I should sleep like a dog more often...

Her Highness Ronja the Siamese woke me up every half hours last night screaming as loudly as only Siamese cat can (I think she's having issues with low air pressure again. My theory (which is mine) is that she gets headaches, like I do, when air pressure is low)... and still, it's half past twelve and I have done laundry, one load of dishes, cleaned the fridge, called my social worker (I won't say how long I had to wait in queue...) and written well over dozen job applications.

And it was a good mail day again!

My order from Julie's X Stitch arrived and now I am a proud, and happy, owner of my own copy of Mirabilia's English Roses! (It's a limited edition anyway, and almost impossible to find anymore.)

As you see I also found something else to justify the postages.
Is it just me or does that cat remind the Cheshire-Cat from Alice in Wonderland?

SBQ: Time Sharing

This week's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

is:

How do you balance your stitching time with your other obligations such as work, household chores, etc.?

Unfortunately I don't work so it doesn't take any of my stitching time. Housework on the other hand... well, I usually try to use the carrot and stick method i.e. when I do some chore I can stitch after that for X time units. (For example today I have decided to do laundry, clean the fridge, run one load in dishwasher and wash all the dishes which need to be washed by hand. After this (and during laundry) I can stitch as much as I want.
As I live alone there is also the fact that I can skip housework if I don't feel like doing it. It will only bother me.

Now that I have started to exercise daily I feel that I have more energy and enthusiasm to do the housework more efficiently, so this provides more time for stitching - unless the book I read during elliptical training is too good and I end up reading it during the evening and don't stitch at all. Regardless it's good thing: I haven't been reading this much in ages - and I have actually developed my stitching while reading a book skills lately...

I still have traces of the migraine from yesterday so it's another Small Project Day. The project will probably be biscornu for the Biscornu: Design-It-Yourself Exchange at EMS Cross Stitch Forum (sign-up won't open before 16th ). The design I have for it is rather small so after the exchange it will become a complimentary design for Periphaeria Designs. Said design is also the one to blame for my latest S.E.X....

I need Kreinik's Very Fine Braid #4 for it and I don't have it in suitable shades (I have #8 which would be yummy, but it's too thick, I think) so I ordered some. And as you guess I "justified" the postages with some designs I just had to adopt (1., 2., 3., 4., 5.). (And I realized that those fruit pillow designs I have been drooling are part of larger series from Just Cross Stitch and 1-2-3 Stitch! sells them... oh my. I have to buy them some day.)

It was also a good mail day! I had envelopes from Silkweaver and 1-2-3 Stitch! in my mail box!

The fabrics are much more amazing in person, but as I wasn't in the mood for scanning this is the closest it gets today.
These are, of course, findings from Odds & Ends, fabrics for my budget and I like the custom cuts you can get from O&E: this batch has two 9''x27'' pieces (Greekstone and Tropical Breeze, both are on the lower row) which are excellent material for various projects.

Guardian of the Holy Floss

Moment from yesterday:

Seiichi is obviously a very intelligent cat.

Actual stitchy content

Shocking, yes.

Firstly I started 2nd part of the Spanish Sampler MSAL in monochrome, went on balcony to stitch it as it was a lovely, sunny and warm... soon after that it became cloudy and chilly AND I got a migraine (due many things: low air pressure, general frustration, hormones and making the part 3 ready to be published in next Tuesday (I am surprised that my virtual printer actually worked without cursing and throwing things)) so I came back infoors and decided to change to something smaller i.e. Linda's "Autumn":

And just to prove that I have started the second part of TSS...

I think it will look quite fun when finished.

"To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy."
-- Will Durant

Coats Crafts, I love you!

I noticed that Anchor floss is only $.05 more per skein ($.49 = ~.31€) at 123 Stitch! than DMC and as I know that DMC has forbid their non-EU retailers to sell to EU customers (because their prices are ridiculously lower outside EU) I emailed 123 Stitch! and asked are there any such limitations in Anchor floss.
Their reply was that they are not aware of such.

I have been considering changing brand as DMC shows blatant disrespect towards designer copyrights (they really don't give a damn as they get the dough anyway from selling supplies) and now it is possible. Though, I will use my existing DMCs, but when I need new floss I will buy Anchor. Bought from US it's still loads cheaper than DMC locally and I think I will enjoy stitching more having guilt-free floss.

*yawn*

I am working on several models at this time (festive season is coming... ) so there's nothing to show you (though I surprised myself and stitched Haunted Tea Party a bit after working on a model, so maybe there will be something to show some day) and therefore... kitty pictures. ^^

Cats are enjoying summer and camping on the balcony:

It's an illness

• Too Pooped
• Leonardo
• Kitty Litter
• Barnyard Kitties
• Kitten Reflections
• Beguiling Tiger
• Small Wonder
• Hypnotic Leopard
• Band of Brothers
• Sofa Cat
• Feline Sisters
• Scarlet Wizard
• Japanese Maiden
• Enchanting Geisha
• In Harmony
• Solar Sensation
• Ballerina Beauty
• Woodland Wildlife
• Butterfly Vignette
• Leopard
• Zebra
• Rhinoceros
• Wild Babies
• Wild Adventures
• Reptiles and Amphibians
• Frog Prince
• Frog Wild
• Butterfly Fairies
• Purity, Strength and Truth
• Frost Bearer
• Northpole Pals
• Ghostly Treats
• Attitude

Mr. Mailman, bring me a dream... (Picture heavy)

Firstly, EMS Staff Stitch N'Stash Exchange for Laura:

The idea was to stitch and finish something stitchy which could be hung and send some nice stash with it.

I stitched Laura a scissor pocket with shades of dusky rose (and got to hear from her that it's one of her favourite colours ) and added a ribbon so it can be hung on neck or somewhere else.

Tidbits:

• Design: Mother's Love Grows, complimentary design by Periphaeria Designs.
• Floss: Atalie's Pivoine.
• Fabric: 25 count linen band.
• Other:
  1. It is lined with fabric to make sure that scissors won't come through.
  2. Ribbon is ~3mm wide pink polyester ribbon I have received from an exchange and it is sewn to the lining.
  3. Design is stitched over one with two strands.

In addition to this I sent two of my designs (Protection and Echoes of a Squared Lotus), two skeins on Painters Thread silks and two pieces of 32 count plainweave (linen and jobelan).
See how cunningly the threads and fabrics are matched. *grin*

Based on the feedback she loved everything so I think I can say that this exchange is now finished.

OMGWTFBBQBMW!

That was my first reaction when I opened the little box in Linda's envelope. In addition of sending that "one pattern from your wishlist" she sent me the mini bourse she was making for me (and I should finish hers and mail it... *ahem*).

But, pictures don't do justice to this bourse. It is just amazing.

Did I tell you that this is Linda's design?! Don't you think too that it's simply amazingly beautiful? I am in love.

In addition to this gorgeous one she sent me, not only one pattern from my wishlist, but four other patterns too - and one of the is a design I have been adoring from distance for a while!

Simple Thank You! isn't enough, but still... Thank you Linda!

And some pattern p0rn

The mysterious big envelope was what I thought it was... so, now it's time to do some simple calculus. These plus this lot:

...equals:

As previously mentioned I have some duplicates, but they, plus few other extras I have, will find a loving home from Linda's house.

I think that it might have been a very good idea to mae the bedroom my craft room... my pattern stash is already taking half a shelf (1 meter shelf).

29! O.o

I heard yesterday that Laura received her EMS Staff Stitch N'Stash Exchange from me... but those pictures will follow tomorrow, this post is devoted for birthday stash.

I have had three envelopes waiting to be opened few days. They were waiting because they were my birthday cards from Jayne's Attic BB's Birthday Thread Exchange. What can I say, except it was worth the wait!

Thank you Lindsey, Jayne and Lisa for such lovely flosses!

Mailman brought also some more flossy goodness from One Star's Light Needlework Supplies! This is only part of the order as Jenna had to order some of the flosses from Gentle Art (mainly because I wanted so many skeins per colour *grin*).

The ones on the right are for Bless This House, the ones on the left were meant for Rose Sampler mini SAL (yet another, yes) with Linda. Mini SAL mainly because we both apparently stitch it over one, crazy as we are.
Ellen's (it would be odd to call her with her whole name as I work for her anyway *grin*) Rose Sampler is an interesting project as I am not very fond of roses, but as I have been following its progress in both in the RS' own gallery and Ellen's forum's gallery it has grew in me.

Anyway, to get the idea of how much birthday gifts I have given myself I took a picture of all the patterns I decided to give myself (some are still on their way). The little card on bottom right is a notification from PO that I have received a big envelope: I am quite sure (or hopeful) that it is finally the CMH order (I have one order coming from 1-2-3 Stitch! but it should be small enough to fit in my mailbox).

The Evilness of IRC

Couple of evenings ago our mother came to our family's IRC channel and mentioned that she has to move her computer desk to living room because she has not earth connected wall sockets anywhere else than in her kitchen - and as she obviously doesn't want to have her computer in the kitchen she went with the room closest to it as she can use an extension cord to get the earthed socket.
- "And anyway, then I have a real entertainment center with TV, DVD player and computer and the bedroom can be just a bedroom."

Of course I said that she's a real nerd now - and she agreed.
Anyway, I then recalled a design I had seen, linked it to her with a comment "this would suit you then"... and she agreed again.
The design in question is Internet in Heaven and it seems to me that I have to buy it now and stitch it. So sad, don't you think? *grin* (I even know when I will order it: I emailed 123 Stitch! and asked could they get Sacred Connection in their selection (because I cunningly deduced that it would be much cheaper bought from States - and it is: in UK it would be 46.83€ + shipping whereas the quote from US was 19.83€ + shipping. Even when I buy new fabric for it (as I won't use that aida it comes with) it will be cheaper than ordering the kit itself from UK) and they replied me with the price quote and estimated time it takes it to get there. Which means that I am going to order it when it arrives there. *evil grin*)

Few more additions to my to-be-bought list:

• ABC Bear
• Not Tonight
• Frosty Memories
• More Frosty Memories

37,3° C

Nggh. I hurt. Now I finally feel like sick.

But on a happier note: I went to the interview and noticed that one of the people doing it was my old boss. I put my hope on her remembering me and wanting to hire me.

Another happy note is that I was tempted to buy all 2006 issues of The Gift of Stitching. The whole package was only 11,40€ so decided to go for it, give yet another birthday gift for myself.
When I got home I got an order confrimation from Julie's X Stitch that my order has been shipped AND she took $5 off of the shipping costs because my order was so light weight! English Roses is coming to mommy!

When it comes for tomorrow I have planned to serve myself breakfast in bed: coffee, tiramisu, nectarines...and open those birthday cards with lovely floss inside of them... and stitch the whole day as a birthday gift for myself.
Now I am hoping that few of my orders would arrive tomorrow and I would have a stash filled birthday. *dreamy*

Fun, fun. I have a summer flu and I have a job interview tomorrow. Luckily my only symptoms are increased body temperature, problems sleeping, muscle pains, nausea and upset stomach (do I sound overly positive or something?)- now that I increased my cortisone dose and my lungs aren't freaking out.

The mania is quite well in control, though I did shop some DVDs when bits_2_whole was ordering some stuff from one store - my excuse is that I need all that splattery goodness (I have coming such comforting movies as Saw, Battle Royale, Omen box (i.e. all the movies) etc.) and I "had" to order English Roses (and one other design to justify the postages *ahem*). (Here's to hoping that I actually get it.)

I also performed a drastic act yesterday: I marked all my unread feeds read. It has been over two months since I had energy to read anyone's blog etc. so I thought it's less stress for me this way, to start anew. (Leena, I did snatch the images from your blog though.)

And I am still ever so impressed with my host. I had yet anoter script problem after my account was moved to new server and my host fixed it in half an hour - at 1:00 (am)!