*faints*

Certain things seem to make you go OMGWTFBBQBMW! no matter how much of a designer you are yourself:

The Dragon Lady commented on Fang!

That's all folks, I'm off to have some more coffee and stitch!

Tidbits and two happy dances

It snowed!

TGOS

Oh my, where this world is going to... there is nothing of interest in the latest The Gift of Stitching - though I can promise you that there is something of interest in the next issue...

And

As I guessed I was asked about what happened in Thursday after we left. And I knew there'd be those knowing "who knows where it may lead... " (Admittedly everything leads to something, but still...) comments from my course mates.

Happy Dance #1

Fang was finished in Friday.

Informative tidbits:

• Designer: Jennifer Aikman- Smith from Dragon Dreams
• Design: 'Fang', a limited time Halloween treat freebie
• Fabric: Elegance, 32 count hand-dyed Belfast linen by Silkweaver
• Floss: Misc. leftovers
• Additions: I replaced the French knots in Fang's eyes with red petite glass beads.

Happy Dance #2

And The Secret Gift was finally finished today and will be mailed out to its new home in Monday(-ish).
Pictures will follow when I heard that it is received, but I can say that it is simply gorgeous!

SBQ: Not just a dream game...

Today's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

was suggested by Ternezia and is:

If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?

If I were?

My style is mostly monochromatic with influences from Asia, Europe and Africa - actually I also have some other influences waiting to be published - but I do also coloured (and monochromatic) whimsical designs.
You can probably deduce from most of my designs that my base is in weave and print designing (I also wanted to become a knitted garment designer when I was in my teens so there are influences from that period too).

If you wish to see it yourself click yourself into Periphaeria Designs' site and have a look around, maybe you will find something you fancy.

It was a rather odd day...

It was first of the four course days between the two traineeship periods and we took a bus to the main place of the $INSTITUTE which provides the course (or has sold the course to employment services) - which was kind of nice as it is in the countryside (well, in general Finland as whole is countryside, but that is not the issue).
And as there are three courses going on simultaneously at the $INSTITUTE's "side branch", where the course I am in is held, our tutors saved some money, rent a bus and took us all to the $INSTITUTE's main branch.... which is nothing to blog about, but wait a minute when I tell you something else.

I have knew for some time that one man in another course is my ex-husband's (Dan) old friend. Dan had, after he heard that I am there, told him that I am there too - just on another course.

And today, when we were sightseeing the main site of the $INSTITUTE our groups met (there were so many of us that we had to be divided) at one of the buildings and he came to me and asked "Are you $NAME? Are you $NAME's ex wife?".
I confessed my crime and we kind of get to talking there, but my group went on its merry way and I had to run after them... Then he came to talk with me after the lunch (and I saw some very knowing looks around...) and, after we had had an informational hour about the $INSTITUTE, at the afternoon coffee we went to the same table and gossiped on (surrounded by VERY knowing looks - hey, he is about my age, is there something odd in two people, of same age range, having a chat over coffee?).

We continued that at the bus on our way back here... and then we ended up walking to the central area of the $SUBURB, because I needed to get new travel card and he needed to load his, chatting merrily.
Then he asked would I like to go for a coffee with him (and therefore he ended up spending his lottery winnings (few euros *grin*) on women (yes, he paid (odd Finnish man there O_o))), after which we headed to bookstore, after which he wanted to buy me ice cream... after this I had a meeting to go to, so we separated.

Now, we changed phone numbers in the bus , I offered to take him to dinner some day (as I have some free lunch tickets I got from $COMPANY and he's rather nice company) and he actually asked could he ask me for a coffee for some other day too, as he, as I, likes to have company over coffee - which is nothing odd, as far as I can see... in theory.
BUT: Note that this guy is my ex-husband's old friend (whom I never met when we were married), which kind of makes it a bit... odd (and for some reason he said he'd like to see my "pink monster" (TMI: a vibrating thing *grin*, you don't want to know the details) some day - should I jump to conclusions from that? (The things one reveals to complete strangers...)).

But still, it was great fun to just go with the flow and do something like that as it rarely happens (we had few occasional accidental coffee meetings with N. and I enjoyed them tremendously).

All the sudden I find my life much more interesting...

Goals

It's November already...! O_o

As usual 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.

The goals for October were:

1. Work on models. One finished.
2. Stitch, finish and send one secret gift. I intended to finish it last night, but for some reason I was too tired to think straight (like I am always *grin*) and decided to stitch Fang - who is, by the way, almost done.
3. Stitch Linda's bourse.
4. Participate Stitch-A-Thon with Loy Krathong. Done!
5. Decide the design for Cross Stitch Lottery piece. Decided, will stitch one of Linda's designs.

Additional:

6. Finished and sent Halloween Exchange item.

Fortunately I didn't make the list longer... The goals for November are:

1. Stitch ornaments for my parents.
2. Work on models.
3. Stitch and send Christine's RR.
4. Stitch two parts of Hardanger Bookmark SAL (buttonhole stitch and eyelets).
5. Stitch and finish Linda's bourse.
6. Participate Stitch-A-Thon with Loy Krathong.

Once again short and sweet, but I think it's enough - and anyway I have to head to shower...

Friends know...

... how to cheer you up.
I came back home cranky because I had lost my travel card, which still has 16 days unused, prepaid, period left (fortunately the driver knows me (by face, you know) and let me take the bus home without paying).

I knew that Leena was to send little something to me, but this load of beautiful, new stash was totally unexpected!

As the image ia not very good I am evil and advertise a bit (as you know that I never do that *coughs innocently*)... Leena sent me Mains & Merveilles' issue 60 (it has two jazz related patterns, which are must do for someone like me (I have always loved jazz)), Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly's Summer 2007 issue (the project on the cover is a must do too), three Atalie's silks (Beaune, Grenade and Vancouver) and one skein of Atalie's cotton (Passion).

Based on the floss colours you could almost imagine that she knows something about my colour preferences... (ETA: Ok, she has a red phase, according to her. But, isn't that a sign of a great artist? All those phases with certain shades? *grin)

Fang

Jenn L., you are welcome. That is why I posted about the Fang as I knew some people may miss it otherwise - I have been waiting for this design since she launched her new site so I was well prepared.

Fangs...

Jennifer Aikman- Smith from the Dragon Dreams has done it again and launched the cutest little vampire dragon! He's available for limited time (around midnight November 1st, 2007) only so get Fang while stocks last!

Yet another design added to my to-do pile for this weekend. (Though he's so minute that I might actually stitch him tomorrow...)

Good day!

Firstly to the main thing: my latest order from One Star's Light arrived! (And I managed to hide the Spook-A-Boo under Dragonfly Jewels while photoshooting....)

 

Jenna always packs the things you buy in the loveliest way so buying some more stash for myself Lady P. is like having lovely gifts from someone else. ^^ (It makes a great excuse... "I didn't buy these! It is wrapped so it has to be a gift... ")

All the floss is from Crescent Colours because they seem to have about the best selection of colours (as does Atalie). I got four cottons (Fallen Leaves, Ruby Slippers, Bandana and Bejeweled (which is BEAUTIFUL deep blue. Note that I am not very much into blue in general)) and three silks - which are, oh, so soft (3 Alarm Fire, Cranberry and Grape Juice).
The floss colours are WAY more beautiful in real life, but as it is dark outside (daylight? What is that?) the light isn't best there is.

The reason for all the reds was that I was looking for The Red Overdyed for one design and I am quite sure that I have it in Grape Juice - which is wonderful as I LOVE CC's silks (CC silk is honestly the softest silk floss I have ever used).

Secondly I am getting into my Hebrew flow: I can read it, I even translated most of our next chapter beforehand while sitting in the bus.

Thirdly I stitched my secret over one gift at the Jewish school's hallway and my fellow Hebrew students admired the piece - which is my design. ^^

And fourtly I have got very interesting new task at work: self-audits, which basically means that I make quality control reports of the $UNIT of the $COMPANY.
Remember that I am not in an employment relationship with the company and that I don't have any kind of formal education suitable for the field I am currently working on... I think I should be proud of myself.

Cats have the darndest expressions...

Is he cute or what?!

Places to go, people to eat...

...and too much House M.D..

• Péri, Montjoie-en-Couserans, France
• Peri, Corsica, France
• Peri, Dolcè VR, Italy
• Peri, Sierra Leone

...and of course: Peri, and the Coat of Arms.

The relativity of time

I was reading my old entries and realised something:

1. Exactly three years ago I was with A. (it was Friday, so I probably was at his place).
2. Exactly two years ago I was still with Sol.
3. Exactly 1½ years ago I was madly and happily in love with Wolfinho.
4. Exactly one year ago I spent time with N. (Sunday and I know that I was at his place.)

Those two years feel like forever. And in some twisted way I miss them all, some more than others, some with more devotion than others...

• I miss A. for those little things he did, even though he was too weak to stand against his family for the love he had for me.
• In some weird way I miss Sonnenschein, even he was too weak to be happy.
• I miss Wolfie for those months of pure happiness, for the feeling of being understood.
• I miss N. for all the good times we had, for all the nights we slept entwined.

I am just curious to know what next 365 days will bring.

Humans are so very disappointing creatures. Or maybe I shouldn't try to believe in human race as it would make life much easier.

The Hole

Honestly speaking... there is a huge hole in my life and the hole is called Love, or rather lack f it.

After I have fell into this so called normal life I have had the feeling of having one piece missing from the puzzle. That piece which has the detail that makes the image whole, even the lack of it doesn't distort the image enough to make it unrecognisable. You just know that there is something missing.

Hence I am getting back to the dating scene. On that threatening, stormy sea which has the paradise island in it, somewhere - I just have lost the map.

I can live alone, but I don't want to. I have no problems to live in celibacy, but I can't say that it does not bother me as sexuality and sensuality, even they are different aspects, walk hand in hand and someone as overflowingly sensual like I am can't stand the situation where she can't be who she is.
I want to be loved, I want to love... even more important: I want to know that there is someone whose company I love no matter how much time I spend with him. I want to have someone to have heated discussions with, someone with whom to be just as childishly silly as I can be.
I want someone to touch...

But still I don't want to end up in a relationship just to be normal or just to prevent being alone/ in celibacy/ unloved (and then, there are people who love me, but who have chosen not to be with me).

Life is really so very odd sometimes.

If I were a cookie..

Snatched from chanda_m.

You are a gingersnap!

You're sweet and kind, but never dull. Your flavorful personality and snappy style make a memorable first impression. Some people don't appreciate your spicy sense of humor, but your friends can't get enough of those witty wisecracks. You're smart, fresh, and totally tasty. Everyone wants a bite of you.

20% of the people who took this quiz got the same evaluation.

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 247

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

1. Inaugural :: Never heard (note: I am not a native English speaker *grin* -> checked from the dictionary)
2. Pledge :: Pain of Salvation
3. String :: -s
4. Trot :: ... on a mine.
5. Fitness :: A word
6. Cinder :: -ella
7. Edge :: Living on the Edge
8. 31 :: 3rd of July, 2010
9. Blue :: Eyes (mine)
10. Leather ::

I think I am addicted...

...to Pamela Kellogg's designs.
After considering for a while I went and purchased Winter Into Spring (scroll down) series because it was so cheap (4 x $4 = $16 = ~11.12 €) and I just had to get it.

They just spoke to me...(Words of a truly insane person.)

Halloween SAL competition is up!

Do you want to have a chance to win some new stash?

Good. Then I recommend that you read this article at the Independent Needlework News and take your chance by voting.

...You ask what there is to win…? Loads of lovely stash, more details in this entry.

Ship ahoy!

When I woke up yesterday I heard that Deb has received my payment for Freddy: Auspicious Argosy.
It took three weeks for the parcel to get from UK to US, but it finally got there - just in time as I'd have emailed Sewandso regarding it in Monday.

And when it comes to Frederick the Literate... Leena and I have reached a preliminary agreement upon SALling with Freddy in next year (we haven't set any dates yet, just the startng year - as we a re both loaded with projects at the moment) (I think I need to designate one weekend of every month as a SAL Weekend as I seem to need some control over myself... one day for Egyptian Sampler, one day for Freddy) if anyone has the design in their to-do list we'd love to have you stitching with us! Just email me.

Close to an end

As unbelievable as it is I have only three days of my traineeship left... though it is only the first training period. I have few "proximity days" (those will be sheer bliss: six hour days of leisure after actually working my ass off for eight hours a day) and then I am back to the $COMPANY for seven weeks - and who knows, maybe they notice that they simply can't function without me during that time...

SBQ: Railroads

This week's

Stiching Bloggers' Question

is:

Do you railroad?

Tchoo! Tchoo! (In English: yes, I do.)

Isn't it odd...?

Why it seems to me that I stitch faster when I stitch over one? Even when I stitch 1/1 on black...
Maybe it is just the tiny stitches, but for some reason I don't believe that theory.

Stashy goodness!

Coming soon to a mailbox near me!
As Lady had some excess money in her Paypal account and she needed some new floss for future models (I bought various reds because I need to find a suitable one for a model I have wanted to stitch for ages) and because I decided that she wants to pay some model stitching wage to me I went crazy over at the One Star's Light Needlework Supplies and bought selection of Crescent Colours silks and cottons and The Cat's Whiskers' Spook-A-Boo and Dragonfly Jewels.

One of the reasons to have some S.E.X. was my current condition though, I needed some cheering up.

Other "things" to cheer me up ^^

She lives in a cave of Futon Sofa...

Damnit you!

Family portrait... (Neko loves to show his tummy. ^^)

Off to stitch a secret gift over one to a $FRIEND. ^^

Resting...

Well, at least I started well by sleeping 16 hours which, of course, lead to an head ache. And less surprisingly my sugars are down... not just because I slept so long, but because I didn't get to eat or drink anything before I got back from the hospital yesterday and then I was so hungry that I almost ate a horse (literally speaking) filled with white carbs. Yuck.

So the plan™ is: make some strong coffee (this headache may also be caused by the fact that I didn't got any yesterday), eat something unhealthy and stitch the headache away...

Actually I find it funny in a gorish way that I honoured bits_2_whole's operation (it went well as far as I know) by spending the whole day in a hospital - though in a different hospital. It would have got interesting if there had been something more wrong with me and I had been admitted.