Embroidered iPhone!
Hey, there. Guess what I did. I embroidered my iPhone!
I have been enviously looking at blogs where people have embroidered their iPhone for weeks now. In fact, I was thinking of the idea before I even saw it on any blog, and then it appeared on a lot of craft blogs. After a quick search on Google, I found a cheap website to order from. I ordered a couple (because they were so cheap). After a week of hearing nothing other than PayPal releasing my money to a Chinese company, I thought I’d get in contact with them. Using a type of instant messaging service, I spoke with a customer sales representative who had very broken English (which made me thankful for the instant messaging because I could diagram the sentences in my head when they were really bad—dork!). This representative said that the products I ordered were, “on order behind.” This means backordered. They did not know when/if the product would be received, ever, so then they refunded my money.
So then, I followed a link from a blog that swore quick shipping by both the American writer and many of the commenters. I ordered it, and in one short week, I received a package from Korea. Inside was my shiny new cross stitch iPhone case. I’ve had this case since September and have been anxiously wanting to stitch it. I could not figure out what to put on it. A whale perhaps? “Domestigay,” maybe? One of the included patterns of Superman? The traditional, “Jason,” you know to make sure everyone knew who I was. No. Then last week, Boyfriend and I went to the bookstore and I got to page through two books I’ve been dying to get my hands on—Push Stitchery and Hoopla. I was so inspired I decided I needed to have embroidery in my daily life. I decided I’d tackle on the iPhone case. Even though my canvas is for cross stitch, I used an embroidery stitch to design the cover. The herringbone stitch is one of my favorites. So, without plotting I just took off stitching. I started with a light grey, then moved onto a darker grey and a d
arker grey, ending the row early. At the end, I thought the stitched sides needed to be (mildly) connected, so I embroidered Xs (aka large and spaced out cross stitches) down the center. I am quite happy with the results. For my next techno stitch, I want to get this MacBook case and embroider it! Where will the madness stop!?
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There are only THREE days left of MOvember! Have you donated yet? There is still time! Go to http://mobro.co/jvanfosson to help me change the face of men’s health! So far, I’ve raised $135.00! I’d love to make it an even $200! Thank you to all of you who have already donated. Every contribution helps—no matter how big or how small. In fact, if everyone who viewed my YouTube video donated just one dollar (less than a cup of coffee), I would have raised over $400.00 for prostate and testicular cancer!
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The Midwest Men’s Knitting Retreat, Or My Big Gay Summer Camp
A few weeks ago I went to the Midwest Men’s Knitting Retreat.
It all started with the first snowfall for this winter in Kalamazoo. We went to a local yarn store, Stitching Memories, in Kalamazoo for homemade lasagne, drinks, shopping, fellowship, and, of course, knitting. While not everyone was here, we kicked off the weekend with a knitted bang. We talked about untold stories of the ER and what to do for fun in rural West Virginia. Needless to say these stories carried over throughout the weekend.
I hosted a fellow knitter Thursday night. On Friday morning he invited me to take a little road trip with him to Howell, Michigan to see his friend from The Spinning Loft. This was a great trip, but a problem arose. I-now-need-to-learn-to-spin. I became fascinated with this process. After some good chinese food, we drove to Circle Pines in Delton, Michigan for a weekend of knitting.
Circle Pines is a community-based retreat facility. We helped set the table, clean up, and do dishes for every meal. The food was all organic and local. It was amazing. At times during the weekend, I wondered if I was there for the food or for the knitting.
Even though this was a knitting retreat, I did a lot of embroidery on this trip. Although I cannot share with you, loyal reader, because it is a Christmas gift.
After meeting everyone on Friday, we took a field trip! That’s right. We went to Circle R Ranch and met some lovely alpacas. There were baby alpacas, too. I looked around at the other men and it was quite hysterical. All of their eyes glazed over and popped out of their heads. In each of their eyes, you could see sweaters, scarfs, and socks as a stream of drool fell to the ground.
I want an alpaca, too.
We also took a trip to Briar Rose, a hand-painted yarn supplier. I wanted to buy everything there, but I think my needles and talents are too inferior to the beautiful yarn Briar Rose makes.
Finally we returned to the camp and settled in for a night of knitting and fun. This retreat really was like gay summer camp. There were really fun guys and the only thing you had to do was arts and crafts. You did not have to go to the lake. You did not have to go on nature walks. It was arts and crafts time all the time.
I’m so glad that I went and can’t wait for next year. I am really looking forward to hanging out with these men again. If I was not a poor graduate student, I would certainly go to the “big one” in New York—where it all began. But I’m okay looking forward to next November.
I met some great men that I consider near and dear friends now. I’m amazed at their knitting and thankful for their fellowship. I had a blast learning about their histories and knitting-lives. I loved getting to know these (mostly gay) men of different generations and tastes that have helped me to gain an appreciation of the gay men that have come before me. It truly was a magical weekend. As the weekend came to a close and we said good-bye until next time. It really did feel like gay summer camp—the part where you hold back tears and realize that the magical weekend is ending but the magic continues…
A Domestigay Thanksgiving
Dearest Domestigays,
It has been awhile. I have been quite busy with many domestigay projects—including the Midwest Men’s Knitting Retreat! (expect post on this soon)
So let’s work our ways back to the post on the knitting retreat. Let’s begin with this past week and the first domestigay adventures in the kitchen. Yes, that’s right. I made Thanksgiving dinner—Turkey and all.
So what was on the menu? I’m glad you asked!
- Lil’ Smokey Cheeseball (cause everyone needs a cheeseball)
- Turkey
- Turkey Gravy
- Stuffing (not cooked in the turkey)
- Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Cranberry Relish
- Green Beans (fried and with bacon)
- Pumpkin Pie
- You! My loyal domestigay reader.
- My family
- My boyfriend
- My friends near and far
- My ability to craft and cook
- My community (in the various forms it takes)
- My health
- My Thanksgiving
The Complete Cocktails
I finished (some time ago) the last of the cocktail napkins. Today, I got them photographed and ready to unveil the whole set.
The last one that I had to stitch up was a delicious strawberry daiquiri (that at first I thought could be a watermelon daiquiri). See?
Strawberry - not Watermelon
Now, I have a complete set of alcoholic cocktail napkins. I have at least one drink that will appeal to you should you want/need a cocktail napkin when visiting.
Cocktail napkin?
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It is MOvember!
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It is MOvember 4th and the moustache is coming along! I think I could pass as French, or an artist. Not a French artist though. Have you taken a look at my video on YouTube? Have you shared my video on YouTube? Have you donated to my stashe and MOvember? NO?!?!
Well first you should watch and share this video. Then, you should go to http://mobro.co/jvanfosson and donate!
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My video is almost up to 400 views! (396 at this writing!) Thank you to everyone who shared this video and have already showed your support by donating to my face. I am so grateful for all you do!
Related articles
- Cock-Tail Napkin #5 (domestigay.net)
- I Need a Drink (domestigay.net)
- Movember! (tins.rklau.com)
MOvember 2: The Shadow Stache
It is MOvember 2nd! And, guess what! I have a shadow stache!
I got a comment from the lovely administrative assistant at school today and an odd look from the cafe-man at Panera. It’s happening!
Have you shared my YouTube video yet? On Facebook? On Twitter? On Google+? On your blog? On e-mail? On snail mail? On an owl? No, then go here and share! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HebcoB7ldjc (I’ve had 234 views so far!)
Have you pledged to change the face of men’s health yet? Have you donated to my face? NO? Then go to my mo-space and get supportin’! Every dollar helps! I’m also giving exclusive pictures and information there!
Happy (ho)MOvember!
Recovered from Halloween? Good. Moving on.
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Happy MOvember first!
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Wait, you haven’t heard? These guys replaced the N with an M and made Movember? Whaaa?!?!?
Check out this video I made for a full explanation of Movember and the horrors that will follow (on my face!). (Ps: watch it til the end. There are some bonus features just for you!)
Now that you know the what, the who, the why—why not support me by going to http://mobro.co/jvanfosson!
Then, PLEASE share this on your blog, with your family, with your friends, and on all your social networking sites.
Keep your eyes posted here for more behind-the-scenes moustache-related pictures and stitching!
Related articles
- Moustache Madness: Movember Emphasizes Fun, Not Guilt, To Raise Millions For Cancer Programs (fastcompany.com)
- Movember & The Facial Growth Starts (sparkthedebate.blogspot.com)
- Movember: Fundraiser started as fashion statement (healthzone.ca)
- Movember 2011 (sarabozich.com)
Domestigay 