The night still young, no more children at the door and it would not be a true Halloween without Michel Jackson

Happy Halloween my friends,
Evalina

trick or treat?

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is hosting a Halloween Trick or Treat Blog Hop. Here is the letter for the mystery phrase:

I

for the next letter visit Shebafudge

Have a spooky, scary Halloween!!! I'm visiting other blogs to see what the phrase is...

2012 Wipocalypse

Another full moon and another WIPocalypse update. So, Thine is the Trick and the Treat is done and I decided to turn it into wall hanging. I'm horrible not so good at sewing using the sewing machine. Last Friday I've got brave and made an appointment with the quilter (actually she owns the local quilting shop) for this Tuesday for a private sewing lesson during which I we'll work on the finishing part. I figured that it would be perfect in case I need a fabric or batik or whatever. I'm very excited about this project.

This month I finished So Long Kitty

While stitching this piece I was making an executive decision. I decided to quit my CGA (Certified General Accountant) courses. The whole program had 18 courses and I had 5 more left... that's 2 more years... The completion would give me an accounting designation but do I really need it? I am an accountant, if I decide to work on my own I can do anything except audits and reviews... in 7 years I want to retire... So there it was - so long kitty and so long CGA! And to make things even more complicated I started to think how much I would love to be my own boss. Things are going well, as of today I'm able to cut my job hours because I'm getting more and more clients on my own.   I think that by the spring I will have enough work so I can quit my job. Isn't that funny? In today's jobless world I'm thinking of giving up a job...

Another piece that got my attention was French Country - Pig

and love ornament got some of that attention too

Yesterday I tried my luck in the kitchen

and now I feel like the Halloween is near.

While sorting charts I've spotted this:

and of course I fell in love with the owl for the second time. I will stitch it on 25ct over one so the final piece will be just 4" by 4". Some time ago I promised myself that I will not touch 25ct again and all my HAED I'm stitching on 22 ct but now I have an urge to try again... after all it is a small and extremely easy piece.

Oh, and I finished a little square for my charity group:

The winter is already here. There is no snow but the temperatures are pretty low (-6°F / -21°C) and days are getting shorter. The sun doesn't rise until after 9 AM and is setting around 6 PM. Soon all the lakes and rivers will be frozen. Last batches of swans are going south and resting right by my cabin:

Here is a close up:

Yeah, I live in a very cold but beautiful place...

So long my friends,
Evalina

Done!!!

Last weekend I was taking part in the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. I love those weekends, thank you Joysze for hosting them. There was 98 of us! I've accomplish 2 things:

1. finished my audio book Nefertiti by  Michelle Moran, and
2. finished Thine is the Trick and the treat

This piece is done on the 28ct linen with Black Crow from The Gentle Art. If I would do it again, I would use just plain black DMC. The effect of over dyed thread wasn't as dramatic as I expected.

One thing less on my WIPocalypse 2012 list! Now I have to find a piece of nice black fabric for the back...

If you would like to see what others were working on this weekend click here.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Four down, two to go!

Yep, I just finished fourth page of Thine is the Trick and the Treat. Only two left to go!

I could not have done it without my little ZoomZoom's help. He was holding pages in place...

I also have a new start... Can you guess what it is?

and I was working on a long forgotten UFO

It is a lovely piece but I dislike to stitch on aida... This ornament I bought as a kit and instead of choosing another fabric I started to stitch on the one from the package. I do not mind the look of it, it is just so stiff and not very pleasant to work with. Anyway, I'm glad that I switched it's status to WIP, maybe I can finish it for Christmas...

So long my friends,
Evalina 

Silent retreat

Oh, it was lovely! The whole 5 days of silence - no internet, no telephone, no TV. Instead there was a nature and an awesome library.

The Domaine of Silence is set in a magnificent forest in Lachute, just outside of Montreal in Quebec, Canada.

Rooms are pretty small but very clean and comfortable. I just loved the blanket on the bed

All activities were announced by the bell - wake up, meals etc. I did not have to look at the watch at all. The surroundings are fantastic, here is a view from my window:

Can you see a bridge far away (click on the pic for a better view)

Well, that is the bridge. I was a little hesitant to step on it, it looks a little crooked. I got brave, walked on it - it was stable

 and that's the view from the bridge

On my little walks I found not just beautiful views but some critters

Do you see a little chipmunk? It's on the grass by the leaves.

And there was a lawn. I swear, there was no flowers previous day... they show up from nowhere

Aren't they look lovely? And there was a humming on the lawn, I had no idea what it was, so I decide to do a little hunting with my camera

 it took me a while, but I captured a very handsome grass hopper.

The walks were amazing, lovely paths

except the signs - all in French!

Though I found one that I could understand

 Inside the Domaine I found a lot of Egyptian art

and, to my surprise, a lovely embroidered piece

Are you still with me? I had a great time. I came back rejuvenated, relaxed and transformed. I've lost close to 6 pounds and 2 inches of my waist line. I feel great and I'm sure I will do it again!

Even today's weather didn't affect me much. You know, I was going to look for a box form my Stitcher's Alphabet but it turned ugly and I decided to go home. I took some pictures while driving

 Do you see the snow on the trunk of the car?

 Poor visibility

 Signs completely covered

SNOW

 

 and in the middle of this - swans going south... I wish I could fly with them...

That's OK, I'll bet that tomorrow there will be a lot of black ice patches... but tonight is a stitchy night!

So long my friends,

Evalina