On theisms

While chatting with person X. I came to think of something...
It's commonly accepted that person can be brainwashed into certain religion, but how often you hear about those people who are brainwashed to atheism? I think I've met one. Not person X. (who admittedly is an atheist), but someone who used to be part of my life, an ex. (How time flies, it was over a year ago... *grin*)
I've never met anyone so fundamentalistic about the fact that I've my beliefs - I am not a fundamentalist, I admit that I believe in G-d, but I don't try to convert anyone (as it's against my morals anyway) so that was not caused by me or my beliefs - or the fact that some people actually believe in divinity/divinities of their choice.

It boggles the mind...

Goals for December

Hereby I announce my goals for December (where the heck this year went?!):

1. Finish Turtle Dove.
2. 1/3 of Casa de Ezmeralda
3. Finish Small Needlebook stitching wise
4. Finish Valentine's Exchange
5. Finish Snowball's Chance In Hell
6. Finish Santa's Trimmings
7. At least 50% of Futurecast
8. Frame Panda
9. Finish 2nd part of Alter Echo

As I'll be at home over the holidays I'll get enough stitching time for sure. (Though, as we all know me you never know where I am at that time of the year... *rolls her eyes*)

We're planning to have cozy family Yule at our IRC channel, as our mother is, once again, working over the holidays (she's social worker, you see) - something we're very used to - and anyway it'd have been interesting to transfer two sets of cats (mine and bits_2_whole's) to our mother's place as none of us has a car (we use our father's when needed *evil grin* (or rather those who know how to drive))...
(Actually this topic raised my blood pressure in form of SIL, who doesn't seem to grasp the idea that given situation may be a bit different for us singles than them who have herd of kids around. And better that they stay away from computers over the holidays, as I prefer to relax. *g*)

Brain blurb goal check

As it is last day of November it's time to glance to past and foresee future. My goals for November, set, done and undone:

1. Finish Panda. Oh yes!
2. Stitch another SOLAK square for Mary. Finished, sent.
3. Stitch (about 40% done), finish and mail mini biscornu for Linda. Stitched, finished, sent, received!
4. Finish first part of Alter Echo (no ambition here as it's almost finished). Did!
5. Finish The Greatest Treasure. Tadaa!
6. Finish Small Needlebook, at least stitching wise.
7. Stitch and finish SAL biscornu. ^^

Additional, unplanned:

• Woodland Snowfall (Also finished as an ornament, pictures to follow...)
• Morning Wizard

So, out of seven goals I did six, and managed to achieve some unplanned happy dances, so this was very good month!

Yay me!

SBQ; Floss security

Today's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

is:

How do you secure your thread when you begin a new one? Specifically, do you or have you ever used a waste knot?

If I'm working with two strands I use loop (which, of course, means that I actually use one strand), and when working with one strand I leave a short tail in backside and secure it while stitching first few stitches. Nothing too fancy, and it works well for me.

When it comes to waste knot I've never even tried one, sounds too cumbersome as an idea as I'm not good at making knots (and nowadays I'm even worse because my nails are long) and tail method saves time compared to waste knot.

And now, off to make some coffee (as sleep failed me after 7 hours) and adding biscornu tag on popular Angela's request.

Blaaaaaaaaaah

1. I'm quite pleased that I ditched Cross Stitcher. I got the latest issue yesterday and there's nothing which strikes my fancy nor there will be in next issue - like that'd be much of an issue, as this one was last in my subscription.

2. Despite my migraine I've made some progress with Dovey (though I've spent most of the day sleeping and/or entertaining cats in bed):

This is very quick stitch, and I'd almost swear that I'll have HD within next three weeks. (Yes, that is waste canvas. Last piece of that one I bought over two years ago, that one which made me realise that I'm more severely allergic than I thought. I can use it because it has been washed and because my allergy behaves better than it used to (there's still traces of starch in that fabric, deducing from the fact that I get minor symptoms from handling it)).

3. Futurecast is kitted and I've written its conversion up. Its main colour will be orange, and if I'm happy with the result its colourway may be available for curious souls (Teresa Wentzler is known to give AOKs for publishing conversions - and this particular design is designed as a conversion practise piece).
Coming soon to a blog near you!

Now this was interesting...

Snatched from Ami.

Your EQ is 140

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!
51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.

71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.
91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.
111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.
131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.
150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Now, that is lower than my claimed IQ, but surprisingly high noticing how problematic I find social interaction, so even they say that IQ and EQ aren't comparable I might disagree.
And yes, I know this was just a time killer. So? *g*

And now... I'll probably doze off any time soon...

Futurecast; Amber/Pihka (Nummi-Pusula? *g*)

OF - Wildfire by Carrie's Creations Threads

A - 3825
B - 722
C - 721
D - 720

1 - 351
2 - 350

+ - 3859
Z - 3858

Metallics: Petite Treasure Braid PB01 and PB10

Beads: Mill Hill Antique Glass Beads 03003

2nd option:

OF - Wildfire by Carrie's Creations Threads

A - 3047 + 3825
B - 3825 + 722
C - 722 + 721
D - 721 + 720

1 - 351 + 3858
2 - 3858

+ - 3858 + 3859
Z - 3858

Metallics: Petite Treasure Braid PB01 + Kreinik's BF 003HL
PB10

Beads: Mill Hill Antique Glass Beads 03003

[insert yawn here]

Due popular request Futurecast will be my next Monday project. I need to check the other colours, but it'll be stitched on anonymous purplish, opalescent hand-dyed evenweave from Silkweaver and the overdyed required will be Carrie's Creations' Wildfire.

In WIP front: I did stitch Ezzy yesterday, but there's nothing much to show, just couple of rocks in house's base. It's surprisingly slow process to stitch over one on 40 count.

Boo.

There haven't been that much stitching... as I slept 15 h in Sunday.
I did stitch Alter Echo...

Anyway, we had a happy dance today! (It'd have happened yesterday, but it's quite difficult to stitch when you're glued to the keyboard...)

Info:

• Design: Morning Wizard
• Designer: Jennifer Aikman- Smith
• Fabric: 28 count Quaker linen. Mocha (IIRC)
• Other:
  • I left wording and sun out because they didn't strike my fancy.
  • Colours are tweaked
  • Newspaper is changed to be The Daily Prophet

And this was fourth happy dance within one week (and second unplanned HD for this month). In moments like this I really love (or maybe I should say adore) myself.

Though, I've a problem: what next? I could think of Stitching Devils, but I don't have enough black denim - as I decided to make my mother's knitting bag from that, and I've reserved all denim I've for that. And Dovey has a place in my rotation already.
Dragon Soul QS? I've no fabric for it, and I lack some of the threads... Can't start Loy Krathong even I've the flosses and fabric as I've no dyes to dye the fabric.
So... it's either You're Never Too Old... or Taj Mahal - though I still don't have that #8 perle.

Maybe I just get wild, compromise, and stitch Futurecast. It'd be good for variety's sake.

Must resist...

Argh, new things to want/buy: Big Girl Knits - 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves (allow me to disapprove using word girl)

And the official quotes...

'One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.'

'If you smoke after sex then you're doing it too fast.'
- Woody Allen

mondaysabitch

Our regularly scheduled memesy: Monday's A B*tch

What do you associate most with...

1. Being a nerd?
2. Being healthy?
3. Being free?
4. Being lazy?
5. Being normal?

One word/term, and some free association:

1. Sexy. Nerdiness is sexy, at least from my viewpoint as I've very serious case of intellect fetish... (You just can't get between my sheets if you don't have it. Intellect.) And I'm proud to consider myself as one (and it's not that many days ago when someone called me sexy nerdette last time *grin*).

2. Subjective. One guru says one thing, other says something completely different. What matters most is how you feel. Balance is the word.

3. Spiritual freedom. Don't try to control me or my mind as we need to be free. Let me be free and I'm free to stay with you.

4. Relative. I'm lazy, I idle a lot, but still I'm usually doing something - you just may not see it.

5. Mundane. What is normal? From sociology's view it's something what majority does, and as majority creates the norm it's just another word for common. And even I understand that most people are like other people and like to be normal it's always worth thinking is it what you want?
In certain sense every single one of us belong to some minority, therefore every one of us is abnormal to certain extent.
It's same thing with natural: everything which happens in nature (flora, fauna, you name it) is natural, some incidents just aren't as common as others.

UM and things

Week 199

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

1. Rhyme :: Thyme
2. Substantial :: Powerful
3. Instant :: Coffee!
4. Greed :: Green
5. Brad :: Pitt
6. Season :: 'tis the---
7. Accomplished :: Succeeded
8. Invite :: To ask
9. Sparkle :: Opalescent
10. Rainbow :: LGBT (To my fellow stitchers: Queer Pride Motifs)

Voodoo doll and poisons

Now, don't you think that our little B.J. would do a great pincushion? *g*

Anyway, I've been wondering lately why tea causes problems (stomach related, you get the picture) to me nowadays (actually black tea has always been in that way more or less) and I think I found a reason: I'm oversensitive to theophylline, which is found from tea.
Silly thing in this is that usually people consider tea better to your health than coffee... I have no problems what so ever with coffee (taking that I don't drink it excessively) - in case it's of good quality, cheap coffee freaks my body out.

G'day

It's kind of scary... I've had three happy dances during one week.

Anyway, change of plans: I realised last night, or rather in wee hours of today, that I've to knit SBCIH as a plain flat and "cheat" by embroidering snowflake's evolution on knitted surface.
Good thing in this is that this will be quick project - as long as I remember to decrease in every seventh row. Usually I dont.

Another HD

Info:

• Design: Woodland Snowfall
• Designer: Diane Williams/ Little House Needleworks
• Source: Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue 2004
• Fabric: Unknown, hand-dyed opalescent 28 count (from Silkweaver)
• Misc.: Stitched over one

Ngggggh

Sunrise: 8:43
Sunset: 15:31
Length of day: 6 h 48 min

And amount of daylight keeps on reducing almost a month still... And this combined with lack of snow (yes, it has been raining last few days) does wonders to my mind. My days have been interesting lately: wake up -> 11 h awake -> 3 h nap -> 3-4 h awake -> 6h night sleep; repeat ad nauseam.
I think I'm hibernating.

Sounds like a plan, don't you think?

In other news, I have been stitching (in addition to spending half of the day chatting - yikes), but I prefer to show picture of completed stitching (instead of getting there), but those of you who know Woodland Snowfall by Little House Needleworks... imagine it stitched over one on 28 count blue opalescent, hand-dyed evenweave.

Yes, it'll be cute. ^^

I'd say I'm about 50% finished with my Valentine's Exchange.
My plans changed a bit with what I'm stitching to $NAME, but if she loves my creation even half as much I do it'll be a success.
And I really enjoy stitching with Caron's Soíe Cristale. It slides trough fabric holes like a dream and doesn't tangle a bit. I think I've found new floss to add to my favourites. (I should try those Vikki Claytons I got from Annette to see do I love silks in general or is it brand based attraction.)

I've also placed few stitches on Santa's Trimmings, but there's not enough progress to justify a picture. *g*
But to please my picture loving readers... Masa and Seiichi.

      

On cravings

Now, could someone tell my body that we can't consume corn flakes nor chocolate with nuts no matter how good they'd taste?
Still, I'd really like to know where those come from... cravings.

Pleasant surprises

Hmm... since when LJ has supported HTML in Smooth Sailing's sidebar? I noticed it, by accident, earlier today when updating my rotation and WIP lists. Not that I'd complain, I kind of like the opportunity to have easily acquirable additional information of the designs I'm working on. (You may have noticed that I have bad crush for knowledge and all sorts of tidbits of information?)

YES!

I've been smoking my needle since 21:00 yesterday until noon today (excluding coffee breaks) and I can proudly announce a happy dance. Panda is now stitched!
Admittedly I am in little pieces, but those pieces are very proud of themselves. Though, even it may just be that I've been awake last 19 hours but, I am not pleased with the outcome. However I am happy to get rid of this.
So, let me introduce you: Panda and momma's little helper (that wooden thingy is my frame as you may guess *grin*) who slept on my lap while I was stitching...

      

Info:

• Design: Panda in Bamboo
• Designer: Maria Diaz
• Published in: Cross Stitch Collection, issue 127 (February 2006)
• Fabric: 28 count Desert Sky Lugana by Silkweaver
• Floss: DMC
• Other: Backstitches done with 3799 instead of 844.

I need to wash it and block it, as it's a bit wonky, thanks to my frame...

Anyway, if you ask from me, as a person who has stitched this, I'd say that here we have wonderful example of good looking original gone terribly wrong. In other words it's not tweaked at all/ correctly/ enough when importing it from image to a pattern.

1. It has dots, unnecessary confetti, which doesn't improve the look, but rather weakens the quality.
2. Colours haven't been checked properly. Panda's head has two big areas of white, which, unfortunately, are disturbing. Those should have been stitched with some light cream, or by blending white with cream, not as it is charted.
3. And sorry to say, it looks a bit like a zombie...

You can see how it has looked like as original artwork, but do I want my stitched piece be exact replica of that?
My dear designers... learn to tweak!

Monthly goal count: six goals accomplished, one to go.

Determination

Now, Egyptian Sampler is kitted. Mostly, as I lack five shades of DMC (Angela, one of those 3772s found its new home from this project - I think I said I'll need it sooner or later? *grin*), one #4 and two packs of beads.
Only thing I need is some room in my rotation...

Which will happen very soon, as I've decided not to stitch anything else before Panda is finished! With some luck it'll be HD in next 24 hours.

1000; The Dragon Has Born & AAS

Coffee and biscuits Champagne to everyone! This is my thousand (!) entry!

Happy dance

Now, yesterday (Sunday) I foresaw two happy dances for Monday, but as I ended up sleeping, chatting and popping by at N's to have a dinner (N. cooked it, I ate it. Equality, don't you think?) my only happy dance was delayed to these early hours of Tuesday, but... The Greatest Treasure is now officially finished!

Info:

• Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith
• Design: The Greatest Treasure
• Fabric: 28 count Crystal Peach Jazlyn
• Other: Colour conversion by yours truly.

Walk Like An Egyptian

No, I haven't gone completely bonkers. I got mail from my Adopt-A-Stitcher mommy, Christine! Wonderful mail, as she sent me Teresa Wentzler's Egyptian Sampler (which was in my wish list), and 28 count ivory Jubilee to stitch it on!

She did have an ulterior motive though... it seems that we may have Egyptian Sampler SAL in coming year.
Off I go to kit it! (Though I need to order some beads and Kreinik's #4 braid. *gasp* I have to buy more stash! *gasp*)

999: On single editions

I realised something yesterday. I've been single over five months (that is some kind of a record for me). And I'm quite afraid I'll stay single quite a while still.
It's not that there weren't willing victims, I'm actually having momentary attacks of disliking being me because most men notice just the cute face...
I think I haven't told you that I've hit my claws to online dating? Suitable way for introverted person who loves good conversations, someone like me. Though, during past months I've met only one man with whom there really has been anything going on, and he is/was N. And, for some reason it feels that finding a friend trough that world kind of defies the purpose (though friends are always better than bad lovers).

Anyway, you'd think that it wouldn't be too difficult for an intelligent, cute woman, with willingness to get committed and populate the Earth, in her late twenties to find an intelligent man with personality to match, who doesn't do drugs, drink(s seldom) nor smoke, who is able to actually write English and knows how to treat a lady.
But it is. One of the disadvantages of being me is the fact that, for some freaky reason, most even distantly suitable men live in States, and little me lives almost in Russia.
I can understand them though. In certain sense it's form of self-torture to get oneself interested of someone who lives half a world away. (Though sometimes it's is worth it...)
And no, Finnish men don't seem to be an option. They run away from a woman who's proud to be what she is, who's not asking for forgiveness because she is who she is, because she doesn't just want to be part of the household equipments. And, heaven help me, in addition to being proud and intelligent I'm BBW, which seems to be something dreadful around here (according to N. Finnish men just lack taste *grin*). If I ever have felt like a stranger in my own country it's nowadays....

What actually made me write this entry is that during last week or so I've "met" two men who'd in theory be suitable material, but there's that famous but... One likes weed, other... don't know.
And I'm wondering am I asking too much, have I got too picky, even the little voice of reason tells me that I'm doing it just right. That if it doesn't click, or even if it does there are things to think about, and principles to follow.

I really don't know. I know what I want, I know what is my worth... but sometimes I doubt myself. But one's got to believe.

SAT: Epilogue

I reached my goal!

As you see, I actually stitched Panda a bit after finishing its border.

997; Salt of the Earth

I've a theory. This theory, that I have, that is to say, which is mine... is mine.
My theory is along the following lines... ...All brontosauruses are thin at one end; much, much thicker in the middle and then thin again at the far end. That is the theory that I have and which is mine and what it is, too.
Oops, wrong theory. (For those who didn't find this funny... don't worry, but fact is that it is much easier to understand me if you're addicted to Monty Python.)

Anyway, I got an idea while walking home from the grocery with jar of olives (black, of course), blue cheese, piece of Emmental, jar of pickled cucumbers. and a chunk of blue cheese... My daily diet lacks salt!
I don't eat bread (due my allergies and the fact that my body doesn't seem to like gluten either, so only grains left are rice and oat), which means I don't use margarine, cheese only seldom nor any other product commonly found from a sandwich. In addition to this I don't buy/ eat ready-made foods and I'm used to eat low-salt food... This all equals... not enough salt. And I'm quite sure I don't get that one gram you should get daily, therefore I end up hoarding salty food every now and then.

Getting to know your friends

To those who've sent it to me, I'll reply after this weekend's stitching is done, so no worries! (As if. )
And warning to some... you'll have chain mail soon. *g*

Off to eat some more cheese and after it... stitching!

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 198

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

1. Teacher :: Despot
2. Fifty :: Five
3. Crossword :: Krypto
4. Stuffed :: Filled
5. Family :: Matters
6. Purr :: A kitty! ^^
7. Toad :: Green
8. Cocktail :: Yes, please.
9. Insecurity :: Uncertainty
10. Magical :: Mushrooms

Did I happen to mention that I signed up to another exchange?
It's Birthday Thread Exchange at JABB and the basic idea is that you send at least one skein of specialty floss, with a card, to each member of your group at their birthday. More or less perfect: no stitching, cheap and I'll get some lovely stash in July as a birthday gift!

Note on SAT

In my case it'll end it'll end when my Sunday ends, which is approximately 6 am tomorrow morning. My sleeping rhythm has got interesting, and I act according to my day. *grin*

(Btw, this is interesting.)

995; Stitching

It's surprising how inspiring annoyance can be. I'm soon finished with 3046, which is the dominating shade of brown in Panda's border (actually I'm finished with 3046 in more than just one sense... There's about 1½ lengths left when I'm done with it). Which means that I may achieve my SAT goal. Which means I may really get rid of this have a HUGE happy dance in coming week. Which means... that I can start Ezzy soon! Ah, can't wait!

Off to make some tea, fixing some flesh to be inserted to one of my cavities food (sometimes you forget such unimportant things *ahem*) and stitch some more.

SAT

Fortunately I visited TRN yesterday. This weekend is third for this month and that means... yes, Stitch-A-Thon weekend!

My project is, once again, Panda, and it's a bit more advanced than in this picture.
My goal is to finish the border, which would mean that it's almost done. That's also mean that I get it out of my hands in next week (with some luck)!

Off to shower, making some coffee and stitching!

Head, say 'hi' to a wall

Maybe he is right. Maybe I am egoistic, cold, little bastard, pampered no-do-good princess... but if I am, why it feels so bad? Why I can't sleep? Why I can't just close his words out of my mind?
Because they're true or because he insulted me, because he hurt me intentionally?

Because I can't believe that the boy with whom I ran into the night when things got crazy is not that boy anymore? Because something or someone has changed too much to fit to the picture anymore..? Because the boy grew up to be just like his father even he swore he wouldn't..?

What I hate in this situation is that it affects to so many others. Our mother will worry her heart out when she finds out we have fought again with my brother... And even I don't agree with everything my mother has said or done or thinks, she's still my mother, and she has never judged my decisions in front of me (if she has judged them I've never found it out so..).
And even I've never told, and even she has never said anything I know she knows how difficult ends of my relationships have been to me.

Maybe it's something in November, but I seem to lose people at this time of the year...

Does he really think that I love getting in and out of love all the time? At this phase of my life I'd kill for a steady relationship...

RANT: 'Family isn't about whose blood you have'

On brother

He has proved that he either does not speak Finnish as we know it, or that he just is an as*hole. Maybe it's both, I really don't know. But I know that I can't stay in touch with him. My head is exploding, my heart is erratic... both of them are symptoms of stress, and that is not desired effect when you're in touch with any member of your immediate family...
He's my brother, but it's only genetic. We have nothing in common, and if we communicate we end up fighting. It just isn't worth it.

Few extracts from our (snowprincipessa= me, bits_2_whole= my sister and B= our brother) conversation in IRC (translated by yours truly) for reference, and to be honest, we have had similar "conversation" earlier, about two years ago.

• snowprincipessa: I've nothing against getting paired up, but I just won't get involved with anyone ;)
  - - -
  
• B: but you can't know about other one in advance... but life'll teach even snowprincipessa to understand and figure out things
• snowprincipessa: B: don't assume that you know anything about my issues
  - - -
  
• B: no one can be The One in a relationship and just Me
  - - -
  
• bits_2_whole: B: "but life'll teach even snowprincipessa to understand and figure out things"
  
• bits_2_whole: Good grief, if you don't understand what's insulting in that...
  
• B: that was from middle of the conversation.... doesn't apply
  - - -
  
• snowprincipessa: B: what if you just take your head out of your a*s? (Editor's note: I was quite irritated at this point...)
  
• bits_2_whole: that in particular does apply.
• bits_2_whole: and damned, whole line is pointed directly to you
• bits_2_whole: its beginning doesn't change it in any way
• B: neither of you have had long relationship and our thoughts just don't match...
• snowprincipessa: B: No?
• snowprincipessa: What was that six years of marriage then?
  - - -
  
• B: I understand that no one is to you, snowprincipessa, like you want and assume.... it's not like that to anyone
• B: snowprincipessa goes... and finds a meaning for her life... little sister =)
• snowprincipessa: you assume
• B: I know
• $TIME -!- $BROTHER was kicked from #$CHANNEL by snowprincipessa [$REASON]

I think you can deduce why camel's back broke and I kicked him out of the channel...

He thinks he knows enough about me to deduce why my life has been and is like it is. He thinks he knows enough about me to actually blame me and my faulty, egoistic personality on the fall of my relationships.
What should you think about that? Guy says I'm his dear little sister and still he treats me like shit and thinks I'm no good. That I can't keep a relationship because I run after excitement and bigger and better... Because, to put it mildly, I am cold bitch no one can possibly tolerate or love.
There's a conflict. At least in my mind those things conflict with the claimed love, badly.

Fact is that I'm enough of a heartless bitch to close him out of my life, so maybe he is right in the end? As Pink sings: "Shame on you if you fool once/ Shame on me if you fool me twice"
It was the second time, and as I've develop a habit to avoid destructive relationships it was enough. I don't need to be judged, even less without a reason, by anyone - not even by my brother. (What's worst in this, in my opinion, is that he reminds more and more our father... and that is not a compliment.)

I've been thinking lately how this year has taught me to say good bye because I've said/will say goodbyes to two, I never thought I'll say it thrice. I never thought the third one is my own brother. But what else one can do?

I know this sounds pompous, but in the end we are all responsible over one person: ourselves.

Friday's Feast: 118

Feast One Hundred & Eighteen

This week's questions are all from Ammy

Appetizer: Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?
Well, there's barely intelligent life in this one... So, one's living in hope.

Soup: What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?
Hmm... there's thing or two, but... Not telling (that's something you might want to know though).

Salad: Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?
Ermm....

Main Course: If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?
Now why would I want to do something like that?

Dessert: What is your favorite dish to prepare?
Anything actually if I've good company to enjoy it with.

SBQ

As one of my lovely cats (*grrr*) woke me up at four o'clock it's time for...

Stitching Bloggers' Question

Do you stitch Christmas ornaments? If so, how many do you stitch each year and for whom? If not, why not?

I don't, reason being that I'm not a Christian (I'm part of that ~67% of world population) and therefore I don't celebrate Christmas (you know Christ+mas..). *grin*
And even if I were Finnish Christmas is actually closer to Yule's paganic traditions than Christian traditions, so there... Not that I'd celebrate Yule either. Just a day to eat yourself silly and get/give presents. I like the gifts and food part, but otherwise it's just a day.

Anyway, I'll stitch Yule ornaments for my parents: Santa's Trimmings for my mother, just because she loves gnomes and santas, and something for my father just for the equality - and it does as a gift too (aren't I sneaky?).

Timing is the key...

Want to know something? Linda received her biscornu today! So, more pictures for your viewing pleasure:

      

Info:

• Design: A freebie, combined September and October knots by Ink Circles
• Fabric: 32 count Mushroom Lugana
• Floss: DMC's Variations 4130
• Cording: DMC's Variations 4130
• Other: Stitched over one with one thread

And both (one I sent and one I received) are whopping ~4x4cm. Not the easiest ones to finish, but well worth the effort. ^^

S.E.X.

*coughs innocently*

Had some S.E.X. and helped owner of Lekker Threads a bit with her clearance sale.. and I even found a chart from my VE victim's partner's wish list which I, of course, bought for her. And (some hand-dyed floss, needles and) one design, which has interesting finishing idea, for myself: Indian Dreams by Cat's Whiskers.

(This time I was enabled my Linda... you got to share sale with a fellow addict, right?)

*gasp*, *drool*

I don't know how I should be or what to say, I'm so overwhelmed.... It was good mail day again.

Mini biscornu and goodies

Linda had sent the package just two days ago and it arrived today! And let me share the wonderfulness (and if there's any suspicious spots those are drool) without further blabbering:

                  

(Yes, that is my hand and those are my fingernails...) And let me tell you something: This is designed for little old me! By Linda, yes. Do we see a budding designer here?
Stitched over one on lavender evenweave (I'm sure Linda will provide the details later) with purple floss, there are these shiny lilac beads in the middle of the biscornu and there's real needleworker tassel: little spool with purple yarn and more beads!

Did I say I love it? I didn't? Well, I do!

And in addition to this cute little thing she sent me linens (according to her she don't like to stitch them and as I do... ah!), and oh mi gosh that wonderfulness!

1. 32 count Emerald Belfast linen
2. 32 count Dragon's Dream Belfast linen (I'm so in love with that fabric!)
3. 32 count antique white linen
4. 28 count white linen
5. 25 count general beige linen

Now, did she pamper me? Oh yes!

And stashy goodness goes on!

I also got my flosses from Angela. Aren't those pretty?!

Notice the quality of her service, they're divided to little zip-log bags by project! I got flosses for Loy, stitching devils and for Ezzy. And in theory I didn't pay a dime.

Ah, it has been a good day.

Idling and VE@SBEBB

Ah well, in the end I ended up spending my night by chatting with someone and not stitching... so, I won't share any pictures with you as there's nothing much to show. Actually I'm beginning to think that Panda is possessed...

Anyway...

I participate Valentine's Exchange at SBEBB and got my partner's name during the night. And I have already decided what I'll stitch for $NAME.
Can't reveal much, this being an exchange, but I'm going to use silk thread for the first time, and this will be in certain sense Something old, something new, something blue (but nothing borrowed) kind of project.
I've the finishing method in mind too, and that is also something I've never done so this will be exciting - and nerve wracking - project.

Wish me luck.

One of the facts of life...

...is:

• If you go to bed and fall asleep before 11 p.m., you'll wake up at midnight.

Nothing else, back to stab Panda with my needle.

What American Accent Do I Have?

984

I was thinking of the Morning Wizard issue and I may end up finishing it before I start Ezzy. Why? Because... I'd get one unplanned finish for November and it'd look good in my goal list (btw, I've already reached four goals out of seven).

Knitting snowballs

When it comes to bits_2_whole's wrist warmers... it'll be a bit more complicated project than I anticipated.
I don't know why, but according to the instruction you should knit those things and embroider the motifs afterwards (actually during knitting), which I do understand as they're supposed to be knit as a stockinette (forgive me my possible terminology mistakes, I know my knitting lingo only in Finnish), but I can't understand why they have been designed to be worked like that?
As, IMO, it'd be easier to knit with regular needles, make those motifs with intarsia and sew them as stockinettes when finished. That is how I'm going to do it, but... I need to modify the design, and actually rewrite those instructions to suit for my, easier, way.

I've started them, I cast gauge sample today and knit one row. We're getting there.

When it comes to Panda I've been stitching some bamboo leaves, but not much actually... *sigh*

Dilemma

Now, as I'll have happy dance in 20th of November I've been pondering on something... I know I should finish Morning Wizard, and it's almost done anyway (as I'll leave some parts out of it), but I want to start Ezzy!
Now, do I want to be a good stitcher or a bad stitcher?

I think I may decide to be possessed by Ezmeralda's relatives and let MW be for some time.

Cravings...

...first it was raw onion, then blue cheese as such, chicken, excessive amounts of cranberry- raspberry milk chocolate, now pickled cucumbers...
Question is What the heck?
First one who says You're pregnant will be whacked with a halibut... I can't be pregnant (likelihood of such is about same than Dubya suddenly growing a brain) - reasons for it being my PCOS, using contraceptives, fact that I just menstruated (ok, my mother had one menses after she got pregnant with my brother, but that's not likely anyway as you know) - and I'm not comfort eating.

So, do all those contain some secret vitamin which I'm not aware of?

Anyway, entry out, some more coffee in to my mug, some laundry and having my weekly fight with Panda.

Last WIP picture

Few notes to self:

• It'd be good to sleep more than 4-5 hours/ night.
• It'd be good idea to eat breakfast when you wake up in the morning, not few hours later (in the afternoon).
• Only fish which doesn't cause a migraine is still salmon.
• Dragons don't need to be realistic, no matter what my dear lobes say about that.

I've had hard time to convince myself that it's ok for a dragon be purple and have green chest plate... fortunately I'm beginning to believe myself after stitching parenting dragon's chest.

And guess what (like you couldn't see it)...? We are having a happy dance next week! Only things lacking are eggs, egg shell and backstitching.

Kitties! 100% all natural cutesy ^^

1.
2.

Mondays are still mad

Monday Madness

1. If you could only read one blog every day- which one blog would be on your daily list?
   I don't do favouritism.

2. What do you do to de-stress from a hectic day?
   Now that was difficult... not. *g* Cross stitching to the rescue! And/or petting cats/ listening music/ *beeb*...

3. What is your favorite piece of clothing to wear in the winter?
   Anything warm, though I love "Babushka scarfs" (my choice is, surprisingly, black). I also love mittens, and my mother, who's crazy knitter, keeps me in hand-knitted woollen mittens (I've few *ahem* pairs of them).

4. Do you prefer discussing problems with a sibling, a parent, a significant other, a psychologist, or a total stranger?
   Taking that I had all of those? Significant other.

5. How long have you been blogging?
   This has been asked some time ago... Today: two years, six months, 21 days.
   Yes, I know that I'm PITA.

6. Which side of the bed?
   Doesn't matter.

7. How often do you pig out when you eat?
   Erm, never?

8. Do you watch the space shuttle launches?
   They don't show them in here, and even it'd be possible to see them trough net their timing is usually bad for someone who lives in other side of the globe.

9. What's your favorite leisure-time activity?
   *ahem*... well, to be politically correct: idling and cross stitching.

10. When is the last time you said, 'I love you' and to whom? What about hugs? Who is the last person you hugged?
    Other than my cats?
    I love you: To Wolfie, in middle of June.
    Hug: To N., this morning.

Life, silly thing

In our series Signs of an addiction: I found it bit silly to sit in a taxi in the middle of the night, on my way to N's, and realise how much alike hand-dyed fabric sky looks like. I seriously need a life.
I need it in more than just one sense. I've knew that N. will move (out of the country) in coming month, but now when he has the date it got so much more real. And it affected to our latest meeting in some level. There was scent of goodbye in the air.
It's possible that I wouldn't have believed this some time ago, but I've really got fond of him. It's not just the weekly endorphin kick, it's about the fact that (no matter how much fun we can have in other areas) he's great conversationalist and he has good head on his shoulders.
It's sad, but such people are rare breed.

979

It has been Head, meet wall kind of day... which I've spent by drinking too much coffee (that Starbucks' mug is bad for you...), stitching, not AE, but Santa's Trimmings (only picture I found of it trough Google... is stitched by Jenna! It's a small world) - just because I need some cutesy to cheer me up - and cleaning a bit.

I had in mind while placing my order to Silkweaver that I might find suitable fabric for ST from those treat bags, and I was right. There was perfect misty blue hand-dyed, even in right size. They knew...

Doesn't look much of a Santa (or joulupukki as we call him (and direct translation is... Yule goat)) yet.

In other news Linda's biscornu is packed to go, as are both angels - they'll begin their trips tomorrow.
And I need to find new storage boxes for all my fabrics. I did some reorganization and now I've one box with hand-dyeds and other which has only regular colours. The problem is that I need separate boxes for my regular linens and mixed fabrics because they barely fit in their box... I still remember when one box was more than enough.

(And speaking of stash growth, see what I blogged about exactly one year ago...)

Now, off to do some *gasp* cleaning.

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 197

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

1. Nick :: IRC
2. Focus :: Lacking it
3. Police :: Eppu Normaali
4. Miles :: From you
5. Earn :: Live and learn
6. Twice :: Boring
7. Razor :: Razorblade Romance
8. Personality :: Usually on my way
9. Dumped :: ...
10. Reliable :: Trustworthy

An angel got its wings

After finishing Linda's biscornu I took second of Mary's (Btw, Mary has got her diagnosis and things look rather good - excluding the fact that she has cancer) angels as a project and decided not to stitch anything else before it's finished, washed, pressed and ready to go. Here it is:

He's victim of a colour conversion, and I used same colours in Hope than I used with Life to make them more of a pair.
Let me show how they were supposed to look like and how they ended up to be:

      

Info:

• Designs: Glad Tidings; Life and Hope
• Designer: Marie Barber
• Source: JCS December 2002
• Fabric: 14 count white aida (URGH!)
• Other: Colours of gowns converted to pink theme, Hope should have darker hair, halos and texts removed.

Designer should, IMNSHO, do her background research a bit better... since when angels have had an Adam's apple?

"… is so called from a notion that it was caused by the forbidden fruit, (an apple) sticking in the throat of our first parent."

Taking all this religious thematism... angels haven't sinned (what ever that is) so why they should carry sign of that sin around? How I reason the fact that angels have never sinned? Well, isn't sin human thing? Angels don't have a navel, so they haven't born out of human female. According to certain theories they were around before humans were created... see where I'm getting to?
If you have to design an angel, could you even design it to be "factual"?

But, off to make some tea and eat some chocolate. I've migraine to take care of.

Mini biscornu HD

It's finished!
No pictures though, let Linda be the first one to see it.

Have you ever tried to assemble biscornu which is only 4,2cm per side? You may not want to try that... I did, it looks great, but it is so small only because I forgot to realise that it may be smaller in 32 count than in 28 count... *ahem*

Think in CAPS

I saw this in Christine's blog and decided to play along.

Comment to this message and I will assign you a letter of the alphabet.Then go to your journal and post a list of 10 words that begin with this letter and what they mean to you.

My letter is P.

1. Pablo Picasso - not a saint, but a great artist.

2. Pain - Something I've got accustomed to live with (due migraines and PCOS), and in certain sense learnt thing or two from it.

3. Pain Of Salvation - Good music.

4. Painting - I've always hoped that I'd paint the images I've in my mind. I don't know is it lack of talent or lack of technical knowledge, but I can't transfer the images to pictures.

5. Patterns - I try to find patterns from everything in my life, everything around me because I need to reason everything to be able to cope with it. Also part of one of my favourite addictions, cross stitching.

6. PCOS - Been living with the knowledge of it since 2nd of August, 1997. At first it was destructive to my self-confidence, lately I've learnt to live with it and enjoy the knowledge of reproduction and human metabolism it has given me. But I still hate it and what it does to me.

7. Pedant - me, myself and I.

8. Peri - my surname since I was 18 years, one month and three days old. (I wanted to change it earlier, but my father said no and as I was in shared custody his no meant that I had to wait until I'm of age.) Since it has grew in me, and it has made me believe in odd things due its various meanings (which I've got to know after changing it) and their suitability to my life.

9. Pointillism - I've always wondered how you can make something beautiful out of little dots.

10. Purple - One of the colours I adore.

974; cover your keyboards...

It's drooling time!
It was great mail day, I got my OE ornament from Lana and my Small Odds and Ends Treat Bags from Silkweaver.

Firstly, beautiful snowflake ornie!

In addition to that I got chocolates, which didn't survive long enough to be photographed, as, either surprisingly or out of knowledge, there wasn't anything I couldn't eat (ok, wheat, but I can tolerate it in small amounts). *burb*
Thank you Lana.

And as a note: I decided it after signing up to this exchange... it was my last exchange even distantly related to Yule/ Christmas. It just doesn't feel right anymore. I'll keep making yearly ornament at least to my mother (I'm still not sure about my father), and maybe occasional ornament for a misc. friend, but that's it.

Stash!

There's enough to swim in it! And it was only $31 with postages! Most of them are linens! There's two 40 counts! The colours are gorgeous!

      

And this is my new love! (Is it illegal to marry a piece of fabric (not just a fabric, it's 40 count Newcastle!)?)

I'm ecstatic! Fabricgasms!

And all together: Where There's Stash...

Meme

I read it in Ami's blog, so I got tagged:

1. Explain what ended your last relationship?
   Actually I'm not quite sure. Hiccup of the Universe.

2. When was the last time you shaved?
   Two weeks ago. My hairiness has reduced lately so no need (and I didn't meet N. last weekend (as he wasn't in country)).

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.?
   Sleeping.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
   Reading blogs.

5. Are you any good at math?
   They say I am, but I couldn't remember diagrams even if my life would depend on it, so my talent is, apparently, less ordinary.

6. Your prom night?
   Wrong culture. We don't do that.

7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
   Not proved, but based on a (rare) surname: just the guy who invented opera...

8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?
   There's difference between need and need. I got one, but did I need it..? At least I had much more fun when I was in Hungary as an exchange student.

9. Do you know the words to the song on your myspace profile?
   I don't have a Myspace profile.

10. Last thing received in the mail?
    Paper spam. Cross Stitch Collection.

11. How many different beverages have you had today?
    None, just got up.

12. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine?
    Very seldom.
    1. I hate answering machines
    2. I dislike using phone for making calls

13. Who did you lose your CONCERT virginity to?
    Leningrad Cowboys.

14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
    No. I don't do beaches that much anyway.

15. What was the most painful dental procedure you have had?
    For me they're all painful if you don't comatize me with Novocaine first.

16. What is out your back door?
    Don't have one. If balcony door does as a back door, then there's balcony. (Surprisingly.)

17. Any plans for Friday night?
    Staying home stitching - unless N. needs to see me for some reason. (It's usually Saturday, see.)

18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
    I don't do oceans.

19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
    Wrong country, and I would run away from such anyway.

20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
    Yup.

21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
    Yes, I'm not that OCD.

22. Some things you are excited about?
    Right now..? Ermm...

23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO?
    We don't have that stuff in here.

24. Describe your keychain(s).
    Wooden hedgehog.

25. Where do you keep your change?
    I pay with plastic most of the time...

26. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
    Closed, as I don't let cats in bedroom anymore.

You got this far, you're tagged.

Before I get to bed...

(Even I try to reply to comments personally) I'd like to thank you all for the comments on my latest WIPs and exchange items.

It has been biscornu day, and it's getting along fine (though I need to work on it tomorrow/today to get it sent in 15th) - if we exclude that little frog attack I had earlier.
Honestly I'm not quite sure do I want to part from that little thing when it's finished.

This little parcel went to market, this little parcel flew to U.S.A...

Angela received her fabrics, and as she's mailed my floss out I'll be, sooner or later, proud owner of huge pile of DMCs. (Can't wait!Can't wait!Can't wait!)
It's actually curious how parcels travel. My Silkweaver parcel was shipped 2nd of November and I'm still waiting for it, Veronica's fob travelled two weeks to Australia instead of regular 4-5 days and Angela's parcel was there about day before I sent it... Darned holiday rush!

If I just knew...

...what my body is up to.
It surprised me, positively, with 30 days' cycle even I had been sick over a week (and cycle this short never happens if I've been sick - not that it were that common phenomenon in me in general). From such incident you could deduce that something good is happening to my hormonal balance, which makes me actually hopeful... maybe I really get more fertile with age. At least I should ovulate with cycle this short.
(Now all I need is one committed relationship to test that in (or maybe I should have needle attack (contraceptive, meet needle) over at N's? (Ok, not really. I'm not that mean)). )