Breathe in, breathe out...

I have to say that past two weeks, when my asthma symptoms have gotten much worse, have really made me understand how my mother's life has been when her asthma hasn't been in balance. And I have to say that you really can't do anything else than admire the fact that she has took care of three kids and has been able to work in irregular shifts - at one time she even studied a new degree while being shift working single mother of two underaged and having an inbalanced asthma. How she managed it is something I can't understand, I'm having difficulties to survive even now.

And why I am awake? I'm apparently having an attack and couldn't sleep longer than four and a half hours... (tachycardia is a wonderful thing. So, no coffee in the morning...)

The Quote

[to House] Dr. Cameron: I thought you were too screwed up to love anyone. I was wrong. You just couldn't love me.

Ooh!

Gifties!
I had an an envelope waiting in my mail box today... Leena stitched a beautiful ornament (her finishing is so neat, you should see it!) and added to the mix one of those Muriel Brunet's note pads I have been drooling over at Violarium.

Kiitos Leena! (Basics of Finnish, lesson one: kiitos means thank you.)

It has already found a place of its own, it's hanging on my bedroom window's frame (suction cups are great thing) .

Ginger's Bell Pepper in Coconut Cream

Sounds flashy, this is what I cooked yesterday (and this is from my head).

2 dl coconut cream
1 bell pepper (I used red, but colour mix would look great too), sliced
~2,5 cm (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
½ tsp salt
2 tsp chili oil

Heat the oil, add the (grated) ginger and the bell pepper (sliced) and fry until the bell pepper softens a bit (this shouldn't take longer than three minutes). Add the coconut cream, mix well and let it simmer for few minutes (at this point you can actually turn the heat off). Add salt, check the taste.
This goes with rice, rice noodles, fish, vegetables, poultry... (Coconut goes very well with lamb.)

SBQ: Misery loves company

Today's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

is:

Do you consider yourself a "floss miser?"

Yes, I do. I'm cheap and it's too much of a bother to start another strand just for couple of tiny stitches. Price of the floss doesn't matter, I do it with those cheap DMC skeins I get from States (as in my life there's actually too categories of DMC: cheap for personal use and expensive for Lady's use) as well as with Atalie's silks.

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday...

... to me, happy birthday dear me-e, happy birthday to me!

And to the main thing, birthday goodies!

These lovelies are from Stitch & Stash's Birthday Thread Exchange and even though only one skein of special floss is required some participants seem to enjoy pampering other participants... not that I would mind.
These are the ones which have come to date and there's threads from the Ozark Sampler, The Dye is Cast, Kate's Kloths, Carrie's Creations, Needlepaints, Dragon Floss... and I'm swimming in purple floss! (Check this card, stylish or what?)
I also got a chart with Ozark Sampler threads which would be just the thing for a biscornu (actually I have already decided which Ozark's thread I'd use for it..).

Thank you Sheila, Jayne and Helen! And big thank you to everyone who has wished me a happy birthday!

To make it even better... I know there's more birthday related goodness to come!

Otherwise

I have got year older peacefully (with my current physical state (even sweeping the kitchen floor is too much...) that is the only way). I spent the morning by playing with colour combinations for the B1g S3kr1t D3s1gn, we got the futon assembled (it's already in use...) with my mother (it took four hours from two persons with years of furniture assembling experience and a fully equipped hardware store's selection of woodworking tools) and I fed her with turkey and rice noodles with coconut cream sauce (with bell pepper and ginger)) as a thank you - she's still alive and actually liked the stuff, so it wasn't too bad.

Siamese cats, strange breed

I noticed something yesterday: Her Highness is a tonal meower. Instead of using different meow in different situations (like most cats do) she uses same meow, but changes the tone.
It kind of makes sense, she's from Siam anyway... (Thai is a tonal language.)

I had an interesting discussion with my mother over late lunch yesterday. She has had her doubts about me having asthma when I was a kid (because I was so cranky), and, noticing how low my air flow has always been (it has never been measured officially) I'm surprised if I don't get the diagnose.
Lately (non-allergic) shortness of breath has been daily (it happens even if I sit on a bus) and I realised yesterday that I have had last two months all the symptoms of an asthma related mood disorder (i.e. general exhaustion and signs of depression without being depressed).

If I have asthma it may also exlplain my concentration issues, at least partly, because my brains don't get enough oxygen. It could lead me sleeping less and waking up cheerier.
As you see, I am cranky at mornings and only thing to cure it is a healthy dose of *caffeinated* coffee. Caffeine is a weak bronchodilator and it also reduces respiratory muscle fatigue... hmm... it's also chemically related to theophylline which is used to treat asthma. Hmm^2.
This kind of leads to the conclusion of 1 + 1+ 1 being three.

(And, thanks to summer, doctor's appointment is 23rd of July...)

I'm in The Gift of Stitching!

Yes, me! Read the July issue and see the secret fourth model! (Though... the editor got the name wrong.... It's Square Gardens in real life.)

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 230

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Partner :: Spouse
2. News :: Huey Lewis and The News
3. Foam :: Soap
4. Paycheck :: What? O_o
5. Me :: Wasted
6. Eight :: Pence
7. Dairy :: Cow
8. Exciting :: Thrilling
9. Hockey :: Blah
10. Socialite :: Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet...)

So, what I have been up to?

Three out of four (I'll reveal the secret of fourth design soon...):

Beescornu, my scientific experiment.
As some of you know I am allergic to bee (/wasp/ mosquito/you-name-it) stings and therefore I have developed natural sense of respect ("Run away!) towards these critters and I was curious to know can I design something beautiful using a theme I dread.

I'm pleased with it, what do you think?

Ring of Roses #2 - Grandmother's Wallpaper.
Since I published first part of RoR series I have wanted to include a needleroll to it, so, here it comes!

I got odd nostalgic sensations while stitching this about a grandmother I never had... I can smell lemon tea and fresh buns just by looking at the picture.

Rosette - Needleroll was my first attempt to design with beads. It's also a design meant to challenge you as it doesn't just use silk floss and petite beads, but to acquire this lovely dove grey (I know it may look a bit blueish, but in real life it's grey) fabric you have to dye it yourself! (Isn't that evil? )

Goal check

Strike and green equal a success. Orange is for "put some work to said piece, but not enough for a success", and red goes, as you guess, for a failure.

Goals for June were:

1. Stitch Summer Dragon on Leslie's RR. I'm about half done, but will be few days late.
2. Participate Stitch-A-Thon, stitch rest of Loy's page four. Stitched only some bush.
3. Make one surprise gift.
4. Finish the models for July launch and make them ready for print. Done! I actually started September's models and finished one.
5. Finish and mail Angi's gift. Done!
6. See about that needleroll tutorial.

   Additional:

7. Designed a logo for Violarium.

The reason why I will be few days late with Leslie's RR is that I had dreadful Thursday:

1. I started stitching and after I had finished one symbol I noticed that I hadn't enough strands. Frog.
2. I stitched same symbol again and noticed that I have wrong filament. Frog.
3. Same symbol again, but this time I had wrong DMC. Frog.

At that point I decided to take few days off from it.

And... goals for July are:

1. Stitch Summer and send Leslie's RR to Christine.
2. Stitch one model and finish that one I'm working on now.
3. Make one surprise gift. (Deadline 15th of July.)
4. Stitch Bunny Baby for the Stitchers for Children.
5. Participate SAT.
6. Get older.

I think it's there... now, off to make my morning coffee! (I have been up for hours, but I got this stupid idea to finish designing T3h B1g S3kr1t Pr0j3ct... it's almost done, I just need to decide between two little details and two layouts - and, of course, the floss (I'm quite sure that it will be stitched on 36 count Edinburgh flax linen).)

Some designers should be shot at dawn...

At least that person whose bright idea was to provide plastic nails with that futon.... Even I know that best solution in something like that is a regular screw (and screwing is fun * depraved grin*), even more when all the holes aren't in their rightful places...

I am pissed, you know?

Solution? My mother comes to help me in Tuesday and takes her friends Drill and Box of Screws with her.

Neverending S.E.X.!

Oh, if it just could be so... Actually this is probably the last stash picture for a while.

I gave in and bought almost full set of DMC's Variations (I have all the separately sold old colours now) and also got prepared for that day when I start model stitching my 'B1g S3kr1t Pr0j3ct' (nickname courtesy of Deb L. ) by buying bigger snap frame.

By the way, I'm in need of reasonably priced dark crimson/ burgundy hand-dyed silk (something in terms of DMC 4210, but silk), any suggestions which brand would have suitable colour?

Healing the kitty - and doing it well

I have to say that the vet did a great job... Her Highness, going on her 14th year, who has lived in here last six years and has never played during that time, has got back to kittenhood (*g*) since she got rid of that nasty otitis.
Nowadays she demans that I play with her and her plastic shrimp (extremely kitsch neon-coloured plastic shrimp) about an hour every day.(Boys gain from this too, as they come to play as well when ever they notice that it's shrimping time. (Note that The Old Geezers (Neko and Seiichi, who both have had their eight birthday) haven't been playful in last... six years.))
You could never imagine how much fun an old cat can have with a cardboard box and a plastic shrimp...

Finally!

As unbelievable as it sounds all futon's parts are now painted. Next thing (tomorrow) is to sand them lightly, wipe them with slightly moist rag, assemble the whole thing and sew few thingies for it.
Only one more night of sleeping on the floor!

Reasons for insomnia, part I

Could you wake up someone this cute just to get your temporary bed thingies? Neither can I - and she's sleeping on my blanket, pillows etc..

Foto Pherrets: Time

Week 78

Our word for this week is: Time

Long time ago, in a rebublic not so far away... Quite much time has passed since this photo was taken - I think I am about four in it. (This seems to be natural position for me.... see the entry avatar.)

Put on your secret dancing shoes

... as it is time for a secret happy dance!

This little bugger will move out to live with my mother and will be revealed/ published 1st of September. (I find that metallic effect interesting as it was even in the original picture I took... that is normal pewter Jobelan, you see.)

Anyway, I loved this design while stitching it and I love it even more now when I see it finished - it's perfect design for a biscornu (though I think I may have to stitch it over one as a fob/ ornament some day, just to see how good it looks ).

And... Angi's birthday exchange parcel is filled with little this-and-thats and waiting to be mailed out tomorrow so it stands a chance to reach States ~3rd of July, just in time for her birthday.

I'm off to add another coat of paint on last set of my futon's parts.

S.E.X. is here to stay

As if.

Some more stash - mostly just because, but initially they will be used for models:

I had another stash splurge at Violarium (that fabric is from Sewandso though) and when ever Leena gets the new colours for Variations I will probably give in and get whole set of them (Have you seen the new colours? They are lovely).
I also foresee one model finish today for September's launch - you could say that I started early. And in case I can keep up this speed (night before last I got 2 hours worth of sleep and after I woke I jumped around like a Duracell bunny for next 20 hours - it also meant some quality stitching time) I may even be in time for once...

28th year is almost here

I got an interesting "birthday card" today from my mother (we decided that it is a birthday card as it was about the same price as a card and it was given me for my birthday (which is in coming Tuesday (3rd of July), so you're not late sending gifts ):

1. It's a book, called Museum der Orientalischen Kunst Moskau.
2. It's published in Leningrad (yes, it was Leningrad back then).
3. It's printed in German Democratic Republic (Yes, it was GDR back then).

Not to mention that it has great pictures.

Did I mention that it is published in 1988?

New design

...though in a tiny bit different use: I am proud to announce that Violarium's new logo is designed by someone you know, that someone being myself.
Clean, simple, suitable for the store (Violarium stands for a field of violets) and Leena was very pleased with the end result. Perfect.

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream...

Lately I have had a phase of disturbing, but good, dreams and I am not sure how much I like it in the end.
I am completely contended with the dreams where I move to a new apartment as now the apartment I am moving in is new, spacious, well designed and has good amount of natural daylight (I love those parquet floors it has), though there's still something missing from the kitchen, but not as much there used to - I am quite sure I still don't have a stove in my kitchen.

In dream symbolism kitchen represents our heart, our emotional life. And if it really is a stove I am missing from my kitchen the message is quite clear: I miss warmth, something to nourish my heart. (I think we can conclude from this that I miss being loved by someone wonderful.)

Last night I had a dream of someone I haven't met in ten years, someone I haven't heard of in years - someone who I once loved, someone who confessed his love for me too late (I was married when I heard about it).
He had changed, he had found his balance, but still he was the person I had feelings for (he even looked like himself, though ten years older). And in that dream everything continued from where we left it, ten years ago, even though it was ten times better than it was back then.

This has caused lots of confusion today, as I can't fathom why I saw a dream about him. Maybe he just has been thinking of that odd lady who treated him as a human being when most didn't.

But isn't this one of the reasons why I keep dating-free summer? To clarify myself. I think this is just one part of the path.