The Spanish Sampler aka "Where the time went?!"

© Periphaeria Designs

Here it is (and also available for download for next two month at the usual place) in all its gorgeousness (even I say so myself as the designer). Funnily enough I feel like the project started last week and not 20 months ago!
Now I only need time to finish both versions of it and then get the thing on sale... anyone knows where they sell time turners (the kind Hermione had in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban")?

Since then I have met my Wonderful, since then I found a steady job (two weeks from now I have my anniversary there o.O) and since then Mr. Wonderful moved to Finland after me (and that's not all my dear readers, but more about the rest later ).
Life has been busy, and there hasn't been enough time to stitch or do anything actually, but I hope that some of these days I get my rhythm in order and have energy again.

One of the things keeping me away from everything has been odd exhaustion, but I have found the reason for it: doctor and I agreed today that I really do have sinusitis and I am on antibiotics again... (But on a brighter note: I am not on sick leave i.e. I am not feeling sick nor have fever (my boss will be happy *grin*).)

Mr. Wonderful and The Deadly Spanish Bureaucracy

Yes, my knight in His shining armour is still in Spain fighting against the ugly monster called Spanish Bureaucracy. (Sonnenschein always told me how insane their bureacracy is, but now I really get it... Sorry if I ever doubted you. )

As I am used to Finnish bureacracy which is insane, but at least quite fast - usually - Spanish one really makes me fume, but Lady has to be patient even she would love to go and kick their bureacratic behinds to make it faster.

But, my throat hurts so I guess it's time for some medication... like cranberry- caramel ice cream, for instance.

Actual stitchy content

Shocking, yes.

Firstly I started 2nd part of the Spanish Sampler MSAL in monochrome, went on balcony to stitch it as it was a lovely, sunny and warm... soon after that it became cloudy and chilly AND I got a migraine (due many things: low air pressure, general frustration, hormones and making the part 3 ready to be published in next Tuesday (I am surprised that my virtual printer actually worked without cursing and throwing things)) so I came back infoors and decided to change to something smaller i.e. Linda's "Autumn":

And just to prove that I have started the second part of TSS...

I think it will look quite fun when finished.

"To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy."
-- Will Durant

A happy dance!

Finally, after ages and ages and some shaking issues of few days (I upped the dosage and suffered few days of various symptoms, one of them being uncontrollable shaking in my limbs (hands mostly)) it's done!

The darker greens ARE of different shade, it just doesn't show too well on the stitched piece.

Somehow it feels that cross stitch gods are against me at the moment. Every time I intend to stitch TSS' second part something comes to disturb me. Regardless, I am having fun with it and love how it looks.

The Great Outdoors

Yes, more kitty pictures! They just are enjoying the summer (in here summer is when average temperature is over 10° C...) and showing it.

 
(The latter one is great example of Her Highnesses ears before and after the blood ear last spring.)

And now I should be going to shower, I have to be out of the door ten past nine!

SAT epilogue

The goal is met!

The colours remind me of Mexico, for some odd reason.
At first I wasn't quite sure do I like the floss choice, but now that the first part is stitched I am very pleased with my choice. It's good in many ways, one of them being having two completely different colour schemes of the same design.

And... I managed to add some stitches to Loy Krathong after several months!
This is how it looked when I started, this is how it looks now:

Kitty pics and SAT prologue

 

That's their old scratching pole, but I redraped it one day as they had managed to mutilate the old carpet quite badly - and I had suitable carpet for the purpose (it was saved from trash a while ago, as I am into recycling and saving money).

SAT

My goal for this month is to finish the monochromatic version of the first part of the Spanish Sampler MSAL so I can be a good MSAL organiser and start the second part. :)
This is what I have now:

If I get this done before the weekend is over I will put some stitches to Loy Krathong.

Yes, I am still alive

I haven't been stitching much as I have used my time by getting know the latest version of certain forum software, and then I have been rearranging my apartment etc. while trying not to exhaust myself completely, but I have finally started the monochromatic version of the Spanish Sampler - it's about time, the second part comes out tomorrow!

I am using Vikki Clayton's Grasses silk and 30 count black linen from Violarium.

Early birthday

My sister popped by yesterday and brought me my elliptical!
Yesterday's exercise made me very tired for some reason, but today I feel quite good even though I had longer session today and I even found some muscles I have never felt before.

Sugars

I saw my GP today and he decided to control my blood sugars, which means that I need to give blood sample weekly and as it is a test that requires fasting I will spend quite some time waiting my turn in the lab weekly basis as I have to go there in the morning and that is the busiest time in there...

Apparently my GP is worried about the inconsistency of my sugar levels.

The Spanish Happy Dance! Part I

First part of the Spanish Sampler is now done!

(Once again an upside down picture... but it looked better that way as it didn't lay flat in the scanner...)

Even it is my own design I dare to say that this is beautiful. ^^

Only the monochromatic version left to stitch (luckily it will be faster to stitch).

It's beginning to look like something!

The artificial light doesn't show the shade difference between the reds nor the shading in the purples, but they are there.

A bit over half left to stitch.

Honestly speaking it looks thousand times better in real life, and I have to say that I am loving this "little" project already.