Alter Echo and stitching dilemma

As I'm still on my way to Land of the Awaken Ones (and Blogger seems to be acting up which means I can't update my testing blog) I can spend some quality time with my blog instead of thinking what to do today (though I think I know).

Nothing much going on in Alter Echo front, as you can see

Colours are bit off, but it looks good, even I say so myself, and I'm quite sure I'll love it when ever it's finished.
Which raises scary thought: I may become addicted to samplers... though, as I may have said in other medias, I'm not sampler person in general as they aren't usually anywhere close to my style. (Hmm... crazy idea: I'd design a sampler to my mom's house... Shoosh /me, you're getting crazy! *thinks* She'll turn 60 in three years... *slaps herself*)

Don't get me wrong, I'm interested of history in general and history of my favourite addiction (it's also an occupational hazard), but as I prefer logical arrangements and symmetry in general most samplers just wont do it to me.

Anyway, I think I can say I wont make my SWC goal. Anyway, I try my best and we'll see.

The Dilemma

I was stitching Recipe Exchange item yesterday and now I've a problem.
I'm stitching a pair, and my intention is to make them bit different, but still similar, therefore I've stitched one with regular DMC and other one with variegated and now... I like the variegated one much better, and in my way of thinking that means that I've to stitch one more (though two previous ones aren't actually finished yet), but I'm not sure, so...
My readers with LJ account (as none of you is participating that exchange), I'll ask you a favour... After this entry will be one with pictures, please share your opinions with me.

Withdrawals from blogs, other news and SBQ

I haven't been able to read any blogs in days, because of the connection here. Which is supposed to be 2048/512kB, but is usually slower than my 256kB/s - if it's working at all. (Which is about the eight wonder of the world. *grin*)
So, don't wonder if I'm not lurking around. I just can't.

The problem lies either in ISPs end or in the router... (But hey, do I love WLAN or do I love it - let me think... *grin*)

In other news

1. I've been stitching. And actually accomplished something, though I begin to doubt will I even reach my goal of ½ of Alter Echo...
   Pictures will follow when I remember to ask from Wolfie that USB cable for the camera (or cable for the scanner).
   I'd say I'm quite happy with the colours I chose for it (for the sampler that is *grin*). It'd have been bit boring with only the given two colours, 902 brings some depth to it.

2. I've lost 2 cms from my waist - in six days. And I've been eating like a horse. (One of the reasons being that he's taking care of my eating. I just wont get hungry. I can't. I've no time. (Which is wonder in itself as he's not around most of the day anyway.))
   Wolfie said that it's Thailand which causes that (he has lost quite some weight since he came here, not so many months ago, and in his own opinion he eats like a horse (though he exercises regularly)). Something in the food, or in the climate or maybe it's just caused by little green men.

3. I'm still alive after eating cherries, strawberry yoghurt, odd-little-fruit-he's-unable-to-translate-in-English (I think it's custard apple (tastes bit like canned grapes))... and too much durians and mangos. (And those wonderful fried seaweed chips with chili... mouthwatering thought.)
   Not to mention eating in one little eatery in nearby soi, which might be something to dread to most tourists. *evil grin* But where locals eat... I eat.

4. I'm drinking too much coffee again. But he has good coffee around... (Though I think we need to head to Starbucks soon. I've drank almost all the coffee (caffeinated one).)

5. When I'm in the move alone no one seems to think that I speak Thai. When we're out together most people seem to assume that we both speak Thai, or at least Wolfie does.
   Silly thing in it is that neither of us really looks local (FYI: North European and South American) - in sense of looking Asian.

And then... for something completely different.

This week's

Stitching Bloggers Question

was suggested by Vash and is:

"Have you ever used a magnifying glass while stitching? If so, did you find it helpful?"

I haven't but when I was doing my first (and currently only one) hardanger piece I realized that it'd be good to have. And I'm quite sure that if I get into high counts (high being 40< HPI) I might need one, just to prevent my eyes from tiring. (Glasses help to certain extent, but aren't magnifiers anyway...)

See you in City of Angels!

They're coming to take me away, ha-ha...

Ok, they're not, but today is the day. Three hours from now I'm on my way to airport.
Wish me luck, keep your thumbs up, pray if you feel like it/believe it'd help, but do give me decent 'good luck kicks'! I'll need them.

I'll spend next umpteen hours (First lift-off is/should be 17:30 GMT+3, second one 20:45 GMT+2. Arrival tomorrow 12:25 GMT+7) travelling so you may not see any signs of me in next days - I may need day or two (or few) to adjust, but I promise to keep you updated!

And Ash, AE is travelling with me.
Though I've to admit that I packed all my stitching into my back bag. I've slept bit poorly last nights (I wonder why ) and decided to settle with a book. I really could use good night sleep, even if it's in plane.

But ta for now. See you on the other side!

Time for ooohs and aaahs!

Let me introduce you... Biscornu (from exchange at SBEBB), and all the goodies, from Yuko!
I've been drooling and ooohing here quite some time. ^^

      

Isn't it beautiful?! And that button is cute as a button! (Pun intended.) ^^
But wait, there's more!

   

Japanese print fabrics! Those are just so beautiful. I don't know am I able to use them. Maybe I should frame them? And floss! And scissors (just suitable ones to take with me in plane, don't you think?)!

I'm one happy camper here!

24

There is friends only entry before this considering my 24 hour challenge.
In general my 24h went like this: 'Depending on the definition I made it and didn't made it.'

I'd have succeeded if I hadn't got that cleaning spree, and if I hadn't got problems to wake up yesterday.
Then for something, if not completely at least slightly different....

Can you believe? I stitch two over two on 36 count!
I was sure one strand would be enough and two'd look bulky, but no. Two is just correct amount for this... and I still remember the days when I stitched one over two on 32 count because two over two looked so bulky.

Merna's quilt, SWC and 24 hours

^^

My first two squares for SOLAK have been used to quilt they were meant to.
Finished quilt

(Those squares I made are in lowest row, in corners.)
As you may deduce theme was Japan...

World Cup and 24 Hour Challenge

Poor AE is still awaiting for it's first stitches as I decided to participate 24 hour challenge and stitch one of my Recipe Exchange item(s) - or actually 1/4 of designs needed. No public pictures, but as none of RE participants, in addition to me, is LJ user I can give picture in friends only entry (Hmph, how about only LJ friends entry?).

But, AE fabric is gridded, washed (there was something similar to chocolate (which is odd as I haven't been eating chocolate lately (ok, before today)) in the fabric so I decided to give it a wash), zig-zagged and ironed. Though it'll get wrinkly again in one of these days as I decided not to use my frame for it. Why? Because my frame is too long to fit in my rucksack...
(Yes, I made one man happy today (actually I told it right after I found it out yesterday, but being as clear as I am... *giggles*). I'm free to travel now as my things are (mostly) cleared up. Now we just have to see when...)

And something, well, funny, in it's own way, happened yesterday.
We (snowprincipessa and bits_2_whole) came back from our aunt's 50th birthday by train and... Conductor glanced few times to my direction during that trip while passing by... because I was gridding AE fabric. Maybe you don't expect someone like me to like embroidery?

I could also give little rant about my father and his opinions, but I try not to think about that, as it just gives me another day with migraine... He just knows how to hurt me.

Preparation for SWC

Stitchers' World Cup Times, Issue 1 at cross_stitch

Project: Alter Echo
Materials: 36 count Zweigart natural linen and DMC floss (815, 841 and 902).
Goal: To finish at least half of AE.
Preparations made to-date:
Fabric
Floss
Gridding

I've about half of the fabric gridded, and if I don't do it today/tomorrow I'll take it with me in Friday when we go to my aunt's birthday. I'll have plenty of time to grid during the trips there and back ([rant]...in case I get rid of this throbbing sensation behind my eyes. This migraine is completely stress based. It was already fading, but then I confronted one more barrier... ngh, I just so love it when officials have calling times, but you can't know about them before you call and get a bucket ("It's pronounced Bouquet." *giggle*) full of ice cold water on your face...[/rant]).

Recipe Exchange

I know what I do (hint: it's a freebie), on what and with what colours/flosses (stash is your friend), and how I'll finish it. Now I need to create pattern for the finish...

S.E.X., music and ngh

I found saviour in my dark path of not having good Finnish ONS: Kirjokas.
First of all, DMC 0,80€/ skein (which is real bargain in this part of the World), no postages, fast and good customer service and good storage (just because they carry Dragon floss)... They also have English version of the store, so do pop by. (Like Moomins? Click.)

So, I spent few euros and got flosses for Alter Echo. It turned out that I want to do it with three colours, instead of two. I'll use those given 815 and 841, but I'll stitch text with 902.
309 is nice colour, but I was unable to find anything suitable to go with it, so I let it be.

...and as Kirjokas has minimum order of 10 euros I purchased some Dragon Floss to fill the gap...

      

I placed an order in Thursday, she got payment and posted them in Friday. They came today.

More chocolaty music...

Flying Carpet has a new buddy: Desire.

"...I desire you more than food or drink.
My body, my senses, my mind,
Hunger for your taste.
I can sense your presence in my heart.
Although you belong to all the world,
I wait in silent passion,
For one gesture, one glance."

This is chocolate to your ears, and other senses.

In other news

I don't feel good at all. Migraine, yes, but why are my muscles etc. aching? I'd almost live with exploding head, nausea, upset stomach, dizziness and tiredness, but sore muscles/ throat/ joints and unstable body temperature make it odd and really annoying.
With some luck I found summer cold in Saturday in my trip to grocery... it rained, and even I used umbrella I was soaking wet when I got back home. And first muscle aches came during that night...
Anyway, not my usual migraine. Usually I can at least stitch or write emails, but no... Wrote one email yesterday for about 12 hours as I lost my skills to understand what I had wrote (I do excessive amounts of proof reading, see), not to mention that half an hour writing three sentences took today (you don't want to know how long it took write this entry)... And can't even think of stitching. Or coffee.

Ngh.

Stitching World Cup!

9th of June - 9th of July 2006

First chanda_m organised Stitching Olympics in cross_stitch, and now... we'll have Stitching World Cup!

I'll participate with Alter Echo, which is long planned SAL with chanda_m (it seems that eternalism will join us).

And because World Cup begins 9th of June it might be good idea to grid my fabric in one of these days - for example tonight.