A Word of Advice...

...from Rational Me. Super Rational Me: don't get married, don't have kids, never say yes when you should say no. And don't agree to do Neighbourhood Round Robins. Which is, basically, an example of saying yes when you should have said no.Oh, you do understand, I hope, that when I said that one should never have kids I didn't mean any slight on my darling Pelle, but I just can't stand what he has to go through right now.

Onwards to stitchy pics:
My 'Do Not F*** With Me' replacement sampler (the original DNFWM has come to a sticky - if not pointy - end in that it got frogged. That ugly sampler is no more). This is a freebie (!!!!!!!!!!) from Atelier Imaginaire. I intend to work on it whenever I'm in need of therapy or meditation and the therapists and meditators are all asleep and, of course, when time and neighbourhoods allow.

I've finished part 2 (I thought it was part 4, but I checked the site and it turns out one band is one part. Drat it.). Having said that, this is such a wonderful sampler to work on. It's far from easy, even though there aren't any specialty stitches or anything. It's just that I decided to stitch this on floppy fabric with rather stiff linen threads from DMC, which makes for a lovely-looking sampler, but also for a rather novel experience in the contrasting feel of materials. I suppose the sampler isn't called 'Alter Echo' for nothing (and how appropriate for me, eh, considering the contents of my previous post?)

And I have a finish to celebrate! The Fremme birdy pincushion! I haven't finished-finished it yet, but shown on the picture are the materials which I will be using to make this into a very spiffy little pincushion. I will send the birds your way, Monique, in the course of this week!

I haven't finished Michelle's neighbourhood yet, but I did mail it to Kathy anyway, and I was in such a hurry to do so that I completely forgot to take a picture. I believe Kathy is the last person to work on this one apart from Michelle, so maybe you could send it back to me when you're done, oh Sweet and Patient One? And just so you know: Katrina's RR is in the Q-snaps as we speak.

On a(nother) personal note: today would have been my Opa's 100th birthday. He always said he wouldn't make it this far, but he came pretty close! Opa was a real wonder. He told the most fantastic stories, and the amazing thing about them was that they were all real! His pale blue eyes would light up and his laughter would fill the room (or the patio, because he was always outside, basking in the Spanish sunshine). I still miss him every day. I believe it was in my old blog that I told you a bit about him, but I was blogless at the time he died. He passed away on April 24th.

Short post, so sorry, lots on my mind and none of it involves stitching. Until next time, honeybuns!

Edited to add that the link to the Atelier Imaginaire freebie is not working, although the freebie is still there. Perhaps I can't link directly to the freebie. If you google alter echo atelier imaginaire, you should be directed to the freebie immediately. I'm doing the French version, but there's also an English version and a German one!

An Apology

I don't know why I keep apologizing to you guys for becoming a selfish stitcher, I really don't. Honeybuns, I'm doing you a favour.

Today, I have discovered that I am physically or mentally (or mayhap bothly) incapable of sticking to deadlines. Even when all the evidence points to the fact that I have a deadline approaching, something inside me prevents me from making it. It really is not a conscious effort on my part to not make the deadlines. I'm just hopeless. I live in La-La-Land. In fact, I live in a special corner of La-La-Land, reserved for people whom even the regular residents of La-La-Land find a little too weird. A little too embarrassingly naive, air-headed, perhaps even a little dangerous. I think I may even be schizophrenic. And this is the sort of war of words that rages between Rational Me and La-La Me:

Rational Me: Say, An, you're in this Neighbourhood Round Robin, aren't you?
La-La Me: Really? Oh yeah... Now that you mention it.
Rational Me: Yeah. You do realise you have actually THREE of the neighbourhoods in this particular Round Robin in your possession?
La-La Me: Oh, that's what those large yellow envelopes are for? They contain Neighbourhood Round Robins? Ha! What do you know.
Rational Me: Yeah.
La-La Me: Hmm.
Rational Me: Yeah. Yeah. Listen, An, why do you think there are three of those lying around in your house, instead of just one or two?
La-La Me: What? I don't know. The person sending them to me must be a really quick stitcher.
Rational Me: Ya think?
La-La Me: Hm-mm.
Rational Me: You don't think maybe you may have missed a deadline?
La-La Me: Who? Me? Erm... no. You think?
Rational Me: Well, I did hear Kathy - the poor, dear lady who you are supposed to be sending to - mention November 15th as a deadline.
La-La Me: Well, of course. That's my deadline for this particular neighbourhood.
Rational Me: Are you quite sure, An?
La-La Me: Yep, I think so. Well, you know, since you're really starting to hassle me now, I'll drop a line to the nice lady who organizes this NRR, just to make sure, okay? Would that satisfy you?
Rational Me: That would certainly help.
La-La Me: Okay then, you nasty hassler.
[floats off to write an e-mail to said lady, probably forgetting to ask the all-important question]
[Some time later] Rational Me: So An, have you heard from the nice lady yet?
La-La Me: Which nice lady would that be? Every lady I know is nice. Except one. She's a very nasty lady. But maybe she meant well after all and I just completely misunderstood her motives and_ [is rudely interrupted]
Rational Me: AN! Get a grip, woman! She is a nasty lady, but we're not talking about her right now.
La-La Me: Well, there's no need to shout at me like this_ [is, again, interrupted]
Rational Me: I'm losing my patience here.
La-La Me: Really? You should take up cross stitching. It's very therapeutic_
Rational Me: DID. You. Get. An. E-mail. From. That. Lady?
La-La Me: No, but she's going through so much right now and I don't think I should_
Rational Me: DO you know when the next deadline is?
La-La Me: Well, I've thought about it because you keep nagging me, and I do think it actually might be September 15th.
Rational Me: That would be September 15th, 2008?
La-La Me: Yes. I'm pretty sure that's the right year... Oh no...
Rational Me: What?
La-La Me: Oh no... I... I think I may be a little late...
Rational Me: A LITTLE LATE?
La-La Me: Yes, but... I didn't know about the deadline.
Rational Me: You didn't know about the deadline? You have three Neighbourhoods from the same RR lying around, and you didn't know you had a deadline?
La-La Me: Well, not exactly...
Rational Me: You didn't hear any alarm bells ringing when you saw that pile of big yellow envelopes gathering dust on your dining room table?
La-La Me: Bells? There were bells? Did they play a nice tune? I'm afraid I missed that. I didn't hear any bells.
Rational Me: Are you deaf?
La-La Me: No, my ears are in perfect working order, actually. Only the other day, I_
Rational Me: AN!!!!! Could you, for once in your frigging life pay attention to the things that matter, instead of walking around with your head up in the clouds and thinking everything will turn out alright without actually ever doing something about anything???? Will you never learn? Will you_ Oh, bloody hell, sod it. I don't care. I give up. You just do what you like.

And so I do.
And I apologise.

Time for another confession

No no, don't worry, don't flee. I'm not going to bother you with personal stuff this time. Not much, anyway :o)
As I mentioned in my previous post, last week was rather hard on the old nerves. It was actually quite dreadful and horrible. And it didn't really end with that nice dinner party with my friends. On Monday I had to conduct a telephone conversation with someone re. divorce negotiations and... well, to cut a long story short, after I had hung up I felt inspired to stitch up this:

Inspired as I was by the book Subversive Cross Stitch, which Harmien pointed out to me. After the pointing out, I remembered that I actually own this book. What I couldn't remember is why I couldn't remember, and then it dawned on me: I don't really like it. Believe you me, I have nothing against strong language. Actually, I have been known to swear like a dockhand, especially when I'm driving (but really, guys, there is so much to swear about when you're driving, don't you agree? I mean. Really. Horses on public roads or paths. Why? Why??? Have we no cars, no motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, means to take us wherever we want to go without having to saddle up a bloody horse first? Are we stuck in the middle ages? And, and, and... what about organised groups of 60+ people taking HIKES or - heaven forbid - bicycle tours on public roads. You know: people dressed up in fluorescent jackets, armed with whistles to warn the rest of the group that traffic is coming. OF COURSE there's traffic coming. It's a PUBLIC ROAD, and it's there to help people in CARS get from A to B in the fastest, most efficient way possible. Or what about people (usually gray-haired and gray-vehicled) who seem to think that it's okay to enter a motorway going at a snail's pace. No, it is NOT okay to do that, especially when I'm behind you. Or people who insist on blocking the second (or third) lane by driving there at said snail's pace while there is no earthly reason for them to be there, because the first lane is going quite dangerously fast enough for them, thank you very much (and besides, they have no business on a motorway anyway, because they should be on a sidewalk somewhere WALKING)...

...I'm wondering now what the point is that I'm trying to make. Let me go back to see... Oh yes: nothing against strong language. Not at all. Using strong language is good for the soul and people who use it whilst driving are better drivers, as research has shown, because such drivers are always aware of what is going on around them (boy, am I ever).

Strong language, however, has no business in the lovely, sweet, sweet craft of cross stitching. I mean, not as far as I'm concerned. I started this sampler because I had to get something out of my system, but I should've taken the car for a spin instead, because the sampler didn't work. I felt bad about stitching words like these. It didn't feel right. If it works for you, good for you, but I think words on samplers should refer to all things floral, faunal, beautiful. And so I turned my attention to something very different, and yet and at the same time quite similar:

As you see, the colour scheme is the same as my intended 'Do not f*** with me' sampler, but the sentiments expressed on my linen are quite the reverse and more to my liking.

Also, I ordered a little Fremme kit a couple of weeks ago and it arrived yesterday. This is what happened:

Me likey.

And I can't leave you without showing you how big my little boy is getting. This pic was taken this morning, before he went to school:

Hope you're all well and in no way moved to stitch ugly words on lovely samplers :o)

Of finishes and friends

This has been a difficult week, but it's come to a very happy conclusion. I will let the pictures speak for themselves:

Prairie Schooler - Birdsong II framed!

The Goods Huswife - Ellen Birdseye framed!

Jeremiah Junction this-and-that-mixed-motifs-from-various-issues-of-their-magazine-sampler - framed!

Dinner with my oldest friends - names clockwise starting on the left: Saskia, empty spot (that would be me), Annique, Godelieve, Sandy, Renate (who is trying very hard to avoid the camera and pretending not to do so). I've known Annique for thirty years (shhhh) and the rest of our circle of friends has been added on to throughout our years at school. We're an odd bunch, I think, but we all get along like a house on fire :o)

And finally, another picture that would lighten up the darkest day:

Pelle looking very sweet and wearing his new Ome Willem T-Shirt with great pride.

For your information: I've finished the Halloween floss ring tag slash scissors fob exchange for Harmien and I delivered it on her doorstep last Monday, but since the finishing was done in the dead of night (the perfect time to finish a gift for Halloween, wouldn't you agree?) I couldn't take a picture, so you will just have to believe me. Next time I'm doing an exchange with Harmien (or with anybody, for that matter) I'm not going to suggest an exchange unless I've actually already finished my part of the exchange.

Hope this finds you well and happy.

Until next time!

Why selfish stitching works (and unselfish stitching doesn't)

A couple of weeks ago, Harmien and I decided to do a personal Halloween-themed floss ring tag exchange. I thought that was a good idea. Harmien is my best friend. she knows me, she will probably count on me not making the deadline. In fact, she knows I won't make it before I myself discover that there is no way I will. It doesn't help that I have a child who will try his darndest to never, ever have me make a deadline, but - as Harmien so rightfully pointed out - I shouldn't blame him for my own inability to not procrastinate. It's not his fault that he's been ill for more than a week. He can't help it that his stomach upset led to a runny nose, inflamed ears and wheezing lungs and kept me up for nigh-on a week so. And it's not Vonna's fault that I didn't finish the exchange on time either. No, it's not. The fact that she came up with this Me, Myself & I Neighbourhood and Blog is no reason for me to abandon everything I was working on to start planning yet another neighbourhood. It is nobody's fault, except my own, that Harmien arrived on Friday bearing the Halloween Exchange she so industriously finished on time, and that I had nothing to show in return, except a couple of sad pieces of fabric containing even sadder half-finished stitcheries. What I'm trying to say in a very roundabout way, is that I received some lovely, lovely gifts from Harmien...

...and that she didn't get anything from me. I feel bad. Especially because these are such beauties that I can't stop drooling over. Thank you, Harmien, and I can't tell you how sorry I am that you will have to wait for another week :o((((

Okay, enough of that. There was actually something I could give Harmien. It was a gift I stitched for her and Erik, as a sort of (very meager) thank you gift for everything they did for me this year:

Dear Friend by Blackbird Designs, adapted slightly to make room for our initials, and for the extra 'S' at the end (the original says 'Dear Friend'). The heart at the right is stitched in Queen's stitches. A first, and also a last for me, to be perfectly frank. Well, at least it lends the piece a sort of... primitive, school sampler-like look. The picture is appalling. The fabric was, apparently, mounted on a white board, which shines through because of the flash of the camera. I don't think you can actually see it IRL.

Another finish I picked up from the framer's is Herb Garden by Little House Needleworks. What a sweety, huh? And such a quick stitch! I love it to bits.

And now for my Me, Myself & I Neighbourhood. Like most builders in this new neighbourhood, I haven't been able to sleep properly since this project was set up, so during the very few hours that Pelle wasn't gasping for breath or throwing up or crying, I actually lay awake thinking of houses to build in my neighbourhood, poems and sayings and beasties and trees, and I think I'm mostly done planning. As to the name of my neighbourhood, I haven't quite decided if it will be ' Woodsy Wanderings' or 'Wacky Woodlands'. What do you think? I think I prefer 'Woodsy Wanderings', because I'm not planning anything too wacky right now. It's going to be a rather primitive affair, though, lots of Workbasket Designs and La-D-Da. I've found a poem to go around the design in a border (YES! A border!), but I'm waiting for the collection of poems I ordered before I share it with you, because no-one on the internet seems to know exactly how the poem goes. Barbara, for your information, it's a poem by e e cummings.

One more thing before I start dinner: I had wanted to explain, in my previous post, that even though my Green Award went to four ladies who happened to be mothers of children, I didn't mean to say that ladies with no children don't make me green with envy every once in a while. Rest assured, ladies, you certainly do. It's just that, I have enough work raising 'only' one child, and I cannot for the life of me imagine raising more and still having time to stitch, design, work, etc. On the other hand, when I hear of the trouble fur babies can cause, I can only say I'm glad I have a baby of the non-furry variety to take care of :o)

Next time, I hope to show you at least part - if not all - of my Halloween Exchange for Harmien. I'm not making any promises, though. Not ever again.