you are.)
Deadline: All entries must be posted to the flickr pool no later than midnight on September 1, 2010--that gives you slowpokes over a month to write (or choose) and stitch!
Prizes: While I'd like to wait and determine how the prizes will be distributed, so I can see how many entries of each kind we receive, there will be three prizes, and I will either award a prize in each poem category (original, child-verse, and quoted), or I'll award three prizes for overall awesomeness. Assisting me in this endeavor will be the lovely, crazy-talented Corinne from September House / So September. She's a far better embroiderer than me, so let's call her the "stitch-type judge" and I'll be the "words-type judge." Each winner will receive the following bunch of loot:

1. a 10" wooden embroidery hoop

2. a 7" wooden embroidery hoop

3. a 1/2-yard cut of gorgeous natural linen (perfect for embroidery/applique projects)

4. ten colors of dmc floss

5. a lined, 5.25"X8.25" Moleskine cahier notebook (for embellishing and/or writing poems in)

6. a Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

7. a roll of lovely washi tape from Happy Tape

8. a package of six assorted Little Pink House note cards with white envelopes

9. a Little Pink House beaded, wool felt flower brooch

I estimate the total value of each bunch of goodies at about $50.

Though actual submission takes place on the flickr pool, let me know with a comment on this post if you think you're going to participate. I can't wait to see who's in! And let me know, also in the comments, if you have any questions. This is my first time hosting something like this, and I know it's entirely possible I'm leaving out crucial details. Meanwhile, have fun dreaming up your hoop!

Sew, Play Putt-Putt, Take a Dip in the Ocean, Sew.

That was Sunday, Crowe-wise. Dad's home, and the fun hasn't stopped--we're getting ready to eat vegan chili dogs and watch Batteries Not Included, which I just found out we could stream from Netflix. Remember that one?
Between the family-fun activities, though, I've been working on "Tree Town." What do you think? It's nice to work in a different shape--I haven't picked up an oval hoop in quite a while.

***I'm going to try and have "embroidereading" contest details ready to go by mid-week, and for those of you who asked--yes, I'll allow plenty of time for sewing-type slowpokes to make the deadline, too. ;-)

A Poetic, Parenting, Braggart-Type Interlude

I try to play it cool, but sometimes I'm astounded--kind of staggered, even--by what my child can do. Click to make this larger, and be astounded, too. ;-)

P.S. We do have a yard now--I didn't forge the garden shots; I promise!

Cooking the Details

Thanks to those of you who have said you'd participate in the little poetry/embroidery contest I've dreamed up! I've been thinking about the fact that some of the rest of you may be reluctant because you don't feel as brave about your poetry skills as you do about your stitchery. . . am I on target here? For that reason, as I cook up the details, I'm thinking of ways for the contest to include even those who feel they have not been blessed by the word fairy!
Some of you have already suggested that you'd like to embroider poems written by your children--excellent idea! In a couple of days, I'll post all the "rules" (such as they are) and the procedure for entering, and I will announce the prizes, which will be pretty awesome, I think. I love prizes.

Meanwhile, you're looking at my new sachet design, now available in the shop. The top is made from a beautiful hanky-weight linen, recommended by Manda and purchased from here. Good stuff!

All Quiet on the Crowe Front

So--the girl started art day camp this morning, and it was strange to drop her off and know I won't see her until nearly dinner time. I haven't done this for months, since our return to home schooling. Yup, strange--and kind of awesome. When I got back to the silent house and sat down at the work table, I felt a little giddy. I can't believe I have all these hours to fill any way I like. There's a plan of course--two big projects I swear I'll finish before the three weeks of camp are over. But there's also time for tinkering. Yay!

And here's where you come in: I want to have a contest. Do people do this on blogs? I don't know, but I'm gonna do it anyway! I'm going to host/judge (with some help) an "Embroidereading Poetry Contest." I'll take photographed entries of small, original poems (or pieces of poems, as I've been doing) embroidered onto fabric and displayed in hoops. And there will be prizes. What do you think? Would you participate?

Joy Bird

It did finally get a little less hot around these parts, so I managed to finish "Joy Bird," which is now in the shop.
And speaking of summer weather--and of joy--my best friend is arriving tomorrow for another of our beach-bum (with emphasis on the bum) sleep overs, and then I'm off to Farmington for the weekend to participate in the editorial board meeting of the Beloit Poetry Journal. All good stuff--but I probably won't catch up with you again until the beginning of next week. Meanwhile, may the bird of joy land on your tree! ;-)

P.S. Thank you all SO much for the jellyfish praise. You're too good to me.

Jellyfinished

Those of you who've been around a little while remember this and know that I am, perhaps, asked to perform feats of jellyfish crafting more than the average person.
I'm not complaining--especially not about this project, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The canvas is 16X20," so the finished piece makes a nice, bold statement, without being freakishly large.
The tentacles, especially, were fun to make--I began with circles of felt a bit larger than my fist, and I cut in from the outside edge in a spiral pattern. Instant curls!
Annabelle's psyched (which isn't always easy to accomplish--she can be a tough critic), and she's in the planning phase of a companion piece to go over her second twin bed. I'm sure we'll show-and-tell that one, too!

Come on--Jellyfish ARE Blurry, Right?

Please excuse the bad (yes, blurry) evening photograph--I just had to share this in-progress project with you now. I'm working on an Annabelle-imposed deadline, so there'll be no time later. By morning, I expect this piece to be ready to hang! I promise finished-product-style photos asap. And I might take 'em in the day time, so they don't give you vertigo. Sheesh.

Bearers of Good... Rings

This is a ring pillow for my sister-in-law Sarah's wedding in August. The rings will be tied at the dogs' collars, and felty Winnie and Rugby will bear them safely to Sarah and Tony, whilst entertaining the heck out of whatever little tyke gets to carry this thing. (I'm a little worried he might not want to give it up!)
Winnie's quite excited about the whole thing. Can you tell?

Too. Hot. To. Sew.

While we droop in front of the fan in our underwear (TMI? Sorry.), our projects sit idle, waiting for the temperature to drop and our attention spans to rally. See you then, friends!

Disappearing Things

Maybe the poem speaks for itself, but in case it doesn't, I mean this:
A girl (my girl) who eats her lunch in the (new-to-us) back garden, with a book and...
...three stuffed animals for company (a bear, a turtle, and a flying squirrel). A girl of eleven who might be a very different girl awfully soon. Those of you with children this age--and those of you on my poetic wavelength!--will understand this uncharacteristically (for me) wistful moment, I know.

What's Better than a Felty Shih Tzu?

Um, two?

Happy weekend, my dears. See you in a few days!