This is also a wonderful reason excuse reason to do some frantic shopping at Sewandso as I need perle and such - I could actually justify new pair of scissors, for cutting, you know. *grin*

6th, and final, part of Best Friends is now finished, isn't "he" cute?

BF was one of my first SALs ever (participated in so many during last 7 months that I can't say what was first one) and now it's byebye time. It feels kind of sad, even it's also a happy feeling. And in fact it's not completely finished yet. I've to re-do part of it's border as I had some counting error with one of the first patterns and I had to frog 1/4 of all hearts(/border). But that'll happen after Stitching Olympics (this was a non-sponsored advert).

Anyway, ( click here for whole set )

Knitting

Selina: in fact I ordered yarn sample (red merino wool) last night. And Annette, thanks for that link. I've saved that. (It's bit like stitching stash, you never have too many instructions - and in the end I may end to make my own...)

Cats

Cats are interesting animals. Neko (one of my boys) doesn't vomit on floors anymore. Last year (or so) he has used litter box almost every time he has had need to remove fur balls.
Every cat slave's dream cat, isn't he? (Though he drools excessively when he's enjoying his life... but he's cute. ^^)

And I have no idea where he has learned that from.

Btw

chanda_m, drooling over beautiful exchange items is allowed in this blog so there's no need to control your drooling.

SEBE

I just found out that last part of Short Extended Bookmark Exchange has reached it's new home, so it's time for pictures. This cherry bookmark went to U.S.A. and lives with Allison from now on:

General info:

• 14 count white aida (I think), victim of my dyeing experiments (nettles), so in fact it's not completely white
• From A Treasury of Jewish Cross Stitch booklet
• Designed by Barbara Ann Richter
• It's bit modified though. Original pattern has Shalom written (with alephbets) under cherry blossoms, but after some thinking I decided to leave it off.

I received my SEBE bookmark from Barbara during holidays:

It was a lovely surprise as it was waiting for me in letter box when we arrived back home.

Still alive.

In general our trip was a success if we don't count that idiot drunkard who thought my ass is for him to paw... (I surprised even me and yapped him quite badly and with quite unlike-me words. Not to mention that I actually grabbed his collar to stop him...) I know my buttocks look good, but I still think that you can look but not touch.

Anyway, we had great lunch once again at Munga Kelder. And we had great time. In the end I'm quite pleased to that trip.
Bought some liqueurs (coffee, chocolate and cloudberry) and chocolate. Even I bought alcohol I just don't get those people who carry several beer cases and litres of hard liquors from Estonia - as alcohol is not that expensive in Finland, and if you drink that much that it really matters... shouldn't you get some professional help?

We were planning with my mom that we could do craft accessory shopping trip to Tallinn in summer. (She's the knitter and I'm the embroiderer... )

Bookmark.

Got this great Santa bookmark from Alexandra yesterday:

Even I'm not Yule (and even less Christmas (because it's Christian holiday )) person this one is really great.

Ornies.

Gave them to my mom, so she could choose hers and deliver other to my father, and mom was thrilled.

Odd post.

Yesterday I got Christmas card from U.K., from someone(s) I have never heard of. It's "a bit" confusing.

It's not stitched (nor it contains any necessary info) so it can't be my SECE, and it is not from any of my previous exchange partners... How she/ they got my name and address then?

Whining first: I shouldn't have walk that 4 kms (but I needed to buy something edible) as it seems that I wasn't completely ok yet, so now I feel lousy and my stomach doesn't know what it should do.

Good thing: Now it's official, my Silkweaver order has been a success and they'll mail my parcel in this week.

Exchange items.

One more success, she loved it:

Click.

It's stitched on navy blue aida and those greyish areas are supposed to be white metallic, but as we know, my cam sucks...

Btw, I kind of knew this: letters go faster to States than to other European country. Fun, isn't it?

I've officially finished my last SEBE bookmark, which is a bit funny as I'll get my partner's info appr. 10th of December (and deadline is 30th of January..). At least I don't need to worry about that anymore.

(Btw, I checked how much my LNS owner owes me: 29, 5 €. I think I wont order anything from her before I get my stuff. And I think I should send email for her as there's stuff I have ordered (and paid!) in summer and still haven't got them, nor heard anything about them...)

Names.

Sonnenschein gave me interesting link about names.

In fact interesting thing in it is that his name is in there, and what's accused meaning of his name... And what I heard about his parents it seems to me that they're one practical bunch. So, it's possible that we'll have fights about starting family of our own some day, just because Sonnenschein is so frigging practical.

Nice future... Ok, it's nice that he's practical (as I am not), but sometimes it just bothers me more than just a bit.

Though there's something positive. He wasn't as tired and stressed as he has been last days (he's helping his sister with her new apartment and moving (it seems to me that they have some moving spree... ) and he's been quite busy with it. (Got to like his love for his family - even it has it bad sides too. (Ref: problems with in-laws))), but today he was almost his normal self (though it wasn't that long conversation today..).

Self-esteem.

Could someone tell me why person who has good self-esteem seems to be problem to majority? Is there something wrong not be feel sorry about being alive or being me?

Yes, I think I'm close to perfection, or perfect, but it's so when it comes to me. I am perfect me. Person X is perfect oneself. It's not about being cocky or self-centered. In my eyes it's about being happy with yourself.
But in the end: why should I care? If person isn't curious enough to ask why I think like I think, why should I worry?

There's just one thing why it does matter: Humans are gregarious animals.
Problem is: most humans seem to be unable to live in herds. Those ones who claim that they're be social. As according to my experience most "asocial" persons are able to interact with others (for example ask questions and therefore have a meaningful conversation) and most "social" ones aren't.

Sounds bit contradictory, doesn't it?

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
Henry David Thoreau

P.S. Exchange items have been posted. I just want to see which ones are in their destination first: those which went to States, or that one which stays in Europe.

Finally got my SP info, and now it is waiting for Monday to get posted. In fact I've other exchange items to post too, and if I'm industrious enough I'll got 2nd part of SECE done tomorrow and am able to post it in Monday too. That would be great.

Went to sleep before ten and woke up before two o'clock. Been finishing 2nd bookmark for SEBE, glanzing blogs, chatting in IRC channels, organizing my home page and generally wasted my time in best possible way. In a way I've always loved sleepless nights.

Anyway, I'm regular guest in Rósa's blog and been following her progress with Margaret Sherry's '12 Days of Christmas' Stitch-A-Long and happened to notice that I may have to stitch at least pattern or two (or all...) from that serie.
For example that knitting dove is just so... it's so like my mom. Stitching partridge is like me... Gosh Batman, I'm odd.

In a way it's odd... I claim that I don't like "cutesy", but anyway it seems that that is what I stitch in the end: two Hello Kittys, I've stitched one design from Margaret Sherry for my mom, Devil Bear, SEBE bookmarks (last one wont be cutesy though), intending to stitch one HK for myself...

I could almost doubt that my personality is "a bit" contradictory.

And in a way I seem to be insane. I added my blog to one webring:

< - £ Stitching Bloggers & + >

Apparently I need/ want my fifteen minutes (or fifteen hours) of fame.

I was going to bed, just happened to come back to living room and realized that I've PM @EMS board. My SEBE partner has received her bookmark. And guess what? Yes... she loves it.

Unfortunately this picture is lousy. It's "bit" difficult to get decent pictures with my camera anyway, and as that bookmark is stitched on black aida... well, do the maths.

Something completely different.

I may be wrong with this and I do hope that I am... But I can't help doubting his intentions. Lately he has been, how would I put it, bit too eager to try to create a hassle between me and Sonnenschein by feeding my uncertainties. And in some issues it seems that he just can't get that as I'm in relationship I really am in one and therefore I'm loyal to the person I'm with (no matter how fishy things seem to be to him - and anyway, it's my life.). And being loyal involves caring about SO's opinions.

And what also bothers me is that he doesn't seem to remember anything I've said to him (ex), nor that he'd really get to know me during those years we were together... Anyway, my infertility related feelings are none of his business at this time. They weren't really that interesting to him when he was with me, so why would I tell him anything about those anyway?

Yes, I'm bitter bastard sometimes.

And I had forgot that side of him. Fortunately he reminded me why I left.

As we all see, I kind of flooded my blog with test results yesterday and today. So, now it's time for some 'decen't blogging again.

Metallics.

I've found new love: DMC's white metallic floss.

I bought one skein of it from my LNS and last night I stitched few snowflakes with it to SEBE 'Winter' bookmark. It looks great.

Little tip: When you've divided your lenght of floss to six parts, take one divided strand of that floss, divide it (as it's made of two filaments) again. First of all it's easier to stitch as it's more flexible, and it looks great. IMO it may look even better than if you were stitching with one complete strand.
In fact I think it'd be good bleding filament replacement stitched with regular mouline. I have to try that some day.

SAL.

Well, in a way it has been suggested that I'd organize one SAL (Stitch-a-long) at EMS Cross Stitch Board. I suggested one design (serie in fact) in one thread which has to do with SALs and it seems that there might be people who're interested of doing this particular pattern.

Design is a freebie and still available, and I checked yesterday that it isn't even very big. One part of design in 45x60 stitches so 2700 stitches per part (minus corners which are unstitched in pattern (though I think I'll stitch them too)), and on 14 count finished design is about 8,2x10,9 cms (~3.2x4.3 inches).

There isn't even that many colours needed, so it's almost perfect. Even beginners could participate.

Looks good? I think so. Anyway, I've to think this a bit (as I'm not sure when I've time, after DBF moves I don't have free time that much as there's piles of bureucracy related stuff to take care of.) and if I think I could organize it I think I should contact to that boards staff and ask what is their opinion of organizing and what would be 'wisest' way to handle it.

Well, my cunning plan worked and didn't work, but it seems that in the end it was at least relatively good plan. (OK, this was hilarious. Someone called [insert Sonnenschein's name here] just harrassed me. I was bit 'WTF?' for a second or two.)

In fact I slept only two hours last night because of him, and arguments we had yesterday. It seems that today I am at least able to sleep - which is great. As soon as I get tired.... though I should finish that first SEBE bookmark this night so I could post it and card for SECE later today.

Card making.

In fact I'm quite pleased how it turned out as I'm not very experienced. I found some hand-made paper I've done about 11 years ago and card 'base' , and it fitted perfectly to it.

Once again: it's hard to be this good. (And pics will follow later. It takes few days for them to arrive to their destinations.)

LNS.

You just got to love her service. She usually bills before sending items, but once again she offered to send bill with items I ordered (because it took 3 days before she processed my order...oy vey. ). It's nice to be trusted - and she has may have noticed that I do pay my orders fast.

There's nothing as important as stash growing.

Btw,

Laura from Passione Ricamo did something great. She republished 'Topiary Sampler' as a freebie and also 'Season Postcards' serie, which I missed when it was available for the first time.

.

Bookmarks are almost ready. I just finished Halloween bookmark stitching wise, and I've to say that it looks good.
It's mix of four separate patterns, and I never made any actual position planning.

I've to decide still how I'll finish it eventually.

Btw.

I'm really tired for the first time in ages. Great.

It's really freaky: I'm idling in my regular cross stitching forum and I just noticed that there's new user with nickname which is also name of Sonnenschein's (In fact his first name.). Ok, it's quite common name, but it's freaky anyway. At least in this time of night. (Maybe I've to tease him about that? )

Home page.

It's back online about 10th day of October. Which is great as I miss my link list, and it's horrible to use my HTML editor when it can't find background pics etc., which makes it awfully slow. It seems to make check-outs every frigging time I change mode from writing to preview and vice versa.
I'm just bit annoyed as HTML coding would have been great way to spend night. I can't sleep because of migraine, and I need something to do.

Migraine.

Still having migraine attack. I haven't got headache every day; day before yesterday I almost vomited (I don't vomit unless I'm very sick or I've terrible hangover - but I haven't drank any alcohol since August. (And I can't even remember when I've been intoxicated.)) suddenly and yesterday my stomach had it's opinion about things. But mainly I've had headache more or less.
At this moment I've 800mgs of ibuprofen in my system and it doesn't really help very much. It makes sharpest parts of pain duller(?), but still there's this aching in right side of my brains.

I think that this came because I ate all those carbohydrates earlier in this week. I don't know. It may be excess cheese consuming too, or drinking too much coffee or... There's millions of possibilities, unfortunately.

Bookmarks, part gazillion.

Yes, more about bookmarks.

I had this idea today when I made that Halloween bookmark. At first it sounded bit odd to me, but then I tried... and yes, beads do go to bookmarks if they're small ones (In this case Mill Hill's petite glass beads). I wont tell what was their actual use before that bookmark is in it's destination, but I'm quite happy with that solution. In fact it was great that I decided to spend 1,8 €s to those. Only thing I miss is that blending filament as I really could use it now...

Yesterday I read fellow stitcher's blog and found out about SBQ. It sounded like fun, so I joined in. And here comes my first:

Stitching Blogger's Question.

I have. When I first put it away I ment to finish it some day, but then I found it 2-3- years later (which was this summer) and decided that I'll never finish it because

• Fabric in that kit was aida, and about 12 HPI.
• It was white aida.
• Design was way too simple to my taste
• I don't use table runners which are 80x 30 cms.
• Flower design. (WTH had I thought?)

I have to admit that I cut stitched part off and threw it away. I've used those scraps of non-stitched part to my dye experiments, and floss is in my misc. floss' box and I use them when needed in small projects.

I'm bad person, I know.

Thoughts about bookmarks.

I've been wondering how I'll finish those bookmarks I'm currently working on. I've decided winter one's finishing technique, but as I like to try different ways of finishing I want to try every possible way I can imagine.
In fact my main problem is how I'll finish spring bookmark as only nearly wise techniques seem to be in this case

• Leave it as it is after stitching.
• Use iron-on interfacing.
• Buy piece of felt and stitch it to bookmark's back when doing edge's backstitching.

I've to fray it's edges, and for some reason I think it'll be good way with that. Anyway, I've to see.

Then there's other 'problem' (I think it's mainly problem to me): Maybe I'm just too PC, but I'm not sure would it be good idea to stitch whole pattern without leaving text off from it. Because it's 'peace' (שלומ) in Hebrew and I've heard enough anti-semitistic *** from people - though it seems to me that fellow stitchers are quite nice folks, and it's very much possible that I'm afraid for nothing.
I just think that alephbets are beautiful themselves and none of us can't deny that we could use some peace in this world.
And it'd be part of me in that bookmark as I do study Hebrew (Not to mention my general symbathy towards Judaism and Jewish people, or my intention to be one of them some day... ).

It seems that I'll finish my bookmarks before sign up will be closed. (Of course I can't finish that winter one, as we know, but in theory) Done half of spring BM's crosses already, and I'm still sure about one thing: I've to do it for myself on black.

Herbs.

I don't know what causes it but sometimes chamomille tea comatizes me, and I don't understand why it is so.
For example today I just couldn't get up when my alarm clock (cell phone) rang. I slept four hours after it.

It's just bit awkward as I need to drink chamomille tea to be able to sleep, as I have brain overactivity phase again and you just can't sleep when your head is thinking about Universe and human oddities - or what you should do tomorrow...

In fact I'm like Elvis. I get stimulants (coffee) in the 'morning' to be able to wake up, and I need relaxants (chamomille tea) to be able to sleep. Lovely merry-go-round we have here, huh?

Sonnenschein.

He asked something yesterday which bothers me. It has nothing to do with us, but it may have to do with him. Even he asked it from me it has to do with his mind and fears - I think.

Haa, first BM is almost finished. I've now done all I can do before getting that filament. (Addition: LNS doesn't have it in stock, so it takes some time before they get it in stock again. I just hope it comes in time - otherwise I just have to stitch that snow without it.)

Good replacement for frenchie: Colonial knot. That is clear enough explanation even to my stupid brains.

And... I know what pattern I'll use to that spring bookmark. Ok, it has flowers in it, but... I've wanted to do it for some time - I just forgot that I've that pattern, and I've wanted to do it.

Activity levels.

I don't know why but I've been almost surprisingly industrious today. No sign of any kind of tiredness, even my brains are working almost well.
Don't know what causes it. Either it's autumn and darkness it has brought, or then it's that Hillel Tokazier's CD I've been listening half of the day.

DBF.

It wasn't long, but we had very interesting conversation once again. It's always nice to read things from between lines. It really seems that I'm some kind of winged, benevolent creature to him. (It has to do with my surname, nothing else can explain it... "--- a beautiful and benevolent supernatural being or fairy ---")

...maybe we're just angels to eachothers, and demons to everyone else?

It's 1:40 (EEST) and I'm stitching a bookmark to forthcoming Short Extended Bookmark Exchange (Once again at EMS Cross Stitch Board.). This one's easy as there are themes and no user preferences.

I'm working on winter one now, and will do autumn themed when I get my goodies from my LNS. In fact I can't even finish that winter one (even it's almost done already) before I get that blending filament I ordered.
It seems that only tricky one will be spring themed, as I don't want to walk that easy way and stitch flowers. Fortunately it's last one and due in end of January so I've time.