WIP Wednesday: Spooky Kitties

September 28, 2022October 31, 2022Leave a comment

Halloween Cat Bunting spans about seven feet... perfect for our built-in book shelves. — *Halloween Cat Bunting spans about seven feet… purrfect for our built-in book shelves.*

These past two days have felt like an entire week. Fall is such a busy time for magazine publishing as issues are crammed with booze, holiday, and winter travel advertising. I am busy printing, knitting, and bookbinding for Luna Market and other fall and holiday maker markets while my work days have become increasingly busy.

*Nine hand-printed Halloween Cat heads are strung on seven feet of black hemp twine. Drawn and carved by hand.*

Yesterday was a particularly problem-solving kind of day. I carved this block on Sunday knowing I would come home to a quiet house last night to print, trim, and string this Halloween Cat bunting was just what I needed. Sometimes a little project just for fun is the balm I need to soothe my overworked brain.

This project has me in the mood to watch some witchy movies this weekend.

October is just around the corner and that means lots of celebrations at Chez Vee*.

* Chez Vee (for Van Landingham) is what I’ve named our charming red cottage style home.

Eight Years & Counting (Stitches)

September 12, 2021September 21, 2021Leave a comment

Eight years ago today I started a local stitch & bitch in our small Texas town. Knitting and crocheting may be a solitary activity, but regular community with other knitters and crocheters is a bright spot in my life.

I had started one while living in Austin and was craving this community again, so I began by asking a local business owner Molly Alexander if we could meet once a month in her new fairly store. I knew it would be a great fit for a knitting group and her business. I had planned to call it a Stitch & Bitch, but decided Stitch & Hoot was much more on brand for her lovely store The Owl Wine Bar & Home Goods Store.

I knew that the community I craved could thrive in such a welcoming space. Eight years later this group of mostly women, still meets once a month to knit, drink wine or Topo Chico, and catch up with each other’s lives, or rather to Stich & Hoot. Covid-19 created a brief interruption as we pivoted to Zoom then back again to The Owl at their adjusted hours.

We could have met in each other’s homes, but meeting publicly allows us to post on social media and attract new members, and sometimes knitters just visiting family for the holidays will pop in… this really does happen. Also, I should point out that She Creates Union exists because Emma Clark saw our flyer at The Owl and showed up to crochet. Kismet.

Our September Stitch & Hoot will be Thursday, September 23rd 5-7pm. There will be cake. Bring your pointy sticks or even sharper wit and join us in celebrating eight whole years of Stitching & Hooting. All are welcome!

If you ever find yourself near Elgin, Texas on a 4th Thursday, come by The Owl at 5pm. We’d love to have you.

Some come to stitch, others come to hoot.

Cheers, Stacey

The very air between them seemed to crackle…

February 10, 2021Leave a comment

To the untrained eye this may look like I have plans for a weekend curled up reading mild romance novels. I’ve been visiting the Lions Club weekly to scoop up these and some lovely hard cover books for a couple projects. If you came out to see me on Saturday you may have noticed the paper valentine garland hung on the front of my booth. I had hoped to make at least a few of these to sell but only had time to pop out this prototype using stamps.

If you read the flags closely you can see I made this valentine bunting out of Harlequin Romance novel pages. I am certain not one person realized it, but I knew. And it made me smile.