Medication through mail

It is too bad you are not sitting here on the sofa with me. If you were you could smell the divine smell of Echinacea Mixed Herbal Tea I am drinking and fondle the beauty of a Silkweaver Lugana.

But you are not here and it is all mine, MINE! *insane giggling*

Quite some time ago kill_the_onions sent me some "fun mail" inspired by our little conversation in the comment section of one of my FB status updates, and finally, after taking scenic route from Turkey to Finland the fun has arrived!

Teas are Turkish, but the card is from China, but beautiful nevertheless.

kill_the_onions is a tea afecionado, and I am becoming one, again (after few years of not being able to drink tea at all - it's odd how Mr. Wonderful affects my body) so what is better than be able to taste some tea from country far away? (It is even better because I have never been to Turkey.)

But lo and behold, there was more great mail waiting for me... Belinda asked some time ago at FB would someone like to have Mirabilia's "Madonna of the Garden" and I was first one to say yes!

I had been over the Moon just to have the design itself, but Belinda added her leftover beads, metallics and delicas and piece of 19'' x 26'' 32 count hand-dyed Lugana from Silkweaver!

Now I just need to win the lottery and quit working... well, I have great reason to start this design soon, right? I have beads, design and fabric... I just can't let them gather dust, right?
Actually my fingers itch to stitch it already, but it is half past five in the morning and I haven't slept in last... 18 hours - which is quite a lot when you have laryngitis and bronchitis and you should be resting (though it's difficult to sleep when you are coughing sticky mucus...).

(Though I have been surprisingly productive stitching wise while sick: I have very small projects I have been working on when I have felt like it.)

Monopoly SAL is now kitted

Flosses and the replacement fabric for Monopoly SAL came today so I am technically ready to start - technically as I am way behind my model stitching and I have to get caught with it before starting.
While I was shopping for the flosses I also decided to buy few nice variegated ones just in case...

The original pattern is charted for DMC but I made an Anchor conversion to be able to avoid using DMC. Don't you just love the colours?

As you know, I justified again...

Few days ago I noticed that I had accidentally received two copies of 1993 Schooler Santa and I soon invented a cunning plan: I suggested my mother that she could learn to stitch using that pattern as it is rather easy and has Santa on it (you know my mother's love for them). I even promised to "kit" it for her.
Luckily I have some 18 count aida in case she finds evenweave too difficult to begin with so I can provide her some selection regarding the fabrics.

Let the converting begin!

Good mail day!

Regarding an email I received you may expect details about my secret after 14th... I guess. Maybe I won't tell you anyway.

Anyway, I got my 1-2-3 Stitch! order!

I also received something from Sewandso yesterday: piece of black 32 count Belfast linen and this:

Job

During this week I have learned that boredom is exhausting: I have been idling most of the week because there's nothing much to do at the office as July is the quiet month and I am much more tired than I was in the last week when learning the stuff.
Yeah, it pays well, but I am already waiting for the weekend as I don't want to be bored.

I should sleep like a dog more often...

Her Highness Ronja the Siamese woke me up every half hours last night screaming as loudly as only Siamese cat can (I think she's having issues with low air pressure again. My theory (which is mine) is that she gets headaches, like I do, when air pressure is low)... and still, it's half past twelve and I have done laundry, one load of dishes, cleaned the fridge, called my social worker (I won't say how long I had to wait in queue...) and written well over dozen job applications.

And it was a good mail day again!

My order from Julie's X Stitch arrived and now I am a proud, and happy, owner of my own copy of Mirabilia's English Roses! (It's a limited edition anyway, and almost impossible to find anymore.)

As you see I also found something else to justify the postages.
Is it just me or does that cat remind the Cheshire-Cat from Alice in Wonderland?

I still have traces of the migraine from yesterday so it's another Small Project Day. The project will probably be biscornu for the Biscornu: Design-It-Yourself Exchange at EMS Cross Stitch Forum (sign-up won't open before 16th ). The design I have for it is rather small so after the exchange it will become a complimentary design for Periphaeria Designs. Said design is also the one to blame for my latest S.E.X....

I need Kreinik's Very Fine Braid #4 for it and I don't have it in suitable shades (I have #8 which would be yummy, but it's too thick, I think) so I ordered some. And as you guess I "justified" the postages with some designs I just had to adopt (1., 2., 3., 4., 5.). (And I realized that those fruit pillow designs I have been drooling are part of larger series from Just Cross Stitch and 1-2-3 Stitch! sells them... oh my. I have to buy them some day.)

It was also a good mail day! I had envelopes from Silkweaver and 1-2-3 Stitch! in my mail box!

The fabrics are much more amazing in person, but as I wasn't in the mood for scanning this is the closest it gets today.
These are, of course, findings from Odds & Ends, fabrics for my budget and I like the custom cuts you can get from O&E: this batch has two 9''x27'' pieces (Greekstone and Tropical Breeze, both are on the lower row) which are excellent material for various projects.

Guardian of the Holy Floss

Moment from yesterday:

Seiichi is obviously a very intelligent cat.

Mr. Mailman, bring me a dream... (Picture heavy)

Firstly, EMS Staff Stitch N'Stash Exchange for Laura:

The idea was to stitch and finish something stitchy which could be hung and send some nice stash with it.

I stitched Laura a scissor pocket with shades of dusky rose (and got to hear from her that it's one of her favourite colours ) and added a ribbon so it can be hung on neck or somewhere else.

Tidbits:

• Design: Mother's Love Grows, complimentary design by Periphaeria Designs.
• Floss: Atalie's Pivoine.
• Fabric: 25 count linen band.
• Other:
  1. It is lined with fabric to make sure that scissors won't come through.
  2. Ribbon is ~3mm wide pink polyester ribbon I have received from an exchange and it is sewn to the lining.
  3. Design is stitched over one with two strands.

In addition to this I sent two of my designs (Protection and Echoes of a Squared Lotus), two skeins on Painters Thread silks and two pieces of 32 count plainweave (linen and jobelan).
See how cunningly the threads and fabrics are matched. *grin*

Based on the feedback she loved everything so I think I can say that this exchange is now finished.

OMGWTFBBQBMW!

That was my first reaction when I opened the little box in Linda's envelope. In addition of sending that "one pattern from your wishlist" she sent me the mini bourse she was making for me (and I should finish hers and mail it... *ahem*).

But, pictures don't do justice to this bourse. It is just amazing.

Did I tell you that this is Linda's design?! Don't you think too that it's simply amazingly beautiful? I am in love.

In addition to this gorgeous one she sent me, not only one pattern from my wishlist, but four other patterns too - and one of the is a design I have been adoring from distance for a while!

Simple Thank You! isn't enough, but still... Thank you Linda!

And some pattern p0rn

The mysterious big envelope was what I thought it was... so, now it's time to do some simple calculus. These plus this lot:

...equals:

As previously mentioned I have some duplicates, but they, plus few other extras I have, will find a loving home from Linda's house.

I think that it might have been a very good idea to mae the bedroom my craft room... my pattern stash is already taking half a shelf (1 meter shelf).