Tiny Rose Garden Mandala

Lesli got the package I sent her, so I can finally show you one (of the three) mystery stitches I did during March IHSW. 

Teresa Wentzler's Peacock Tapestry Ornament freebie

Her picture of it is much better, so click here to see it (and if you're curious to see what else I sent her, and of course to read her AWESOME BLOG). 

I'll post the others as they are received.

I've been working on Tiny Rose Garden Mandala this rotation round and here goes.

Before:

After:

A Tiny Rose Garden Mandala by Chatelaine Designs (freebie)

Stitching on 32 count hardanger

2 threads over 2

DMC, Thread Gatherer Silk n' Colors, and Mill Hill Seed Beads

I'm liking how far I got with this. Just have to get another little rose garden done, bead it, and finish it into a pillow. WHABAM.

End of the month check-in:

1. Get back down to 135 pounds. Started the month at 144, now at 142.4. The less I have to lose the more difficult the losing is.

2. Move out of my parent's place. Sigh.

3. Get a job I actually like. Not yet.

4. Finish a few WIPs. Almost done with Tiny Rose Garden!

5. No more stash buying. I've been good!

6. Walking. 29 miles last month. 12.53 miles this month. It has been a RAINY month. On the bright side I've been going to the gym a lot more and I can now bench press 85 pounds. In December I could only do 55, so I'm pretty happy with the fact that I've lost weight, but I can lift more.

That's about it. I've been kind of down in the dumpety lately. Not feeling very bloggy but definitely feeling stitchy. Been trying to comment on as many blog posts as I can, though! I hope you are all doing well and having a wonderful weekend full of stitchy goodness.

College page finish, and then some!

Thanks for all the congratulatory comments about getting into grad school. Classes don't start until September but I'm pretty excited. And nervous. But mostly excited.

Does your mind ever wander while you're stitching to your other stitching projects? Mine certainly does and this weekend was no exception. As such I came up with some pretty bad (good?) ideas while stitching. I ran them by Boyfriend, as I tend to do when I have a bad (good?) idea and he approved, so we'll see how it goes!

I also finished the partial page of College and kept right on going with page 8.

Before:

After:

You can see the partial page at the end of the top row and rooftops on the new page! I'm so excited to be stitching more of the actual College now and less of the trees. ALSO on page 8 is my first little dwarf-y man looking over the edge of a balcony. You can kind of sort of start to see the shape of his hat on the bottom left side of the page, between the black stitches.

So now on to the bad ideas. They all involve stitching.

The first is an attempt to finish College by Christmas. I did some math and made a schedule that would theoretically let me finish it by November 24th - plenty of time for framing before Christmas. The problem? I have to put in 2983 stitches per week. I also have it written out by what date I should finish each page. So when's the next due date? Page 8 should be done by April 21st. I'll post a complete schedule in my left sidebar under College. Don't know if I can keep to this, but we'll see! I'll definitely have to stitch more at home while my parents are at work, though.

The other bad idea is with future projects. My next start will be Mystic Mermaid, since I have her all kitted up and she's not a difficult stitch. I won't start her until I finish something (by something I mean Tiny Rose Garden). After that my next start will be the RAK Adrienne got me, Mistress Darkness. Here's where the bad idea comes in. I want to stitch her one color at a time. Over the entire chart. I think it'll be really really awesome-looking to do that, and it's also a test to see if I like doing it. I intend to get magic guide fabric to do this. My favorite part about stitching is seeing a picture emerge, and Marihun from Marihun és Jenny keresztszemes blogja is doing her Chuck chart one color at a time - the whole thing just really appealed to me.

So there you go - finally a stitchy update and a post full of stitchy ideas. Cross your fingers for my College schedule, and happy stitching everyone!

TUSAL (and other news)

One day late with my TUSAL. You'll have to forgive me but I've been not feeling bloggy lately. I've been stitching like mad for the giveaway winners (all done, ladies! Will go out with the post tomorrow!) and I've been focusing on my newest project of trying to get a six-pack (HAHAHA). That's a six pack of abs, not a six pack of beer. When (if?) I do, John (my photographer friend I did the original photo shoot with) wants to do another shoot. Then Boyfriend, who already refers to me as his "model girlfriend") might spontaneously combust. We'll see. But that's kind of what I've been up to. That and... drumroll... oh wait - TUSAL!

You can see a lot of threads in there from my mystery giveaway stitch.

drumroll continues... I just got into grad school. Just found out this morning, actually. I applied for a Masters in Library and Information Sciences and upon checking my application status it states: "Accepted - Classified Graduate" so I assume that means I'm in. That and the welcome e-mail I received. So yay!

In celebration I leave you with this photo of me being cold as all heck during some horizontal rain in Iceland. That is the Grjótagjá fissure near Mývatn. I was cranky.

At Boyfriend's right now - prepare yourselves for an actual stitching update come Monday! Have a great weekend, everyone!

IHSW and Liebster

IHSW...

...was not a bust for me, but I can't share my progress. Saturday morning I decided that I wanted to stitch something for the giveaway winners. Then I decided that I wanted to hand-dye the fabric I was going to stitch on. Then I actually dyed it. And believe it or not by Sunday night I was already starting the second piece. I'm almost done, but as such I can't show you my progress. To the giveaway winners: I will be sending out the goodies by the end of the week!

Liebster...


It seems that I've been awarded a Liebster award both by Mangogirl (Caitlin) from Naughts & Cross Stitches and Adrienne from TryllaCraft!

"Liebster is a German word, meaning favorite, dearest or beloved, and the Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other, newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er)bies gain wider recognition. The award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting:

1. Choose five up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Liebster to.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

4. Share five random facts about yourself that people don't know about you."

I found out that Adrienne nominated me after I already decided to nominate her, so I'm sticking to it.

1. TryllaCraft - A wonderful person with beautiful stitchy works in progress and also some divine card making skills I'm currently lusting after!

2. charbella stitching - With three little girls, I'm amazed sharine keeps her sanity! Her stitching is truly stunning and I love seeing the Barbie dresses she produces along with stories of her girls.

3. On My Needles - Chatelaines and HAEDs stitched by a sweet person. The first time I saw her WIPs I audibly gasped (and Boyfriend peered over to see what I was gasping about).

4. Heli's Stitchery - Heli is super nice and her HAEDs are amazing. She has also just jumped into the world of Chatelaines, because the blogging world is both a wonderful and awful influence!

5. Doll's Musings - Anne's blog is full of beautiful things, and not just stitching! From her cat Titus to her soft Victorian-inspired photography, every read is a wonderful journey.

Five random facts might be difficult. Hmmm...

1. I hate celery. With a passion. I'll only eat it to be polite, but I refuse to use it in my cooking and will pick it out of my food as long as I'm in a situation where it will not be rude.

2. I can't handle bloody/gory movies. Just can't do it. Boyfriend and I went to see Immortals in theaters, and I couldn't watch it. I covered my eyes for 85% of the movie.

3. I got my ears pierced when I was 19. My mother had to hold me down in the chair. I now want to get my bellybutton pierced, but am afraid that I'm too out of shape and also too old to do it anymore.

4. I love home improvement shows and secretly look for Matt Muenster when I go into any home improvement store.

5. I'm terrified of bears. Absolutely terrified.

Giveaway Winners, Greek Mandala Update, and IHSW

First things first, Boyfriend is reading over my shoulder again. "Be sure to write about me and how helpful I am! And handsome!" Yes. Boyfriend is helpful.  And handsome. Moving on.

But to give credit where credit is due, Boyfriend did pick the names of the giveaway winners!

The box in which the names were housed:

Boyfriend picking the first name:

And.... THE WINNERS!

SO! lesli, sharine, and TheCraftyPrincess - I will be emailing you shortly - if you could send me your mailing addresses I will have some goodies along your way soon! (With Boyfriend's help.)

Next, Greek Mandala.

Before:

After:

Next I will be working on Tiny Rose Garden Mandala during IHSW! Go ahead and zip over to Joyce's Blog and sign up for a weekend of stitching - or click on the little hermit crab on the right.

Today, Boyfriend and I went to the gym. It was pretty good - excellent workout, and towards the end while Boyfriend was at the squat rack and I was doing my lat pulldown - some guy sat across from me and started chatting me up. It was kind of uncomfortable for me since I don't like being approached, so I look over at Boyfriend and what does my Knight in Shining Armor do? Defend my honor! You may think. No. He was laughing. At least he didn't go into some sort of jealous rage.... He did wink and blow me a kiss, though.

Have a great stitchy IHSW, everyone!

College, Page 6!

Just (JUST!) finished another page on College and I couldn't wait to post it! I was really happy to finish this page mainly because there was so much sky I got really tired of it. Still not done with the whole row yet, but the next page is only about 1,100 stitches so not too bad. Should have it done in the next Boyfriend visit. Boyfriend has been most helpful with this page finish, having picked all the symbols and even did some of the stitching himself!

So, without further ado, I bring to you College of Magical Knowledge, 30% done.

Before:

After:

College of Magical Knowledge by James Christensen from Heaven and Earth Designs

Stitching on 25 count antique white evenweave

1 thread over 1 with DMC

I will leave you with an image of Boyfriend's car, after he apparently pissed off every bird in California:

Took about 5-6 washes to get it all off. 

A Blogoversary? (mini giveaway?!)

That's right! My blogoversary is March 12! An entire year of blogging! When I started I was this far on Mario:

Now this far:

This far on College:

Now this far:

And I was working on Dark Queen, which I have since scrapped to do a restart since I HATED working 2 over 1 on 25 count:

I didn't have any other projects in the works and no Boyfriend, either! I was living on my own and working as a paralegal in a family law firm. Now I have an amazing Boyfriend, a million (ok, 7) projects on-the-go, am unemployed and living with my parents and *drumroll* SERIOUSLY considering applying for a master's program! Crazy how much can change in a year.

As such, I will be holding my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY.

Don't get too excited, it's nothing special. I will be sending 3 (THREE!) winners a home-made baked good. Lame, I know. But I'M super excited about it so just pretend you are, too.

All you have to do is comment on this post (if you want to comment on this post and NOT be entered just mention that in the comment and I won't enter you). Please please PLEASE let me know if you have any sort of food preference or food allergy. I don't want to send anyone allergic to chocolate chocolate chip cookies or any vegans things with animal products (and yes, I DO bake vegan things). The last rule is I can only send things within the United States. The reasons for this (I'm not trying to discriminate against anyone outside the U.S.) are that I don't want to break any international food laws and I also don't want anything to go back or stale because of length of time it takes to ship - and food poisoning, my dear friends, is NOT fun.

I hope at least someone out there is as excited about this as I am. I will have Boyfriend draw names at 9pm, PST on Friday, March 16th.

Thanks for a year of reading and commenting, everyone! I've had a blast and look forward to another year of bloggy happiness!

EDIT: If you're International - I'll think of something else (don't yet know what) to send you :) It'll be small, but it'll be from the heart!

WIPocalypse, the 3rd coming!

WIPocalypse time again! I decided to remove Medieval Shelf from my WIPocalypse list, just because I have a feeling I'm not going to get to work on it this year. I want to finish College of  Magical Knowledge first, so Medieval Shelf will have to wait.

Without further ado, my WIPocalypse update:

College of Magical Knowledge before WIPocalypse:

As of today:

College of Magical Knowledge by James Christensen from Heaven and Earth Designs

Stitching on 25 count antique white evenweave

1 thread over 1 with DMC

Mario before WIPocalypse:

As of today:

Mario - darklilac.com self-made chart

Stitching on 22 count white Aida

2 threads over 1 with DMC

Riding the Wave before WIPocalypse:

NO CHANGE.

Tiny Rose Garden Mandala before WIPocalypse:

As of today:

A Tiny Rose Garden Mandala by Chatelaine Designs (freebie)

Stitching on 32 count hardanger

2 threads over 2

DMC, Thread Gatherer Silk n' Colors, and Mill Hill Seed Beads

Middle Earth before WIPocalypse:

As of today:

Middle Earth from Heaven and Earth Designs

Stitching on 25 count antique white evenweave

1 over 1 with DMC

Greek Mandala was not started before WIPocalypse.

Last update:

As of today:

Greek Mandala by Chatelaine Designs

Stitching on 32-count antique white Belfast

2 over 2 with DMC, various silks, petite treasure braid, delica beads, and Swarovski crystals

I still have quite a ways to go with my rotation on Greek (and Tiny Rose Garden is next) so I hope to have one up by the end of the day tomorrow before I'm off to San Francisco again to stalk... err... keep Boyfriend company. 

In other news, I wanted to tell you all the I've started another blog. It's a cooking blog! I thought about posting some photos and recipes here, but I didn't want to do that for anyone who is only interested in stitching, and nothing else. SOOOOO I started a whole new blog. Feel free to follow it - I don't mind one bit! It's just full of recipes, or my takes on recipes, and step by step instructions with pictures. I also try to include caloric values and serving sizes for those of us watching our waistlines (like me!). It's called Cooking by Candlelight and I hope to be adding to it a lot. Also, per Joyce's recommendation, I do a post per recipe (so sometimes multiple posts in a day) to make recipes more searchable. Hope you guys like it! My focus is healthy, but delicious, cooking. Who says healthy food has to taste like cardboard?

Happy stitching everyone - hope to be back tomorrow!

Middle Earf, page finish!

I did it! I've realized that this 10 hour rotation is null and void when I'm about to finish a page. Or if I'm going to be beading. Rules are made to be broken, right? I was so close by the end of the 10 hours that I just said, "heck with it!" and kept going. Oh and by the way, the original page describing the rotation system can be found here if you're interested.

Before:

After:

It's kind of a pain in the butt to stitch, but it looks surprisingly good! Boyfriend gets so excited when I stitch this one - I think it's his favorite. Next up in the rotation is Greek Mandala and then Tiny Rose Garden - then back to Middle Earth.

I'm slowly slowly slowly catching up on blogs. Haven't had much chance to read as I was stitching like a maniac on Middle Earf, and now I'm doggie sitting for this little thing:

Unfortunately she's sick right now so I have to give her eyedrops every three hours and she's got a cone of shame on. Still, she's really cute and follows me around all day. But it's like a little kid. Silence is dangerous. I'm also stuck at home since she can't go for walks because food allergies have made her little paws sore. So lots of cooking and stitching.

Speaking of cooking, that's the job I mentioned before. My parents both work all day and I'm home all day. So we've come up with the arrangement that they will pay for all the food, I will cook it, and then they pay me to cook it. It's really fun and I love doing it. I've found that Cooking Light magazine has some AMAZING recipes and I've even delved into the cuisine of Delhi. Mulligatawny Soup, by the way, is absolutely AMAZING, easy, and surprisingly low in calories so email me if you want the recipe.

Time to give doggie her eye drops. And bug Boyfriend. And catch up on blogs. And start dinner.

So much to do! Happy stitching, everyone - I'll be back soon with an update on Greek Mandala.