24 hour challenge

Satyr is finished

• 28 count Pewter Lugana
• Two over two, with two strands
• Changes:
  1. Lighter pink in his face is not what it should be - some close shade anyway (used old leftovers)
  2. Snow is stitched with 1+1 of DMC's white and white metallic
  3. Scarf and mittens are made with Stranded by the Sea's Flame Scallop

All together it took five hours and ten minutes.

Now to bed, and in the morning it's time for SAL needlebook (I did a bit of it yesterday (Friday)). Pictures of it will follow after I get first part stitched.

Btw

I requested for yarn sample in Wednesday evening, and yesterday (Friday) it was in my letter box... Just perfect for something which comes next to my skin (as I've may mentioned about million times I've sensitive skin), very soft 100% merino wool.
So, I placed an order for joint warmer yarns yesterday (she sends items with IOUs (lovely feature)). Click for an image; ball in the middle of upper row. Lovely, isn't it?

Stash and Stitching Olympics

Ah, I just got my Silkweaver parcel from mail box, and now I have a problem:

Which first? Needlebook or topiaries?

And then there's 24 hour challenge to fit in (I'll stitch Satyr from Dragon Dreams' Christmyth series), even it's very small design (Though I think that I'll stitch it Friday-Saturday and take it as final warming session). And I also should grid MSAL, as that Zweigart's 28 count Light Amaretto Jazlyn looks good enough with those flosses used to it.

Needlebook will be worked in Zweigart's 28 count Deep Teal Green Jazlyn. In fact I'm surprised how good those colours (flosses+fabric) look together as I don't like teal (I don't like muted shades that much) but thought that it'd work... sometimes it's good to have textile artisan's degree. (I'm used to "pimp" colours)

Silkweaver discount coupon...

They temp me, they'll ruin me. I got discount coupon for FOTM (15% off first three months), and even I try to prevent myself I think I've to join... I think you all have heard this:

"It's so cheap!"

Have to see about it anyway.

SBQ; The Perfect Project

Today's

Stitching Bloggers Question

was suggested by Nancy and is:

"Describe your "perfect" project. (Include the designer or specific pattern, the fabric, the floss, and anything else that would make that project "perfect" for you."

Today I'd say that my prefect project would be

• Any Châtelaine's mandala, for example Taj. (I've some mania for India, don't ask me why)
• Completely free for me (as those silks etc. make those quite pricey)
• Stitched on fabric (28/ 32 count) which would fit perfectly to design in question
• Would be completely cat-hair free
• Process would be tangle-free
• I'd have all the time I want to stitch it (which means that I'd need a household slave and a rich supporter)
• I could send it to be framed right away when it's finished
• And framing would be perfect success - of course

HD aka. end of SAL

6th, and final, part of Best Friends is now finished, isn't "he" cute?

BF was one of my first SALs ever (participated in so many during last 7 months that I can't say what was first one) and now it's byebye time. It feels kind of sad, even it's also a happy feeling. And in fact it's not completely finished yet. I've to re-do part of it's border as I had some counting error with one of the first patterns and I had to frog 1/4 of all hearts(/border). But that'll happen after Stitching Olympics (this was a non-sponsored advert).

Anyway, 1st:

2nd:

3rd:

4th:

5th:

6th:

Knitting

Selina: in fact I ordered yarn sample (red merino wool) last night. And Annette, thanks for that link. I've saved that. (It's bit like stitching stash, you never have too many instructions - and in the end I may end to make my own...)

Cats

Cats are interesting animals. Neko (one of my boys) doesn't vomit on floors anymore. Last year (or so) he has used litter box almost every time he has had need to remove fur balls.
Every cat slave's dream cat, isn't he? (Though he drools excessively when he's enjoying his life... but he's cute. ^^)

And I have no idea where he has learned that from.

Btw

chanda_m, drooling over beautiful exchange items is allowed in this blog so there's no need to control your drooling.

SEBE

I just found out that last part of Short Extended Bookmark Exchange has reached it's new home, so it's time for pictures. This cherry bookmark went to U.S.A. and lives with Allison from now on:

General info:

• 14 count white aida (I think), victim of my dyeing experiments (nettles), so in fact it's not completely white
• From A Treasury of Jewish Cross Stitch booklet
• Designed by Barbara Ann Richter
• It's bit modified though. Original pattern has Shalom written (with alephbets) under cherry blossoms, but after some thinking I decided to leave it off.

But the important thing is that she liked it. Because it has cherry blossoms.

Stitching and cold hands = search of knitting patterns

I've been suffering minor pains and stiffness in my left hand's fingers lately (because of the cold weather) and while stitching I got an idea: I know how to knit, so why wouldn't I knit fingerless gloves to keep my joints warm during winter? I even found one beautiful pattern, though it's not exactly what I was looking for.

Mikado Ribbon Fingerless Gloves

I think I need to buy "thin" knitting needles and some yarn (I thought about alpaca, but I've to see).

Few others:

Del Mar
Fingerless gloves These I was looking for
Work of Art
Someone-Stole-the-Fingers-from-my-Gloves (Hmm... I could consider these...)

'Valentine Exchange' received!

As we were allowed to open our parcels before 14th I opened mine when it arrived. And look what I got from Annette!

Gorgeous little pillow with hardanger and beads and everything so wow! (For reference: The Victoria Sampler's Love Blooms; modified)
Backing fabric is absolutely gorgeous also, burgundy and black. I know I should remember name of that fabric type, but I can't. And I can't get clear picture of it. Unfortunately.

Then to goodies:

   

V. Clayton silks (hand-dyed) Black Poppy and Garnet. (I've never used silks so guess how thrilled I am? Good way to get new stash-related addiction.)
Then she sent me musical heart (little heart made of jingle bells), which is now hanging in my front door window. And decorative hearts - in fact my living room floor is filled with little hearts because I had minor heart attack.
She also sent me sweethearts, but... unfortunately there's corn in them so I've to give them to someone else. But she didn't knew, and now she spreads joy to other people too!

I learned my lesson: Always inform your exchange partners about your allergies.

Stitching Olympics

Even chanda_m's idea of Stitching Olympics was just self-motivational, it was warmly welcomed in Livejournal's cross_stitch community and now we have our own Olympic team - and own newsletter:

Stiching Olympics Gazette, Issue 1

Who said that stitchers are crazy? We're just social - and love our hobby.

Still no sign of Angela's parcel, nor Silkweaver order. Which is interesting as my Valentine Exchange came from States and was sent on 30th of January.
I just have to hope that postal services haven't lost that pattern parcel. It'd be dreadful lost to society.

Soon I begin to doubt that there's some cross stitching postal service worker somewhere....

Stitching Olympics

chanda_m was looking for participants for Stitching Olympics, and after some thinking I set my goals (all as one event (those are quite small projects)):

Bobsleighing

• Bronze: finish stitching 2½ topiaries (Autumn is finished, Winter is about half done) of Topiary Sampler by Passione Ricamo.
• Silver: TS + needlebook SAL finished (stitching wise)
• Gold: TS + needlebook SAL (stitched and finished)+ every published (I think there wont be more than one before Olympics end anyway) MSAL part stitched.

Anything more is new world record.

More quotes

In fact I've been looking for this one:

"Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world."
The Talmud, Mishna. Sanhedrin 37a

Monday Madness; True or False?

Ok, it's Tuesday in this part of the world and I was just going to bed... Anyway, it's time for

Monday Madness

True or False (and feel free to elaborate)

Questions :

1. I consider myself to be very organized.
2. I tend to get more done when I'm pressed for time.
3. Multi-tasking is something I do often.
4. I might be a perfectionist.
5. I enjoy Mondays as much as I enjoy Fridays.
6. If I didn't make a list (or hang a post-it note) I'd forget what it is I need to do.
7. I have no problem asking for help when I don't understand something.

Answers:

1. False. It'd big, stinking lie if I'd say anything else.
2. Mostly true. Depends.
3. True.
4. True and false. It's not may be, it's I am.
5. True. Day is a day is a day.
6. True and false. As I don't keep lists I forget most things I should do in certain time, or before certain deadline.
7. True.

Note from editor: as I'm a person who possibly has ADD (adult AD/HD) these responses weren't surprising.

Quote

"It's ok to fail. Failing does not shape your personality; it's how you react upon your failure. Do you dust yourself off and mope, or do you dust yourself off and come back stronger the next time? Eventually you will win. It may not happen the next time, it may take a little time, but you will win in the end."
Tiger Woods

HD without pictures

As I said that needleroll came out beautiful!
I've just finished it and packed it to wait to be posted in 1st of March.

It was my first one, and I can definitely say it wont be the last one. Now I really understand you needleroll addicts out there... (I'll join the gang, I think.)

Waiting...

Time goes on so slowly when you wait for something. At this moment there's three parcels to come, and I wait news from three others (exchange items sent few days back to their destinations).
Then we should figure out with bits_2_whole how to manage getting one parcel from my local PO as it contains one mass order from our cosmetics (atopic skin runs in the family) dealer. And after I get it from there I've one parcel to send, and I can only hope that it'll be on it's destination before Valentine's day.
What bothers me with that (cosmetics) parcel is that it was supposed to be carried to my door, but someone has messed something up. It wasn't me, surprisingly.

But...

I finished stitching that needleroll yesterday, few minutes before midnight. It's washed, pressed and my goal is to finish it today.

Even I say so myself... it's going to be beautiful.

And once again Thank You for comments considering my latest finish.

Icy HD!

Icy is finished! /me dances all around

And needleroll will be (stitching wise) happy dance today or tomorrow.

Hair-do

As Jenna asked and I'm nice person () here are the pictures... In theory it's still like this:

...so I decided to take picture only from other side:

No new pictures as my hair type (glass-like, grows like crazy (3-4 cm/ month), in theory I've never splitted ends even if I don't cut my hair...get the picture?) doesn't like conditioners and therefore it looks crappy next days (I dyed my hair yesterday which is only reason for using conditioner).

Looking like myself again

First: thank you all for nice comments considering dalmatian.

At the moment I'm working on that needleroll (can't stitch Icy today as it's almost too dark outside, and I do need some natural light to do it even I have my desk light) so no pictures in coming days, just rants.
I've started that needleroll three times already because I've had problems to understand how that part of that design is supposed to look like when done. Sounds bit stupid maybe, but I think you'll understand when you see pictures of it, after my partner has received it (but members of Friends Gather will see it before it, as it fits to this months Broaden Your Stitching Horizon theme, and therefore I'll post picture of it on that forum when it's stitched - I know that my receiver is not part of that forum, so I can do that (with help of Imageshack) ).

Anyway, about entry title.
I seem to have habit to think about sex related assumptions while shaving my head, as every time when I become me (in other words shave my head (ok, not exactly shave...)) people seem to have problems with recognizing my sex. Like female couldn't have short hair (mostly 7mm, little area of 10cm in front)...
Funny thing in this is that my body has all signs of being feminine, I even use make-up for heaven's sake (mostly women use it, men don't because of the pressure from society). How difficult it can be to decide what I am?

And then, is there a need to decide what I am? I'm a human being, otherwise it's just getting into details and if we get there I can mess your mind up quite easily when it comes to sex/ gender/ sexual orientation issues.

But that's about it this time. Off my way to stitch and enjoying my new-old hairdo.

Spring has sprung?

At least my chili plant seems to think so: it's blooming.

Ha. HD.

I think I said something about this:

And now: some rooibos and few pieces of dark chocolate.

Shop 'til you drop - DIY bankrupsy

Oh, it was a lovely little craft store! Then I found lovely little book sale!

And now I should put that smoking piece of plastic into freezer for about 26 days, and concentrate on biting my nails rest of the month. (How so it seems that I'm ADD/ AS/ [insert suitable neuro(psycho)logical disorder here]? I do know how to use money... Mental note: call for a doctor's appointment tomorrow - my head is really bothering me. I want that diagnose!)

I've to parcels to send still, and I will send them, da**it. It's only my fault that I spent those euros to that bookstore - craft store spending was planned, and so was 1/3 of my book store shopping (magazine for Angela), but rest of it... Ok, I did buy one cross stitch book I'be been "drooling" after few months and as it was -60%... Anyway, excuses.
And it's not being totally broke. I do have money, but I could use more of it. But anyway, bad /me.

Btw, those books I bought:

• Donna Kooler's Great Cross Stitch Gifts
• Terry Prachett's
  • Johan riitti!, original name: Equal Rites (paperback)
  • Pienet jumalat, original name: Small Gods (hardback (note: original price 34,5€, now 5,9€. Small markets, high price.))
• The Mammoth Book of Vampires (paperback)

I bought those Prachett's just because I've heard that his books are good. I'll tell what I thought after I've read them.

SBQ

This week's

Stitching Bloggers Question

was inspired by Renée's visit with Dawn and is:

"With the exception of your online stitching friends, do you have any other stitching buddies?"

Sadly my answers is no. I tried to gather stitching group few years ago, and hadn't success. In theory people were interested and even thrilled, but when there was time for action... nothing.

In some way it's good as it seems to me that most Finnish stitchers have nothing in common with me - what I know of them - except cross stitching. It's quite difficult to imagine to have stitching and bitching sessions with a person who just can't understand you.
My online stitching friends seem to be more or less like-minded and that's why they're important to me. Fortunately I'm somewhat hermity person so in theory it doesn't bother me that much not to have any close-distance stitching friends...

Though they'd be nice to have.

Silkweaver just gets better

~16 hours from order my parcel was packed and sent! Soon they'll send parcels before I even order anything.

Though there's one reason not to be completely satisfied: one fabric seems to be back order, and due in 17th. That was meant to be my MSAL fabric - fortunately I was unable to decide between two shades so my options are:

1. Use that other fabric
2. Start late

Starting late would mean about two weeks delay in my MSAL progress, so I'm not quite sure about that...

But now I'll go back to bed. I just came to drink some water - and of course I checked my order's status just because I happened to walk past my computer (which happens to be always on)...
Otherwise very good explanation, but I don't need to walk past computer desk if I go to kitchen.

Brackety entry

No pictures today (Did I hear sigh of relief?), but I've been stitching and there's some progress. I filled almost whole right bottom corner of Icy, and it'll be little happy dance in day or two (or three).
At the moment I'm stitching Dalmatian (5th part of Best Friends) and after I finished it's face I've enjoyed stitching it (it's so much nicer to stitch when your project stares at you from the fabric...), even it's mostly white (I've still serious issues with white, thanks to Hello Kitty Chef). Depending on length of my shopping spree tomorrow it may be HD tomorrow!
But in case I stuck in one craft shop drooling all over... who knows, maybe I'll get arrested or something.

I'm anxiously waiting for tomorrow, even though I can't spend that much (one reason for it is my latest Silkweaver order), as I haven't been in Helsinki in ages (in fact there were some plans about going to have a cup of coffee with one person, but in the end it's better it got delayed - I need to shave my head and dye my hair before I allow myself to do such a thing )

Good tip

Carpal tunnel related problems? Laura seems to have the answer (surprisingly it's not 42).