Don't you just love...

...those prewritten customer service replies?

I contacted PayPal's customer service because my bank account was in my old, and now deleted, account's files, and even I have deleted that account days ago I can't add it to my current account because PP's system claims it is in use...
So, to make me suitably annoyed I received email from PP where they adviced me to delete my old account, and guided how to do it... But, I had clearly stated that I already have done it.

Is it that difficult to actually read what your customer tries to tell you?

Of course I could always be mean and just simply open a new bank account. It'd save great deal of fuss, taking that I choose either one of the banks which have their offices in my suburb...

Ask and ye shall receive...

It was only day before yesterday when I drooled over Les marquoirs d'école and today I received a big envelope from a well-wishing friend... guess what it contained?

Ten points: one (1) copy of Les marquoirs d'école! Am I one happy camper now or what?!

In addition to that I realised today that one of the things close to perfection is 40 count cream Newcastle linen. Here presented with some glorious flosses.

Good morning

Considering entry with SBQ... I have had one slogan in my mind lately, due this continuous high I am having... Who needs drugs when you can design?
You know, I feel like I was in love - and admittedly I spend as much time with my software than I'd do with a SO if I had one... But I like it up here in the clouds.

I'm beginning to sound like that person who I was with Wolfie, don't I? All this gushing (but I think it was I who said that she misses that person, I got what I wished for)...
(Talking of Wolfinho... it's almost a year since he popped to my life. Silly thing. (I think I have to harass him a bit one of these days. *evil grin*))

Skin Care aka. She knew what she was talking of...

When I had my first appointment at Skin and Allergy Hospital I had a chat with one nurse (as mentioned) and when I complained about water's drying effect she said that I should consider buying bath oil and rub it to my skin when showering, to prevent my skin from drying excessively during winter months, and it seems to me that she had an idea in that advice. I bought a bottle of bath and massage oil last time we made our regular cosmetics order from Dermosil and have used that stuff for couple of times already. It really makes the difference. My skin is actually soft after shower and I have no need to run to closest moisturiser container right away.
I just hope my skin won't develop problem on the sesame oil that stuff contains...

$£#%&!

... I just tried to upload a picture to my Photobucket(s)... That friggin' thing can't find even my main page! I can log in ok, but if I try to access the main trough dashboard's link... Sorry, the page you requested was not found.

Bloody heck, even if it was a hijack it wouldn't affect to almost every single account...

Good work guys... nice. Friggin' great...

ETA: They seem to be working again...

Love is...

...sharing a cardboard box.

(Just in case I have lost every friggin' picture - which I do believe will happen - posted to my blog in last almost three years, because of some stupid error of PB staff, I changed to Twango.)

SBQ: When it rains frogs, it pours

What should I call this happy madness that I feel inside of me
---
I feel that I've gone back to childhood and I'm skipping through the wildwood
So excited that I don't know what to do
What do I care if I'm a juvenile I smile my secret little smile
---
What should I call this happy madness all this unexpected joy
That turned the world into a baby's bouncing toy

No, I am not in love, but I was listening Antonio Carlos Jobim yesterday and this kind of hit the nerve. That is how I feel. Now.

And to business...

Today's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

is:

Do you use your needle, a seam ripper, or something else when you have to frog stitches? Why do you use the method that you do?

It depends on the amount of stitches I need to frog. If it's just few stitches I use needle to save the floss, but if it is bigger area I am cruel and use seam ripper as it is very effective method to get rid of that nasty frog.
If I have one mislaid stitch which I notice later I usually snip it with scissors and secure its ends on the other side.

Little note for Windows Live Space bloggers and other notions

Just for you to know: For some reason I can't comment on any blog in Spaces for the time being. So, even I don't comment, I do read you...

Periphaeria

If there is one person who is, if possible, even more thrilled than I am about PD and those positive comments my designs have got and that is my mother (she has seen the entries (and she says she doesn't speak English... curious, don't you think? (Yeah, she doesn't speak it, she reads it. *grin*))). From what I have heard she has even showed pictures to her co-workers.
She is a real sweetheart, you know.

And... due to certain thing, which may be purely my own homegrown paranoia, but also may not be (and I hate that), I have decided to keep all the models under the rock before their publishing date.
I'll give teasers and material tosses when I feel like it, but that is all. In other words about 1/2 of my happy dances will be blogged about bi-monthly (first of every uneven month - mark your calendars!).

I hate to make this decision, but I really feel I have to...

I know you understand.

You shan't peek at any ONS' site...

I did, stopped by at Violarium and, oy vey, found new things to want: Les marquoirs d'école.

By the way, I had a happy dance today, but pictures will follow later.

Foto Pherrets

Week 62

Our word for this week is: Bird.

Quite self-explanatory: Peacocks at local zoo in last autumn.

Biscornu has landed!

Admittedly I knew who my partner was in TRN's Biscornu Exchange (one of the joys of moderating an exchange), but still it was as great to find a parcel from Renée waiting me in my letter box.
Firstly, she stitched me a gorgeous biscornu over one (one side if green and represents me, and other side is red for Renée), finished it as a fob and attached it to pair of scissors! (One can never have too many of those.) And... then she sent me some delicious Needle Necessities and little design by Blackbird Designs.

Thank you Renée!

Another exchange...

Leslie sent our partner infos for Mystery Exchange (at TRN) out last night and I have to admit that my plans changed. $NAME seems to have quite many $STITCHY_TOOLs on her wishlist so I decided to go with that and stitch one of my newer designs for her.
I have already found beautiful hand-dyed 32 count Lugana and matching floss from DMC's range... Pictures to follow... in the end of April.

I am creating a monster... *grin*

Proud moment of the day: I attached new case fans (quite a bargain: two fans and postage only 9,40€) to my desktop's case all on my own!
You see, usually only person who is allowed to touch insides of my little 'puter is bits_2_whole, but as I won't see her before end of the week I decided to take my first step in my road to Real Nerddom and do it myself. And, shock and awe, it works still! o_O

Otherwise I have to upset you, no stitching updates, but I, or rather my alter ego, had some lovely S.E.X. (at One Star's Light and at Sewandso). Some luscious silks, 40 count linen and beads for models of a design series I begun today. (Can you see a pattern here?!)
Now both of me (Lady P. and snowprincipessa) are flat broke, but for a good cause.

And, I have been enabling one, still unknown, designing talent to get into the business... and it seems to me that she likes the idea.

mondaysabitch

Haute Couture

1. If you were meeting a blind date, what would you hope they weren't wearing?
   I am not usually too picky, but if guy would turn up wearing baggy pants (you know those "hip hop" style ones) or dirty clothes it'd ruin first impression succesfully. (One of the reasons why I dislike baggy pants is that I am buttock person... *grin*)
   Otherwise I don't care that much: clean and looks good on you is usually the way to dress on (blind) dates with me.

2. What colour looks best on you?
   According to my own and general opinion: black. Which is good as that is about all I wear.

3. What was the most recent article of clothing that you bought for yourself?
   I really can't remember. Probably some knickers.

4. Do you have an article of clothing that is now unwearable, but you just can't seem to part with it?
   No.

5. Did you see "The Devil Wears Prada"? What did you think of it?
   Haven't seen it.

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?)

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 213

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

1. Nude :: Blue
2. Support :: Tech
3. Rachel :: Friends
4. Crane :: Frasier
5. Candy bar :: Stripes
6. Material :: Thingamacallits
7. Mind games :: Narcissist
8. Eviction :: Homeless
9. Produce :: Create
10. Joke :: Laugh

Stitcher's Morning:

1. Wake up.
2. Get to kitchen.
3. Pour yourself some orange juice.
4. Take your vitamins with the orange juice.
5. Press some fresh coffee.
6. Move yourself to the crafting/ laptop/ designing table.
7. Stitch about half an hour.
8. Take the first sip of your coffee...
9. Stitch some more.
10. Write business emails.
11. Take a shower.
12. Drink the rest of your coffee.

How was your morning?

By the way, have I mentioned that I love what my hairdresser did to my hair? She cut it actually a bit shorter than I anticipated, but I am loving this - it looked good with my natural, but it looks even better when dyed.
The dye makes my eyes look brighter shade of blue and this hairdo frames my face wonderfully so my eyes get all the attention they deserve. Ah, life's good.

Clip, clip, clip...

Not that I actually could afford to do so (I have all sorts of nasty expenses in this month - for example I had to buy new case fans for my desktop's case because old ones have an identity disorder: they think they are circular saws (I'd have survived otherwise without using the desktop, but I want my music!))... I had a haircut, and, gosh, I feel good. I have just let my hair grow and as I haven't had any problems with it I haven't bothered to get my hair cut (and as I haven't been on a date... since November (if we can count harassing N. as a date) *yikes* I haven't had any reason). But now, when it was hanging on my shoulders it got a bit nasty. It actually looked rather good, due my hair's natural waviness, but still... it was hot! I may have glass-like hair (great thing: I have split ends once in a blue moon, if even then), but I have lots of that stuff (but as we agreed with my hairdresser, it is better to have what to remove as other option wouldn't be as nice or easy to handle). Which means that I am much more of a short haired person. (And even more a purple haired person. Though I like how my hair looks now: otherwise dirty blonde (interesting shade actually: dirty strawberry blonde with hint of gold), but tips of my hair are purplish red.)

In other news: I managed to sleep whopping five hours last night! My goal was seven, but just when I was dozing off I had an idea which I had to draw before I forgot it.
It was crazy. I was manically happy, completely exhausted and drawing like crazy. I don't wonder why so many artists have been insane... you can't take sleep deprivation very long without losing some of your marbles. (Though, there actually is connection between creativity and schizophrenia. If I recall correctly latter one is caused by one gene activating wrong part of the brain.)

And guess what? I am tired... can't wait evening to come so I can go to bed!

Beware: stitcher on endorphine!

It's unbelievable... It was almost eight o'clock before I got to stitching. o_O
You could almost think I have something going on... at least I had something going out. I am quite sure that Finnish Post would go to bankcruptcy (now that is one ugly word) without me... I had five parcels/envelopes to send and that pile was about 20 cms high, but, for my surprise, sending them all was only a bit over 8€ altogether (which is unheard of) - and honestly I was prepared to pay over 20€ to get them all sent.
But I am not complaining.

How insane can one be?

I have been stitching Futurecast today and begun to wonder how insane I really am... In addition to having most of the cottons blended I also blend another one of the metallics with a.... blending filament.
It really isn't easiest possible combination, but the result is great - and it really suits better to the colourway than plain metallic gold would have.

Anyway, it is time for this week's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

which was suggested by Danielle and is:

Do you find yourself stitching faster when you are getting to the end of a design?

It actually depends. I have noticed that I either get finishing craze when my needle smokes so much I can hardly see the fabric, or then I slow down a bit and enjoy those last stitches.
But, like Renée, get more focused on the piece when I'm close to the finish. That is understandable, and I think you all know why... It happens because then we can start another project to justify our frantic stash shopping.

Goals

Plans for February were:

1. Dye fabric for Loy Krathong, Seasonal Dragons RR and for the Hand-dyed Fabric Exchange.
2. Stitch Challenge #1 item. It is almost finished...
3. *cough* Knit SBCIH - finally.
4. Participate Stitch-A-Thon at TRN.
5. Stitch one or two models. I actually outdid myself with three (and a half, as I finished RoR -S)...
   1. The Courtyard of Alhambra
   2. Ring of Roses #1
   3. Tribe #1

So, in the end I did quite well, don't you think?

And what I intend to do in March?:

1. Grid RR fabric.
2. Stitch Spring Dragon.
3. Participate SAT, stitch Loy Krathong's page three and start the fourth.
4. Rotate TWs, finish Futurecast (the dragon, borders will be goal for another month).
5. Finish and mail Challenge #1 item.
6. Stitch one model (or two small ones) plus an exclusive design.

By the way

I found something(s) I need...

• Sun Dragon (TW)
• Moon Dragon (J. A.-S.)
• Celestial Sun (TW)
• Celestial Moon (J. A.-S.)

And I have been so busy I haven't even had time to drool properly over Jenna's ONS, though, admittedly, I have been drooling over this particular page...

I think what I need now is cup, or ten, of good, strong coffee, some apricot and white chocolate ice cream and stitching... finally.

Scent of a Woman - and other notions

Is it a good or bad sign when the perfume you use affects also males of other species? Or rather it only seems to works on them - not that I was in contact with local human males that much. (You know my issues.)
Last night Neko, my beloved eunuch (and almost perfect man, excluding his species, inability to speak, being an eunuch... those little things grin*), got rather, would I say amorous and I can't find any other reason for it than my musky perfume. But I have "always" used musk and this is the first time he gets excited over it.
Though, what am I complaining... I had a handsome male purring happily on my arms. *giggle*

A way to wake up

Not that I actually slept, more like dozed off, woke up and dozed off again...
I got out of bed some time ago and noticed that I had sold my first while I was asleep.
May not sound fancy, but taking that I haven't been jumping around shamelessly advertising myself I think it is quite good achievement. And, fact is, that everything I did between 10th of January and 1st of March was only molding the base, this is when the building begins.

Still... it feels great.

But now, off to make coffee, have a quick shower and do some more business! After it it is time for our beloved dragon Futurecast! (I have time to finish the CH#1 item in next week.)

Gone live!

Yes, it's official now!

Periphaeria Designs went live!

Do pop by, browse around and grab Ring o' Roses - Simplified while stocks last! *grin*