Heaven/ I'm in Heaven

In stashy heaven, to be precise.

One of those bazillion stitchy groups I belong to in Facebook is strictly Stitch-A-Long group and those evil people scheduled a "Cirque de Coeurs" SAL starting from coming Valentine's Day and... My reasoning ended at that point where I found pretty and cheap floss perfect for it. *grin*

Said floss is Anchor's variegated 1206.

And naturally I justified postages while at it and got these from 1-2-3 Stitch!'s Clearance section.

Tiny loved the caterpillar design when he saw it so I guess I must stitch it for him. Though I'll modify the fairy child's skin and hair colour a bit.

I have also managed to kit DMC part of all of my "Crazy January Challenge" projects (and I was told that it was originally a Finnish idea so I kind of have another excuse here). Luckily floss is cheaper in Tallinn as there's 40 skeins for CJC projects (and four skeins of Variations).

I also found this 40% off.

If I am not completely mistaken the design has all St. Petersburg's famous churches pictured.

And my friend Niina came to visit couple of days ago and brought me lovely housewarming gifts!

But now I must (oh yes, dreadful) start stitching! I managed to misplace my almost finished ornament exchange piece during the move and have to stitch new one. And of course as I am in a hurry (mail-out was yesterday) I chose to stitch it over one...

Halloween Ornament Exchange, meeting online folks, earrings and life

I have been in a blogging mood for few days already, but for some reason I have felt like I couldn't say what I am thinking so I have let it be. I am still not sure, but there is one beautiful biscofleur to show so I can not delay this longer even though my brains have vanished somewhere (I apologize about the appalling "quality" of this entry).

EMS Halloween Ornament Exchange

After a long, long absence I returned to EMS Cross Stitch Forum and participated Halloween Ornament Exchange as I have sorely missed exchanges (and the excuse they give to disregard housework and stitch).

Few days ago I received the prettiest little Halloween biscofleur from Samantha! See and drool!

Beautiful! Thank you Samantha for bringing this loveliness into my life!

Samantha told me that she wanted to try (yes, this is her first if I understood correctly!) this finishing method and maybe *ahem* inspire my dear alter ego to design some pretty biscofleur patterns (cunning woman I must say - Samantha, not my alter ego. Lady P. is just a bit cooky).

Meeting people

I thought of tens of different ways to sound smart, but I guess it's better that I stick to my usual style... what ever that is.

Anyway, few days ago I spent a lovely morning with tamaraland and her boys here (or rather there as I don't live there) in Helsinki.
We went to the Natural History Museum to see... dinosaurs!
It was great fun (I may be a bit geeky, though the company was very good) and it was really great to meet tamaraland (and the boys) in person.

Jewellery

I have always been and I still am very picky about my jewellery, and I have wanted to learn how to make them for quite a some time, because of my pickiness, and therefore I headed to a jewellery course yesterday.

It was for learning "twisted links", which proved to be easier than it sounded even though my links are really twisted due lack of practise: see for youself.

Yes, turquoise is the new black, at least in jewellery. Though I am still looking for the perfect shade.

And yes, I really need yet another addictive and expensive hobby.

I was planning to blabber much more, but as I mistype half of the words and can't think straight (when I have been able to do that?!) I guess it's time to drag myself to bed and continue about other things later.

Stitching, stitching, stitching

Oh, stitching, you are haunting me. Or rather, I am getting back to my normal addiction levels (isn't thyroxine wonderful thing?).

Yesterday I found myself thinking about rotation to get rid of some WIPs I have!

I guess that is a healthy thing, wanting to 1. stitch and 2. get rid of those about thousand WIPs I have at the moment. Maybe I mention this next time when I talk to my endo, could he understand it (probably he would look at it from the "energy level and organizational abilities" point of view and would see it as a good thing)?

Even more shocking I have been preparing design files for publishing! Gosh!

Yup, I am insane...

...but I guess that wasn't a surprise to anyone?

My mother mentioned that one of my brother's kids would love to have their own "copy" of The Panda and as I also heard that my brother has the Panda with him I apparently gave up and have since been thinking "Maybe I could do again it anyway...".
Though if I do I will surely tweak the design somewhat to look more like a panda and be more pleasant to my eyes.

On the other news I finally paid the first part of Stitching Weekend, bought some snowman stash from 1-2-3 Stitch! for the Frosty Friends exchange and realised today that I need some pink fabric for one model... so, I also placed an order at Silkweaver.
It seems that you always lack some stash, no matter how hard you try...

Signs of life

I have been wondering for few days what has gone wrong with the world: all the sudden it seems to me that news are even worse than before and that individuals go crazy in their personal lives.

Firstly there is the person from the auction site, then I heard day before yesterday that Dan's and his SO have break up and she took their daughter with her and claims that Dan has been giving medication to the kid - he may be odd and even stupid sometimes, but he is not that stupid (I lived with him almost six years, I can tell).

Luckily there are good things coming through too (and Mr. Wonderful has been behaving very well - as usual), so my confusion levels stay relatively tolerable, but still... Is it in the Moon or is there spots in the Sun?

At least I may have found a job for my brother - taking that he emails to our area manager.

I didn't have two days off as store manager called me in Friday and asked could I come to work... and to work I went. I was working whole weekend and my first day off this week may be tomorrow, or may not, it really depends. One thing is certain: I will have day off in Saturday as it's Independence Day.

I have noticed interesting thing though: it seems that my grocery bill will get smaller. Not because I get discount (5% is not much), but because I simply don't have time or energy to eat as often as I should. On the bright side I also eat much less sugary stuff, which has to be good thing.

Few wishlist additions...

Well, I was looking for a design for Frosty Friends exchange (oh yes, yet another exchange) and made few notes while at it (I found the design, and the hand-dyed I want to use, but I won't probably order them before 15th - or before I have paid all my eBay purchases (shop-a-holic, me?!)):

• Snowman Medley
• Love Keeps Us Warm
• I Made a Snowman
• Hey Mr. Snowman
• Wish Upon a Star
• Love Keeps Us Warm
• Let It Snow II
• Three Hearts
• Winter Wonderland
• Forest Snowfall
• Winter Whites
• Parson Brown
• Christmas Tea
• Snow
• Magic
• That's What Snowmen are Made of
• Snowman Button Sampler
• Let There Be Peace
• Snowman Love Story
• Winter's Night
• Mother's Wisdom: Dress Warm
• Celebration Winter

So, all is well in my neck of the woods, I am just busy as heck.

Exchange goodies and belated birthday gift ^^

I actually received Cathy's exchange some time ago, but it has been insane at work so it took this long for me to post pictures for you to admire...

Cathy stitched me gorgeous pinkeep using a design on my wishlist and she made it even more perfect as the colours match the pinkeep I received in Here's to Ewe!
She also added some lovely goodies so I was really pampered to bits!

Thank you Cathy!

With stitching friends you can have your birthday more than once every year

For aforementioned reason I haven't blogged about belated birthday gift I got from Leena either...

Leena stitched me cute little Halloweeny ornaments and sent me magazine where the designs are from and skein of Pomme de Pin hand-dyed, which is completely new brand to me (the colour is much better in person, flash just does things to colours) and looks absolutely yummy.

Thank you Leena!

Life in general

There has been annoyance and good things in my life lately, but just to end this entry with positive things a little rant:

I sold some stuff at local auction site in last month and one of the winners has been a nuisance... I sent her win to her about three weeks ago and accidentally found out that she had complaints about the postages (which she accepted and paid when requested) - her claim is that she paid more than the postage was (she should try eBay some day: that is SO common). Accidentally because she had left, excuse my French, paranoia filled rant in my feedback (and of course she gave me negative) without trying to contact me in ANY way before that (she knew my email, of course). Of course I got annoyed and left her negative feedback in return just because she obviously is not a good customer even though she paid quickly... after this she started to harass me in quite threatening way and sent me an SMS threatening to come behind my door (she lives on the other side of the country...) if I don't answer to her call right now...
I sent her courteously chilly SMS that she should read her email and that I do not answer to personal calls while I am at work (it's very common for people to be at work around 8:30 in the morning).

At the moment I am intentionally communicating slowly with her through email trying to help her to see the plain stupidity of her claim: if she had contacted me right after she got the item and asked me for a refund I would have said yes without thinking twice, but after coping with her ignorance, plain stupidity, harassment and obvious lack of sense of reality I am not very fond of the idea. Eventually I may refund her as a charitable action (if her finances depend on those three euros she needs charity!), but she will never get the other things she wants from me: positive feedback. Why would I give to her? She's real pain in my behind and I don't want that anyone else has to suffer from her...

On brighter side of things: I have lately begun to receive my purchases from eBay so I have had lovely stash filled days and pile of new and new/ used stuff waiting for to be blogged about.

But, great things last: first of all I have two whole days off starting tomorrow!
Secondly I have been praised today by our area manager and SALO (our branch's quality control/ improvement and work effectivity program) trainer, which feels good for several reasons. ^^

But now I must run: I just got an email from Mr. Wonderful. ^^

Happy Samhain i.e. suitable seasonal exchanges

I have heard that my Halloween ornament has been received by Amaali in Malaysia and my Pumpkin Patch item has been received by Tuula so it is time for some stitchy content.

Tidbits:

• Design: One of the Halloween Ornaments by Periphaeria Designs
• Designer: Lady Periphaeria
• Fabric: 32 count linen
• Floss: Misc. hand-dyeds

Tidbits:

• Design:Three Pumpkins Scissor Fob by xstitchhappy
• Designer:xstitchhappy
• Fabric: 28 count Star Sapphire Jobelan
• Floss: Misc. hand-dyeds

Either picture isn't too bad because they have been taken in evening and during this season that means using flash and not so good pictures.

I am still on the face of Earth

My week just has been "wake up - get to work - come home - go to bed" kind, even in Wednesday as greedy me worked in Wednesday too. And I have just realised that I haven't even started one exchange item which needs to be sent out soon... o.O
At least I know what I do in my days off in coming week.

The job is otherwise nice, but I think that our soon-to-be-former store manager has no foreman skills whatsoever. He doesn't seem to understand that I can't simply know everything yet and doesn't bother to actually show and explain how things are done, he just does them and apparently thinks that I should be able to do things after that...
Luckily my other co-workers are way better tutors and we have a new store manager already in training at work so soon the only issue with work will go away. (I am just dreading couple of evening shifts as I have to work with the soon-to-be-ex store manager - I am not saying that he's that bad of a person, but he is not a even close to be a good foreman and that is why I have come to dread working with him.)

I may be evil, but I have to say that I am pleased when he's gone as I can finally concentrate on the finer sides of working life.

So, today I have a day off. I should have had day off in Wednesday, but I am greedy and do an evening shift (few extra euros/ hour are very inspiring) so my next day off is Sunday - but next week I have three days off (unless someone gets sick) - and I spend my precious day off doing household chores.

I know that I promised to blog about my new stash, but I haven't had time - or rather energy - to do it, but let's see, maybe I get it done later today.

Design It Yourself Biscornu Exchange

I got to hear few days ago that my little biscornu had arrived safely to Sandra in Venezuela and that she loved the little jewel I had sent to her!

The design is, as the exchange name reveals, designed by me and now that it has been received I intend to publish it later this year as a complimentary design (/me thinks it would make a wonderful wintery ornament stitched on icy fabric with white floss and white metallic).

Tidbits:

• Design: Anonymous at the moment
• Designer:Lady Periphaeria of Periphaeria Designs
• Fabric: 32 count Wild Raspberry linen
• Flosses: DMC 3802 and Kreinik #4 braid 007

It looks much better in person and I have to admit that I had difficulties to send it away, but I also knew that it would get a good home at Sandra's so off it went with some extra goodies Sandra can't find from Venezuela (Dinky Dyes silk, Atalie's silk, some Crescent Colours cottons, piece of linen and The Courtyard of Alhambra).

WIP

I have taken my own design, Stash Addicts Anonymous as my "late evening when my brains are frozen" project, and even though I usually stitch only letter or two at time it is progress. The process is enjoyable because of the design and the floss I chose for the text: it is one of those Sassa Lynne threads Susan sent me last year and it's really cheery without being too loud.

The pink is from GAST's Loose Thread bag, I guess, or then it is Six Strand Sweets (I have my few SSS leftovers in same box with LT bag so I am not quite sure) and the fabric is hand-dyed opalescent Murano from my own dye pots.

I am recovering from the cold so I decided to take a break from official stitching and stitch an ornament for Halloween Ornament Exchange at EMS Cross Stitch Board (less surprisingly I ended up with one of my own designs from Halloween Ornaments set).
I have also signed up for The Pumpkin Patch Exchange at SBEBB and I have already decided the design, but as the deadline is in October I won't hurry with it, yet.

By the way, one of the reasons why I love Mr. Wonderful

He called me today just to inform me that his email will be late today - and of course to hear my voice and say those three important words.
I think he's a keeper as he believes in little things like letting your SO know if you can't stay in your normal schedule.

Still on the face of the Earth

It has been rather hectic week and I am surprised that I have actually found time to stitch.

Anyway, I got some belated birthday goodies in mail Wednesday: Dusty sent me a birthday card and some yummy Splendour silks as part of Birthday Thread Exchange.

They feel absolutely divine so I hope some project yells for them soon. ^^

Head issues

Surprisingly I am still having loads of energy even I have lowered my sertraline dose, but that is only a good thing: I have painted the vestibule (finally!) and reorganized the cleaning cabinet during the weekend and still found time to write emails, idle and stitch! o.O (Though now it's time to slouch a bit and make some coffee... *yawn*)

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

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

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

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

Guardian of the Holy Floss

Moment from yesterday:

Seiichi is obviously a very intelligent cat.

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

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

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

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

Tidbits:

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

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

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

OMGWTFBBQBMW!

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

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

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

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

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

And some pattern p0rn

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

...equals:

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

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