Crazy Days 12-15

I had my last two starts at 20th due having been sick, falling asleep with Tiny and so forth, but I have now officially started those fifteen! And have also stitched old projects (few stitches on "For This Child...", but progress nevertheless)!

Day 12

Yet another LHN, this time "Plums". That brown is odd, it looks very variegated on skein, but when stitched (one stitch at a time as I always do with other than regular floss) it doesn't.

Day 13

I found my DMC box (and one box of hand-dyeds *ahem*) which meant starting with Dragon Dreams' designs. First one is their 2013 Holiday Treat - I just lack most of the charted colours so it'll be just sitting in its bag for a while.

Day 14

"Coffee Is Magic", and yet again I have only a few of charted colours. Same actually applies to all my DD projects for now.

Day 15

I am planning to stitch "Evening Dragon" with reds, I just haven't had time to check the combination during those few daylight hours we have at the moment.
Started with knight.

Stash sneaking in

I have several shipments coming from USA (ton of stuff from One Star's Light and a new shower curtain from CafePress), but for some reason the one that arrived this week was one of the latest orders... maybe 1-2-3 Stitch! is in good terms with postal services as their envelopes have always arrived in due course.

Little clearance finds again, they have had great designs there lately.

Dragon Dreams!

Jennifer has the cutest 12 Days of Christmas series in the making in Dragon Dreams' Facebook page so hop over if you have missed it!

I must stitch those for Tiny as he is a dragon baby - and coming to think of it I probably need to buy Ellen Maurer-Stroh's Dragon Baby and stitch it for Tiny.

Easter Dragon

Jennifer from Dragon Dreams has posted the cutest little Easter dragon to the News and it will only be up until midnight of March 24th so hurry!

Dragon Dreams' Valentine Dragon!

Ok, it is a relaunch, but I don't have it as it is from time when I wasn't even aware that Dragon Dreams exists. So, click your way to Dragon Dreams and fetch the 2003 Valentine Dragon while it is up!

Noticing that it is cute as heck I may have to stitch it some of these days... ^^

Homing dragons

Ladies, gentlemen, goats and lifeforms from another planets, let me to introduce you a herd of homing dragons!

Just BEAUTIFUL!

Now the RR just needs few beads and the framing stitches around the dragons and it's ready to be finished.

Tidbits:

• Design: Seasonal Dragons
• Designer: Sherrie Stepp-Aweau
• Fabric: hand-dyed (by me) 32 count Jobelan
• Special bits: a Round Robin. The stitching order for this was:
  • Spring (yellow): me
  • Summer (green): Christine
  • Fall (copper): Jenna
  • Winter (lilac): Leslie

Ladies, I want to thank you for making such a good work even you had to stitch on wrong direction (except Jenna, who cunningly found a way to stitch on her way, but achieve the result which looks like it is stitched on my way )!

I am working on the backstitching of the Winter dragon on Christine's piece and there may be a happy dance later this evening, so, stay tuned! (Unless I obey my insane thought to clean up the bedroom...)

I was bad...

...and paid the $8 to participate Pamela Kellogg's 2008 Valentine Mystery Stitch-A-Long - not that I have anything else to do...

Happydancing dragon and on Round Robins

What do I do when I am having a fever, my joints kill me and I need to blow my nose every ten minutes? Watch movies with comment track on and stitch dragons.

(Fear not Jenna, I have cleaned my hands with fresh-up towels before getting back to stitching! *grin*)

1. I absolutely adore the colours, but I am not fan of the fact that due constant colour changes with cotton+filament mix the back does not look too nice. But then, no one won't look in the back (except Christine, who gets this next, and Jenna).

2. Spite of loving stitching on black the backstitching phase was rather difficult as 3371 just doesn't contrast with black that well (aren't we surprised?!). Nevertheless, I managed it too, and as said these draggies look gorgeous on black.

Based on two previous dragons and the chart of fourth I have to say that Autumn Fall probably is the most difficult of these. At least it takes more time than the previous dragons did.

(Cross posted to Solarium Sublime.)

On Round Robins

While stitching on Jenna's piece I was thinking of round robins and I think that Teresa Wenztler themed RR would be nice to participate to. I have seen some RRs which consist from different borders of designs of TW and they look great.

One of the advantages of such RR would be the fact that it had to be stitched on plainweave so no aida stitching there, and, people who stitch TWs are usually rather skilled stitchers which would lessen the worry over the quality of work on the piece.

Though I have also played with the idea of having RR consisting of Dragon Dreams' Elemental Dragons.

Shawl

My mother kind of promised to knit me a shawl in December because since my asthma broke down my outer body temperature has been incredibly low. This means that I have, for example, used my winter clothes since beginning of September (it still is ~+16 °C during days) because it has been so cold...

Anyway, I promised to provide my mother a link if I find some shawl pattern I'd like, and latest Knitty had it: Muir.

And I have to get these! And THIS!

Things that disturb the disturbed

Part gazillion and one.

I had a dream about one of my course mates... it was nothing drastic, in general at one phase of one dream he wrapped his arms around me after I fell asleep (in the dream - silly really: one sleeps in a dream), but it disturbs me for some reason. Maybe because it felt good and he is so *not* my type. Maybe because I actually have a reason (or rather reasons) to believe that he has a thing for me, a thing called crush.

Which is very understandable, noticing how absolutely adorable I am...

Nevertheless, it's very confusing (Finnish men just do not usually have a thing for me, unless they are unhappily married or otherwise desperately lonely - which kind of explains why I haven't been on too many dates (read: none) with men of Finnish origin last three years).

Happy dance!

Firstly: Tales from Periphaeria moved to a new address (I have updated the url to the sidebar) and reside now in Periphaeria Designs' home base.

Secondly I have made a decision: I'll skip the rotation for a while and focus on projects based on priorities which means that at this moment highest priority is on these designs:

1. Seasonal Dragons
2. Bunny Baby
3. Models for September launch
4. Secret gift

Noticing how much asthma attacks reduce my stitching speed (by taking away my energy) this is only way to get anything done. If I survive without any additional attacks until I see GP I'll get more stitching time than I anticipate now, but that is never a bad thing - maybe I could finally concentrate on those belated gifts and PIFs (anyway I think I have to change my plan considering them)... *cough*

The topic of the day...

I decided about middayish to have a stitching marathon and finish Summer today. I made it!
Allow me to represent Summer Dragon on Leslie's fabric:

I had to scan it because I have no batteries in my camera and therefore all the nice sparkling is nowhere to be seen, but believe me, it's there.

Now I'm off to have some quality time with HH, who has behaved extremely well today and waited me to finish the dragon without nagging me a bit. ^^

Preparez la vache!

At one point Summer Dragon looked like a cow... though I think that now it looks more like a dragon.

This is Leslie's piece and it should be ready to be mailed out at July 1st.

I had this odd hallucination that I could sit on my futon and stitch this during the weekend, but I think that my futon will be ready to be assembled Sunday at earliest... taking that I have enough paint (I have used almost two cans (out of three) and I still haven't painted most of the big planks... note that one can should have enough paint to cover 5-6 square meters... maybe, but it's not anywhere sufficient estimation for dry wood - or maybe pine (being soft and all) just absorbs better than other wood types).

Happy Dancing Dragon

Migraine hasn't left the building and I haven't got that fourth model finished (though I have added instructions to my current models - I should just send them out to Jenna), but... Do you happen know what this is?

There are gaps, I know. Those are for beads, which will be added when dragons return home in the end of this year. After that my plan is to stitch simple border around every dragon with some metallic and finish them either as bell pull with loads fancy beads all around or then I will go with framing.
I know there's not hat much fabric around the edges, but you can always cheat and sew some scrap fabric around the edges.

Otherwise... 3837 is bit too close to the fabric's colour, but in general I am quite pleased with how Spring turned out - even it is yellow.
Honestly speaking: these will look about bazillion times better in person dragon than in that preview picture.

Puff, the Magic Blob and SBQ

As promised, picture of an actual piece of stitching! (I don't have those much nowadays, so this is up just to shock you.)

This is where I got bored. Why? Think of yellow.
I seem to have less issues with it if it comes with its contrasting colour, which is, of course, purple, but still it drives me mad.

Anyway, it is time for this week's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

which was suggested by Cindy and is:

Do you have a system for organizing freebie charts in your stash? If so, what is it? Do you print out copies of all of the freebies that you find on the web (that you think you might actually stitch) or do you maintain electronic copies of them until you are ready to stitch them?

As I don't own a printer I never print my freebies out... anyway, I store them all in hard drive categorized by either theme or designer (and keep a backup on CD(s)).
Back in old times I used to hoard every single freebie, but nowadays I download only ones which I actually find aesthetically pleasing and which I could stitch for someone or myself.

Day off: dragon in making and one finished exchange

I meant to stitch Futurecast yesterday, but ended up stitching half of something (which I can't yet show to you) and designing parts for series-to-be (this will be big one, but that is all I can say now) so Futurecast had to wait for today.
Let me introduce you... Pihka (previous update):

I am simply loving my little dragon and I am extremely pleased with my conversion (picture of the original piece is in here for comparison).

Hand-Dyed Fabric Exchange@LBBB

I just heard that Selina received her fabric so it's time for some fabric p0rn! (That pale shadow is one of the feet of my ironing board...)

The piece I sent was bigger than the recommended size (13''x18'') of the exchange fabric, but I am sure Selina does not mind that very much. *grin*
And admittedly I am surprised with how well it came out, but positive surprises are always good. (Don't you think that this particular fabric wants to be part of some mermaid design by Mirabilia?)

Futurecast WIP

Is it..? Can it be...? Yes it is! Yes it can! Shock and awe! She's back in rotation!
...At least I try to, as I really don't know can I concentrate on certain projects during this week because of that epicutane.

But to important things: an update!

Latest issue of The Gift Of Stitching is out, and I've to say that it's well worth that ~80 cents which it's per issue. Even it's filled with Christmas designs... Now, this is a magazine I might like in the long run (this was second issue from my subscription): it's cheap (10€/year), lacks most of that unnecessary yadda-yadda most paper versions have and has designs I might even stitch some day. Shocking, absolute scandal even. O_o

/me likes.

And I think that Futurecast has a name: Pihka. (Resin in English and came from the fact that our little dragon will be in shades of orange, red and brown. It reminds me of amber, but Amber is too girlish. So, I thought of Meripihka (literally sea resin), but it was a bit long, so I decided to shorten it a bit.)
Ok, Pihka seems to be considered as a female name in here, but if you ask from me it's neutral enough (as we don't determine sex of word with last vowel (actually we don't sex words), otherwise I'd be triple neutral with minor twist of femininity (three of my four names end up with i, one ends up with a (which is interesting as my planed name change would/will change the order: 3 as and 1 i))).

I've try to remember to check its colours in daylight (when ever that little thing wants to get over the horizon (ah, 43 minutes to sunrise (at 8:17 am)) as I may end up adding some blends...

/me wants Monday!

Futurecast; Amber/Pihka (Nummi-Pusula? *g*)

OF - Wildfire by Carrie's Creations Threads

A - 3825
B - 722
C - 721
D - 720

1 - 351
2 - 350

+ - 3859
Z - 3858

Metallics: Petite Treasure Braid PB01 and PB10

Beads: Mill Hill Antique Glass Beads 03003

2nd option:

OF - Wildfire by Carrie's Creations Threads

A - 3047 + 3825
B - 3825 + 722
C - 722 + 721
D - 721 + 720

1 - 351 + 3858
2 - 3858

+ - 3858 + 3859
Z - 3858

Metallics: Petite Treasure Braid PB01 + Kreinik's BF 003HL
PB10

Beads: Mill Hill Antique Glass Beads 03003

Boo.

There haven't been that much stitching... as I slept 15 h in Sunday.
I did stitch Alter Echo...

Anyway, we had a happy dance today! (It'd have happened yesterday, but it's quite difficult to stitch when you're glued to the keyboard...)

Info:

• Design: Morning Wizard
• Designer: Jennifer Aikman- Smith
• Fabric: 28 count Quaker linen. Mocha (IIRC)
• Other:
  • I left wording and sun out because they didn't strike my fancy.
  • Colours are tweaked
  • Newspaper is changed to be The Daily Prophet

And this was fourth happy dance within one week (and second unplanned HD for this month). In moments like this I really love (or maybe I should say adore) myself.

Though, I've a problem: what next? I could think of Stitching Devils, but I don't have enough black denim - as I decided to make my mother's knitting bag from that, and I've reserved all denim I've for that. And Dovey has a place in my rotation already.
Dragon Soul QS? I've no fabric for it, and I lack some of the threads... Can't start Loy Krathong even I've the flosses and fabric as I've no dyes to dye the fabric.
So... it's either You're Never Too Old... or Taj Mahal - though I still don't have that #8 perle.

Maybe I just get wild, compromise, and stitch Futurecast. It'd be good for variety's sake.

Must resist...

Argh, new things to want/buy: Big Girl Knits - 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves (allow me to disapprove using word girl)

And the official quotes...

'One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.'

'If you smoke after sex then you're doing it too fast.'
- Woody Allen

1000; The Dragon Has Born & AAS

Coffee and biscuits Champagne to everyone! This is my thousand (!) entry!

Happy dance

Now, yesterday (Sunday) I foresaw two happy dances for Monday, but as I ended up sleeping, chatting and popping by at N's to have a dinner (N. cooked it, I ate it. Equality, don't you think?) my only happy dance was delayed to these early hours of Tuesday, but... The Greatest Treasure is now officially finished!

Info:

• Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith
• Design: The Greatest Treasure
• Fabric: 28 count Crystal Peach Jazlyn
• Other: Colour conversion by yours truly.

Walk Like An Egyptian

No, I haven't gone completely bonkers. I got mail from my Adopt-A-Stitcher mommy, Christine! Wonderful mail, as she sent me Teresa Wentzler's Egyptian Sampler (which was in my wish list), and 28 count ivory Jubilee to stitch it on!

She did have an ulterior motive though... it seems that we may have Egyptian Sampler SAL in coming year.
Off I go to kit it! (Though I need to order some beads and Kreinik's #4 braid. *gasp* I have to buy more stash! *gasp*)

X-rated pictures

Not really, just my haul, cute little something and a WIP.

All this about 12 €, which is not bad noticing that there's three skeins of high quality wool (soft as baby's butt like locals phrase it). Those rainbow coloureds want to be new (long legged) socks (I love that kind) for me, when ever I've time...

We found one souvenir shop, while walking from place B to place C, and I got this from my mother:

      

It's a "lid hind". (Have I ever told you that I adore cows?)

And our dragon...

I never realised from the pattern, nor the picture, that parenting dragon has scales in its breast plate. Things you learn... O_o

Pay It Forward

We have five brave participants!

Dragons, robins, biscornu and new stash

Renée announced that she's setting up new Round Robins in coming year (at The Robin's Nest), and it seems that we might actually have all Seasonal Dragons RR, as there's four of us who are interested of having RR with that particular design.

And I think I've found a fabric for it. Ares by Sugar Maple Fabrics. What do you think?

            

I'd love to have these stitched in a horizontal row, but I can't think of any logical order where they'd look good. I think I've to settle with vertical layout (Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn).

There's also one problem. I need to figure out how to do the name+country part because, no matter how mean I am, I don't want them to be attached to the dragons (though little monogram from stitcher of that particular square would look great in about right lower corner).
As we see, I've decided that it'll happen... *grin*

Biscornu

This is the secret over one project I had:

      

As you can see from my comparison it's humongous (Nokia's 3100 is not a big phone (Yes, it really is pink)), about 5x5 cm/ 2''x2'', stitched on hand-dyed (by me) 28 count opalescent Lugana with Love and Laughter Dragon Floss by Polstitches Designs.
And it lives happily with Jenna nowadays. (And thank you for Rósa who kindly provided me Jenna's address so I was able to send her birthday gift on time.)

Stash!

"...Santa Claus is coming to town..." *humming*

Here's my haul from Jayne's Attic. (A Quaker Gameboard is in BO, but it'll follow.)

(I've become a complete picture ho. )

*drools all over*

Ermh... Those skinny skeins are Rajmahal Art Silks (#25 and #115), and let me tell you they are smooth. (I can't stop fondling them...) Other ones are from Carrie's Creations: Fantasm, Shockwave, Tie Dye, Verde (which "surprisingly" happens to be green), Wildfire, Autumn, Aubergine (Limited Edition) and Bittersweet.
When it comes to fabrics they're both 9''x12'' cuts of 32 count hand-dyed Jobelan from Polstitches Designs: Cheerful Cherry and Warm Embers (which would make wonderful needleroll, if you ask from me).

WIP with wings

Not much of a progress as I *gasp* had social life *gasp*. Went for a coffee with someone (46XY as you want to know it anyway *grin*).
Before anyone asks: yes, I had a good time. And I noticed that you can get drunk from drinking too many lattes (they had no decaffeinated today so I had to (yeah, right) overcaffeinate myself).

I also updated my pattern stash (*.xls file) as I realised that I've got quite a few designs after I updated it last time (and I can't help drooling over A Dragon's Tea Party, it's just so... cute! ^^). (Note to self: plastic pockets.)

Misc.

First thing in the morning was to notice that I had a migraine, which turned out to be hormone induced migraine so now my head is not hurting... (And even my stomach is it is nothing compared to that pain I had couple of weeks ago. (My brutally honest opinion is that most women should live few years of their life with PCOs (or endometriosis) to know how real pain feels like... after it menstruating would be pure joy. )

Anyway... stitching.

Dr. Frankenstein, I believe that we have a head...

(Please, no bad jokes on 'giving one a head'... I can make them myself. *grin*)

As we see parenting dragon is getting its form, and even it feels that it'll take forever (I'm bothered by frog inflammation or something) I'm quite sure it'll be done before this month ends.

Do you know what this is?

Exactly, it's a stitch-a-long. This time it's biscornu teaching SAL by Alchemy Stitchcraft at Jayne's Attic BB.
I stitched first backstitch square today, but as it is dark grey on dark grey and just a square there is nothing worth showing. I need to stitch other one for the other side of biscornu.

But... a kitty!

Don't we look intelligent today?