Crypt Stitch

Santa can suck it...

Howdy strangers! Been a bit lax. I know I'm slack. Whip me. Go on, I dare you.

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So I joined up with the lovely Cobwebs "Santa Can Suck It" virtual secret Santa, and was pared with the most talented Jayson, one half of the lovely Nickols Manor. What do you get the man who can make his own creepy corpse? Who shalt build scary tombstones? Who doth frighten his neighbourhood with his partner in juicy crime?

I can see no alternative.

Has to be puppies.

Yes, PUPPIES.

No not the cute an cuddly type, the ones that chase you to your death, rip your throat to shreds or turn you into zombies. You know, Hell Hounds. Yes they deserve capitals. Observe:

Picture credit

Awww...cute. All I Am Legend like. Would look good in the gravestone infested front yard. Might actually maim or kill the trick or treaters rather than just frighten them, but life is for the un-living. Sometime we just have to take that leap. Right?

No?

No to the puppies?

Right.

Play poker Jayson?

Not a card person myself, but this would make a nice conversation starter:

The Ace of Spades poker table. Plus that looks suspiciously like Iron Maiden's Eddie on the table. Extra points.

Already have a pool table? Hows about a coffin rack?

Cute!

You can use it on your coffin pool table!

And those who aren't in to playing sports like poker and pool (ahem) can sit on your coffin couch. You can choose the colour, I'll let you!

I hope you have the room for your gifts Jayson! If not, you should SO build on a theme room to your house for all these presents. Hours of fun for the whole family!

Ahhh...I love giving gifts. Makes me feel all full-upped inside.

Merry Christmas Jayson and Dixie!

xxCryptStitchxx

Wicked...

I know, I should be smacked like a bad, bad donkey, but I am not sure entriely where the days have gone this past couple of weeks - time is moving too fast, and rather scarily so. Does anyone have some spare seeds for a money tree? I promise I would plant them with care and nourish them well! I am behind on a bunch of stuff - including posting a pressie made weeks ago for a lovely Obsidian Kitten (Sorry Shannah!), but with this weeks pay and (hoepfully) some 'stimulation' from Big Kev I might get my shit together. And only 140-something sleeps til the big trip! Ah! Freak out! Deep breaths...

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The blog and shoppe are a year old! So, I think a little celebration is in order, including a give-away and a discount day or two - don't you? I will work on this the next couple of days, try and contain your excitment.

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For now though, a couple of funnies to get you through, Dear Reader. Try and behave, won't you?

Birthday Gift Ideas...

So my birthday is in about six weeks, and just in case you were wondering what to get the gal who has everything (well, more than I reasonably need anyway), here are a few ideas for you. Now, I don't expect you to go overboard, one of each will be plenty. They're some new items at the amazing Uncle Festers in Victoria, and oooohh, pretty.

Now I'm not one to wear crosses, but the symbolism here is just too much, and oh how I love this poem:

From the site:
In homage to Edgar Alan Poe, this mourning cross is inscribed with the raven's single word answer to all questions, 'Nevermore'; from the 1845 poem, The Raven.
Centre piece approx 7.65 cm long

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And then, for the days I just don't feel like wearing a cross, but still want to 'represent' for Mr Poe:

From the site:

A graphic representation of the subject of Poe's most celebrated and tragic narrative poem of the same name, supernaturally lamenting the death of a young lover.
Crow and feathers a massive 11 cm long
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And look, there are matching earrings:

Or how about this:

Or this:

Or even this:

Best I stop drooling all over the keyboard now. And I really have been (relatively) well behaved this past year, so I probably deserve ALL of the above, don't you think? Just thought I would give you some ideas, of course...

Kiva

Here is my newest loan recipient for Kiva:

Leonilda
Leonilda is a member of Banco Comunal El Roble. Leonilda is 65 years-old, married, and has 9 children. She dedicates herself to knitting and sewing beautiful pieces of work such as bedspreads, sweaters, baby clothes (depending on her clients' orders). She sells these items in both Lima and Selva. Leonilda needs a loan of 1000 soles that she will invest to buy thread and wool. Leonilda would like to improve both her business and her health.

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I love that as soon as I have $25 back in the kitty from loans repaid by other recipients, I can loan out straight away again. This means my $150 investment is directly helping seven groups of people. And oh with the warm fuzzies inside! Go join Kiva, it will make you feel all warm and gooey (and like you are actually helping someone, not just giving a handout) - but be warned, helping other hard working individuals gets addictive...

Obsidian Kitten

Look what the Lovely with a capital "L" Obsidian Kitten made specially for me! Her name is Veatrice, and at the moment she is keeping Dear Balthazar's noggin' warm. Soon it will be cool enough outside that I will be able to wear her myself, and oh what sights we shall see together!

Plus there were extra little bonuses in my parcel. What a lucky gal am I!

And Yes, I did a littel happy dance when I saw my parcel at the door. Akasha thought it was all for her benefit. Lovely.

Pay it forward...

What a slack little Crypt Stitch have I been? I can't fathom that January is nearly over - I just got done picking up the scraps of yule time wrapping paper it seems. A blink and a half from now, my trip will have been long gone and there will be presents under the tree again - stop the crazy train I want to get off...So much to do, so little time.
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I may have intonated previously, it has been rather warm here of late. I lost one of my darling chooks to the heat (we assume it was the heat in any case), no more Quito-licious. La Paz is like a whole new chook, she is so very quiet (I suppose she has no one to rile up), but she is eating and laying as usual, and doesn't seem depressed but for the lack of crowing, so for now we shall live in a single chook family. If she looks to be getting sad I'll get her a companion - it is said a single chook is a lonely chook, but she has Acorn and the plethora of Galahs and Magpies to keep her company throughout the day.
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On the sewing front - I have so many ideas, but have not been motivated to carry any of them out. I have tidied up my sewing room though, so I can actually see where everything is, which is a help. I read my Japanese Magazines for inspiration ( so much inspiration!), and I dream and make notes - just got to get my bum in the chair. I am, however, taking part in:

Via Amy at Badskirt, who joined up through Fi at DearFii - Soooooo, heres the gist:

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post. I have 365 days (ample time) to do it in...You must have a blog to join in and be willing to do the same for three other people...

So lets play! Don't forget to leave your URL, I'll visit your blog and get a feel for what you would like and make you something very special and all your own! Then you can do the same for three more lucky peeps and between us all we will shower the world in handmade! What could be better!

Ch-ch-changes Redux

Look at what the spooktakular Cobwebs had to say about her changling doll... Isn't she the best? It was a nice surprise anyhoo.
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Did I mention it was hot?

Exhausted...

Well, it's all over agin for another year - such a big build up then all over in one day (well, two if you're lucky enough to celebrate Boxing Day as well). But it's worth it, isn't it? To have your family and friends around you to celebrate life, and to give and receive with abandon (I think the best bit is the giving, I love to see looks on people's faces as they open their gifts and take them in). Today, I am exhauseted, feeling rather like I've been hit by a truck - I slept 11 hours, about 4 more than I usually do, and boy do I look pretty. And it is soooo humid this morning, almost like breathing under water, in a very very warm bath. Blah. Bring on some snow! But wow, did I score on the present front (but when don't I? Spoiled rotten. I'll post some photos as soon as I can be bothered peeling myself off the chair)

Only 262 more days to go - best I get my rear into gear when it comes to the gym thing, thought I would post a couple of wee videos of two of the days on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu posted by the intrepid Mike. I cant bloody wait....

Only Two More Sleeps...

Only two more sleeps til the big fella in red leaves delectable suprises! I CAN'T wait!

Our Bavarian Pine plastic tree is bedecked in black and red this year (my favourite), with elf hat on top. Makes me happy.

Present from Kitty...

Look at the beautiful Yule present Akasha gave me! She is such a savvy shopper, even sans opposable thumbs.

Aren't you just sooooo envious? And you know what? They're actually comfortable too. I could have bought about thirteen other pairs of shoes while I was there, but alas, I did not win the lottery this week.