A small recent finish that stays home - I love it way too much to part with it! LOL
I added a green thread around the cording, it was such a good idea.
Plumpudding Needlearts freebie
Stitched with my choice of overdyes on Silkweaver hand-dyed linen.
I am spending a week at my aunt, grandma, with regular visits from both of my cousins and wifes, kids - a wonderful time.
Today my cousin's children are staying overnight. They consider it a rare treat when I come to stay a bit and they insisted in staing at my aunt's for two days this week-end. And as we are busy cooking and baking traditional Christmas specialties, we also have a great time together, we laugh a lot and enjoy being together.
On the pictures, just some of the many trays of miniature gingerbread Christmas cookies we bakes today, my aunt and my cousin's kids.
Toska is a highly intelligent, very opiniated and in many ways, difficult cat I rescued from a shelted in February 2006. For one long year, nothing changed in our relationship. Who thinks all animals are grateful for being rescued is wrong. She wasn't. I do not know what her past was before the shelter. All I know is that her owner (?) dropped her there one sad day, on Dec. 23rd, one day before Christmas, adding he is "cleaning before Christmas". She was not afraid of people, actually she was not and is not afraid or intimidated by anyone or anything. She came to sleep with me on the pillow on the first night. But she didn't like cuddles and remained unaffectionate for one whole year. She bites and scratches easily, as I say, she has an 'easy paw' LOL. And then I took her to Norway for 3,5 months this summer. And the moment I picked her at the luggage place at Gardermoen airport, she had changed. While Happy the dog was highly unhappy in his transporter and wanted to be taken out *immediately*, she was calm, curious, patient. And then for 3,5 months, she had a biiiig house, a biiiig garden and tons to do. She started to love me. She started to look deep into my eyes and she let me do anything I wanted, including scratching her belly. It was pure cat love for her own human. And the day we returned to Warsaw everything was back to what it was before the stay in Norway. No belly scratching, not much affection if I wanted to stay alive. She had again that angry look and that banging tail most of the day. I was sad. That all led me to think she must have had a big house and maybe also a garden in her previous life. And that she hates my small flat and the boredom. She doesn't even look at windows. Of course, she plays a lot, but it is not the same.
This week H. took her with him back to Oslo so that I can travel more easily, stress the pets less during the pipes works and spend less on the pets pension. I'll bring her back from Oslo with me in January.
And you know what? She is again a super happy cat. A calm cat who loves you with all her heart. She sleeps with H., walks after him like a doggie and disappears for short (it's cold in Norway!!) trips in and around the property. H. says she's plain happy.
I don't have much hope that he'll let her stay more than till January but who knows. He had been refusing till now - he travels a lot and doesn't want to have pets when I am not there. That said he LOVES all sorts of animals, after all he's a zoologist by education, it's just that he's much more reasonable than me. But maybe if you all cross fingers and send some good vibes, this time he'll agree to keep her? I love her to death and she loves me, but she *is* much more happy there and for me, that's what counts. Plus, I would spend 3 months with her next summer...
And the weird thing is that she really is not impressed by travelling - alone, in the luggage compartment. I read horror stories and Happy himself travels worse and stresses more each time - but not her. You deliver a calm cat, you get a calm cat, who just waits patiently many hours till the doors of her transporter open at the final destination. But then, in many ways, she is exceptional, many experienced cat owners tell me that.
Now I just have to talk to her on the phone and convince her to stop walking and purring on H.'s body all night! He tried to close the door to the bedroom but she opens door so he prefers her heavy presence on his back to several minutes of noise till she opens the door :)
Here is an older picture I love. You'd think they are good friends ;-)
I haven't been blogging for a while, I know. After two months of being submerged with work, I know have very little on my plate, but I've been busy otherwise. The pipe works in my flat (yes, I know you've been hearing about it for a while LOL!) will finally happen sometime in December, hopefully before I leave for Christmas at my fathers and to Oslo! I can't wait to celebrate the New Year in the fresh Norwegian air. Anyway. The preparations for the pipe works took a *lot* of time. I emptied furniture after furniture, sortied stuff, threw a lot, still have piles of magazines in the living room to sort, then cleaned otherwise unaccessible places with H.'s (great) help. H. was here for 3 days - 3 days of hard work helping me clean and move and unscrew the furniture etc. But, we had a delightful birthday dinner - I was inviting of course and the food was heavenly, but not the bill - the ....#$^#^#... - made me pay half the price of the dinner for ONE bottle of wine. Arrrrrgh. They didn't have a wine list and I assumed that when I say "reasonably priced" it won't cost 70 usd!!!! Ah, good I had a budget for that. If not for that bad moment, everything was perfect and I had an excellent idea of a gift for H. - I got him a laser meter and he was soooo happy! This will make it much easier for him to change the bathroom etc. I was so glad with my idead, but then I must say I am good at choosing the right gifts for people I know well.
Healthwise I still need to check things out and I worry a bit [...]. I am leaving for a week or two at my aunt though, with Happy the dog, to breathe some family atmospehre. I'll be working normally though and receiving me mail as usual.
I have lots to show but not before a few persons receive their gifties :)
I also received a huge order from Theresa at Shakespearesppeddler, one that I had been gathering for 2 or 3 months, and it was one happy, happy day. I got some charts as doubles to send out as gifts.
I've sent out my Prairie Schooler exchange to Elisabeth, a PIF to Sharon, a PIF/Birthday/Xmas to Mylene and my Birthday exchange (the one organized by Becky) to ----. I hope they all like what I picked and/or stitched for them!
I've been very ill the last few days and I need to do more medical checks but I am close to completely fine now. I've never been that sick in my whole life and it wasn't funny, but hopefully it was a one time problem. When the main pain attack was over, I spent the next three days sleeping most of the day and night, I was very weak. Then on the fourth day I decided to spend the whole day doing finishing on many gifites that were stitched and were waiting for inspiration to strike on me. Actually I think I worked on that for two full days. Oh, I don't like finishing. Only sewing and decorating my partner's Prairie Schooler exchange took me 8 full hours.... LOL! Too bad I can't show you the result yet, but I am very satisfied with it. In total I did the finishing on 8 pieces, including a little box. Oh, I am also very happy with that one. Two PIFS (for Mylene and Sharon) are also waiting to be sent as soon as I feel strong enough again to go to the post office. It was lots of work but I am as happy to have it behind me as I am happy with the result! I certainly couldn't earn my life as a finisher though! :)
I've just posted a fall pillow that stays home (lousy picture though! it is much nicer in real) and I'll be posting more in the next days and weeks, when these gifties reach their future owners :)
The works in my flat are approaching and H. might arrive from Oslo this Friday instead of Monday, two days earlier, because he wants to help me empty the kitchen furniture into boxes and unmount the furniture. I don't look forward to all this work but it can't be avoided either. he was supposed to fly in on Monday for his birthday but this way we'll get to spend 5 days together instead of 3, even if they will be quite busy. I will make sure though to organize a lazy and/or attractive day on his birthday. I plan a dinner in a good restaurant and I've already ordered his gift online - not sure of the name in English, it is a laser hand device for measuring distances in a building, instead of using a tape. Something tells me he'll be delighted :)
Stitched with Fallen Leaves (Crescent Colors) on Autumn Gold 36 ct linen (Lakeside Linen).
This is from Tante's Zolder (aka My aunt's attic). The pattern can be found in the August folder.
(click for a better view).jpg)
I finished this lovely freebie by Tanya Anderson some weeks ago but only had the time today to take some pictures. Now it's about time to invite a good friend for tea! :)
I know that my partner received the package yesterday so I can finally posted. 
Not sure how you'd visualize it, but this is a *big* bag, a shoulder typeof bag, with a zipper. The bag was bought in a hobby shop and I sewed the stitched piece to it. That was extremely hard because the material the bag was made of was like a rubber type of rafia. Hard and giving a rubber feeling. But I so wanted it on this bag :) Then I sewed (by hand all the time, I don't own a sewing machine) a color-matched ribbon on the upper and lower part and added a wood-like "Adventure" button in a corner - this seemed so suitable for a pattern with woods and a cabin. I hope my parner likes it. I've also sent a hand-decorated chocolate cake for all her family and some other goodies.
Bent Creek - "Cabin in the wood" - stitched on hand-dyed fabric (Silkweaver) with DMC, to make the bad usable/washable.
I invite you to browse through the Bent Creek exchange album here. There are over 130 pictures to see and they are an incredible source of isnpiration for other exchanges. A few are simple, others are complex, creative pieces. Enjoy and admire! :)
Earlier this year I subscribed to a French Bent Creek exchange. One week before sending, when all the stitching was done, and I had started working on the finishing part, I broke my right hand. I was devastated because that meant I could not face the deadline for sending for a long time. I didn't want my partner to think I was not serious, so I did a little research online and found her home phone number in France, called her and apologized. Anne was very understanding. I had chosen a tough material to sew on and only in September I could finish my exchange. Then the mail gods decided to play with the package. I sent it as "priority", which means delivery is guaranteed within 2-3 days in Europe and 5-7 days in the whole world. Well, this took MUCH more time and I was seriously worried because of all the weeks of work and worries related to that exchange.
I'm afraid that due to lack of time I never posted what Anne sent me and I am so sorry for that.
Here is the cute bag I received from her:
Here is another batch of ribbons and other materials I brought from Norway. Now I can't really say I am missing any of that. Though I must say I followed one or two major color schemes - but these colors clearly reflect those I like most. Certainly lots of Christmassy and fall colors.
Big yawn. It is past 10 am, I am (still) working for a few more hours. Uncounted coffee cups. I had to delay the huge horror text till Monday, but this can't be delayed more. I have to deliver one part tomorrow morning and the rest on Monday. Oh, if you knew how this one is tough. Basically, I am translating the new international financial reporting rules for a company, from Polish to French. Idiotic work, since somebody based his work on the French/English version. And boy is it tough. I have to skim through endless reports, EU texts, European Bank databases etc. I am extremeply pleased with the result, but there is still *alot* to do. I am telling myself that if I get to Monday sane and alive, a new life awaits LOL! I've been working on that assignment since weeks. Already sent a xstitch order :)
Now, I need to wash my face with cold water, walk doggie and type a bit more.
I have tons of things to post - but that'll happen on Monday.
Thank you everyone for your comments! Cheryl, the key to stitching that much while having so much work is simple - I'm doing nothing homewise. The joys of living part of the year alone :) Next week however I'll have to do a big decluttering and cleaning. Brenda, that was so sweet of you to say :) We can always do a private exchange sometime! :)
And for a bit of morning fun, see this short movie. I especially liked the bit "If you are stolen, call police at once". Heh, some fellow translators don't do their work well.
I just can't wait till next Friday night, that's when I'll deliver the huge job, the last one on my plate. I just got news that the pipe works will happen in November in my flat and that they'll mean more destruction in both the kitchen and especially the bathroom. Also the heater in the living-room is dead, which also means extensive work - moving large furniture to access the pipes etc. BUT somehow I can't seem to stress over that :) My perspective stops on Friday. I will only work like mad for 6 days more. 6 days more! You bet I'll sleep long afterwards! :)
In the free time I can allow myself daily I've been in a stitching frenzy. Here is part of the projects I stitched, there are more but I can't show them yet. Most of them are for gifts but two will stay home. Devil stitcher as I am, most are done in my choice of threads, usually a mix of overdyes, silks and plain 'old DMC.
.jpg)
And here's my progress on one of my WIPs, LHN's Necessities Sampler:
.jpg)
I have such a feeling of accomplishment today. Somehow I managed to reach today even though it meant sleeping 2-4 hours per day over a week, working double work hours for the last few weeks etc. The last two days, the end client (a famous lawyers firm) was constantly making changes in the 40 pages agreements I was translating and they were driving me nuts but hey, they are paying good money and I like legal, so in a way I enjoyed working on this. I am going to allow myself two week-end days of sleeping, stitching and (sigh) cleaning the flat. My brain is fried. Then on Monday I will start the next intense 12 days of work - more intense that ever, on 180 pages of heavy finances and accounting. The challenge is to be able to finish it in time for the 26th, which at this moment I can't even imagine. Not my cup of tea :( and the volume is enormous. I'll fight it! :)
I did a lot of stitching recently but I want to do the finishing first before I show them. Some Prairie Schooler ornaments for gifties, a set of napkins with a freebie pattern adapted, and I made progress on The Blessing (Examplars...):
I'm waiting for a refill of several colors to arrive but I'm now trying to work the details which colors I have.
I mentioned some weeks ago that Stitchesnthings were selling some shop models. I couldn't afford many at that time - the nicest ones sold out fast, but I got these two. I absolutely fell in love with this punchneedle Blackbirds Designs piece and I could not let it go. I am unsure of the fabric but it looks like 48 ct at least. Tin, tiny, tiny!!! Fabulous work. I don't do punchneedle, somehow it doesn't tempt me, but I admire some beautiful projects I see. So, this is the first punchneedle piece I own and hopefully it's not the last, though I haven;t seen many samplers done in this technique. For 15 usd finished and framed, what a bargain it was! I looooove the frame. The colors are brighter and cleared in real, a genuine gem.
The other piece is that one. It even has the year written on the back: 1994. What, 1994? It looks like new! I always wanted to stitch that piece, even bought the leaflet, but I am delighted to have it done and already framed. I might change the frame one day, it is too dark black for my taste but for the time being, it stays that way on my wall! :)
Talking about techniques other than cross stitching, I so admire needle felting. See this beauty . How I wish I was tempted a little bit more to try it! I'd looooove to have this squirrel and its nuts on my shelves but what, I don't think I am gifted for that technique. I know I already posted it here but that's an excellent occasion to remind everyone on the work Rainymoon does. I find her projects absolutely amazing and check on her blog regularly to see the new arrivals!
When I finally returned to Warsaw in September, I was so surprised to bring from the post office several unexpected birthday gifts! I left for Norway just two days after my b-day so many parcels didn't reach me. What a delight it was to see and open many envelopes that I didn't know were waiting for me! I'll post more of them over the next days...
At the end of my stay in Norway, I bought and ordered lots of finishing supplies. Here's part of what I got directly at the shop:
And once packed into a brand new box...
I guess everyone knows what my favorite colors are now! LOL
More when I have time... or when I need to procrastinate again! :)
From the day of my return to Warsaw I've been extremely busy. Here's a shortcut of what happened since my last post here. I was in Switzerland to visit my brother/nephew++, great food, great wines, great trips, great moments with everyone. Then back to Norway. Then flight back to Warsaw with part of my luggage and The Queen (cat). Busy, busy week. After which H. flew in with rest of my luggage and Happy (dog) for two days. Great time again but very busy. Trip to visit my family. After which work, work and more work. It doesn't stop coming in. I am booked till end of October and spent time working on the computer sometimes 20 hours per day. Won't complain, after several empty months this will fill in huge gaps in the budget.
Will be very very very busy this month but will try to post a lot of late pictures here. Also, in some days the works in the building will start : changing all water pipes - which means my kitchen will be demolished. I don't mind the bathroom works that much, it was planned to be reworked or at least repainted soon, but my kitchen was all made per individual measurements, and I fear they will simply ruin it all. And I still don't know how to cope with that and the Himalayas of work I need to deliver end of month... I still haven't heard when they will attack ;-) my flat, but I will try to talk them into doing mine after the end of the month. Will I be able to delay it? Not sure... so this month is far from being easy. The only thing I do except typing very, very fast many hours per day is stitching - sometimes a few minutes, sometimes a few hours when I manage to organize a whole evening free of work. Little crosses can be sooo relaxing after many hours of work! :)
PS. Thanks Michelle for kicking my b-tt and to Mylene!
Here are a few pictures from a Sunday mountain walk in the Haute-Savoie (Sixt Fer à Cheval, a 1-1,5 h drive from Geneva). A great time was had :)
You might want to click to enlarge the picture below and the 5th one... maybe you'll feel the beauty of the place, the magic of that afternoon...
(above: big brother, nephew and a person from the family)
(much delayed)
On Thursday (10 days ago) H. drove a bit later to work so we could exchange a gift I bought for my nephew (and which my brother told me he already has) when the shop opened, in the big commercial center in the town nearby. Happy waited in the car. Then H. left for work and I walked home. I wanted to 'explore' this way too :) From the town to our village it is only 5 km + 1 km till our home. The sun was strong, the day gorgeous. Yeah right...
On of the farms on the way... The system is the following in Norway: the white building is always the house where people live, the red one is the barn or other farm building.
The cycling/walkers path goes along the road all the time, so it was totally safe, nothing special about it. There were not that many cars passing at 11 am. At one point, there was a forest path leading deep in the woods. And when I arrived there, there was a man standing. I immediately noticed that there was no car behind him on the path, and thought that was weird. I was right. The man came closer and asked in English - without knowing I was not Norwegian, so he was obviously British or English-speaking anyway - if I can help him. I answered I hope so, but I kept my reserve. Well, he asked if I can do a little thing, actually just a little thing ... Can I show you my p.-----s? I thanked him with my special smile number 12,5 and tried to leave, but he followed me and said it would just take a few minutes. I was totally alone with a weirdo on a secluded path, not funny. I smiled again but with a firm thank you and went. I did not want to behave like if I was scared, I was not. But this man had something in his eyes that was scary. This path is used by many young girls - and I had just met several. The man did not look like one that just wants to 'show'. As soon as I was out of sight, I called H. at work, he called the police, I waited for them to arrive, talked to them, gave a detailed description of the guy and well, they were quite fast and decided in the way they reacted. Four more cars arrived with lights and all sounds on at full speed, with dogs and they went in the wood to find him. I don't know if they did, H. always forgets to call. But I was asked if I could recognize him, even from a picture and the police have all my data.
I was a bit stressed for a day or two, kept thinking about the guy. I've met numerous such types in the park near where I live in Warsaw, but this one was disturbing. I hope he'll get caught.
But I don't feel that much for walking around in a forest alone now... Not being hysterical by nature though, I hope I'll stop seeing perverts behind each tree very soon :)
Now to be serious, we had marvelous walks with H. over the next days, but I 'm always short of time so I'll post pictures later, much later.
