The oldest UFO

Stitchy stuff

Last day of the month and the oldest UFO day! To tell you the truth I did not work on my UFO at all this month... Socialsue posted her update and put me in shame. Quickly I picked my Sailboats and Seagulls and work on it for a little this morning. Here is the progress:

I know it is not much, but the medium sail is outlined, the little seagull appeared on the sky and the big sail has more shadow areas defined. No matter what you think, in my opinion every stitch counts and I'm a tiny bit closer to the finish.

If you have a UFO and would like join us in the fun - check this out or check the tab The Oldest UFO from the top of the blog.

While visiting Wanda I was working on Protective Care (PC) and the piece was so addictive that I could not put it down. I really wanted to get to the elephants so I stitched and stitched that boring background... Now it is done and ready for mama elephant. It doesn't look much but there are over 4,000 stitches (about 12% of the project). I started to stitch PC using q-snaps but because it is a large project I had a lot of fabric hanging over. I'd fold the excess fabric and secured it with cover but it wasn't the most comfortable way to stitch. I switched to scroll frame and I absolutely love it!

My Shoulder

The MRI results came and finally I know what's wrong with my shoulder. I have tendinosis, bursitis and mild acromioclavicular joint degenerative change. Visit with my doc was very challenging. He practically read straight from the report and for more info he advised me to search internet. If I'm still in pain his advise was to go the pharmacist and ask for the most appropriate over counter medication. Can you believe it?!?!?! Why did I bother to see a doctor?!?! My vet is more compassionate about Topaz than my doc about me... Anyhow, after searching the net I think the best cure for me is to loose weight and get fit before things get worse and I'll be a good candidate for a shoulder replacement. I also decided to take glucosamine supplement. In many places on the net they said that it doesn't work, that it's just a placebo. I can't agree with that. Topaz's vet prescribed glucosamine to Topaz and it really works for her. Dogs do not know that it should so placebo effect does not apply to them. So, the bottom line - if glucosamine is good for my dog it will be also good for me!. And since I'm talking about my puppy, her cone is off and her ear is completely healed. Her doc is an amazing guy!

So long my friends,
Evalina

Happy birthday!

To my two favorite guys:

my man, Freddy

and Wolfie (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), my inspiration

Happy birthday to both of you!!!

So long my friends,

Evalina

When stitchers get together...

Last Wednesday I went to Edmonton for my MRI so the doctors can figure out what's wrong with my shoulder. Lucky for me I have a stitcher friend living in that city. When she heard I'm coming, she generously invited me to stay with her. Let me tell you, she didn't have to say it twice! We stayed together while on the stitching retreat on Quadra Island last fall and we had an awesome time. Wanda travels to China a lot but, luckily for me, she was not traveling during my stay there. She even took couple of days off work so we can stitch together.

On the 18th of January the weather was beautiful. It was cold, just below -35 but nice and sunny. The view from the plane was breath taking away

While on the plane I was working on the Rose Sampler

and later at Wanda's on Protective Care

The top is just a dark background, very boring to stitch. I'm hoping that this week I will "get to" elephants and then stitching will become more interesting.

Wanda picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Polish Delicatessen. I felt like a little girl in a candy store. All long forgotten tastes of Polish food... I brought with me an empty suitcase so I can take home with me a good supply of Polish sausages and other delicacies.

My appointment at the hospital wasn't till eight in the evening and we had couple hours to kill so we went for a light supper and talked, and talked, and talked...

It was great, the first day and I'd accomplish everything - the shopping and the hospital were off the way. Next day it suppose to be our stitching day and movie night, how exciting is that!

And it was! We stitched and talked, stitched and talked, and had no idea when the day went by. It was time for a movie. I really wanted to see The Iron Lady and Wanda had this movie on her "to watch" list, so we went. And let me tell you - after the movie was over and credits came on, the whole audience was glued to their seats. If a mouse was running across, we could hear it. It was shocking. I needed a glass of whiskey after the movie...

Margaret Thatcher is a fascinating woman who changed the world for better (in my opinion),  who knew how to defend herself. I believe she was enormously significant and her influence extended far beyond Great Britain and far beyond her moment in power.

She was larger than life and she is my inspiration for most of my adult life. The movie shows and old woman with dementia. There was nothing relating to the Iron Lady she was, just an old, troubled woman... Meryl Streep played her role very well - role of an old lady... I guess she did what she was told to do... Anyhow, the movie title is absolutely wrong and misleading. There is no portrayal of Thatcher as an "Iron Lady".  Instead we get the wishful dream version of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.

There is a shocking absence of her strong moments:  the speeches, the war, her dominance of foreign affairs, her presence in the House of Commons, her Falklands war. Thank goodness for the you tube.

I like watching good movies more than once, this is a movie that I will never see again but I'm glad I saw it.

Friday morning we stitched again and just before we parted, John (Wanda's husband) took a pic of both of us:

I'm the one in red, Wanda is proudly displaying Cape Cod Girls - her latest WIP.

So long my friends,
Evalina

It was a cold day in the Yukon

It was, yesterday

Couple of years ago I set the cutting off point at -35 degrees Celsius, meaning that I will not start the engine in my car when temperatures reach -35C. Cars do not like cold temperatures. So I was home bound and I liked it. I finished my assignment for accounting course I'm taking and I stitched, and stitched.

With a horror in my eyes and heart almost stopping I noticed that I'd made a booboo in my Halloween House. I was sick when I started that project and maybe I can blame my cold for what happen. Mistakenly I turned my stitching 90 degrees and instead having fabric in landscape  layout, there it was - portrait. My fabric piece was too big for the project and for some unknown reason I did not trimmed it, thank goodness. So I start measuring and counting and it look like there will be enough width with an edge of barely 1 inch. I didn't trust my counting so I stitched a whole width of the project

and there it was, an inch and the quarter left on the right side. I'm safe, now I can stitch in peace. The project will not be centered nicely, but is doable. I'm finish it as a wall hanging so I'll be fine.

Now, I need your expert advice. The boarder is design as cobwebs and I do not like the way I started. (Click on the picture for more detailed view) I'm stitching these cobwebs with 1 strand of #415DMC. I tried long stitch and back stitch over 2 threads and I do not like effect of any of them. What to do? What I'm doing wrong? Please help! I think I  need a course in back stitching!

I have a new start... I know, I know, I thought I'm cured from startitis but Minnie of All xx's is stitching Sampler Rose and I wanted to stitch it since 2008. When I look at her WIP the urge was stronger than my sanity and I asked Minnie can we have a little SAL going. She said YES! Thank you Minnie, here is my new start:

I'm stitching it on 32ct antique white Jobelyn with Fall Splendor from Carrie's Creation. I hope it will not look so "noisy" with all the colors. My other choice of floss was DMC # 115 (red/dark burgundy variegated ). Will see after I have a little more done.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Halloween House

I stopped my Crazy Challenge and I have no idea what cured me from my craziness.  I'm suffering from startitis for many years. All of a sudden last night an unthinkable thing happen; I had untouched fabric, chart, floss and needles right  on the front of me and I could not make even one stitch... I never had that feeling of resistance before...  My sanity screamed "Evalina, you have over 30 WIPs, STOP! Finish what you've started and then start again!"

A few days ago, I think it was Monday - I was at work and with every hour going by I was feeling worse and worse. First I was just sneezing, later headache came and running nose and cough and muscle ache and shivers... I was swept of my feet for the next three days. I didn't slept so much since I can remember. In my tiny waking hours  I stitched some - but I wasn't able to read or even to watch TV.   Anyhow, today I'm feeling better and finally can go to work. I'm so well rested that I got up at 4:30 this morning and do not get me wrong, I do not I love my job but it is a way of making money and I do not get paid when I'm sick and staying home. If I only knew how I can make a decent leaving while working from home... (now I'm day dreaming)

Going back to stitching. Linda of Stitching with my Furbabies started SAL (stitch along) Halloween House by Urusla Michael. It's a lovely design so I'd join.

For some reason the white background did not appeal to me (model was stitched on 14ct white aida), I decided to stitch this piece on cashel linen Haunted and for cobwebs (frame around it) instead of black I'll use light gray.  Here is how it looks so far:

So long my friends,
Evalina

African Woman

You can call me crazy, but that's why I joined CJC again... Well, while traveling through the blogland I came across Becky of Becky Bee's Stitching Hive and she is hosting a BAP challenge.
Wow, I'm not the only one that's crazy! For this challenge I chose African Woman.

I saw this kit a very long time ago. It was pricey so it took me a while to splurge... The while was so long that it was unavailable anymore. I called Gita's  and they say they will try to get it for me. It took exactly a year and that was 7 month ago.

I promised myself not to start anything big this year, finish what I started before and do 15 new little projects from my stash. Well, I opened the package...

finished the fabric edges, put on the scroll frame and the rest is a history

That's the beginning of the challenge.  It should be done by December 31, 2012. The size of Lanarte's African Woman is 15.4"x19.3" (187 x 255 stitches).


For more pictures of my crazy starts visit Crazy Challenge 2012

Topaz

Last Saturday Freddy took Topaz to the vet for the checkup. Her ear is healing nicely but she has a lot of trouble with her collar. She still doesn't eat dog food but finally drinks her water. She has good appetite but only for people food...

In a week vet is removing stitches (if all goes well) and hopefully we can say goodbye to this huge, stiff collar.

So long my friends,

Evalina 

And the winners are...

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate today! I am a Roman-Catholic and my 12 days of Christmas ended on January 5th. Thank you so much to all who played with me, I wish you all health, happiness and prosperity in 2012. Now, lets see who the winners are...

Forgive Quickly goes to Mary Joan
Heart's Secret to Kaye
French Hen to Jen
Elisabeth's Stocking to Teresa S
Jeffrey's Stocking to Laurita Hall
Lavender and Roses to Kathy Ellen
Peach Tree Cottage to Jo who can't think of a clever nickname
The Rose in Morning to рыжая
The Harvesters to Katrien
Welcome Spring to Musicwoman
Wish ornament to pandy
and 12 days of Christmas to Mouse

Congratulations to all winners, I will send an email to each and everyone of you asking for your mailing address.

Have a wonderful stitchy 2012!

So long my friends,
Evalina 

PS. I do not have an email address for Musicwoman. If I do not hear from you my dear, I will choose another winner tomorrow after 12 PM PST.

12 days of Christmas in Blogland - day 12

We've made it! It's twelfth day of Christmas!!!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

• twelve drummers drumming
• eleven pipers piping
• ten lords-a-leaping
• nine ladies dancing
• eight maids-a-milking
• seven swans-a-swimming
• six geese-a-laying
• five golden rings
• three French hens
• two turtle doves
• and a partridge in a pear tree 

On the 12th day of Christmas I'm giving to one of you:

a chart by Sandy Orton - Twelve Days of Christmas.

Good luck to each and everyone of you! I will draw names of twelve lucky winners (one for each day) this Saturday, January 7th.

Topaz is doing fine, goes for walks, eats only roast and turkey - for now refuses to eat dog food or drink water. But she eats a lot of snow while walking.

So long my friends,
Evalina

12 days of Christmas in Blogland - Day 11

I'm back, I'm exhausted and $1200 lighter... Topaz had her surgery, now she is sleeping. Well, she didn't yet fully wake up from anesthesia. Vet carried her to my car and Freddy carried her out an hour later. She had a bite of pork roast but even didn't try to stand on her feet. Went back to la, la land in no time.

At the dealership they found a tiny chip in the bottom left corner  and the crack did spread from there... New windshield is $550 but in the Yukon driving with cracked windshield is permitted and since it doesn't impair my view - there is no problem. Just pisses me off because the car is so new, today I went for my first oil change. Oh, well - on the bright side - I have a visa with driver rewards which means that I'm collecting points on everything I buy on the visa and later visa is putting hard cash to my account as I redeem the points. And points are redeemable on any car related expanses (repairs, oils changes, new car). Can you guess how I paid vet bill? Yeap, by visa.

Freddy is feeling much better so this is a good thing. Now since everything is under control let's go back to our celebration!

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

• eleven pipers piping
• ten lords-a-leaping
• nine ladies dancing
• eight maids-a-milking
• seven swans-a-swimming
• six geese-a-laying
• five golden rings
• three French hens
• two turtle doves
• and a partridge in a pear tree 

On the eleventh day of Christmas I'm giving to one of you:

a kit from Dimensions - A wish ornament. Rules same as yesterday and a day before.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Bitching and stitching

I'm stitching new start to the 4th day of the CJC (Crazy January Challenge) and shake my head in disbelief... the start of 2012 is not so good for me...

1. January 1 - Topaz woke up with a swollen ear. All vet clinics are closed so thank goodness for the very knowledgeable kuvasz breeders. They convinced me that isn't life threatening and is OK to wait for her vet. Her poor right ear looks like pierogi. Today is our appointment.
2. January 2 - Freddy got sick (in my opinion he is just playing a baby)
3. January 3 - with absolutely no reason, my front windshield crack all the way across. I was driving from work and it happened right on the front of my eyes. It's my brand new car for God's sake! I still can hear the crack...

So, today I'm a little scared to leave the house. Though I have to go to the vet and right after - straight to the dealership. (I knew I needed day off work today). Tell me, if bad things happen to people, are they going in pairs or in threes? You know, I'm not superstitious at all, just want to know.

So long my friends, the celebration of 12 days of Christmas will continue after I come back.
Evalina

12 days of Christmas in Blogland - Day 10

On the tent day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

• ten lords-a-leaping
• nine ladies dancing
• eight maids-a-milking
• seven swans-a-swimming
• six geese-a-laying
• five golden rings
• three French hens
• two turtle doves
• and a partridge in a pear tree

On the tenth day of Christmas I'm giving to one of you:

•  a chart from Designs by Lisa - Welcome Spring

Rules same as yesterday.

If you want to see my new daily WIPs (you know, the Crazy January Challenge) click here.

So long my friends, check for tomorrow's 11th Day of Christmas!
Evalina

12 days of Christmas in Blogland - Day 9

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

• nine ladies dancing
• eight maids-a-milking
• seven swans-a-swimming
• six geese-a-laying
• five golden rings
• three French hens
• two turtle doves
• and a partridge in a pear tree 

On the ninth day of Christmas I'm giving to one of you:

 another chart from Little House Needleworks - The Harvesters. Rules are same as yesterday.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Happy New Year!!!

busy day today, so let's get started!

The first thing - let's get back to our song.

On the eight day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

• eight maids-a-milking
• seven swans-a-swimming
• six geese-a-laying
• five golden rings
• three French hens
• two turtle doves
• and a partridge in a pear tree

On the eight day of Christmas I'm giving to one of you:

a chart from LHN - The rose in Morning. Rules same as yesterday.

The second thing - The Oldest UFO

I checked all participants progress and the prize goes to

socialsue

Congratulations my dear!!!

The contest is still going, if you have an old UFO you can join us here! Next prize will be awarded April 1 - sweep these UFOs away!

The third thing - Crazy January Challenge, Day 1

I'm not sure how this will go for me this year, I keep changing my projects... I thought I will go just with small ones so I can finish them all. That was the plan but yesterday another project was asking for a daylight - Protective Care from Lenart

how can I say "no" to such beauty? I didn't and here is my progress for day one:

That's the full width of the project. Since it fits so nicely in my q-snaps I will work from the top to the bottom.

And the fifth thing - followers appreciation gift!

I am so grateful to all my followers for reading my blog, sharing my ups and downs - I decided to have a surprise draw. The prize goes to...

Nancy M

Congratulations dear Nancy and thank you for your lovely comments through many years. 

So long my friends,

Evalina