Operational plan, part 1

In order to make coming months easier for me I have set a goal:

1. in September I can buy some stash as in September I pay the last part of my biggest amortization off.
2. In October I can get some more stash as then I also pay last part of other debt.
3. November and December I can do what I want with the money (I need clothes by then, luckily I have hoarded used clothes in bigger sizes for Tiny so he should be ok - and I know where Salvation Army's outlet store is *grin*. And AS I start studying (I have decided that I will be accepted *grin*) I need to buy a new laptop for school so I need some money for that (I plan to get some from Santa in addition to that).)

and

4. in January 2015 I start saving money to pay up one last debt that is screwing things... It should only take a year at its worst.

And I already know what I want...

I have drooled after PINN's "Ganesha - The Hindu God of Wisdom" since I first saw it few years back. I saw it stitched on fiery orangey and red hand-dyed fabric and I just knew I had to get it.
They have several Ganeshas and some day I may justify buying this Ganesha too.
It's frigg*** expensive, but.... PRETTY!

(Admittedly I have two auto ships (cheap ones, sans floss and fabric) and I have a deal with Jenna I am paying each month. More about NEW stash when I have started all my crazies.)

Why?

It dawned on me in last November that in order to get a job in the profession I am planning to get a degree of I need squeaky clean background. And by starting clearing it now it will be ok when I, hopefully, graduate. (I need to apply first. *grin*)
There is also that minor thing that I want to offer Tiny things I can not at our current financial status - which would remain the same as now would I return to my old job - and I have very lame dream to actually be able to save up the down payment, get a loan and find our *own* home for Tiny and me at some point.
But all this means that I have to count cents and prioritize heavily now and focus on my goal. (Now, when it is financially easier as toddlers aren't financially demanding... yet.)

/methinks that thyroxine helped me to grow some big balls. And I love it.
Even I can tell you that my bank account at this point is a really, really sad sight. But I think this is also helping me to lose weight, I'm buying less bad foodstuff and stitch and drink tea through the evening opposed to... finding sugar highs. And despite not having weighed myself since.... erm.... long time ago, it seems that my shape has changed slightly which should mean some lost grams.

And she had S.E.X.!

But, I didn't fail my goal of not buying more stash as this stash is for a new project, a Mystery SAL to-be, organized by Lady Periphaeria... (More about it later, but quite soon.)
I have been hanging around at Hand-dyedfibers.com's forum for a while and drooled after all the lovely VC silks in the store... then I went and designed something just to try certain style and it ended up to be a project which demanded silks - and as I don't have that much experience on Vikki's silks I decided to give them a try.

"To try" may not be an approriate term for the whole purchase: I bought 31 five yard skeins of six stranded silks. (The order has already been shipped!)

Family can shock you

When I left to grocery store yesterday I turned lights off... and when I came home I saw a light in my bedroom window.
I can say that I was a bit "WTH!", but as I wanted to know why the light was on I went home and what did I found? bits_2_whole had popped by to fix my desktop computer.

Lesson learnt: giving your key to your family members can lead to confusion.

Another thing I have learnt during last two days is that scripts which are claimed to be easy by their developers rarely are so - but it seems to me that I eventually found a suitable (easy enough, clear enough and has all the basics I need) online community script.

A tease, aren't I? *grin*

Should I make them fluffy too?

For some reason I have this odd urge to stitch pink version of Ia! Ia!. Maybe lady just needs some pink tentacle monsters into her life every once in a while...
Coming to think of it I have one skein of pink VC silk (which I got from Dawn) in my personal stash and it might look interesting on that blood red 40 count Newcastle I acquired from Silkweaver over a year ago...

*cough*

Like any other disease it sneaks into your life and gets you when you don't expect it...

I found myself today from DIY/haberdashery shop (I was in search of thin, tan felt, but no... neither blue or red, which might have also worked in the piece I need it to) fondling "candle cuff" and think how wonderful those leaves would look in a crazy quilted piece. o_O
I bought it, as I bought some bugle beads to go with it. And actually I know what I'm going to make out of them. It'll be a P-I-F item, which I intended to do in some other method, but thought that I might want to give crazy quilting a try with this particular one.

This is just what I need, another addiction.

Futurecast

Firstly: I've strained muscles in my left shoulder blade. Ouch. (I need to find my woolen blanket and wrap it around my shoulder...)

Then... I've a confession to make... I'm not quite sure anymore do I actually want to stitch Taj Mahal (if it was Châtelaine's I'd do it right now! *grin*).
And if I am not sure, it's better not to even begin with it. So, it's ditched for the time being!

And to our topic:

I already have alternative names thought as this little one may not end up being Pihka. But... I'm really pleased with my blends as the effect is what I was looking for. ^^
And as a side note, I'll exceed my expectations, if nothing drastic happens (like breaking both of my arms or falling in love all the sudden), and will finish hir (I still refuse to sex dragons) before this year is in its end.

That official quote...

"When you have loved as she has loved, you grow old beautifully."
-- W. Somerset Maugham

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!

Good morning world

Gah, never read stitching blogs, they have enabling effect on you.
Since HAED had 24 hour freebie (Dragon Soul QS (by selinafenech)) I've itched to stitch it as soon as I get some room to my rotation (though Ezzy goes in it first) and now I saw WIP of it in Arthemise's blog.

Repeat after me: That is one beautiful piece! (Have you noticed that I love Comino's emoticons?)

That will also mean one thing: I'll have two big(gish) over one projects in my rotation soon.

In other news

I seem to need my queen size blanket (just call me Linus (that makes you wonder why Linus Torvalds' parents decided to call him Linus...)) to be able to get to bed early. Yesterday I finally decided that it's getting too cold to sleep with any other blanket, put it in blanket cover and threw it on my bed. In the evening I hit the sack at 21:00 (9 pm to twelve hour clockers) and woke up today at 7. And I wasn't even that tired when I went to bed.
So, big, scary /me needs her security blanket... and excessive amounts of warmth (says one who slept under even thicker queen size blanket when she was in Bangkok).

And now big, scary $BLOGGER needs her morning coffee.

Take me to the funny farm

When I was getting to bed yesterday I had this image in my head (I was thinking of Halloween, cats and my Meran) and I had to get up just to draw it, in case I'd forget it during night. And today I've been trying to make it as a cross stitch pattern.
Though sample uses plain DMC I see it stitched with overdyeds (maybe GASTs). I think I may give you a preview, after I've got further than just to its head. But I kind of like it, it looks cheeky, even the style is something I used to dislike...

And yesterday, while I was looking for something from my freebie stash I stumbled upon Magic Happens by Mosey 'n Me and I think it wants to be in my to-do list.
Frightening in this is that I used to dislike whimsical before I broadened my stitching horizon in March... Now Casa de Ezzy is (mostly) kitted, I draw whimsical and seem to gorge designs in that genre.

Ah well, maybe it'll pass.

Btw, I also have this idea for a game board, but I need to find few good pictures of pumpkins... Do we hear creativity flowing?

Plans, plans, plans.... and mail!

Fact 1: my sewing machine needs better cover.
Fact 2: I've enough black denim to sew one.
Fact 3: I'm a crazy stitcher...
Fact 4: ... I'll stitch something on it.

Something being this:

As I'm know around in net as a female demon, as it's for sewing machine cover and as my surname refers to a winged creature.... perfect choice, don't you think?

And when it comes to designs, this has certain attitude you just got to love - and those sheeps are cute. ^^

Guess That Theme Secret Pal

My parcel arrived today from Belgium, and what could be better than some new stash?
I got

• Two buttons: box of crayons and school books.
• Three pieces of chrome yellow aida (that's soft, not like aida usually is) - I love the colour in them.
• Point de Croix magazine, issue September/October

My wild guess was autumn.

Stitching wise

Nothing much to show, been drooping, translating (this), sleeping (it's end of September and I can sleep again... interesting, don't you think?), sewing, sleeping some more... and stitching, a bit, but stitching nevertheless.

At the moment I try to decide do I want to eat, sleep or both... Decisions, decisions.

Models and other stitchy things

In headlines today...

I got email from that designer yesterday, and other one this morning and it seems to me that... I'll be model stitcher. And what is best, with her I can choose the pattern from given possibilities and I can keep the project when it's finished (in addition that she pays supplies and gives the pattern)! She just wants pictures from progress and finished object.

Sounds good or what?!

And... now my rotation will be very useful as by using it I can get time for my own projects while working with models.

And

I'll get more time with Panda as I won't be seeing N. this weekend. It's a pity, but there's silver lining in every cloud, which in this case is the fact that I'll get closer to finish with Panda than I'd otherwise got.

Scissor Fob Exchange

Partner info has been mailed, and I got mine. When I'll get home I'll sneak in her blog a bit and play around with possibilities. Actually I've one design in mind, and I've been planning to stitch it over one, which I've never ever done before.

The design itself is very suitable for scissor fob, but I try to find her favourite colour(s) to work it with.

It'll be fun!

Dragons and dancing flames

Note to self; Seasonal Dragons

• Square
• Outer border stitched with eyelet stitches (either Algerian or square ones) (gold).
• Borders around dragons cross stitched (gold).
• Fabric possibilities:
  • Air
  • Concord
  • Dragon Moon (Pun: In Finnish moon is kuu (that cheesy thing *grin*), but kuu is also shortened, and commonly used, form of kuukausi (~period of a moon) which is month... and from there we get easily to seasons, don't we?))
  • Evening Dreams
  • Southern Star
  • Vineyard

SAL

I have been stitching ("Oh mi gosh!"). Actually it's kind of obligation as I'm the "organizer" of Stitcher's Tools SAL at EMS forum, but that's just matter of definition.
Anyway, I started with Small needlebook last night and I've really enjoyed stitching it, and, even I say it myself, combination of fiber (Dancing Flame) and fabric (Cobblestone) is great!

Can you see the flame dancing? It doesn't look as good it does in person (or "in floss"), but that's life.

And I took chanda_m's advice and started with Crazy Cat Lady Exchange's second option. Changed recommended fabric, messed up with flosses and all that... we'll see how it turns out.

Dragons, whines and cats

You remember this little fellow?

I had a brainstorm in wee hours of Thursday morning (stash drooling with fellow stitcher is great time for brainwaves - got to love IM services) considering Dragon of Hope. I'll do another one, mirrored one and carrying Earth with Atlantic view on its arms.

And... I got an idea while reading my previous entry... Three piece passepartout, dragons in both sides and some suitable quote in middle piece.

And to the official whine

I don't get one thing in human kind: why is my relatively low alcohol consumption such a big deal to people? And how in Earth it seems to relate with "having no life"?
Ok, I am admittedly no-life (and I don't understand why it's a problem to some, if I'm contented with my way shouldn't it be just good thing?), but it has nothing to do with the fact that I can live without alcohol. (I just happen to love my mind more than messing with it.)

That sort of things piss me off and are one factor in my returning heavy-duty misanthropism.

And just to end this entry with a bit sweeter tone...

Kitty pictures! (Soon you'll curse the day when new digital camera came.... *evil grin*)

They say Siameses are possessive... She just thinks that scratching her is much more important than browsing.
   

And extreme cutesy from yesterday...

   

And, those perfect circles and Zen in practise by professionals...

Over one, wetness and... exchanges!

After drooling after Ami's latest finish I've been thinking of something, which I've, admittedly, thought before, but now the thought came back... How about stitching Ezmeralda's House over one?
The idea is really inviting, but my practical side has its opinions on stitching my first over one on 40 count (I've never stitched on 40 count, not even over two). And I'd like to have visible texts, as there are some nice little details which give depth to whole design, and according to the advice in leaflet they won't be visible - or they'll be, but unreadable (I can imagine how teeny it'd be).

Though, my mom has birthday and I could experiment with her birthday card...

Rain

Finally we had some decent rain! According to wild rumours there hasn't been decent rain in here since June (apparently not after I took the jet plane), and you can believe it, trees are drying out...
And I noticed something interesting yesterday: day time has gotten two hours shorter since I came back, which was about a month ago. 120 minutes in 30 days... do I see autumn coming? (Though, I love it. Dark seasons suit for my style. Peaceful, sad and made for solitude. Just me, cats, cup of tea, music and candles... ah. *gets dreamy*)

But anyway, I'd have used decent thunderstorm, my head doesn't like current conditions that much.

Exchanges

Previously mentioned Crazy Cat Lady Exchange is officially in progress. I got my partner's info today and I think I'll have to do some browsing in net to get some ideas. I think I may justify some shopping in next week, in case I find something nice from somewhere. *grin*
Actually I already have something in my mind (I already sent an enquiry about it to one store...) - of course I won't tell what, but let me tell you that it'd be just perfect one...

And like that wasn't enough... I signed in to Scissor Fob Exchange (both exchanges are arranged at The Robin's Nest). My excuse was "I need a fob for my scissors, and it's quick one as it's so small..." Anyone heard that before?

Another exchange in sight

Again! I think someone should find cure for my exchange-a-holism...

This time it's Crazy Cat Lady Exchange at The Robin's Nest, and as name says it's all about cats and their 'crazy' (or should we say sanity impaired?) female owners.
Deadline is in September though, so I think I wont be overwhelmed with exchanges - even my list seems to get longer on daily basis.

Taj Mahal

I finally checked how big piece of fabric I need for Taj Mahal, and now it seems to me that I've fabric for it: Victorian Red 28 count Jubilee. It'd look quite good as Taj is worked on shades of grey and white - effects are made with specialty stitches.
Now I need only that cream #8 pearl cotton...

And I think I need to get to bed soon... (It must be old age. *grin*)

The Greatest Treasure

Well well... I made conversion for it and this time our dragon will be purple (I hear Angela cheering ) with green chest, and little one will be orange.
See, this species is being born as orange, but turns to purple when growing up.

Actually I've kitted it already. I'm going to take it with me (though I need to download that design when I'm there) to country X, as I need something to do when I'm alone during days (when he's working).
I think I've teased you enough, I may as well reveal it. My destination in SE Asia is Thailand

Speaking of Wolfie, my father surprised me positively couple of days back... My father has been quite xenophobic, at least towards men I love (He has said some nasty things in past). Ok, his first question about Wolfie (when we were talking about my trip to Thailand, about hows, whys and whens) was 'Is he Finnish?', and that does bother me, but I asked from him does it matter in some way and he said no. So, it seems that my father has gotten softer when getting older. At least I hope it, I really do.
As when/ if everything goes well between us (Wolfie and me, that is) I'll need my family's support. As we all can think of what future will bring in that case. (Just being realistic here, because fact is that I choose to do what I need to do to be with my Love.)

Something beautiful, something blue...

Isn't this something so perfect?

Click to understand...

And when it comes to fabric of the Panda it seems to me that I've changed my plans (though I thank you all for your votes) to this

Click for clarity

Now I'm just waiting gift certificate for ABS Stitch Therapy from my mom to be able to purchase this (I've my reasons to make the order from them... ).
Best way to shop: someone else pays!

Floss list

I finally moved my needed list to bits_2_whole's server and can be found from here (Direct link to *.xls file). It's somewhat raw copy, but something anyway.
Now I've good reason to update my Blogs I Read list too, as I'll add that floss file there.

Romance is blooming - where we get one for me too?

Some lousy pictures for your entertainment:



Finished front page.
I changed colour of that text. It's supposed to be stitched with greens, but mean /me used pinks. I thought that it'll look better with my teal green fabric (How smart you can be? ).



Back and front. Inner pages are in progress - and my goal is to stitch them before I get to bed, because I want to get my needle smoking with topiaries. There's not that much time anymore, and damnit I want to finish them! I want my medals!
So, I could say that I'll look like this soon.

---

I think I know what I'll do in March 24 hour challenge. For some reason I happen to love the idea behind the Claddaghs, and AON Celtic Art (my home page's wallpaper is from there, btw) has one for free.
If not... then it's something from Christmyth series.

Parcel

My merinos, and knitting needles made of rosewood, came. Those needles are piece of art! They were a bit pricey, but I can believe that it's a pleasure to knit with them (and then: I've problems with nickel and I can't stand bamboo needles). Just...Wow. I'm just bit afraid to work with those needles as they're kind of short, but then... my hands aren't that big and you divide those loops in four knitting needles so... but anyway, it's knitting time after Olympics end. (Btw, one great thing: that IOU's due date is in the end of March!)

Tiny needleroll exchange and stitching goals

I just got my partner's name, and I think I have found the design which I'll use, so tomorrow I'll have little S.E.X. at Silkweavers - magnificent excuse for shopping these exchanges (and anyway I've to purchase few things).

This will be my first needleroll so I'm quite nervous, and excited! Fortunately deadline is in the end of March (27th) so I've plenty of time to figure things out.

Stitching goals

While reading Svenja's blog I realized that it's really end of the month and time to check-in with my goals.

My goals for January were:

1. Finish Valentine Exchange item!
2. Send SEBE and SECE items!
3. Stitch first part of the Silhouettes (Apparently Icy Blue).
4. Finish Winter topiary.
5. Stitch 5th part of Best Friends.

Oh, what a failure I've been....

1. Finished, ready to be sent tomorrow
2. Ready to be sent tomorrow. They'll be day late, but I've okayed it with organizer.
3. Icy is not completely finished yet.
4. Haven't even touched Winter (I think).
5. Only started with that 5th part.
6. Finished Welcome gnome as an extra (so I'm not that bad person anyway...)

Btw, thank you all for nice feedback considering mr. Gnomey.

Goals for February

1. Finish Icy.
2. Finish Winter.
3. Start with Spring.
4. Finish 5th part of Best Friends.
5. Stitch MSAL parts in time.

I think they were there.

Help with feeds

I tried Bloglines, it wasn't for me so I decided to check Firefox's extensions if there were something suitable for my needs (I'm addicted to FF's extensions, btw) and found Wizz RSS News Reader 2.0.6. It was bit cumbersome to use at first, but after few days I'm very pleased with this. No need to browse million blogs, I just open sidebar and check is there anything new. And it has preview so mostly I can say beforehand do I want to read some entry or not.
Nice little toy, if you ask from me.

Cunning plans

Friends Gather BB has monthly 24 hour challenge (you choose a design which you could stitch in 24 hours and see can you do it) and I think that I'll participate those coming ones with... ornaments. Not to-be kept ones, but those which I'll send in the end of the year to misc. persons. It's a bit early maybe, but at least I can force myself to do those - even 24 hour challenge is not a competition, it's motivational thing. But as I'm procrastinator I'll need that.

And one more SAL in sight

Kristine from Dragonfly Stitches will have needlebook SAL in the end of February, and as I've participated two of her previous SALs and have loved both designs I'm participating no matter what. (This coming design will be only available for a week, and never again (as a freebie) after it so real once in a lifetime opportunity.)
And in case someone is interested, here's link to some of her designs - there's couple I'll add to my wish list.

Otherwise

I'm going to start with 5th pattern of Best Friends today (SAL at Linabear BB), as I've been delaying it far too long because of those ongoing projects. I'll have a mini rotation and I stitch this dalmatian and Silhouettes in turns.

Presidential election HD and dancing gnomes

Tarja Halonen won (which means that she'll be president another 6 years) and I'm not complaining.

It's a dancing gnome..

Or at least one happy dancing stitcher.

Then some info:

• 25 count natural Dublin linen
• DMC; three strands
• Alphabet is Blackwork Script from CyberStitchers.com
• Gnome is from Vermillion Stitchery's retired freebie series called Fantasy Bears
• It'll be finished as bell pull when ever I find suitable hanger(s)

And big thank you for nice comments about my border-free gnome. Gnomey and I appreciate them.