I’m working for Justin Robinson, formerly of African American string band The Carolina Chocolate Drops, on a new project. In the course of a long phone discussion yesterday, I learned that he not only operates his own frozen custard business, but that he’s also an avid embroiderer. This is a sample of his work.

Since folks seemed to like seeing my finished Talking Heads Remain In Light needlepoint last week, I thought I’d post another in the series (there are five total so far), Another Green World by frequent David Byrne/Talking Heads collaborator Brian Eno. Thinking about doing the Germs’ (GI) as an oversize latch hook rug next.

Well, I had to do something after we finished Christmas dinner…

United States of Americana reviewed in the Dec. 2010 issue of UK music & arts glossy The Word. Hooray!

I should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me, or has read United States of Americana, that I am crazy for crafts. (And crazy really is the right word, as I detailed in this article for The Stranger a few years ago.) So between knitting and needlepoint projects, but before I haul out the Christmas card-making supplies, I am taking a respite to sign books and visit with friends at the Urban Craft Uprising Winter 2010 extravaganza this weekend. 

Complete signing schedule here. I’ll be there Saturday from 3 to 4 PM, and Sunday from noon to 1 PM. Shop indie, shop local!

An e-mail exchange w/ William Schaff (who did the needlepoint covers for “The Stage Names” and “The Stand Ins”) prompted me to re-read this piece I wrote on Okkervil River back in 2006. I don’t hate it.