STITCH IN MY HEART

OH TO BE A NEEDLE IN HER HANDS (via Dr. A.C. Cool!):

EVERYONE wants to be an artist. Everyone wants to create. But at the end of the day, when the day goes into double overtime, creation is a lot of work. Why else does everyone opt for recreation?

For some the two are one and the same. Parker Posey, that curious being often categorized, for lack of something more descriptive, as the offbeat indie actress, always seems to be formulating, fabricating: a character, an opinion, a yarn, a mood. Or more concretely, a craft project. She has, for instance, been taking ceramics classes for three years. "My pottery teacher says that my work is chaotic but controlled," she said, making one wonder whether he meant it as a compliment...

Offstage she has found another net in needlepoint. Having grown up in Mississippi sewing and doing other crafts, Ms. Posey has re-embraced needlework as a way to turn downtime to her advantage.

"I'm drawn to anything that has a methodical, meditative aspect," she said. "It's a state of mind."