Crafting

It has been quite a while since I did anything even remotely artistic (shopping doesn't count, does it?), but today I had a short creative streak because I knew I had promised to make invitation for my mother's 60th birthday for her to take to her work.

This is what I came up with:

The text says, as it is in Finnish I guess some need translation:

"Even though the beautiful young lady on the left doesn't look a day older than she looked when the photo was taken she will, indeed, celebrate her 5 x 12 th birthday this autumn and therefore wishes to invite you to celebrate with her to her cabin at Anjalankoski *plus hidden address*

Coffeetable is ready, kettle is hot and the birthday girl is fit to socialize from 12th to 13th of September, 2009, between 12 - 18 in at address *smudged*.

With a heartfelt welcome (also for your avec)."

Then I heard, when I called her to check one detail, that she actually needs one invitation in a form of a card so I went with the same theme:

Not too bad, I would say. ^^

And now it's time for me to head to kitchen and prepare some yummy lasagne for Mr. Wonderful as he is soon going to Spain for 3-4 weeks (for what reason, I will tell you later ) and may miss my lasagne when away (and while he is away I will go to my mother's to look after my boys and her Old Lady).

Pretty in pink

My honest, and humble, opinion is that my conversion looks better on her than those original greens.

Noticing that I was on the go whole weekend I got quite much done, don't you think?
Anyway, I'll give her few day's rest as I've other deadline projects to work with. She'll be back in... weekend, and I'll keep her as a stitchy snack during the week.

You may remember this guy from Olympics?

My mother asked me to make birthday card for her sister, and couple of days ago it dawned to me that satyr would be just perfect choice.

Lovebirds

After hiding the truth from my dear readers for so long I can now reveal my latest finish, and what's even more important, wish all the luck for those two who I made it for... Congratulations once again Selina and Andy! I hope all the best to your life together, and wish that all your dreams will be fulfilled!
*gets a hanky* I'm getting old and mushy... (I admit that I was as excited for them than I'd been if I had been one getting married. *grin*) *sighs* And then to second most important thing...

• Design: Be My Valentine, freebie.
• Designer: Laura Gabutti Lattuada from Passione Ricamo.
• Fabric: Lullaby, hand-dyed from Silkweaver.
• Ribbon: White silk.
• Design boo-boo: Bird in right side has incomplete backstitching in it's wing. (In my finished ornament it's fixed.)
• Pictures: Finished ornament, detail, close shot.

And I'm quite proud of the card too. Simple, but nice.

Pictures

One needed a break while writing a job application so here comes... Kitties, finished card and stash!

   

Siameses in urban environment: they live in trees. O_o

Yup, I finished it already. Little tip: when using double-sided tape gentle ironing after closing the card does wonders...

~11-12 volumes of cross stitch magazines... Click on thumbnail.
Though that is not my whole stash, but I just wanted to share view to the foundation of my stash.

For mom; instant gratification

I realized that Mother's Day is in next Sunday. So, I decided to take my needle, piece of linen and misc. flosses box... here is the result:

• Freebie from Dragon Dreams
• Stitched on 28 count linen (Lavender Bliss)

Finished as a card. Now I just have to remember to send it.

SECE

Finally! Apparently it was my replacement which reached Italy, finally, after weeks of sending. I suppose it walked trough Europe... (I still don't understand why it takes longer to send inside continent than to other continent.)
Anyway, it was loved, and here it comes

Yes, a rose.

Colours and stitching

What Shade of Green Am I?

You Are Olive Green.



You are the most real of all the green shades. You're always true to yourself.
For you, authenticity and honesty are very important... both in others and yourself.
You are grounded and secure. It takes a lot to shake you.
People see you as dependable, probably the most dependable person they know.

What Color Green Are You?

Well, not surprising. I'm not generally very fond of green, but I've some sort of liking for olive green (at least I love olives!)

Have you ever realized how difficult it is to be blogging cat slave? My youngest one is demanding attention from me and therefore he's standing in front of my monitor. Try to write entries trough 4 kilos of fur.
I think he's just thrilled because I'm at home. He's way to used to see me in here. Old cats are used for me being "career girl" - and they seem to be pleased to get some me time.

Cross Stitching

I realized last night before going to bed (~21 (9 p.m. (That stands for post mortem, doesn't it? ))) that yesterday was official starting date of 2nd Silhouette. I haven't even made gridding lines for the fabric yet (in fact I haven't even cut that fabric...), and I should be organizer...

When it comes to 24 hour challenge I'll stitch Christmas Surprise 2005 Dragon by Dragon Dreams (Freebie which was available only 48 hours).

I've been thinking to participate Stitch-A-Thon at Friends Gather next weekend. As I've to stitch that needleroll before 27th I thought SAT might be good thing to keep me focused.

And I haven't finished my SECE replacement stitching yet, though I'm almost done with it! \o/ Some backstitching to do and mount it to card. Then it's ready to be sent.
I've to say that even it's not my kind of theme it will look great. You guys will see it when it's received (in case I remember to take a picture of it).

Opinions anyone?

There is something odd in international mailing at this moment... My last SECE card has not found it's way to where it was going to (apparently) and therefore I'm stitching new one, that BO fabric from Silkweaver hasn't arrived yet nor my latest order (placed 24th of February), neither those designs Angela sent me.
It's really odd situation... and really frustrating.

Fortunately I had suitable piece of linen in my stash for that needleroll so I'll finish it in time, no matter how long that Stash-Pak travels over Atlantic.
In fact there was enough linen to use that same fabric to that replacement card I'm making (As it's exchange item there wont be pictures before it arrives to it's destination, but it's something from that Donna Kooler's book I bought in February).

Panda

My mom was curious and flicked trough February's Cross Stitch Collection when I was at her place and now I seem to have new project.

My brother has (or at least had) this thing for pandas and my mother thought that this would be great birthday gift for him.

My main problem is that I've suitable fabric for this, but I've already plans for it. And I know I want to use hand-dyed for this project, which means that it'll be from Silkweaver (just because I love them). Problem is: which to choose?

         

I think blue might be good, but then... decisions, decisions.

Card from Norway!

No fjord pictures, but cross stitched card with spring theme. This lovely card was last part of SECE and came from Åse:

Btw,

that Hanukah card:

Card is regular dark green card with round aperture.

Though given a bit early as 2005 Hanukah begins 25th of December.

Oh my

I repeat my good words about stitchers.

I just got back from mail box and there was a xmas card for me from Dominique, who was my receiver in sachet exchange. She also sent me some golden filament. I'm so touched.

Rósa's card.

I just got better pic from her, so may I proudly present:

^^

And I just came home. Sent CS to chanda_m and did some shopping for Valentine Exchange...

It has been a good day today.

~Names.

About peris... I did this today. Kind of funny I'd say.

And it seems that I will change my first names (first time is always free ) as I can't write my first name anymore. It's bit cumbersome when you're used to pay with 'plastic'... Apparently reason to that is that I finally found suitable candidate as a first name. Have to see about it anyway. At least I've to think a bit still.

\o/

My second SECE partner kind of RAKed me. (RAK= Random Act of Kindness)

Rósa was once again my exchange partner (She has sent me twice, I've never been her sender...) and I got most adorable little cat card from her and.... goodies!

   

      

Thank you Rósa, once again.

127.0.0.1@*.fi.

Still alive.

In general our trip was a success if we don't count that idiot drunkard who thought my ass is for him to paw... (I surprised even me and yapped him quite badly and with quite unlike-me words. Not to mention that I actually grabbed his collar to stop him...) I know my buttocks look good, but I still think that you can look but not touch.

Anyway, we had great lunch once again at Munga Kelder. And we had great time. In the end I'm quite pleased to that trip.
Bought some liqueurs (coffee, chocolate and cloudberry) and chocolate. Even I bought alcohol I just don't get those people who carry several beer cases and litres of hard liquors from Estonia - as alcohol is not that expensive in Finland, and if you drink that much that it really matters... shouldn't you get some professional help?

We were planning with my mom that we could do craft accessory shopping trip to Tallinn in summer. (She's the knitter and I'm the embroiderer... )

Bookmark.

Got this great Santa bookmark from Alexandra yesterday:

Even I'm not Yule (and even less Christmas (because it's Christian holiday )) person this one is really great.

Ornies.

Gave them to my mom, so she could choose hers and deliver other to my father, and mom was thrilled.

Odd post.

Yesterday I got Christmas card from U.K., from someone(s) I have never heard of. It's "a bit" confusing.

It's not stitched (nor it contains any necessary info) so it can't be my SECE, and it is not from any of my previous exchange partners... How she/ they got my name and address then?

Even more finishes.

That chanukiah was fast one to stitch.

Yes, I made that Chanukah card, but I wont show it as I'm not sure does he read my blog so I don't want to spoil whole thing - even if he reads this he knows what he's getting from me. (Picture will be available after 16th.)
But anyway, info section:

• Design is from Cross Stitch Collection's issue 111 (Christmas 2004) (that issue contains also cards for Eid (I assume exact match is Eid al-Fitr) and Divali).
• Designed by Lesley Teare.
• Stitched on 28 count white Jobelan.
• Stitched with one strand of:
  • Rainbow Gallery's Petite Treasure Braid; PB 01
  • Misc. DMCs

RG's PB01 is a real pleasure to stitch with as it's very unlike those metallics I'm used to. This one is actually flexible and doesn't fray a bit.

2-do

To-dos before Yule:

• Ornaments for my parents
• 'Devil Bear' finish
• 'Winter Topiary' finish

And I also need to think what to take with me when I go to my mother's place as I'm not sure do I want to take my computer with me and that limits me quite much in stitching wise, as poor me doesn't have a printer.

Of course I could take free kits I've stored to wait for better/ duller day and make them. In fact I've been thinking that some of those kits would do great SOLAK squares (I just need to bigger pieces of fabric to make them on).

Oh my... I've one card I should send. Got to remember that when I go to "town" next time.

Official 2-do list.

I finally spent minute to explore on LJ's 2-do list attribute and made mine. It's available in my blog's sidebar.

Something good.

2nd part of SECE finally found it's way to home - after some excess traveling between Belgium and Finland.

Looks good, even I say it myself.

:(

2nd part of SECE returned to me.
I've to say that I'm bit confused... but I'll get answer to my problem sooner or later, as I already contacted exchange organizer.

SECE and sleeping.

Last SECE card is ready. And next exchange in sight is SBEBB's 'Valentine's Day Exchange' and I'll get info about that in December so now I can focus on my things - which means that I'll continue with Devil Bear.

Though I've an idea what I could do for my secret pal in VDE so I just can't wait.

Sleeping.

My rhythm is completely insane once again, and I can feel it. ...so: 20+ 7+ 16+ 3+ 7+ 1+ 7+ 4+ 8+ 4. If that amount of sleep were divided to three it'd be enough, but as it's not... I feel quite much like a zombie. And of course I don't feel like eating, because I'm tired and I'm tired because I don't eat enough.

Lovely.

Quote of the day.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
Henry David Thoreau

P.S. Exchange items have been posted. I just want to see which ones are in their destination first: those which went to States, or that one which stays in Europe.http://mapstats.blogflux.com/display.php?id=5754&width=100&padding=2&title=10%20Latest%20Visitors&title_color=000000&bg_color=FFFFFF&link_color=0000FF&border_color=000000&cities=10&font_size=11&double_space=0