t3h fl0ss

Dyed, rinsed, soaked, washed, boiled, dried... and probably not running anymore.

All mine...

I have a cunning plan..

Now that I have fabric for Loy I itch to start it (can you guess that I am happy with the fabric? (No, not just happy, I am thrilled as it is exactly like I wanted it to be.)), and I had an idea: I could have it as my official Stitch-A-Thon piece...

This is how we justify new big projects before finishing any of the old ones...

Thoughts on diet and fertility

Today I 'ave mostly been... jumping for joy because my latest cycle was only 28 days and I have no swelling or pains.

As you may have guessed I have done some reading about gluten intolerance. It may cause, for example, (I won't even get into fatigue and lack of energy which I used to have all the time when I was still eating "like normal people") infertility.
Those of you who have been around since times of Sol may have noticed that since my diet got to what it is now I have been complaining less and less about my PCOs... because since I had to change the way of eating my beloved syndrome has got better, at least based on the signs my body is giving (for example my cycle is nowadays 28-32 days instead of 70-90 days it used to be and I live with much less pain (I don't get it how I was able to function in those times when I had abdominal pains (and we talk about pain in here) almost all the time)..).

Now, some, if not most, women with this syndrome find some help from low-carb diet, and therefore I would like to know how common gluten intolerance is among PCOs women compared to average... as low-carb also means less, if any, grains which contain gluten.

I also find it interesting that gluten intolerance can cause DM I... as PCOs predisposes you to DM II. I do know that DM I and DM II have different bases, but still they are both forms of diabetes. And in PCOs diabetes is actually somewhat caused by abnormal insulin production and not that much of the possible obesity (every PCOs woman is not obese, the official percentage is about 50%)...

Admittedly I may be seeing connections (I have said something about this before) in places where there is none, but still... it is interesting.

And after all this thinking I need some caffeine. Ta-ta for now.

SBQ: Retreats

This week's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

was suggested by Danielle and is:

Have you ever been to a stitching retreat?

No. I have been playing with the thought every once in a while and I am not quite how I would cope in such as I have issues with generic females (or rather the generic 46 XX has issues with me..).
If I could choose my company I would love one. Otherwise...

It was a colourful day

Pun intended.

I did some dyeing. Or should I say that I did quite much of it? Ten skeins of floss and over one square meter of fabric to be exact...

Misc. pieces (from left: two Kingfishers, two Arabian Nights and one Windsor Purple which has been soaked quickly in AN):

Fabric (it is actually a bit darker than in picture) for Loy:

And, last, but not least, fabric for Seasonal Dragons (though I think I may use the other side as main side, it is a bit darker):

I will get pictures of the flosses later as I need to soak them in vinegar and wait them to dry.
I also dyed the fabric for the exchange, but I won't show it just yet.

Now... I will head to bed... I am wasted.

Here be pherrets

Week 58

This week's word is:
Frozen

Some kind of ventilation tubes on the roof of the building opposite my kitchen window. And, as we see, there are some icicles. (Which is a real surprise as it is only -24° C (-11F) out there... *grin*)

Valentine's Exchange has landed!

In other words: on happier things.

Myrna, my partner at SBEBB's Valentine's Exchange, has received her parcel, and loved it (that equals one happy stitcher in this end too), so it is picture time!

Tidbits:

• What?: A needlebook, a scissor case and a pocket to keep them in.
• Fabric: 24 count linen band.
• Floss: Caron's Soie Cristale, Cherry (2001).
• Design: Complimentary design from The Gift of Stitching. (All the motifs are from either of the hearts from French Inspired Hearts and pocket has other heart as whole.)
• Misc.: Stitched over one.

I enjoyed doing those to Myrna, and I am happy to know she liked them too (and the goodies I sent *grin*).

I know I am crazy...

In last few years I have learnt to believe in my dreams, though admittedly I don't always seem to believe them. In last few years I have noticed that if I can't see personalised dreams of someone (dreams in which I am absolutely sure who the person is) there is nothing real between us - or even if I have other party does not. Even I don't want always believe to my instincts.

And, to my horror, I have also noticed that if I see a dream of breaking up with someone, losing someone dear, it will happen... (I could tell a tale of a dream I saw during my first night in Bangkok... I never even told it to him even I woke up, shivering of fear, in his arms...)
Now, that is an ability I would gladly give away if I just could... but I digress.

Also, lately I have come to notice that it apparently is a good sign if you know when someone is thinking of you. I had those moments of knowing last spring (I think that was why the relationship between Wolfie and me got so deep so fast - we are connected in scary ways, and I dare to say we still are... I claim that I still know when he thinks of me) with Lobinho and I have signs of it now.

I saw a dream of someone last night, or actually it was just part of a dream, the end of it, but it was good, it was filled with sunlight and I was happy in that dream. And I knew with 100% certainty who that person in my dream was. And I know that he was the reason for me feeling good.

Hold your horses, I am not in love, but admittedly I have met (maybe I should not use the term met as he happens to live in States...) a man who is interesting enough, wants same basic things I do and actually shows active interest <!--(*cough* I think you may call it sign of interest that he has said that he is determined to marry me some day *cough*..)--> towards me. (Call me mad, but I do prefer a man who really seems to be interested. )
Things are just in the beginning so nothing is official (except the fact that he has asked do I have any suggestion on getting us to same space to see could it actually work) and there's always that chance that it goes down the drain.
But to my non-existent point... I know when he thinks of me, I can feel it. And if I really begin to have dreams of him it should be a good sign... but then, I still see dreams of W. and we crashed.

It sucks to be pragmatic person who has premonitions. It gets very confusing.

It keeps vampires away...

Garlic- chili paste

• 12 chili peppers (without green tops)
• 2 whole garlics (as cloves, peeled etc.)
• ½-1 dl sunflower oil

This is easy: put the ingredients in food processor, or use blender with suitable blade, and let it run until the paste is smooth.
My first victims were broiler legs. I used about 1 tea spoon of the paste per leg and rubbed it well into the skin. The result was yummy - at least if you love garlic (and chili).

1174: Stash!

Ah, it was worth the walk in freezing weather: I got my Sewandso order (they sent it in registered mail o_O) and new Electron (they have changed the colour from light green to metallic indigo - /me likes). Without further ado... stash!

Two packs of beads, nine blending filaments (one more to come), big (50cm x 140cm) piece of 32 count white Jobelan, three Dylon dyes (Windsor Purple, Arabian Night and Kingfisher), packet of platinum needles, ten skeins of white Venus, some DMCs for Seasonal Dragons...

 

Notes to self

Needed pieces of fabric (sizes after dyeing):

1. Loy Krathong: ~47~cm x ~57cm (18.5''x~22.5'')
2. Exchange piece: 33cm x ~46cm (13''x18'')
3. Seasonal Dragons: ~48cm x ~16cm (18.75''x6.25'')

And the fabric I have is that previously mentioned piece of Jobelan (which shouldn't shrink that much as it is cotton/polyester mix)... with correct placement I seem to have excess piece of ~30cm x 50cm. (Though I admit, I have been considering using one piece of linen I have as the exchange fabric... I am not quite sure how it'll turn out, though, as it is not white to begin with.)

One of these days I will do some dyeing... (Though I need to check do I have any table salt anywhere...)

I think we could call this winter after all...

Recent observation: 06.02.2007 11:20

temperature -21.2 °C
pressure 1006.2 hPa
humidity 71%
wind from the north 3 m/s
sky clear (0/8)

Guess who has to go out today?

Egyptian Sampler SAL and a random meme

See, I remembered! I have officially started my part of the Egyptian Sampler Stitch-A-Long with Christine.

This much I got done while doing the laundry today. I decided to stop after I was smart enough to mess up with the blending and had to frog quite much of the inner border...

Five things I haven't told you, until now...

As I love mental exhibitionism here it comes. The meme goes like this:

1. Get tagged.
2. List five things that have not been revealed on your blog.
3. Tag five other people

As Angela kind-of tagged me here it comes:

1. At wee hours of New Year's day I had a premonition, or a thought, which will be a real premonition if I get married before 1st of January, 2008.
2. If things fall in those places they are falling now I will have (at least) one long plane trip this year. (Remember that the word is if.)
3. I am allergic to penicillin.
4. At some point of the summer '99 there was a possibility of me being pregnant. Even though Dan knew about my syndrome he insisted that I have an abortion if I am. Even I never had to do it, as I wasn't pregnant, I have never forgave him saying that.
   (If I had been I would have left him rather than having an abortion.)
5. There's only one exception for my I will never take any of my exes back policy - and I know (as much one can know anything) that he is the only one who will never ask for that.

Now, consider yourself tagged.

*gasp*

Is it a bird?! Is it a plane?! No, it is The Superman Alter Echo! Update entry this early because I am quite sure that I will doze off quite soon...

It looks that I have done more than I actually have. That border really makes the difference compared to last update.

I found another oddity from the pattern (It is in both sides)...

See it?
In my opinion that is a designing blooper (as I can see no reason for that particular motif being asymmetric). And as you may guess I have corrected it by now.

'tis the season to-o mutter...

Excuse me, I have slept long and I am quite sure that my new allergy meds cause some heightened levels of insanity... but without further ado

Week 209

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Plaster :: Cast
2. Cabbage :: Baggage
3. Jazz :: Bix Beiderbecke
4. Darts :: Pain (my sister threw a dart to my foot when I was a kid...)
5. Poke :: Nudge
6. Bribe :: Corrupt
7. Whale :: Sperm -
8. Receipt :: Pharmacy
9. Answer :: Guess
10. Dentist :: Jack Nicholson (Little Shop Of Horrors, you know....)

Music....

Let me recommend something: Bugotak - Maadai-Kara (Mission Impossible). I heard this while listening Last.FM's global tag radio (Asian being the specific tag).
Bugotak has also few other tracks for free download so grab them if you like this!

Yesterday was more or less The Day of Big Blaah. But, when everything else fails you can always... stitch.

I decided to combine Thursday's and yesterday's rotations and stitch one of my designs (my view to certain traditional Nordic motifs) over one for the Challenge #1 (at EMS).
Allow me to say that it will turn out beautiful (IMO you just can't go wrong with white 32 count Lugana, burgundy silk and over one) - I am not actually quite sure how I can part from it - and very likely I will finish it as a biscornu (surprising, isn't it?! o_O).

As I can't show you what I am doing here comes the Man of my life (who loves to sleep in my stash shelf):

From that malnutritioned (he has food absorption problems) brown, dull haired little kitty to this gorgeous black cat with extremely shiny fur. (This guy is the reason why I don't feel bad to spend 40€/month to their food. I have never seen he this happy and healthy. ^^)

Two models, two happy dances

Let me introduce you: Ring o' Roses - Simplified and The Courtyard of Alhambra:

      

Do we sense a biscornu addiction here?

And now, off to make more coffee and stitch more models as it is Friday! (Note to self about yesterday: Lady, you have a rotation. Live with it...)

Words of wisdom:

1. If you use 32 count and want to attach beads to the edge use petite beads.
2. If you have design with uneven stitch count, do not, for the sake of your sanity (or what is left of it), attach beads in the edge when making a biscornu.
3. But I recommend you to try to whipping with two strands, it gives the edge nice boldness. ^^

Yours truly,
$BLOGGER.

What else is not new?

I find it rather funny that some "men", when you tell them you are not interested after getting to know them a bit better, spit poison on you... and just prove that they are not men, just boys trying to prove their manhood.
Last incident of that sort happened today when I courteously let the guy know that as he does not read what I write and does not seem to speak same version of English I speak I don't think it would work. He decided to, in all his manhood (), call me a bitch. I know I am a bitch, but what he doesn't know is that I am not bitch to those who are worth something else...

Fortunately I do know that there are also those who really are men. They just happen to be rare and therefore precious jewels.

I know I am anal, but...

Goals for February

1. Dye fabric for Loy Krathong, Seasonal Dragons RR and for the Hand-dyed Fabric Exchange.
2. Stitch Challenge #1 item.
3. *cough* Knit SBCIH - finally.
4. Participate Stitch-A-Thon at TRN.
5. Stitch one or two models.

Psst, my stash is coming to mommy!

And...

The Day has been set. Periphaeria Designs is going live 1st of March!