Birthday Presence...

...and even some presents! :)

Friday, November 12th was my 28th birthday--and I even got some presents! I'll show those first. :)

It was just NOT one of those Birthdays (Can I just say that my hair has been falling out for the last 3 weeks to the tune of a 20-30% loss?), so I decided to refresh my mood and get myself a cat:



Jenny Bean Christmas WiP. :)



Now With Cat!



This cat is adapted from HE's Stitching Necessaire. It so reminds me of the dragon Toothless from the movie How to Train Your Dragon. Animal (esp. cat) lovers MUST see this movie--that dragon is simply adorable. :)


Marc brought home some pink roses. :)








On Saturday I got to pick our the restaurant for our friend group's dinner, and I decided upon La Riviera in Clifton 'cause we'd been there once before and it was well-received. Also, I REALLY wanted to try the Ossobuco, which you can see at the top of their dinner menu. It was so good, though really rich! :) They are really a seafood place foremost, and the Seafood Salad was even better than last time. :) One of my friends brought me an American cookbook as a gift.

NOW, to the Good Stuff: A couple of my good blogging friends actually sent me gifts! That they MADE! Boy, was I happy and touched. Just, really.


(With apologies for the poor lighting today:)



Myra sent me a large-sized pouch: Now I've got a set! :D As anyone who has been lucky enough to receive one knows, it is SO well-made! I also love the homespun fabric and tea-dyed pom-pom trim she included. Previously, I didn't really *get* the Pom-pom trim "craze" but this stuff is really special-must be the hand-dying. ;) Myra, thank you again: I love these gifts and can't wait to use them. The large pouch should be perfect for BBD Mystery--as soon as I can get the linen sorted!



I love the fabric and the skeleton key (a favorite!) zipper pull. :3




From Christina, a wonderful pin pillow of a PS motif! I actually loaned Christina this chart, and boy did that work out for me! (lol!)



Dear Reader, you may recall the "Checkerboard Moon Question" from WWGR--I told Christina that I'd just re-stitch an ornament so that I could have one with that effect--lucky for me, she beat me to it! :D

And, look at all those FABULOUS RIBBONS! They are ALMOST as good as the piece itself. Previously, she sent me an exchange finished with some of it (which I adored)--now I have SO MUCH! What a fun prospect to ponder. :)



Thank you, friends for the presents and also to those who sent me kind birthday wishes--your friendships mean so much to me; truly, I can only say I was quite moved that you would think of me.

Thanks also to all my visitors, readers, and commenters--I love having a space that you like to visit! I'm a bit "AFK" this month due to preparing for that exam on 5th Dec.; I've been trying to limit my computer time and I thus owe so many comments and visits! Please know that I'm thinking of you all and looking forward to having more blogosphere time next month.

...

Now, on to the "Presence" part. This blog is already growing long in the tooth, but I'm going to go ahead and launch a scheme that I've been pondering ever since I began contemplating having to leave behind "being 27"--sometime after the halfway point of October.

Two things I believe:

• We are blessed to be a blessing to others.
• I don't believe that for me there are any "neutral" possessions.

You see, compulsive hoarding is something that at least 2 members of my family exhibit, and I realized in my late teens that things either either hurt or help me, and nothing in between. As William Morris said,

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

Now, anyone who saw my house would never think I have a hoarding problem, but it's because I've chosen to share, donate, give, and release that this is the case. :)

As someone who focused most of their secondary and all post-secondary formal education on the arts and design, I have A LOT of supplies and works I need to store. And a relatively small stash of cross stitch as I only started getting into it seriously about 2 years ago--BUT I still already have some things whose time has come to move on to a new home where they can bless a new owner who is excited about them! :D

...Maybe You? ;)

The Particulars:

• If you want any/all of these giveaway items, just mention the one(s) you'd like in the comments section.

• If more than one person wants a particular item, a Randomizer will pick the New Home. :)

• If no one wants to adopt it, the item will go into the goodwill box. This just a chance let my readers rummage through my donations box first.

• I can't get too caught up in running this thing like a pro as I'm studying for this exam, so the listing will end when I decide to post the next thing(s); I'll announce the winner right before the new listing!

• Don't expect a super-speedy delivery; Saturdays are probably the only day I can journey to the post.

• All are welcome to "win"--be ye Lurker or Bosom Friend--you could get "all" the items or just one, and no limit on future "wins".

• Happy Hunting!

Item 1: LHN WiP



This includes the leftover threads (enough to stitch again except green) and chart.

It is much cooler than the photo shows, stitched on 28 count unknown linen, finished but for a flower bud at the left, un-ironed, and contains a counting error at the white underlining "Who Believes".



I added some sweet beads to the blossoms: Would you love to have this to iron up and make into a little pillow or cupboard hang-up?

It was originally for a gift, and so it doesn't "fit" anywhere in my house. I'll include the beads you need to finish the last blossom. :)





Full Disclosure: This piece is from my "Early Days" of stitching, so here's the back so you know what you're getting into. ;)

Item 2:Mill Hill Holiday Harmony Charts



Last year I bought these bead/chart/DMC packs because my favorite Christmas ornaments from childhood were these tiny brass music instruments.



Now, I did stitch them, so what I'm offering you is CHARTS ONLY, except for a little of the Harp leftover. And an all-but-full skein of Au Ver a Soie 2936 silk. It's not called for, but I think you need it for Christmas stitching, anyway. ;)

Item 3: Halloween Chart by HiH



Today's only "all-new" offering!

...

Happy Mid-Week, all! Remember to stop and relax with a hot cup of cider or tea amid the Thanksgiving-Planning Hustle!

Yours,
Berit