monsterblog

This year, as in years past, my family and I do a little gambling. We put $5 or $10 down on our Oscar picks, and then winner takes ALL. NO second places here! High stakes for a group of people who never seem to have time to actually WATCH all these movies prior to the event anymore. SO, at the risk of my mom and sister discovering I posted my picks here I share them with you. Feel free to copy. I take no responsibility for lost funds other than my own….

Best Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Actor: Sean Penn “Milk” ~ though my heart thinks Mickey Rourke may prevail.

Best Actress: Kate Winslet “The Reader”

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger “The Dark Knight”

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz  “Vicki Christina Barcelona” ~ this is one of the only movies I actually have seen, she is a hoot.

Best Director: Danny Boyle

Best Original Screenplay: “Milk”

Best Adapted Screenplay: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Animated Film: “Wall-E” ~ This is a no brain-er, right?!

Best Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire”

Best Foreign-Language Film: “The Class”  ~ this category is always impossible. If you read all the predictions out there, this is one category that is usually split three or four ways.  Pure guess for me! Hopefully it pays off!

Best Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Best Costume Design: “The Duchess” ~ though I may be the only person out there who liked “Australia”, so I am tempted to vote for it, because I want it to win SOMETHING!

Best Song: “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” ~ it is the only catchy ditty of the crew.

Best Musical Score: “Slumdog Millionaire” ~ this is the same guy who wrote “Bombay Dreams” music, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Bollywood musical. Which I liked, very listenable, though probably don’t need to see it again, ever.

Best Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Sound Mixing: “The Dark Knight”

Best Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight”

Best Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” ~how could this not win? 

Best Special Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Best Animated Short: “Presto”

Best Live-Action Short: “Toyland”

Best Documentary Short: “The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306″

OK, that is it! I am discounting MOVIE inspired cross stitches for the event!! ENJOY!

until next time, stitch, watch the Oscars and let someone else worry about keeping track of the ballots!

Heather

I got a visit at my home yesterday from some wonderful stitchy ladies. “OO,OO stitchy woman, she’s got thread in her eye eye eyes…” Fabulous fans of monsterbubbles. Who not only visited but also brought models and pictures and ideas. What a great day! One model I have to share with you….

strength

WOW~! Trish Bloemker Sowers did this and paid me a visit. With her lovely mom Barb. It twas a treat. Now, they have sparked something that I have been mulling over a lot this past year and I want to see what you think…..

I want to do a stitch retreat here in Southern Illinois, or St Louis area. They really got some fire under my tail and I want to roll! This week I am going to start looking at some locations and possible dates for the retreat. 2010 a stitch odyssey! ha! What fun we will have!!! I will update here when I know more or have thoughts I need feedback on. Are you interested in a stitch retreat in the St Louis area? Probably a weekend kind of thing, two nights, three days, probably two teachers teaching two classes, one straight up cross stitch, and the other either needle felting, bead weaving, or punch needle? monsterbubbles@hotmail.com with your thoughts! I am anxious to hear what you think!

I received another picture I want to show you too. It is from a stitcher who I have corresponded with a lot with also. Susie Bayless, proud grandma and stitcher. Which reminds me, I think she probably has a new grand baby by now? I started fussing with a new baby announcement design with them in mind, but as of yet it has not materialized into anything. Here again this week is “love” but this time as a birth sampler:

OK, happy presidents day! And until next time; stitch like the peas don’t need to be planted. Or do they…?!

Heather

How much I LOVE getting photos of my designs that YOU stitched. So often you make better, clearer, color and fabric choices, add your own words, re work the finishing completely and creatively. IT is really one of my favorite things. That said, this is one I received this week from Liz Roads, she stitched “love”, which I had done for my sons birth announcement, as a wedding gift for friends. Taking this piece and making a wedding piece is a great idea that some of you have shared so I was excited to recieve this photo so I could share this idea with you. She also stitched it over one thread on 28 count cashel. Which makes it CONSIDERABLY smaller! I tend to design big…I fight against it really. But when it is your only child, you don’t care! I am just glad that so many people enjoy this design!

I have lots of photos from stitchers of monsterbubbles designs that you all have sent me saved so that I can add them to my web site eventually. Maybe I will start sharing them here too. If you have a flicker or web shots or other place you have your finished posted send me a link! I am sure I am not the only one who would love to admire your work.

Really lovely Liz, thanks for sharing it with us!

OK, don’t forget the Valentines sale.

Until next time~stitch like you have to have your current project finished and framed by Saturday.

Heather

snow!!!

15% off everything in the shop until midnight tonight, CST. Go stitchers! go!

stitching time is always allowed during a football game at our house. yay me!

Heather

Snow Angel