Updaty Wednesday

Still Wednesday here for less than 10 minutes... I'll try to squeeze in an update!

First - I'll post my new ornament giveaway tomorrow, hopefully. I am working on it tonight, among others...So watch this space!

Second - I've been tagged by Tanya and Joke BUT I just did the game a few posts down... (and Joke, I had tagged you then, but you probably didn't see it, I should have told you) AND actually, one of the persons I tagged didn't like it, another promised to answer but hasn't yet (nothing wrong about that!) and the three others didn't see it, I think, or didn't like it either, and I really don't want to annoy anyone by tagging them... some persons just don't like it and also the game has been making rounds for some time now, I wouldn't know who to choose who hasn't played yet... But thank you for tagging me :) I will play and post my six random things, but I won't tag anyone else this time... hope you'll understand!

1. I really, really don't like blue. I wear blue marine clothes but that's about it. I always joke that the worse punishment would be to book a holiday somewhere and get a blue room. That would be enough to ruin the stay!

2. I have a panic attitude about cockroaches. Lived one full year in a flat infested with them during the first year of my university studies, had them in my bed, in my clothes, food, it was a crazy thing. I developed survival methods like cocooning in bed with just my nose out ;-) and shaking every little piece of everything in the morning and not eating breakfast during winter (the little bas---ds were all out in the dark kitchen), but still... I think I have post-traumatic stress disorder after that year and if I had to spend the night in a room with them, I'd return home, _in any circumstances_. I once had to stay a full three weeks in a sort of hospital filled with them, and ended up sleeping with all lights on during the whole time. I was lucky to have a very understanding person sharing my room :). Now, there's no way I can spend a night with them anywhere close.
3. I love COLD. Even at very low temperatures, I sleep with the window open. Good thing, H. is like me (also about the blue color). Well, he's less extreme than me... :) For someone who spent 11 years of childhood in North Africa, I must be a very weird model!
4. I plan to learn back Arabic language.
5. I used to spend all my free time reading. From a very young age, I was a very avid reader in two languages, Polish and French. I am not sure if it's related to my work, where I spend whole days reading and typing, but I've been gradually avoiding reading and unread books keep accumulating. Tired of letters, tired of reading? I wish I knew the why.

Third - I received today a super lovely package from Ela. We participated in a French tea exchange (I send mine, haven;t received yet) but we weren't partnered and so decided to do a private tea exchange.
Here's how nicely packed it arrived:

Ela sent me a fantastic black rose tea, certainly the best rose tea I ever drank. I had a cup today and will have another :). Next, a package of the famous coussins de Lyon - I've already written about those before. I am now addicted to them and Ela knows it well... Then, a super cute French chart and exactly the same finishing fabric as on the picture, wooohoo! Also, a skein of pink silks (Atalie), three small pieces of fabric, a roll of red and green felt of awesome quality - the one I buy in Norway and from the UK is sort of fluffy, this one is not, fabulous. Also the red color is sort of mottled with black, very interesting. That'll be used for a special project.


Then, the hand-made card... Ela is well-known for them... isn't it super cute? (zapraszam means welcome, sort of)

Last but not least, a package meant for H.! Well, he's not a DH yet, more of a DF or DBF ;-) LOL! I am so tempted to open it but I'll resist... It's from a French chocolate maker, so I have a small idea what it could be ;-) Will he share it with me? He'll have to!!!

Fourth - I am almost done with my Christmas gift preparations! I only need to add [...] to two birthday gifts for two blogging friends, but I await an order... I spent 10 (TEN) hours on Monday only on packing all gifts for friends and family... I swear I'll pack them less complicated next year! LOL
I've also sent out a good batch of them, but the European contingent will have to wait, I have them all ready to go, but sending now is too early. Will do so next week :) I think I never was ready for Christmas by Nov. 17!!
By the way, Amazon UK amazed me. An order put on Nov. 12 in the afternoon arrived on Nov. 14 in the morning! How did they do it?? It was a 10-pack of DVDs for H. for Christmas (the first then episodes of a British series we both love and I can't mention yet here, but he'll get nuts when he sees it, heh!)

Packages!! Lots of packages!! Found them!! What's inside?? Ehhh?

Open them. Now. Or!


Okay, threat worketh not. What if I look cute as an angel, behave like an angel...? Hear me?


Some ar red...

Others gold... Very interesting...


Now, what's the connection between a tea exchange and a shoe? Ela might want to know... or she'll have to wait till my package arrives! ROTFL!

Helga Mandl and Barbara Ana Chrisrtmas designs

For all who haven't got this info yet, check HERE. Once again, these two wonderful designers have gathered to offer 18 Christmas designs for just 5,00 usd, which they send by email. If, like me, you adore their charts... :)

I went too fast... Thank you everyone for entering the draw and your nice comments... It was also a great occasion to get to know new friends which blogs I added to my Newsgator list. Thank you!

Giveaway winner(s)!

My secret number was 20, so with 23 persons entering the draw, one more ornament will be offered next week :)
Not sure what it will be though, it might be more simple or much more complex, made of felt or cross-stitched. Inspiration will guide me! Watch this space next week.

At 23:59, I had taped everyone's nicks into the field:




Okay, first, a word of truth. I ran the randomizer, and it came up with the name of someone that *already* would get the tree ornament from me. I ran it a second time, same story. So, to push honesty to a Tuesday midnight level ;-), I decided to draw two names, not one. Luckily, this time the names were 'correct'.

Congratulations to Edgar and Karen V.! Please send me your snail mail addresses to fjordgirl at gmail dot com. (Edgar, I should have yours, but you will spare me some time in searching if you send it directly!)

Oh, I just had an idea for the next ornament. I might make it tomorrow, but I'll offer it next Monday :)

Christmas "emery"

Well, not really an emery, it's filled with polyfill :)
It's the first time I made one and I was surprised how easy it was. In major part, thanks to Anita, who provided very clear instructions. Within a few hours, I had it stitched and finished. For reasons that would bore you to death, I went along with this hanger and not the ribbon bows, but the next one I'll do will be finished with ribbon.

Want to have your own? They're HERE and they're downloadable, after paying, of course ;-). Have a look at the Christmas needlerolls from the same series and the special combos (emeries and needlerolls). Adorable, if you ask me! And if you feel intimidated by this technique, be not, these emeries are extremely easy and fast to assemble - and relatively fast to stitch.





The possibilities of thread/fabric colors and beads are endless... Me, I cannot find my THREE packs of gold beads I saw last week (somewhere in my stash). So, I had to settle for a different combination. I chose a red from WDW, a hand-dyed fabric and green-grey beads. Oh, I wish I had small gold beads. I'd make a second one right now. I am completely sure these three packs will reappear in a few hours (sigh).

36 hours giveaway!

My little fingers were very busy last night and here is the forest I came up with :)

Oh I'm having fun making these felt ornaments!

They are made of off-white felt, embroidered with red floss (mainly DMC 815), with a little white bead placed in the middle of each stitched 'star'. A white eyelet secures the red hemp thread used as a hanger. Around the base of each tree, I tied a Norwegian red and white linen decorative thread.


Drum roll...

Drum roll....

Major drum roll....

The good news is, I decided to offer one of these trees to my blogging friends. All you have to do is to leave a comment to this post (I'll consider all comments unless it says you *don't* want to be included) and I'll pick one name in 36 hours, Wednesday 2 am Warsaw time, which means some time Tuesday evening US time, but if you feel so inspired, you can check the exact hour online for your location. :)

I need to visit the post office on Wednesday, so I'll send the giveaway ornie then as well. It will reach its recipient well before Christmas!

Ah yes, you can of course mention this giveaway on your blogs. The more the merrier :) And if I get more than (a secret number I have in mind, which I won't reveal now!) entries, I will offer another type of ornament next week!

Ready, steady, go...!

Thank you so much for your comments on my last creations, I feel encouraged for doing more. Actually, I am sidetracked to felt at the moment. Several people will receive felt ornaments instead of cross-stitched ones. The reason? As much as I could stitch all day and night, at this very moment I totally lack the inspiration to do any finishing. Having said that, I know I have my HOE Christmas exchange to send out - it's stitched but the finishing, ah well, the finishing... :)
Last night I worked long hours on a private tea exchange with Ela. If you've seen her work in the pictures of the pieces I received from her, you know it ain't easy. It has to be out of the ordinary, creative, fabulous, fantastic. Ah, but my creative juices were flowing fast, and I've added two more things, one is sooooo nice - and one very easy - and a fiasco at setting the eyelet - I *really* don't know how to put the nicer ones painted in color, in various shapes. When I bang with the hammer to set it, the tool's tip scratched the paint off. I was so upset. I'm thinking of getting a cropadile - but does anyone know if it is fine with the paint of the decorative eyelets? I'm asking because I read a nice description of all the possible eyelet setting tools on the market, and some are supposedly better for aluminium eyelets and others not etc. I need a tool that will be fine for painted eyelets. Any hints?
Ok. So I am very statisfied with last night's handcraft session. Alas, I will post photos only when Ela receives it, which should happen within two weeks maximum. That's all I can show!

Warsaw was very foggy this morning. Here's my view on the world (all windows are on the same side of the building)... Actually my brother got married in this church. How funny that many years later, I bought a flat so close to it. The bell rings (? is activated? what does a church bell do?) every day at noon but I am so used to it that I just don't hear it. Actually I _always_ hear it when I'm late with work and the bell is another stress signal :)
That view was the reason why I chose this flat instead of all others. From my 11th floor, I have a beautiful view to the east (towards Moscow, as I like to joke). Most people love this view but to my aunt, it's a view on a desert of concrete. In some ways, yes, it is. But the way the sun plays during different weather conditions would be enough to make a whole book of artistic photos :). I like my view.


Toska first tolerated my attemps at socializing from very close. Too close.

Ah, but soon she had her usual face. Usually, she is upset and agry. I have a characterial cat.

That banging tail should have warned me.

Told ya! Over.

My new born girls

Hello! I don't have a name yet, but I am a nisse-girl.

Actually, we are 4 sisters.


Like all girls, we love to chat... a lot.

We so love to play!

Soon we will be flying to our new homes, but in the meantime we love to wake sleeping cats...


Hope you like my new-borns! I spent the last two evenings making them. More in 2009 :)
I transmitted all your comments to Toska. Like all cats, she seemed not to care much. Cats know they are beautiful. Comments from humans.... pfff. But I saw her left ear moving. She was delighted. :)

Actually I have two more finishes from the last two weeks. First, a Secret Needle Night kit that I sooooo wanted to have, from Nov. 2006, I think, and I finally was able to get it on ebay from a very nice seller. It was pure fun to make it. It uses all sorts of funny materials with impossible names, Fyrewerk, some weird braid, cashmere wool and what have you. Contrary to what I expected, working with some of these was very pleasant and very rewarding, even though it looked more like ribbon than any sort of thread known to me.

See the cutie mouse... she's done in cashmere and is so soft looking in real, with a sort of plush tail. Oh that kit was fun. So very fun! I'll finish it into a flatfold of some kind.

Last but not least, a chart I treated myself to for my past birthday, "Fear not the sirens of the sea" by Carriage House Samplings. For a long time I thought this design just doesn't fit any place I could hang it, but something was attracting me to it. I so wanted to stitch it and now that it's done, I love it. The colors are so beautiful in real. The siren's tail (or whatever it is that a siren has in English) was annoying, but the rest was pure fun.

The last days were very busy, I apologize for not leaving comments on your blogs, but I do visit them all in free moments.

The other news is that I'll be leaving for Christmas early this year (need to put an info on top of the blog). On Nov. 28 my cousin will pick me up with dog and cat, so I can spend two and a half weeks with my dear aunt, grandma and the rest. I couldn't do the trip with my furry friends on the train, plus it's too long, almost 4 hours. There, I'll leave Toska with my aunt till some time in February. I'll return to Warsaw just before Christmas, probably on the same day as H. arrives (Dec. 22) and we'll take the train to my father's the next day. Back to Warsaw on Dec. 27 and we'll fly together to Norway with Happy the next day. It's been a lot of planning on my side to make this happen in the most gentle way to our pockets and to my pets... and to take into account H.'s work obligations. Now that all plans have been made, I suddenly remembered my grandma's 100th birthday on January 23rd. Not sure yet how we'll do it with H., if we'll fly in for the week-end when the big family party will happen or if I'll shorten my stay in Norway (was hoping to stay till the beginning of February). I usually have almost no work in January so I'm hoping for lots of snow and walks in the woods! Norwegian nature is so beautiful in wintertime...
This all means I need to adapt some other things, like I have to send Christmas gifties before the end of this month. Anything sent to me will be received on Dec. 22 or else in February... so I am sorry to say but all late Christmas cards will be opened that late this time...

Ya think she will stop playing with her new camera SOON???

And why on earth thinks she that my nose is a central point of attraction tonight???? Eeeeeh?? Ya know, you humons???

It's Saturday and I hope none of you has to work today :) Me, I'm typing away a text on homeopathy, actually a whole series of 8 articles, not easy at all, and I wish I were stitching. But work is money, and money is stash, right? I'll leave you with this lovely bouquet I spotted this summer on a wall near the Holmenkollen ski jump tower in Oslo (by the way, does the name ring any bell to Americans? I'd love to know).

And Toska in her favorite position...

Hey, you all go stitching since I can't!

I am working this night, a couple of hours more, till 3 or 4 am. Friday was busy, but in the evening I felt the urge to go jogging, which I did and it gave me loads and loads of energy to work.

In between some Christmas stitching, I've started a CHS piece (Do not fear the sirens of the sea) just for the fun of it. I love the colors and I find it relaxing to work on even though it is stitched over one on 40 ct.

Thank you so much for your comments on my first nissejente (nisse-girl in Norwegian)! I so enjoyed her and the three others. Not sure at this moment if I'll do more of them or try some other special gifties for Christmas. As for now, I gave up on the other book I bought with more difficult models - they require modeling faces, painting them etc. I'll get back to it next year much earlier, when I'm less under pressure with Christmas gifts.
Noone commented on the easy faces I made, which I take as a good sign. I really made them easy, just three black dots of varied form for the eyes and the nose. I have no drawing nor painting talents so before I try painting the wooden heads and then all the elements of each face, I need to practice some before and I don't have time/inspiration to do that now. I think.
Anyway, I hope their recipients will like them. They look pretty easy, but they require a lot of cutting, sewing, glueing etc. :)
Petra - the boy from that series is just made without the hair, I wasn't too inspired to make one but I might :)

Here are the three others:
Enjoy your week-end, friends!

HOE Mattress pincushion received and more

Thanks a lot for your recent comments on my first nisse-girl and the basket. Actually, the basket is a kit from Homespun Elegance which contains - the basket, some fiberfill, a piece of fabric, the chart. It goes quick to stitch it with your favorite thread color and all that is left to do is to attach the stitched piece to the basket. It's a neat little kit and really not expensive.



I've received today from Nic the cutest mattress pincushion, it is absolutely adorable, very soft and fresh in style. I am happily exhibiting it today near my workplace to look at it :)
Nic also included a chocolate cat (long gone!!), Mill Hill beads in a very practical color, two skeins of Vicky Clayton threads, a DMC leaflet, a super adorable card and - a highly appreciated leaflet from my wishlist! Thank you so much, Nic!! I love it all.


What else? In the past days I've stitched two more pieces by Homespun Elegance, their two 2008 ornies, but I haven't done the finishing part yet. When inspiration comes....

I like the first, but I don't like the second. I hope to have the inspiration one day soon to finish it into something I'll love. Btw, I replaced the 2008 year in the upper left corner with God Jul, Norwegian for Merry Christmas.

Hope all of you are having a great week! Here it's not really a good one, recession seems to strike my business, I am scared to death.

Meet my first girl!

And please tell me what you think of her! I am curious to hear your comments because it is my first work of this type... Yesterday I surrounded myself with wooden heads, felt, false hair, other materials and I tried this first funny one. Oh it takes time to draw, cut, work and glue and tie and assemble all the elements. The little bag, I had to redo it twice because it was the cloth was hard to work so it wouldn't deassemble. The borders were ripping open. Here's my first one then and three other have followed for Christmas gifts, I just need to do the final finishing steps. They are pure fun to do once you got the hang of it!
I am anxious to hear your comments, good or bad (especially bad!) and any suggestions you might have, serious!