WIPocalypse time!

Mayas were wrong or we had no idea how to interpret their calendar. It did not end, it started all over - so our WIPocalypse. Yep, we are doing it again - trying to finish our projects. For more info check Measi's Musings.

I was working on the replica of the pincushion from the year 1800. Here is my progress:

And I will not stop until I finish it. This year I will work on one project at the time. Well... say stitching project.

During 'Grow Your Blog' event I came across Vicki's blog Stitchy Mc Floss and fell in love with her new project - knitted shawl. She provided a link to the pattern, I looked at it, printed and yesterday I was shopping for yarn. There is only one yarn shop in our land of the Aurora Borealis and that's where I went. They did not have yarn that was mentioned in the chart (not even that brand) so I was looking and looking and finally I founded!

Lovely, soft, silky yarn: 42% silk, 40% cotton and 18% wool made in Japan. You can't tell from the picture but trust me, it feels wonderful against the skin.

I did not knit for ages! I learned to knit as a very young girl from my grandmother. She was an awesome knitter! So I pulled the needles, cast some stitches and started to knit thinking of my grandma. I knitted until the whole ball of yarn was used then I took a picture and started another one...

I did not follow the pattern very closely, I usually look at the pattern and the picture and the needles start 'flying'. I think my eyelets are a little further apart than in the original. Not much, just a couple of rows. I do not care though and I like the way it looks.

As for my stitchy project - it did not change, I will work on the list from last year. If you like you can see it here.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Happy mail day

I received 2 awesome packages today.  Barb of Wicked Stitcher sent to me beautiful Quaker Christmas

A while ago I've spotted this quaker on her blog. Hers looks much better than the one on the picture. Click here to see it. I can't wait to put my hands on it. Thank you Barb, you've made my day!

The second package was brought to me by Royal Mail. It is the beautiful Jane Atkinson that I've won on Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year.

I already have ordered fabric and silks and they are on their way north! Thank you so much!!!

Now back to stitching!

So long my friends,
Evalina

Countdown to freedom

The countdown has officially started. Yesterday my boss organized my 'farewell lunch', I chose the restaurant (with the best bison burgers in town!). It's too bad I'm sick, it was farewell with club soda... and I love a beer with my burger! Anyhow, it was lovely and I had tears in my eyes. All guys signed a lovely card and the boss presented me with the gift. It is a hand painted plate. Really isn't a plate but the gold pan and it looks awesome:

I absolutely love it! It will remind me of all the good things I learned and time I spent at the firm. It already hangs on the wall in my home office. Now it's time for another chapter and a new business plan!

Today I was working a little on the lovely pincushion. That darn thing is so addictive, I can hardly put it down.

So long my friends,
Evalina

p.s. To enter the 'Grow your Blog' giveaway, click here

Is it Monday already?

I have no idea where the weekend went. Friday morning I woke up with a fever and a nasty flu. I did not go to work, I did not stitch, I did nothing. The 'Grow Your Blog' party was going on but I could not stay too long on the front of the monitor. I slept, slept and slept some more. Rest helped a little...

I have visited every single participating blog, I've met many other stitchers, artists, writers, photographers and other talented people. I fell in love with many forms of art. I decided to learn Italian so I can visit Tuscany. I also want to learn how to quilt. My bucket list has grown tremendously.

I will have more than one surprise giveaway. Last time I looked there were 133 comments on my entry post, means 133 people have entered. How can I have just one gift! I think I will make five, that will be more fair.

I managed to stitch a little and I was working on M. Quertier 1799

I guess my next project is to answer all the emails I'm receiving during the party. A few more days at my nine to five job (this Friday is the last day, really!) and my life can be normal again.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Grow your blog!!!

2 Bags Full is hosting a party in the blog land! And if there is a party I'm in!

I have been blogging since February 2008 (wow, it will be five years soon!). I blog about everything, my hobbies, the beautiful cold North, current events if they touch my heart.

There will be no party without a 'door prize'. I will not tell you what the prize is but I can tell you that it will be a surprise from the North of 60. The winner will be announced on February 1st. Please leave a comment or two and make sure that I have your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner.  Now, let's have fun and explore the Blog Land!

So Long my friends,
Evalina 

First finish in 2013!

Vickie from A Stitcher's Story has a traveling pattern thing going on her blog. Fortunately for me I have this chart and since it looked like a cute little one night piece, I decided to stitch it. Here it is:

It looks a little  a lot different that the original:

as I used my own choice of colours. I stitched mine of 32ct lugana 'DaVinci', lovely lavender/light blue with silk floss from Carries Creations (Sublime and Peacock) and some DMC. I'm donating my chart to 'Traveling Pattern' event on Vickie's blog. So this is my first finish this year and this weekend I will transfer this little piece into an ornament.

And I have been one lucky woman! I won a beautiful chart in our monthly draw hosted by Nicola of Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year. It is a reproduction sampler called Jane Atkinson circa 1780

I love this piece! I'm planning to start this project in February, just for Nicola's birthday.

So long my friends,
Evalina

OMG!!!

My stomach is full of butterflies and my heart is stopping once in a while...

For quite some time now I was thinking about leaving our office and starting my own business. During our 'cold days' in November and December when temperatures dropped below -30 and I was stuck at home, I've got a taste of being my own boss. I have few clients for whom I provide bookkeeping and accounting services. Yeah, I know - the data entry is not the most exciting thing but I do create reports and financial statements, provide analysis and calculate taxes too! To tell you the truth, the bottom line - I liked it. I liked it a lot!

Couple of days ago I've got brave and talked to my boss. It was hard. I was his first employee and I worked there over 5 years. I'm glad that the conversation is behind me. It went smooth and there was no drama. Next Friday is my last day of 9 to 5 job and a first day of freedom (and hard work)! What that means? Well, let's see:

• no more two-hour drive to/from work (I can spend 2 more hours stitching every day [smile])
• I can wear perfume again
• I'm very independent and not the best team player - problem solved, the only team is me!
• I can stitch during my lunch hour
• I had flexible hours, so no change here
• no more steady paycheques but sky is the limit on earning potential
• now I have to find my own clients but with December 31 and tax season just around the corner I don't think that it will be a problem

On the stitchy note - I was working on the 'Songs of the Season' a little and on the pincushion. Here are the pics:

another motif completed

The whole pincushion is stitched with silk floss over one. The stitches are so tiny!!! I love this piece.

So far I'm a good girl, no more 'new starts' until something gets finished. Now, back to stitching!

So long my friends,
Evalina

Thank you!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me to find three kings. Now they are on their way north! I've decided to go with this one:

I'm not so sure about all that black, unless... Oh, I have a whole year to think about it!

Today is my ex's birthday and I have a tradition of buying a present for myself on his birthday, name day etc. (I love celebrations!!!) I was stuck at home but nothing can stop me from shopping. Look what I bought:

A lovely sampler 'Honest, kind and good' by Stitcher's Hands and from Victoria Sampler 'Friends in Stitches' designed by Thea with the accessory pack and brass bellpull.

'Honest, kind and good' I will stitch with silk floss, same colors as in 'Songs of the Season'.

Now it is time for some evening stitching.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Goodbye Christmas

So, the 12th day of Christmas is almost gone, so does Epiphany. I really wanted to stitch a little project with the Three Kings but I could not find any! I spent a whole day searching and nothing, zilch, zero. Not on-line and not in my stash. I guess I will have to make a note of it and be prepared for the next year. I had in mind a little silhouette with 3 guys on camels and a bright star, stitched with white floss on the navy blue fabric. I will keep looking for it but if you have anything like that in your stash or know where I can find it, please let me know.

Did you know that in many Latin American countries, it is the three wise men and not Santa Claus who bring gifts for children? Children write letters to the wise men telling them how good they were and what gifts they want.

I planned to make a king's cake today, but the day went by and I never got to it.  Maybe I will bake it on the Orthodox Epiphany. Orthodox Christians are using Georgian calendar and everything is a couple of weeks behind. For example, tomorrow is a Christmas Eve, on the 7th is Christmas Day and the New Year is on the 14th of January.

This week/weekend I've manage to stitch a little.  On the 1st of January I started 'Snowing, a SAL with Tama. Isn't much but what you see here is the whole width of the first page. There are 16 pages in total. So far it is a very easy stitching with no confetti stitches.

I have also worked on the pin cushion until I run out of 'pale gold' floss. The good news is that the missing floss is on the way and in the mean time I can work on motifs that do not require that color.

Yesterday I've added a few stitches to 'Songs of the Season'. I love this piece and it fell good to get back to it.

I hope next week I will be more productive.

So long my friends,
Evalina