Oranges anyone?

It has been Silhouettes day (decided to call it off for today because it strains my eyes to stitch on black when there's no daylight (I'm getting old, I used to be able to stitch on black in artificial light...)), and as Jaffa was next in my list I worked on it. (Aren't I queen of obvious or something?)

While stitching I noticed that I've slight *ahem* counting mistake. Its width seems to be, instead of 45 stitches, which is actual width of this design, 47 stitches...
I won't frog this thing or start it again, but as long as I remember this when I'm framing these it'll be easily fixed: I've been planning to frame these with passepartouts (For some reason I see double passepartouts: burgundy and gold to give the depth - but I've to see with the colour, in theory black would be better..) so those two excess vertical rows will be hidden by matting.

I also realised that MW will have to wait for better days, as I need to start with The Greatest Treasure as it has a deadline, which MW doesn't have.

And...

...it's very much possible that I'll concentrate on stitching instead of sleeping in coming night. I should stay away from news, they have never brought anything good, and I'm known worrywart (I know I shouldn't worry over things I can't affect to)...
Only some frantic stitching can help me relax and therefore... I decided to concentrate on CCLE item and stitch it before getting to bed. I think I'll put finishing stitches to it today.

Let the SAT begin!

My goal is to finish second quarter (and possibly begin with third).

And... I was a bad, bad person today: I started stitching second part of Silhouettes, in my case Jaffa Orange. I even have some progress in it, but as I stitch them on black Jobelan (IMNSHO Jobelan is not best choice when you need black fabric as its grain is not clear enough) and therefore I need to have enough (too many) breaks to prevent migraines there's nothing much to show, so no pictures at the moment.
But I do love the effect of orange and yellow on black.

Confessions of a Stitch-A-Holic and window shopping

• I'm itching to start with next Silhouette (finally), but I can't allow myself to do so. (Because it's already 13th of August and I haven't stitched even half of the Panda I can't allow any breaks for myself, even I know it'd be good for keeping my stitching spirit up.)
• I've ordered WDWs for Ezmeralda's House.
• My next S.E.X. will happen in Sew and So and will be something I've planned to buy over a year now... and it'll happen as soon as possible.
• After stitching on 36 count stitches on 28 count look humongous.
• I find it difficult to stitch on very light coloured fabrics...
• I'm a Stash-A-Holic.
• I've reorganized my living room according my stash's needs.
• I'm getting very fond of the idea of over-one even I've never even tried it.
• I've already corroded one needle black while stitching Panda (talking of bitterness *grin*).

Aww, dragons! ^^

I kind of lost myself in Sew and So's site while drinking my morning coffee... anyone remembers what I said about getting addicted to dragons?
And with new tag (snowprincipessa eLJay) I'm able to archive my to-be-added-to-wishlist designs/kits/stuff in here before I get my hands on homepage tweaking again (it should be redesigned anyway)...

Summer's Magic

Cookie Dragon

Red Dragon Bookmark

Dragonlets Birth Sampler

No Late Knight Snacking

Dragon Alphabet

Dani the Stitching Dragon

Dragon Knot Bookmark

Midnight Hunting

Noon Basking

Dawn Awakening

Ouroborus (I've been drooling after this since I first saw it years ago.)

Just a Little Peace & Quiet

Messy... But Mine (Mentioned before)

Dragon Virtues

A Dragon's Tea Party

Not Forgotten

Gemstone Dragons

Here Be Dragons

The Snowball Fight

Dragon Of The Winter Moon

Dragon Of The Summer Sky

Earth Dragon

Air Dragon (kit)

Water Dragon (kit)

Fire Dragon (kit)

Why Hoard Gold?

Wish Upon A Star

Sleeping Dragon Sampler

Blackwork Dragon

Mystical Dragon

Lans The Guardian

Dragon Lake

Dragon Heart

Legends Of Dragons

Celestial Dragon

The Guardian (kit)

Moon Dragon

Others...

Noah's Alphabet

A Wizard's Quilt

There's Magic In My Needle

The Phoenix

Creatures Of Myth

Griffon Welcome

Fairies! (Thanks to surname... *muttering*)

Fantastical Visions

Lunar Fairy

Dew Drop

Aurelia

Blue Moon Faery

Woodland Faery (As USPS destroyed the one I've.)

Do we see certain attraction towards more complicated designs (excluding Dragon Dreams ( ) patterns)?

And in other news

I'll be offline from 21st to 23rd of August as I'm taking the cats with me and going to my mom's cottage. (HP will follow me, so there'll be entries after I come back.)
Main reason is to show her how to assemble her loom - and check if she actually has other loom in one of her storage rooms (I saw parts of certain type of loom when we were checking the places after she bought the house (2004).) - and possibly we can even have the change to prepare them to be used (though that depends on can we have a loom from somewhere, or at least suitable yarn as she has 'looming device' (My professional vocabulary sucks) IIRC). As said, it's handy to have a weaver in a family (but not cheap, as she's paying the gas and keeps me fed).

And talking of cats, could somebody tell me how it's possible to sleep in position like this?

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).

Icy HD!

Icy is finished! /me dances all around

And needleroll will be (stitching wise) happy dance today or tomorrow.

Gap-free update

It may not be visible, but I've finished upper part of this silhouette.
There's supposed to be gaps in every corner, but those would have looked a bit odd, hence the change. Now it looks good in my eyes.

Anyway, ten rows of stitching and some backstitching before Icy is a happy dance.
Then it's topiary time again.

Icy update, and something completely different

There's some progress since last picture (As we know my migraine and VE took my time).

It looks quite greyish (at least with my monitor), but when you combine winter's dark evenings, yellow desk light and lousy digicamera you can't get those colours very accurate.
I think I've take official finish picture in some sunny day (so there wont be one before spring... ).

Stitcher's Alphabet

Brooke's Book Publishing has year long freebie alphabet series which looks quite charming in it's way (even it's not "my style" in any sense. It seems to be the exception which makes the rule), and I've this idea (bell pull (long and narrow), A on the top and Z in the bottom) for it, but I've one problem... stitched on 32 count I'd need 180 cm x 10 cm (approximately) piece of evenweave and I doubt can I get anywhere suitable fabric in suitable width.
Of course I could just purchase 2 meters worth of evenweave, but it'd be quite pricey. And is it sensible in any way as it'd mean that I'd have huge piece of one colour? I could purchase natural linen, or something similar, as that's something I'll always need, but then price really is a problem - as we all know, linen fabrics aren't very cheap in anywhere.

Btw, have you noticed that alphabet series seem to be the thing in designer world at the moment? (For example Passione Ricamo has Arabesque series for this year... Filantrope and Le Petit Monde de Vavi (1 & 2) had last year)

And then...

Something to get addicted to: Reflections.

Enjoy. I'll drag myself to bed. Migraine is history, but I'm still quite tired.

'Icy Blue' WIP picture

As usual, colours are bit distorted:

Blah!

Apparently I was just so thrilled because of my new stash that I forgot my migraine for hour or so... yes, it's back. Fortunately there's no headache anymore, but I hate being this tired.

But anyway there's some progress in my Icy, but as it is black on black there is nothing to show. (Yes, I can usually stitch while having a migraine. It's just much slower.)

Then I have had this 'magnificent' idea of making list of designs I want to get rid of (there are few of them), and of course designs I've in general. It'd be useful not only for me, but in case someone wants to RAKe me.

Election day, 'Icy Blue' and hosting changes

It was first round of presidential election today. Actual results will be published tomorrow morning, I think, but it seems that according to advance voting results Tarja Halonen may get re-elected straight from the first round. She got 49.6 % from those votes so if she has any wild luck there'll be no second round. Though presidential candidate needs >50% of all votes to get elected - in first or in second round. (We use two-stage election system.)

I voted for her, again, so it'd be a win for me also. And she's always better than her 'strongest' competitor who's from right side of political range, and I prefer left-wing president. (Interesting little fact, they're both lawyers by education)

Icy Blue

And because I've some real progress with my first silhouette landscape it's picture time:

Info:

• Freebie from Classic Stitches
• Designed by Michaela Learner
• Stitched on 28 count black Jobelan
• Anchor floss
• Two over two
• Stitch-A-Long in four parts (2 months/ part)

I changed SAL pictures back to Photobucket. It's not fancy, but it seems to be only which really works.

And before anyone asks: Yes, I seem to be unable to decide my blog's name.

*hits her head* Ah, I almost forgot: I've planned to add desperately needed DMCs list in my stitchy wish list after I make an inventory of what I have and what I lack.

Seeing green, aka. 'Topiary' update

All those shades of green have drove me nuts, but fortunately I'm crazy by birth so no one will notice the difference.

Anyway, Winter actually looks like a topiary at this moment:

There's quite some progress since last update.
And I moved my progress pictures to other hosting service.

Anyway, my dear topiary has to stand aside for few days again as tomorrow is the official lift-off date for Silhouettes SAL and as an organizer of it... It'll be my main priority for few days (though I'll finish my VE item in beginning of next week).

G'night.

Here I am, blogging in the middle of the night. Great.

'Silhouettes'.

I should write to either moderator of exchange forum and ask about that SAL organizing thingy.

Yes, I opened my big mouth and promised to organize 'Silhouettes' SAL.
It doesn't take that much my time nor I have to work very much for it, but I've to commit to that project for at least 6 months, maybe even 8 - depends on how long is stitching time between patterns.
It has to be at least 6 weeks, that gap, and as there's other SAL going on at the same time in same board AND I'm already signed myself to it so it really needs to be fixed a bit. 15th of January would be good day for an official start as it'd be in between topiary SAL's second and third part.

SALs and WIPs.

I added sections for my WIPs and SALs to the sidebar, maybe they make it bit easier to follow what I'm talking of.

G'day.

As we all see, I kind of flooded my blog with test results yesterday and today. So, now it's time for some 'decen't blogging again.

Metallics.

I've found new love: DMC's white metallic floss.

I bought one skein of it from my LNS and last night I stitched few snowflakes with it to SEBE 'Winter' bookmark. It looks great.

Little tip: When you've divided your lenght of floss to six parts, take one divided strand of that floss, divide it (as it's made of two filaments) again. First of all it's easier to stitch as it's more flexible, and it looks great. IMO it may look even better than if you were stitching with one complete strand.
In fact I think it'd be good bleding filament replacement stitched with regular mouline. I have to try that some day.

SAL.

Well, in a way it has been suggested that I'd organize one SAL (Stitch-a-long) at EMS Cross Stitch Board. I suggested one design (serie in fact) in one thread which has to do with SALs and it seems that there might be people who're interested of doing this particular pattern.

Design is a freebie and still available, and I checked yesterday that it isn't even very big. One part of design in 45x60 stitches so 2700 stitches per part (minus corners which are unstitched in pattern (though I think I'll stitch them too)), and on 14 count finished design is about 8,2x10,9 cms (~3.2x4.3 inches).

There isn't even that many colours needed, so it's almost perfect. Even beginners could participate.

Looks good? I think so. Anyway, I've to think this a bit (as I'm not sure when I've time, after DBF moves I don't have free time that much as there's piles of bureucracy related stuff to take care of.) and if I think I could organize it I think I should contact to that boards staff and ask what is their opinion of organizing and what would be 'wisest' way to handle it.