Yep, it’s definitely the shoes. I wore my High Tops of Awesomeness today, and they carried me swiftly along. Another adventure day, this time with new and wonderful folks.
You know which one is me, the one to the right (also Converse I believe) is Glynis, and the very sturdily shod black foot at the bottom of the picture is The Merry. We met for the first time (in person) about half-way between where they are and where I am. 
Mrs X says she is 5′ 7″ -does that look like about seven inches difference to you? Lol, yeah me too. She is making a thousand cranes to help with a friend’s healing. We learned how to fold them, and I am going to help with the project. (Daniel and Empress will be as well, they both just don’t know it yet.) 
These are the ones we made while we talked today. If anyone would like to assist, please let us know. Her classes start back up again on Monday, so she’s gonna be a wee bit busy.
And speaking of busy hands. I finished another subversive cross stitch last night. This is one I charted myself. I “borrowed” the center design from one of the old magazines I dug up in my quest for a better alphabet. 
I wish I had more of this fabric, it’s called over-dyed, and the people who make it do the coloring process by hand. Each one you buy is always different from the last. This was a left-over scrap from some commission piece I did (probably ten years ago). I also used the over-dyed threads I stitched the newer Chicken-y Hands tea towel with. (And will have to do again, right Ally?)
Foreign plates were rare on my drive, oddly enough I only saw two: Minnesota and Colorado. (We all know that I don’t count Washington and California any longer, too common to note each time.)
In our tour around the card altar today we are back with The Celtic Shaman’s Pack. As we humans are merely one of the world’s animals, I thought this one was very appropriate. The category this guy falls into is called The Empowerers, again, how fitting.
“The Woodward ~ The Lord of the Beasts ~ Creatures
A glowing head arises from the depths surrounded by oak leaves and dragons. In either hand he holds a stag by the hind legs.
The Lord of the Beasts commands the totem and power animals. When he beats his club against the bole of the Great Tree, at whose foot he is often found, the magic beings in animal shape form a circle around him. As the Woodward he is also the guardian of the ancient middle-world forest. This is therefore a card for all who desire to work with the totems or who seek to enter the wood beneath the worlds to find their personal power.
(It is probable that The Lord of the Beasts, also known as the Greenman, is the oldest of all the Celtic deities, since the carvings of him have been discovered dating from preRoman times.)
Journey: Travel to the foot of the Great Tree at the heart of the wood between the worlds. There you will find the Lord of the Beasts, seated crosslegged with a cauldron before him and a club at his side. Ask for guidance or for help in discovering your totem or power animals. He can also tell you how better to work with the animals you already know accompany you on this path. When he strikes the Tree watch to see what creature approaches.”
How fabulous that you got to meet some of your internet friends.
The thousand cranes sounds like a lovely gesture, and I love that cross stitch…so simple yet so meaningful haha.
I also like that card, he sounds like a pretty cool dude.
It was easier to have our meet up than we first thought it would be, see there is hope for us all.
It’s so fun to see you guys together! You look so happy – like you all are having a wonderful time. Does my heart good!
Thanks again, for that reading, Julie. You truly have a gift.
Thanks. I owe you an e-mail… tomorrow or so, I promise.
That was great fun, but next time I’m wearing snazzier shoes.
Surprisingly, I can’t tell which was the crane that I folded. I’d have thought the Jimmy Durante-style beak would have been obvious, but apparently not. Just goes to show that even a craft-impaired person can make a crane if she has kind and patient teachers
It WAS fun! Oh yes, next time we will definitely plan our shoes.
Lol, I couldn’t tell which crane was which either. We did have the perfect teacher for this project. Hope I can do it without her!
The cranes are an amazing gift. One of Karyn’s Mom’s friends made 1000 cranes for her, and hung them all up (in strings of 50) along the windows of her bedroom while she was fighting lymphoma. One of the strings was buried with her, and the rest were handed out at her memorial service. It was an amazing gesture, and made a tremendous difference.
I know I’ve relayed my motorcycle interenet friends stories a number of times, so all I’ll say is “yay for finally getting to meet in person!” And go cranes.
Yes, “wash those chickeny paws” is needed for my grill. Birthday would be good. You know when that is. With Dan’s new schedule, we’re going to have to have a grill event over here soon…
I had heard of this project before, but didn’t know the origins. Truly a very healing gesture.
Grill-time on your deck needs to be on the calendar here right quick!
I can totally do the tea towel for your birthday, but then it won’t be a surprise!
Wow, that’s a powerful card. I’ve always loved the Green Man. There’s a Charles de Lint story about it that is excellent. It speaks to me.
I love that you folks got together. Wish I’d been there. I’ll probably be back in the state around the 27th or 28th; if there is any way we can get together, let’s do it.
I love the subversive cross stitch! If I could manage that stuff I’d totally love to make one. For some reason, every time I attempt cross stitch, even if it’s something small with really large stitches, I totally mess it up.
I am a big fan of the Greenman too. Have several books with/about him as well, that Charles de Lint sounds familiar…
Okay! When you get here we will do it again, I didn’t even get lost (must have been Glynis’ great google map forward).
I am that way with illustrations and mostly all types of art, so I think we are pretty even in this regard. Seriously, the phrase can’t draw a straight line is very descriptive of me.
How much fun did you all have! Must have been great fun, smiley faces, cranes, and shoes. 1000 cranes. I love that idea. I should get a book and make a few for mama. She is back to me NOT being her child. It’s a 2-step dance. I think I will have to commission you for a subversive cross stitch. Thinking up a good one just for me. Card guy looks a bit scary.
Some of the Greenman renditions are sorta grim looking, but I think that was intended to scare the real bad guys away.
Oh yes, you could make some cranes for Mama’s room, they would be really nice. I’ve seen them hanging in hospitals and care centers, they look quite cheery. Most all origami paper packets come with instructions, and the papers themselves are just gorgeous. (As soon as Dan locates that video Glynis sent me I’ll put it up, maybe tomorrow’s post will have a link to it.)
Sorry to hear that you are not the real Carol again. I will light a candle for you both. Stay hopeful!
Altogether awesome on all levels! What fun!
I love Subversive Cross Stitch. I might have to make one for Stephen’s office wall. Just so he can’t say I never gave him nothin’ ;-P
Some of her patterns are super simple, or you could even embelish/personalize them. Really fun to do. I have another one at the framer’s right now, can’t wait to share it.
Aww reminds me of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Sniff.
Beautiful gesture, beautiful ladies.
That was one of the links Glynis had on her blog about this project. (It sounded too sad for me to actually read though.)
Thank you for sharing enough for us all to venture vicariously into your meeting! The cross stitch, oddly enough, looks like a tat to me!
The original sampler was called “salt glaze” and it had about six of those designs, I grabbed the one that felt like it would appear the most subversive with the phrase.
That green tinge on your vision is my jealousy. I may need to get me some custom Converse to cure myself.
The cranes are beautiful and the cross stitch is hilarious. I’m a little disappointed that there were no frosting shots, though.
When is your next gift-giving occasion? Get one of those kids, or Magnum, on-line with a credit card! Just make sure you know what size you wear in their styles. (I had to visit a store and try on a bunch before Jade could hit send on our order. And then, ya know, I forgot about it.)
You know what’s really funny?! As soon as I started driving away, I thought “crap, I so should have picked up some cake To Go!” I’ve been needing frosting for days now… I suspect that will make it into our shopping cart tomorrow.
Very cool to meet your constituents! This web thing just keeps amazing me. Oh dear on the post a day. I just answered three posts ago. I’ll have to speed up my leisurely read and respond ritual. Another coffee please!
I love anything in multiples. 1000 cranes beats that all to hell. Wow. Masses of different colors and patterns. This endeavor is always beyond cool. Kudos to you and yours for helping.
Lol, it was as thrilling as when you and I got together for coffee! And I even sent them each home with a quilted bag too. (When are you guys coming down this way?)
Oh dear is right, I thought the same thing when I was contemplating the Post A Day. Did I really want to inflict my wee self elf on you guys 365 times?!
You ladies are gorgeous and so are the cranes. Julie, I am going to think of the perfect cross stitch and then commission you – if I can think of anything better than Well, Fuck Me, that is.
The first time I heard that phrase was in this context, actually happened to a friend of a friend: a young woman walked into, what she thought was a basic drawing class, but it was a life drawing class, which means nudes. She was late getting in the door, so the model was already posed, and he was REALLY posed (wink wink). She stood there, sketch book in hand, and said, “well, fuck me.”
Oh, Lord, now I spat tea out all over the table… there’s a scene you should write in a novel. Now I really love that cross stitch!
Oops.
I thought the same thing, about this scene being in a story some where, after I typed it in. One of you guys needs to include it. The friend who watched it happen said the best part was that this girl was really soft spoken and reserved, made it all the more hysterical.
I had a marvelous, brilliant time. It was such a treat to meet and spend time with y’all–and I’m looking forward to our equinoxial meeting.
*grin*
It was all that, with snacks.
Such fun.
Hopefully we can work one in sooner, when Skye comes back for her appointments.