Doing Flips for Doaflip's Mr. Burns' Cookie Pillow

My Phat Quarter Food Swap piece arrived from Emma in the U.K. and, can I just say, it is flipping brilliant.

On my lap. I want it next to me at all times!

Emma (a.k.a. doaflip, who blogs at Flip-a-dee-doo-dah) made me an elegant little cross stitched pillow depicting the fake business name that C. Montgomery Burns provides to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission when they come to smack down his skinny ass in the "Homer Goes to College" episode of The Simpsons.

“Ah, General Tso, you were a formidable opponent, but your chicken is delectable!”

That's right. Simpsons' Nerd Girl O now owns a piece of Springfield paraphanelia stitched just for her! And I'm flipping out. FLIPPING OUT. I am like Lisa with her pony. Could this be any cooler? The answer is: NO.

In all its glory.

How did this scrumptious little piece come into my greedy little mitts? From the Phat Quarter Food-Themed Swap, via MrXStitch and flickr. (For this swap, I made one of my "Do Not" embroideries for Salvaged Mutiny.)

Do Not Eat, 2011

Two other considerations.

Number One: I have never done cross stitch, but I've long admired the elegance and cleverness of this kind of work, including the amazing pieces created by beefranck. In person, the gorgeous details of the piece are evident -- the graceful border, the careful lettering. Take some time to explore Emma's tumblr page and flickr stream for more examples of her work and design.

Mr. Bergstom is a hunk.

And Number Two: This has inspired me to create some more Simpsons-related stitching, like the little Lisa Simpson piece I made for a cool man a while back.

My giddy mind is crackling with possibility! As anyone who is a Facebook friend or who follows me on Twitter can attest to by my constant stream of Simpsons's quotes, I have an endless supply of happiness to create!

Me and my new bestie.

For now, I say thank you to the uber talented Emma for this amazing little artwork. I'm so grateful and humbled by this amazing gift.

Photo by Emma

Emma, Emma, Emma... how I love thee!

Oh, Mr. Bergstrom...

Is there anything more wonderful than being told that you are going to be just fine in your life because you are yourself? That's how I feel about the friend that I stitched this up for.

Screenshot from "Lisa's Substitute"

"Lisa's Substitute" is one of my all-time favorite Simpsons episodes. Dustin Hoffman as the sensitive, creative teacher who recognizes what is special about Lisa... it is a wonderful, sweet exploration of childhood loneliness and invisibility and that overwhelming craving to be seen.

When I was a dorky, isolated kid, I would have floated away with joy if a beloved teacher (say, Mr. Stewart from 7th grade, the cool, bearded English teacher with red hair, dry wit and who called me OK Lisa) would have given me a note that said, "You are Olisa Corcoran."

I've wanted to stitch up this little note that Mr. Bergstrom hands to Lisa on the train platform at the end of the episode, when he is leaving her on her own in Springfield, for a long time. Beadgirl did it a few months ago and I loved her simple piece so much. (She used a yellow hoop to display her piece.)

When I saw the yellow-bordered cocktail napkin in the fabric store on Sunday while shopping for ground fabric for my Phat Quarter Swap piece, I remembered Beadgirl's piece. I instantly knew I had to make this for my friend. He appreciates the note as much as I do.

On to more "serious" stuff another time... This whole thing just makes me smile! Gaw!

Inflammable means flammable? What a country!

So says Dr. Nick Riviera.

This is a piece that I stitched up about 6 months ago but never got around to stretching.  I stitched it on a single layer of Kona Cotton.

I can see so much more puckering and pulling in the piece, especially with the heavy long and short fill stitch in the flame.

I can see improvement in my more recent stitching. I put a lot into this piece, though, and I learned a lot.

It is a process, learning to stitch.  That's really all I can ask for.  Feeling oddly blah today.  Got to take it stitch by stitch.  Maybe I should watch some Simpsons and gather some more wisdom from Dr. Nick and his Upstairs Hollywood Medical School training!

Luna likes it. My sweet little high contrast puppy!