It’s Done!

Dear Constant Reader,

I enjoy a number of handcrafts, but my first love is counted cross-stitch. 

Last spring Sarah at Slightly Sinister created cross-stitch patterns for the emblems of each of guilds in the Slightly Sinister Academy of Crafts and gave the Secret Society first crack at them, before they were released to the greater Academy. I jumped right on the Hissenskratch* one. I did not know what I was getting into…

Although the color pallet is relatively limited and there are no blended threads or partial cross-stitches (I’m looking at you, Teresa Wentzler), it was still a challenge. The design is pretty large and there’s quite a bit of shading. I had a lot of fun with it, planning stitching strategies and celebrating little victories. It was my constant companion and I stitched whenever I had a free moment, at least a little almost every day. You have no idea how unusual this is for me — I’ve got cross-stitch pieces that have been sitting in the UFO box for years.

How long did it take? I didn’t track my time, which I think would have hindered my productivity, so I don’t know how many hours I spent on it. However, I took the first stitch on May 13, 2024 and the last on September 10, 2025.

Ta-da!Hissenskratch cross-stitch

If you want to see more of my embroidery, check out my Project Portfolio. It’s not complete by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m working on it.

Originally Sarah made the patterns only to the members of her Academy, but I think she’s going to offer them for sale. I’ll add the link if she does.

M2

*Hissenskratch is my guild. Are you shocked that I was put in the cat group?

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 29 September 2025 at 5:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Friday tip logoHappy Friday! Here’s your tip!

The seasons are changing. Time to change your skin care products.

During the hot, sweaty summer, we often need a lighter moisturizer. As the days turn colder and drier, you’ll want a richer version.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 26 September 2025 at 10:45 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Here we are, Friday again. How’s everyone holding up?

I’ve been trying to come up with a Iight-hearted tip, but my mind keeps going blank, so I’ll just say

Get away from your screens for a while. Go outside. Spend some time with your pets or your kids or your friends.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 19 September 2025 at 6:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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In Memoriam: April March

Dear Constant Reader,

We have lost another Legend. April March, The First Lady of Burlesque, has died.

I was once very close to April and worked with her to create a tribute act that debuted at The Great Burlesque Expo of 2011.
Mina and April 04-11
Nil nisi bonum.

M2

Published in: on 17 September 2025 at 10:52 am  Leave a Comment  
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Summer Reading Challenge

Dear Constant Reader,

BPL Summer Reading stickerAs usual, this summer I participated in the Boston Public Library’s summer reading challenge, BLP Bingo. And, like last year, I took on both challenges, the one with 12 books (and 12 other activities) and the one with 24 books. Technically, you only need to complete one line on the bingo card to claim victory, but I strive to overachieve. My personal rule is no re-reads (which made the Epistolary category a bit of a challenge*), unless specifically stated. Here’s what I read from June to August:

For the regular reading challenge:
Author of Color:The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
Indigenous Author: Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie R. Rendon
Book with a Green Cover: Killer High: A History of War in Six Drugs by Peter Andreas
Suggestion from Library Staff: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
LGBTQ+ Author: You Wanna Be on Top?: A Memoir of Makeovers, Manipulation, and Not Becoming America’s Next Top Model by Sarah Hartshorne
Book Published in 2025: Never Flinch by Stephen King
Teen or Children’s Book: Another by Paul Tremblay
Book About an Immigrant: When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
Anthology or Short Story Collection: Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories by various authors
Banned or Challenged Book: Flamer by Mike Curato
Disabled or Neurodivergent Author: The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
Book in Translation: The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda (translated by Alison Watts)

These were the Read More categories:
Book Set in the ’70s: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Graphic Novel: Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
Book by an Activist: They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Nonhuman Protagonist: A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland
Trans or Nonbinary Author: Cleavage: Men, Women, and the Space Between Us by Jennifer Finney Boylan
Page to Screen: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
First Nations Author: Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories by various authors
2nd Person POV: Candelaria by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
Suggestion from Library Staff: Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala
Epistolary: Piranesi by Susana Clarke
Asian American Author: Mỹ Documents by Kevin Nguyen
Reread a Childhood Favorite: The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs
Found Family: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Autistic Author: All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
Book with a Name in the Title: The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
Genre You Don’t Often Read: Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes by Leah Litman
Debut Novel: Hungry Bones by Louise Hung
Book from your TBR: A Day at the Dragon Shelter by various authors
Book about an Animal: A Cat’s Tale: A Journey Through Feline History by Baba the Cat
Time Travel: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
Book Set in Latin America: The Ruins by Scott Smith
Afrofuturism: The Ephemora Collector by Stacy Nathaniel Jackson
Novella: Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
Book About an Artist: The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick by Mallory O’Meara

Many of these were picked from the suggestion lists at the BPL, but some were recommendations from others: 

  • The Morbid Curiosity Podcast Discord recommended a bunch of great books, but To Say Nothing of the Dog was a stand-out. Thanks, Butts! Also, two of the members are also authors appearing in A Day at the Dragon Shelter.
  • Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories and The Ruins were selections for the Slightly Sinister Book Club.
  • I read The Phantom of the Opera to prepare for my trip to Masquerade.
  • Scratch suggested When the Angels Left the Old Country, specifically as an audio book. He was right.
  • I was absolutely reading Sarah Hartshorne’s ANTM memoir as soon as it arrived, but finding a category was a challenge, until I read one particular section. (Sarah is an old friend and I’d had this book on preorder since she announced the release date)
  • I knew I was going to read Hungry Bones — I’ve been following Louise since “Creepy Corner” on XOJane. I asked her via her Patreon, if she wanted her book to fulfill “Debut Novel” or “Asian American Author” and to recommend a book for the other category.  She picked the former and recommended Mỹ Documents for the latter.

Top 10 favorite books (in alphabetical order)
A Cat’s Tale
A Day at the Dragon Shelter
Hungry Bones
Never Flinch
A Sweet Sting of Salt
They Called Us Enemy/Mỹ Documents (yes, this is two but I feel they should be read as a set)
To Say Nothing of the Dog
When the Angels Left the Old Country
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
You Wanna Be on Top?

Have you read anything good this summer?

M2
*The obvious choice being Dracula

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 16 September 2025 at 10:24 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Friday tip logoHappy Friday! I’ve recommended using Sharpies to make costume touch-ups, but what do you when the pen slips?

Alcohol can help get out ink stains.

Don’t have any? Hairspray can work, as can shaving cream. Rinse, let air dry, and repeat until the stain is gone. The important thing is not expose the stain to high heat (like a dryer or iron) until you’ve gotten it out.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 12 September 2025 at 1:48 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Friday tip logo

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s September! Anyone have exciting plans for the fall?

This tip is for audience members. Not you, Dear Reader, you would never even think of this.

That is their real name.

Sometime an audience member will ask a performer, “So, what’s your real name?”. There’s no need to know that. Performers use stage names for all sorts of reasons, but names have power. Just having bought a ticket does not give someone the right to know a secret name. For some, it’s a matter of keeping their job or themselves safe to conceal their “real world” identity. Others, just want to preserve the mystique — that’s why they want to know — you’re keeping a secret and that makes you interesting.

If you’re a performer and someone asks for your “real name” and isn’t dissuaded with a “that’s private” or something similar, just thank them for coming to the show and walk away. Don’t be cute or coy, because that can encouraging. If they get belligerent, get security.

Fortunately, most folks aren’t like this and instead think stage names are creative and fun — and will respect performers’ off-stage privacy

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 5 September 2025 at 4:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Botanical Experiment

Dear Constant Reader,

You know I enjoy gardening. I grow herbs and vegetables and fruit and wild flowers in a rather laissez-faire fashion. You also know I am a member of the Slightly Sinister Secret Society. Periodically we get odd little extras, called Wildcards.
Seed packaging
In March I received a mailing from The Slightly Sinister Botanical Supply Co. with these materials with which to participate in Project Veilroot.

I carefully opened the packet of seeds and read the experiment’s instructions carefully. There was still a danger of frost at that point, so I started the seeds indoors, hoping the cats would be merciful to them. To my great surprise, all four seeds sprouted about a week after I planted them.
indoor sprouts
I tended them in pots until I thought it was finally safe to plant them outdoors.

To plant them, I chose a location well away from my regular gardens… just in case.
Outdoor seedlings
The four specimens grew nicely, although one disappeared and then another. I believe it was our resident bunny, who is too cute to blame.

Eventually I noticed the taller of the two surviving specimens (Alpha) appeared to be budding — or planning to release an alien creature.
Bud or alien
I watched it carefully for days, until…
Alpha Blossom
Isn’t it glorious!

As of this writing, that initial bloom has faded, but several more appeared on Specimen Alpha and then Beta had one of its own.
Beta flower
It’s so different! I wish Gamma and Delta has survived so I could have more data points.

This may be my favorite of all the Wildcards — and we’ve had some good ones over the years.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 4 September 2025 at 8:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Can you believe it’s the last Friday of August already? Are you frantically trying to finish (or start) your summer projects? This tip is for my fellow procrastinators:

What is keeping you from working on your project? Really think about the root of your reluctance. What can you do to get beyond it?

Sometimes just bringing it to light can help give you the boost you need to get to work.

For my Patrons, I wrote about one of my own costuming projects that’s been sitting for a while and why I had a hard time getting started. How about you?

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 29 August 2025 at 5:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Cooking with Squash Blossoms

Dear Constant Reader,

For several years I’ve been growing pumpkins (pie pumpkins to be specific) and one of the delights of the summer is the blossoms. Most kinds of squash (pumpkin, zucchini, &c), have edible blossoms! If you don’t grow squash, you might be able to find the blossoms at a farmer’s market.

If you’ve got your own in the garden, the best time to pick them is in the morning, while the blooms are still open. Look for the male blossoms. They’re the ones you want to pick.
male blossom

Female blossoms are the ones that are going to become squash.

If you have a huge quantity of squash already, you could pick them, but I only get a few pumpkins each year, so I leave the babies be.

Squash vines and leaves can be prickly, so maybe wear gloves if you have sensitive skin. Check for bees before you pick and gently shake the blossoms after to dislodge any other insects.
blossoms in basket
Once you get the blossoms inside, very gently rinse them and then put them in the fridge, wrapped loosely in paper towels, until you’re ready to cook.

When you’re ready to cook, take out the stamen. It can add an unpleasant taste.

A classic way to enjoy squash blossoms is by stuffing them, coating them, and then frying. It’s labor-intensive, messy, and so delicious. There are lots of different fillings and coatings, but I like a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe with a filling of ricotta and goat cheese with sumac, lemon zest, and walnuts. You could use any soft cheese you like to make the filling or don’t restrict yourself to cheese — I saw a Vietnamese recipe which used shrimp paste.

Fill your blossom with a spoonful of filling — not too much, no oozing out the end — and lightly twist it shut. Then coat it.

I use a very light batter of just flour and icy-cold seltzer with a hint of baking soda, but you could use your favorite frying batter, or roll them in egg and bread crumbs. Then fry!

I really dislike deep frying — it’s messy and uses a lot of oil — but it’s worth it for a crispy coating. Remember to drain them on paper towels before serving. 

fried blossoms

If you don’t want to fry them, skip the coating, lightly brush with olive oil and roast at 400F for about 10 minutes.

My neighbor said that her mother stir-fries the blossoms with garlic, so I gave that a try too. Next time I would clip the bottom off and just use the petals, but that was a textural issue for just me. Your milage may vary.

I’ve found a couple of soup recipes I might try now that it’s a little cooler. The blossoms can be added to pasta or used raw in salads. If one liked eggs, they might be an interesting addition to an omelet. 

Have you every cooked with squash blossoms?

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 25 August 2025 at 10:26 am  Leave a Comment  
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