Certain crazy stitcher stayed awake at almost 6 AM just to finish Topiary Sampler (which means that I've slept about 5 hours). May I introduce you, Spring
Then some information:
First of all I'd like to say thanks of those bronze medal congratulations (Senile old me can't remember everything). And after it about topiary related feedback.
It's always nice to tempt innocent victims to projects like this.
Those topiaries look awesome, but in case you don't love constant colour changes (like I do) be forewarned. Winter has almost 40 colours in it (two of them metallics)- but then it looks great.
Exchanges
New exchange in sight. I signed in to biscornu exchange at SBEBB.
Once again my reason was "I've never done one". And then it's small which means that it doesn't take that long to stitch not finish, and it's relatively cheap to send out.
Summer
And last, but not least... topiary update.
Summer is here. One more to go!
First of all, latest issue of Stiching Olympics Gazette for your entertaiment.
I'm surprised. If Dan wouldn't have visited in Saturday I'd have been able to finish Summer during Sunday. This is how far I was 00:03 (12:03 PM) in Monday morning:
And Winter was finished in Friday (Ok, it actually was already Saturday (as I finished stitching in the middle of the night)):
This means that I will achieve silver as Spring is also relatively small topiary (compared to Autumn and Winter) and therefore fast to stitch.
Anyway, in general this has been a good day. It was great to see Dan again ("Again"... haven't seen him in.... 45 days...). Once again I remembered why I wanted to stay in touch with him after we decided to separate/ divorce: He's really great person - a bit eccentric though (And I'm not eccentric?!
I'm heading for silver now and decided to boost my performance by participating Stitch-A-Thon (The idea of FG's Stitch-A-Thons is to set stitching goal for specified project over third weekend of every month) at Friends Gather and setting humongous goal. I'm quite sure I wont be able to stitch that much (My goal is to finish Winter and Summer), but it keeps me going. And I'll look like this 
At this moment I'm having a little coffee (and blogging) break, as those metallics in Winter can be quite annoying (but then: it's gorgeous!). In fact I've problems with that white PTB, gold was a pleasure to stitch with. Anyway, it's almost finished! Winter I mean.
Angela and Rósa, thank you for your support. That entry was really for venting as I really needed to get that annoyance out of my system just to prevent arrhytmias and migraine (How so stress is not good for me?).
As I see it it's not about men having problem with women with power (I'm against stereotypes and therefore I'm against that, even I know it's true in some cases - but it's so also vice versa in some cases so...), it's in general all about that little thing that people have problems with themselves and then they attack you. I know I haven't done anything wrong and that I don't haunt him in any way. If he thinks so, he's free not to visit there - and if it really bothers him that much... maybe he should have a break.
And fact is that you can't please everyone. My goal is to keep majority happy and not dance according to some cranky individual's notes.
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).
Not much progress, but final picture before topiary break.
Those topiaries are quite interesting. They look really great IRL, but pictures - no matter how good - always take most of their beauty.
Not to mention that you can't see shine of metallics which makes half of the design in Winter (I just love that snow over the pot).
Sometimes I do wonder do my readers realize that my pictures are (almost) always links... I did some traffic research yesterday...
Btw, I've found one design I've been looking for... but they don't ship international orders under $50... Well, I think I've to ask that from one person, who lives in States, could she order it for me... I want this:
It doesn't look that good in booklet, but I've seen it stitched...
Haven't stitched that much, but there's some progress:
It's night and I haven't bought bulbs yet so I can't get enough light near my stitching while taking pictures so...
One thing is quite sure: I wont be able to finish this before Wednesday, so Winter's finish will be delayed at least in the end of this year (Depends on when we come back to my place with Dan).
Unless I stitch excessively later today, as Dan wont be around (Hmm... I almost said "wont be at home..." Scary.) today I've time after I come back from my tri-monthly visit from local employment service office. (I love those visits... not.)
Though... I doubt that. I've things to do before we leave from here, and I really can't stitch whole topiary "bush" in few hours - not when there's shadings as much as Winter has.
But in the end I don't care as it'll look fabulous when it's finished. That natural linen is fabric suggested by designer, and I can understand why. White fabric would have took off the edge of the snow.
I really need to get new light bulb to my desk light (again) to get at least a bit better pictures...
...but this is what I managed to get done yesterday evening. Got tired early and went to bed (slept 13 hours!) so it's not that much.
While browsing trough, and picking right flosses for 'Winter', my 'Topiary Sampler' floss bag I cursed why she has to design designs which have few stitches of some colour, and few of other and almost 40 colours/ shades in a small design. Then I remembered that is why I loved 'Autumn', it kept my brains interested with all those colour changes.
And to remind you how this will look like when it's done...
Now, off my way to take some breakfast and then... It's stitching time!
And it is officially finished!
I'd have finished it yesterday, but I've had indescribable menstruation pains and I haven't been able to sit or stand very long times. Anyway, now it's finished and I'm pleased.
Plans.
I think that now my next project heading to happy dance is my sis' apron. HK is almost ready anyway, so there's not that much white to do... Has anyone noticed that I'm not very fond of white?
But anyway I've been thinking about Passione Ricamo's 'Seasonal Postcards'. If I do them I either do them separately or change their layout from horizontal to vertical. I think it'd look better vertically (from spring to winter) than it looks horizontally
Here it is:
I used DMC 801 for backstitches in the pot, and it looks good.
Today's task is to frog and re-stitch frame, and backstitch 'Autumn' on the bottom.
Lacking only one colour. It'll be finished today.
Btw, my flosses are already on their way over Atlantic.
It looks good, doesn't it? Though I had minor 'WTH?!' last night as after all those greens in topiary there came dark brown for shading... well, it's supposed to be autumn so I assumed that it was all about dead leaves. And after checking that bigger picture I have of this, I think that it'll look just right after I've finished it.
This is lousy pic, but it'll give some idea.
Haven't stitched that much today as I've been bit tired. Went to sleep after 6 AM in the morning and woke up at 11 AM.
...woke up from a dream where I was with Sonnenschein, close to him. His eyes, those soft lips... *sigh* I seldom, if ever, cry when I wake up. Yesterday I did so. It was just so devastating to wake up alone, hugging my teddy.
Well, some of these days hopefully...
Btw.
Remember my SIL? Well, it's over four months since I asked that picture from her and I'm still waiting...
Ok, every pot's lowest row is ten stitches wide so this is how I'll do it: 10+24+24+(1+)1=(60)59.
Nasty part in this is that I've to frog that damn frame completely and re-stitch it, but on the other hand... only one frame to frog though.
Other option is to shrink frame width to 58 stitches, but I'm not sure would it look good with wider topiaries. Better to have some space around them.
Winter and summer are centered correctly. Spring and autumn aren't.
So, either I've to frog that frame completely and re-stitch it or just live with it. I think I'll stitch that topiary before I decide what I do. Maybe it looks good even it's not centered - anyway, I've done it just the way it should be done.
Well, if you can't sleep you can always stitch...
And, one reason to have little happy dance: there's no counting errors. (At least not yet)
... but it seems that design is not centered. There's 16 blocks on left side and 18 on the right side, and that is in the original pattern too. So, it's not about miscalculating from my side. I've to check those other patterns and count their widths. If it's possible I'll frog right side of frame and move it a bit.
This is how far I got in one day.
This is nice design to do. Relatively small areas of individual colours (I don't have time to get bored) and chart is clear. There is one symbol I wasn't sure of, but I found this tool from AAR's tools which cleared that issue for me. Technical information. 'Topiary Sampler': Currently it feels kind of sad that I've to wait almost two months before next topiary. Did I got addicted or something?
