Rarity hat

One of the first patterns I bought on Craftsy and the very first I finished is this unicorn hat by BriAbby Designs. I have changed the colours because my daughter wanted it to look like her favourite (at the time) pony from the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic cartoons, and that's Rarity. I have searched high and low for the right yarn and I found this beautiful and soft yarn called Relax at the Barkafonal shop. 

I used one skein of the white and the light purple but I had to buy a second of the dark purple yarn because the mane needs way more than it looks. The horn, the eyes and the pink in the ears were made with leftovers. I stuffed the horn and the ears too. Here is my girl wearing the finished product happily and some progress pictures.

Applejacked

This picture was snapped back in February but I was too busy/tired/scatterbrained to upload it then. As you know, we in Hungary don't celebrate Halloween. If kids wanna play mass dress-up, they either have to have nerdy parents who take them to ComiCon and other events featuring cosplay, or they have to wait for the masquerade season of February. Tamara is still very much into My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. She cosplayed Pinkie Pie before and this year she chose Applejack. She is rocking my chequered shirt and I sew felt apples on her jeans for a cutie mark. I think she looks great.

Are ya' all right, sugar cube?

Stitchy spot

March 16 – Topic:  Show us your favorite places to stitch.

I don't have any. My flat is 25 square meters small. That is about 270 square feet. That includes the kitchen and bathroom, yes. Not many spots to sit around, let alone comfortably. I just sit wherever I can and make the most of it. Here, an example from about eight years ago:

10 years

It was exactly ten years ago on Valentine's day that I said "I do" for the second time. It was a warm February morning, with some leftover patches of snow on the sidewalks but a lovely sunshine. A friend of mind braided my hair with a champagne coloured ribbon, I wore a dress I bought at 19 because I thought it made me look like Snow White and I never had the courage to tell my mom how much it REALLY cost. We had lots of friends and family at the wedding, it was a jolly event, especially at the point when I couldn't stop giggling. I was eight months pregnant. It was possibly the happiest day of my life. The days after that... not so much. It wasn't perfect. It didn't last. I wasn't happy. My heart was crushed, my dreams with it. I regret getting married. I did not, however, regret getting pregnant. I wanted it more than I ever wanted anything else. And motherhood wasn't as perfect and jolly as I thought it would be. It is a lot harder than I imagined, but my daughter gives me the strength to cope with whatever life is throwing my way. Including divorce. And Valentine's day. Reminding me every year what could have been. What should have been. Our marriage was crap. Our daughter is... whatever comes after awesome, I do not have the words to describe her. She wouldn't be here for me without you, so... happy anniversary. You prick. :P

My sister and I at the wedding

Mini finish

I have recently finished this mini kit by Riolis, it came with the ribbons, the card and sticky paper for finishing. A rather simple design, it was done in one afternoon. The petals aren't exactly looking like they are supposed to, but this was my first real go at ribbon embroidery, so I am trying to not be too harsh on myself. 

 My daughter loves getting letters, so I mailed it to her and she loves it! She keeps it on her table and on the first day she has already spilled milk on it by accident, but who cares. What's important is that she's happy.

A walk with angels

 Warning: non-stitching related but picture heavy post follows!

May is about to end

I have not written anything this month. Mainly because I am too tired and in a new situation that both DD and I have got to get used to. Thing is, I have a job. My contract still says temp, but as far as I know, I am the only contestant for the position, which makes it a bit easy, but I am still very determined to do the best job possible. I owe that to myself and the position too. I will be working behind the counter of a needlework shop! Is there a better job possible for a cross stitch addict like me? No way!

Almost mid-month April WIPocalypse report

March had been a pretty hectic month and a particularly unlucky one for our family, so I am glad it is over. Here's hoping it will never surface again. Not only were most of us really sick last month, my baby was also bit by a dog very badly. I will never ever get her screams of pain out of my head for as long as I live. Never. Ever. It's been almost a month since it happened, but I wasn't ready to talk about it until I could see it healing. She was bit on her thigh and most of the minor bruises are almost gone, but two big holes where the dog's fangs have pierced the skin are still healing and will take at least another month before they are closed. For now, we change bandages several times a day to make sure the wound gets some air too. My girl still refuses to look at it. It seems the horror of being injured is multiplied by the disturbing sight.

And now for the regularly scheduled stitchy news. 

February flashback #2

Now that we've entered April it is really time to get my February blogging done. :)

The other big thing to be remembered about February is of course the masquerade. Here in Hungary kids don't dress into costumes at Halloween, they do get to have a ball and loads of fun in February. It is the carnival season in many European countries.

In my daughter's school they prefer home made costumes to readily made ones. This cute cat was entirely my daughter's idea. She wore a pair of black leggings, black leotard, a pair of soft boots my sister bought her last year, and the ears and tail I bought her at a joke shop. She hates face painting so she only let me smear some black eye shade on the tip of her nose and a few lines for whiskers. And then she had some lunch: fish sticks. Ideal for my kitten, don't you think so?

Update

Healthwise we are all fine right now. Tami is back in school and I am back on the job hunt. I am optimistic despite the incredible cold that is here and the huge amount of snow that is reportedly going to come this weekend. We have our flu shots and are taking vitamins every day. Let's hope the sick days are behind us for this winter.
Homewise I am getting better at doing chores. I also installed a makeshift hammock. I tied the old baby carrier sling to the edge of our gallery. My girl can use it to just chill or swing about. She absolutely loves it and spends most of her afternoons in it.

Can be a swing

Can be a hammock

She can watch the telly like this...

...or this

Stitchwise I have worked on my CJC projects in rotation and did a bit on the secret project as well. I did, however, spent most time with Little Wings and with every stitch it looks more and more stunning. Here, take a look yourself:

Golden Sunday

 We usually have the same glass fibre enhanced, colour changing plastic tree that comes with its own ornaments already wired to the branches. This year my girl wished to decorate a christmas tree for the first time, and I gladly obliged. The tree is still plastic of course, and the majority of the ornaments are purple and pink, as those are her favourite colours. We still need to buy some lights and the top ornament will be a huge, silver colour silk poinsettia. We had that for a month, and yes, she spotted that in a Tesco and begged granma to buy it for her. So the tree is really according to her taste this year! I can't wait 'till it's present opening time.


 After that we went skating. She has ice skating lessons once a week because her school specializes in PE training and sports, and all first graders learn ice skating. It was soooo brilliant! I hope to do this again very soon.

Dialogue

"Mommy, I'm scared!"
"Of what?"
"I wanna jump from this table to that bed but it is too far away!"
"Don't jump then."
"But I want to!"
"You will have to let go of one thing. Will it be your dream or your fear? Choose now!"

Best piece of advice that ever left my lips. So wise it shocked me the most. :) Conclusion of the strory: she made the jump. ;)

Baby face, don't grow so fast

Tami thinks she is such a big girl now she wants to go to school all alone. We've been discussing this issue in the past weeks. Her argument is that it's safe and the school is literally just around the corner. In fact, it is the building at the end or our rather short street, she just has to turn the corner to go to the main entrance.

Today she was returning to her school for her extra music lessons, and since it is bright daylight, I told her I will escort her across the street and then watch her from afar as she is walking to school. She accepted although she wished I would just let her go completely. She started walking away, and about 20 meters away from me she slowed down, stopped, looked back at me and decided to run all the way back. Did you change your mind and want me to escort you, I asked. Yes, she said and gave me a big hug. I thought I'd be very lonely on the way without you, she added.

A new life

Sorry to have disappeared from the net for so long. First of all, you may know that after spending three years at my parents' home, my daughter had returned and is now permanently staying with me, where she belongs. She started her schooling on the 1st of September and although she sometimes whines about getting up early, she loves her teachers and most subjects. Apart from the usual classes, she also takes a bunch of extras in the afternoon, such as ballet, folk dancing, singing, crafting, playful English, computer use and junior mathlete club. Might sound a lot, but she asked to take part and I full-heartedly supported her decision.
Unfortunately, I had to give up on a lot of things thanks to the new schedule we have. First of all, stitching. I simply do not have the kind of time and energy it requires. I didn't stitch at all since Tamara is back home. I sometimes think of it, but most of the times I am too tired to even miss it. I wasn't prepared mentally or physically to look after the needs of a child all on my own. I guess as I grow stronger and get used to doing everything, I will be able to find more time for myself.
Second, I had to seriously cut back internet time. Now I have to hunt for jobs in the morning, and share the computer with DD in the afternoon, so idle chatting and browsing is just out of the question. I had to give up on World of Warcraft as well. Tami has to be in bed at 8 p.m. at the latest, so I wouldn't be able to raid, as we have a single room apartment and she couldn't sleep with my talking on vent and hitting the keys near her. Not to mention that I still can't afford subscribing. *sigh* I miss playing with my excellent guild though. So many friends I used to chat with daily.
Even with stitchy blogs and emails, now I just scan through them instead of the thorough reading they are worthy of. So sad it has to be this way, but single moms have to make sacrifices and I'm not really complaining as it was my choice and I stand by it.
I have not been able to watch any live telly in September, thank the gods for teevo. Got totally hooked on the reruns of Battlestar Galactica.
Still unemployed and broke. I will go through my stash this weekend and put up a bunch of leaflets and kits for sale, because I ran out of ideas on how to get more cash.
The past two weeks were tough as the computer broke down and I had withdrawal issues. :) A friend of mine fixed it for me and now I am in the process of reinstalling my old software, which starts with somehow locating installation CD's I haven't seen in years. I hope to keep you posted on how we adapt to our new way of life.

New era

Yep... the school years have now officially began.

DD's masterpiece

Just in time for the last Harry Potter movie, I present to you my daughter's drawing of Professor Lupin.

Yes, she is drawing werewolves at seven. It is clearly my fault. I am fascinated with these creatures. I play mostly worgen in WoW, my favourite RPG is Werewolf: the Apocalypse and I generally like the idea of beast within man. The only reason why I don't have a Team Jacob t-shirt is that I think Twilight is not only rubbish but atrociously badly written as well, but I wouldn't think twice about choosing a ww instead of an undead.

Maybe I will write a longer entry about this when I figured out the reasons. Until then just enjoy my daughter's ability to present the basic idea of a fairytale monster.

You did NOT just say that!

We are watching the show The Top 10 Most X-treme Animals on the telly. This episode is about all the weird and amazing ways animals can change places. Before commercial break the announcer says "and next you will see a sea creature with a built-in rocket engine". I guess medusa and turn to my girl.
"Can you think of any animals that move around like that?"
"Like what?"
"Rocket engine. Do you know how that works?"
"Nope..."
"It's not moving with legs or swimming, rather the animal squeezes something out of its body, usually water, and that pushes it forward. Can you think of any creature that blows out something behind as it moves ahead?"
"Granma'!"
"......" <--- Mommy is pissing herself with laughter.

Kiddo ideas

My daughter is watching Tom and Jerry.
"Mom?"
"Yes, honey?"
"Are mice vegan?"
"They eat grains and nuts and maybe tree bark. They eat vegetables too. But I think they eat anything when they are really hungry."
"Cartoon mice eat cheese."
"Yes, that makes them vegetarian but not vegan."
"How come?"
"Vegans eat nothing that comes out of an animal. Do you know what cheese is made of?"
"Well yes, cheese is made of milk, which comes out of cows, but cows only eat plants, so technically milk is only plants metamorphosed. That makes mice practically vegan."
"..." <--- Mommy is speechless.

My future favourite author

There's nothing I love more than when worlds collide. So I was very pleased to see a special episode of Arthur, a cartoon series my daughter and I both enjoy. To my surprise, one of my favourite authors, Neil Gaiman, had appeared as himself, told the kids about graphic novels and coached a little girl who was trying her hand at writing and drawing one. I have been a big fan of the genre ever since I heard of it. Not much of a surprise, really, as I love to read, and being the geek I am, I love comic books too. Graphic novels are like the love child of the two genres, and I just can't get enough of them. It seems my girl likes the idea too, as she expressed her love for the Arthur episode by recreating the graphic novel written Sue Ellen in the story. Here is her first drawing of the chief circle and triangle:

Of course, nowadays contacting famous people is not as difficult as it was, let's say, twenty or more years ago. Since Neil Gaiman is very active on Twitter by the name @neilhimself, I couldn't help myself but let him know what my girl was up to and how she plans on writing graphic novels. To my surprise he replied within a few minutes, saying "my work here is done".
Yep. And I will continue to work on dragging her deeper and deeper into the magnificent world of words and images.

The World of Cross Stitching free kit finished