11 days before finals

It is that time again... no stitching, no life, just studying...

Happy Victoria Day Canada!!!

Unofficial first day of summer! In the Yukon all lakes are free of ice, all poplars are green and ditches are yellow. Soon wild roses will be in the full bloom and fireweed right after. I love this time of the year. 

What do people do on Victoria Day?

In some cities, fireworks displays or parades are held to mark Victoria Day. One of the most notable parades is held in the city of Victoria, British Columbia, which was named after Queen Victoria. Many people gather in parks to enjoy fireworks displays, which are particularly impressive in Hamilton and Toronto.

For many people, the long Victoria Day weekend marks the end of the winter and the unofficial start of the spring or summer season.  After this weekend, gardeners can be reasonably sure that there will be no more frost until the autumn so they can sow or plant out delicate crops and plants.  For the same reason, people with recreational homes in colder parts of the country often go to them to open them up for the summer. In addition, many amusement parks and outdoor attractions open for their summer season this weekend. Notably, stores on Prince Edward Island are only permitted to open on Sunday between Victoria Day and Christmas Day.

What do I do on Victoria Day this year?

• Stitch and stitch some more almost all day long
• Read
• Go for a very long walk
• Have a glass of wine and watch season finale of 24, two hours special!

Background

Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. Following the death of three uncles and her father, she became Queen of the United Kingdom on June 20, 1837 and reigned until her death on January 22, 1901. Victoria is still the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. During Victoria's life, the British Empire expanded considerably. However, her powers as Queen of the United Kingdom were reduced as the House of Commons became more important and powerful in British politics.

The monarch's birthday has been celebrated in Canada since before the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign. After her death, in 1901, May 25 became known as Empire Day. The sovereign's official birthday was still celebrated, often on the King's or Queen's actual birthday. In 1952, Empire Day was moved to the Monday before May 25 and since 1953, the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II has been celebrated on this date in Canada. In 1958, Empire Day became known as Commonwealth Day, which was moved to the second Monday in March. The Monday before May 25 then became known as Victoria Day, which is a Canadian statutory holiday.

Look what I found in the mailbox!!!

The most desired postcard I've ever got!!! I love it, I love it, I absolutely love it!!! Thank you so much Lauren.

Is your birthday in July? Let's celebrate it together!

My birthday is in July and I would love to celebrate it with other people from around the world that are born in July also. Let's make this month a very special one and send a gift to each other.

Here are the rules:

1. You must be born in July
2. You must be a swap-bot member
3. You will send a birthday card and the gift according to your partner's profile. If your partner has a Wish List, send something from that list. It can be homemade or store bought but it has to be something that you would like to receive. Contact your partner if you are not sure
4. The sign-up for this swap will end May 31, and packages must be sent by mid-June (so we can receive them on or before our birthdays)
5. Please make sure that your profile is fill out nicely with all your likes and dislikes. Make sure to let us know of any allergies you may have
6. All participants are welcome, regardless of ratings. After all it is our birthday and if we need a "second chance", this is the month to have it. I will check all profiles and if I see something "nasty" you will have to explain
7. I hope I will not have to, but I will angel if necessary. We do not want sad birthdays.

Happy swapping!

New start

I'm absolutely nuts about ancient Egypt. Heaven and Earth Designs has a beautifully design Egyptian Temple and of course I had to have it. I knew I will stitch it some day, some day not to soon. Well, soon came sooner that I thought. Yesterday I decided to keep Kelly company in frustration so here they are, my first 261 (of 143,125) very tiny stitches of Egyptian Temple:

Not much to look at... but this is how it will look when done:

And that's not all. After those mini stitches, that you can hardly see I worked a little on the Tiger:

Wasn't the best choice of relaxation for my eyes. From extremely small to confetti... Thank goodness for the 24, the show came on and that was the and of my stitching.

Stitchy Sunday

I've done my chickens!

I really like them and despite the difficulty with those big holes (I changed to bigger needle and it helped, thank you guys) I would stitch it again.

And the back doesn't look so bad either...

I was kind of worry how all this back stitching will look on the back of the towel, specially when it really can't be hidden... but I think it looks just fine.

I also finished Summer Ornament for the exchange in ILCS group. Can't show it though, until it reaches the person it was stitched for.

And here is something for those who would like to visit the North someday... (hit play on the bottom of the screen)

GIVEAWAY!!!

Lovely Kathy is celebrating her birthday with an awesome giveaway. Go check her blog!

I did not forget about an update! I was busy creating my Wish list (see left sidebar) and, I think, I'm happy with this one. I belong to swaps groups and birthday club and I love to shop for others from their wish list. It makes so much sense, it's easy, and, in my opinion, makes recipients happier. So, finally, I have one too!

I was stitching a little this weekend...

My chickens are almost done, I just have to finish all the backstitches and I can go back to my Birds of the Feather.

And this is an aerial picture of the place where I live. On the bottom of the picture, right by the point is a tiny curved line - those are the "sticks" in the water on the picture with the blog title. And you can see the roof of my cabin (there is a few of the roof tops on the point) and the docs, and the road that takes me to Alaska Highway (left top corner). Just above my road you can see a pond called Bob's Lake, that's where my mailbox is and that's where all the goodies from you and from my online stores arrive. It is a lovely walk from my cabin to the mailboxes. In June the whole place is covered with wild roses and aroma from them feels up my lungs with every breath. It would be heavenly except... with every deep breath I can easily feel up my nose with tiny black flies and other bugs... so I take walks and deep breaths only on windy days (no bugs!)

So long my friends,

Evalina

It is a white Monday in the Yukon!

It is Monday morning, I'm getting ready to go to work, looking outside and can't believe my eyes... yep, that white stuff is falling from the sky again...and just a week ago I thought that winter is gone for good and have changed my winter tires... Got to love the north...

My weekend was very, very slow. I didn't accomplish even half what I was planning to do! But I was stitching and even though I didn't finish my chickens I'm very happy with the progress. Here is the pic:

Oh, I wish I could stay home and do not have to go to work... the weather is so perfect for stitching and snuggling near fireplace not for driving...

Bookmark swap!

I love making and receiving bookmarks and on Swap-bot I'm hosting a bookmark exchange. I am so excited!!! I collect them and use them frequently. Would you like to swap some bookmarks? Sign up! This is my very first swap so please bear with me and ask any questions if there is anything not clear enough.  OK, let's start it!

1. Anyone with Swap-bot ratings no lower than 4.5  and no "1" in the last three months may join. Newbies with filled profile are welcome. (Newbie is a person who just joined Swap-bot and doesn't have any ratings, good or bad or ugly.)

2. You will have 1 partner and you will send 1 bookmark. Bookmark can be homemade (preferred) or store bought. To make a bookmark you can use any media you like and you will have 2 weeks to do it.

3. Bookmark will be the choice of the sender, but please see your partner's profile for his/hers likes and dislikes

4. If you email to me a picture of the bookmark that you sent or received, I will post it on this site.

5. I hope I will not have to, but I promise (cross my heart) that I will angel and there will be no participant left without a bookmark.

Happy swapping!

The life is pink again!

Specially on a pink Saturday. Here are my 3 little contributions to a pink world:

 I have a few gifts to send and I decided that from now on I will not use wrapping paper, instead I will wrap gifts in a pretty fabric and use my pink ribbon

My new reading glasses, I absolutely fell in love with their cover... so pink and sparkle!

And my cute little purses. I didn't use them yet (I do not have the right outfit, looks like I have to buy some more clothes), but I love just to at them.

If you see other pink ideas visit Miss Beverly

Have a very happy weekend!