What a pleasure to learn that the Christmas gifties and cards I sent out this year are arriving in due time... I couldn't send to all persons on my list due to lack of time, but I promise to make up for it next year.

Can you believe that Christmas Eve is... next week?

Here is the piece I sent to my friend Ela in France. The picture is bad unfortunately, but trust me, this new frame by Just Nan is another beauty they made... I made the same gift for H's mother and I have an extra one to stitch and frame one day for myself :) I used the recommended threads but substituded the fabric (too grey for me) for a more cheerful effect.

 Just Nan - Holly Bows 

Before the CATS update...

... a cross-stitch and general update is in order before I post more recent stuff as well. I've decided to split a longish post into two so that those of you who are not so interested in cats (which I can understand, I used to be a total dog person) don't stop visiting :)

I stitched Black Ribbon Designs' Peace freebie, but haven't done the finishing yet - this one stays home :) My choice of fibers.


My Victoria Sampler Tea Party sampler has been a bit neglected because it is not as relaxing as the other, easy projects... I have to follow the instructions point by point and well, it's work and not relax, to say the truth... I will love the result but I occupied my evenings with easier projects.
Here is where I am now.. more lettering to do and many more details: the rest of the bird on the roof, the tea set on the small table etc.

Now I know - of all the stitches I tried and learned, the bullion knots drove me NUTS! Hate them, hate them. Might be I need to practice more, to read different instructions.
This sunflower is made of tons of them, outlined with a single thread and then completed with lazy daisy stitches. Hmmppppf. Hated working on that one, it was frustrating and it didn't turn out completely perfect - but then what flower is totally perfect in nature? :)

In the meantime I stitched this one, a pattern I loved the minute I saw it:

This photo shows it as a big close-up, but it's very tiiiiiiiny in real, stitched over one on what looks like 36 ct - I think, because it's a Lakeside Linens piece from one of these no-name bags Theresa sells (shakespearespeddler.com); they are just perfect for ornaments and smaller projects. I've finished stitching all of it, but here is where I was at some days ago:

And then I forgot to post two pieces I sent out weeks ago for two exchanges. First comes my first needlebook project for the Blackbird Designs exchange , I used the recent BD chart but adapted it to a needlebook. Of course, I forgot the name of the hand-dyed fabrics I used :(.

... the inside....

... and the back:The second piece was for HOE's Just Nan exchange. I really regret I didn't take better pictures, that small pillow was adorable!

Now, the cats....

Wrong is who thinks I'm on vacation here :). Each time I'm coming to Norway, people wish me a good vacation - but vacation it is not! As a free-lancer, I can travel all work wherever I want, provided there is a reliable and fast Internet connection and that my laptop survives its trip to the destination. Work has been (very) slow this year, but it changed a lot in June and I find myself typing away all days and some nights... I won't complain, mind you, money pays bills and money pays stash :) and I have perfect working conditions here - through the window in my working room, I see trees, squirrels, all types of birds which provide a lot of entertainment, neighbor cat fights, neighbor cats visiting and playing... I just adore my summer here. H. has installed air conditioning in the lower part of the house, so even on the hotest days, I can work all I want without sweating... Once a day, I do a bike trip with Happy tied to his springer-thingy (is it known in other countries? how popular is it in the US? it is actually produced just a few kilometers from here) through the woods, around lakes... or I walk with him in the nature... and frequent walks in the garden make great pauses when I work... The first part of the month, it rained A LOT. Now, since ten days or so, temperatures are in the 27-30 degrees Celsius range, so it's been HOT and not really good weather to be out long, it feels like opening an oven each time I peek out. So H. and I often bike late in the evening, even around 11 pm - remember it is more north here than the rest of Europe and days are very long, nights very short...
And I've been awfully sick again for some days, and then had to work, work, work fast! to be able to deliver jobs in due time.
All that to say I am really sorry I sort of disappeared from the blogging world - and I am especially sorry that I am posting pictures of exchanges (today) and more birthday gifts (soon) this late. Diana and Leah, I hope you'll forgive me - you've sent me awesome exchanges! :)

Here they are, I hope anyone who sees them turns green with envy ;-)

First, the HOE Just Nan exchange I received from Diana. Oh, see that purse/little bag!! I love, love, love it!


A close-up on the handsome little guy... isn't he just PERFECT?

The bottom... ah, Diana is so skilled in sewing!


The lovely extras, including a Just Nan pattern from my wishlist!


But that's not all... let your eyes feast on the next gem, the Blackbird designs exchange from Leah...

Leah wrote it is a design called Flock of Birds from the My Heart is True booklet... one I don't have yet, so I totally didn't know it contained this sampler chart with birds! And I so love those... Leah couldn't have chosen better... and everything is just wonderful about this pillow, the colors, the fabrics, the work.... I couldn't believe how lucky I was when I opened the package! Thank you so much again, Leah!!

However, what is not perfect, is my pictures... Can you see that fly on both of them? I didn't see it when taking the photos... looks like Norwegian flies need a lesson in politeness! :)

Hah, I know you like this pillow...!

I'll leave you today with a fresh bunch of peonies I picked this morning in the garden... They are my very favorite flower and H. couldn't have made me more happy yesterday when he let me choose two more species at the gardening center. We're getting a truck of good soil tomorrow so I'm only waiting for it to plant them :). Norway is very rocky and so is the garden here. The house itself is built a little higher than the level of the road, on a huge rock and wherever a plant (or even grass) needs good soil, H. has to provide it, otherwise the ground is just a layer of clay on rocks.

Aren't they beautiful? If it only depended on me, I'd plant different varieties of peonies absolutely everywhere! :)