Grow Your Blog - and the winner is...

What a party is was! I've spent endless hours in the Blogland visiting awesome blogs, meeting wonderful blogger. Thank you Vicki for making this great even possible. My blog grew from 462 followers to 569 - that's amazing! Thank you all for visiting, leaving comments and playing along. Now, the moment we all are waiting for... the winners!

 The first surprise package goes to Quinn

 second to Debbie

 third to Cathy Habermann

  fourth to Becka

and the fifth to mybearsnme

For some reason I can't contact Cathy since she did not provide a link to her blog or email address. Sorry Cathy I must disqualify you... So now I have to pic another winner. Who that will be? Let's see is almost nine o'clock in the morning so how about #9? OMG!!! That is another Cathy! Coincident? Whatever! The surprise package goes to Cathy Olliffe-Webster. Wow, I'm so happy she was my # 9 commenter because she has the funniest blog ever and she writes beautifully. A long time ago when the 'blue mood' hit me I was watching 'The God must be Crazy' now I just go to Cathy's blog. 

Now I'm done! The winners are chosen and I can design my surprise packages and notify the lucky ones.   

Congratulations to all of you!!!

Well, while I'm writing this post I've got another follower and since I'm in the giving mood she will get a little token of appreciation. Congratulation Erin! I love your blog name 'less bitching more stitching', it's so true!

So long my friends,

Evalina

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