Aww, thanks! You make me blush! I'm still very much learning cross stitching/embroidery. It has become one of my big craft interest (along knitting, crocheting and sewing) only after moving here. Maybe because cross stitched works look somehow so right in this house.

Hair: Trimmed, and I'm not feeling bad after seeing how it made my ends nicer. T is such an accurate, gentle stylist  . My ends are still see through, but not terribly wispy, and the "see through line" under which my hair is really thin is slowly but clearly descending. I've learned from other people's photo journals that big improvements in horizontal volume take time, and a really dramatic change would take more time than I am willing to give now. Waist length is a nice length, but it's still a bit short to my tastes (unless longer lengths prove to be unmanageable to my skills...which I doubt since I wear my hair up all the time anyway). I'm thinking that it might be a good strategy for me to have another maintenance period once I've reached hip length. If (and probably when) I grow past that point, I don't think it will be realistic for me to pursue for thick ends. But, if I find that I don't like fairytale ends on myself even at very long lengths, I can always trim back to tailbone, which is anyway a gorgeous length. This is the plan.
       I'm wearing my hair in a braided bun once again. I think it'll be good for my scalp to wear a style that doesn't require a ponytail start.

Simple Dress Experiment: Ordered a winter coat from Plainly Dressed. I hope it will fit. If it won't, I'll probably just pass it on to T, because ladies coat or not, it looks rather unisex to me. But I hope it will fit, because it looked so nice and something that would be difficult to find IRL: simple, unfashionable enough to not look stupid with my dresses and not made in China in shady conditions.
It's the second best choice after making my own coat- a project I would have loved to undertake but for which I just won't have time right now...not to mention that it might be a bit too ambitious goal for my sewing skills. This is my first full winter in homemade dresses and this brings extra sewing. Things like flannel slips are not available commercially at all, so they must take first priority. Next year I won't have so much sewing to do, and I will have one more year of sewing experience under my belt.
     I also found a winter bonnet from the site. It's a bit different style than the one I already have, and couldn't resist the temptation to order it as well. This bonnet looked a bit more fancy, it might be a good choice for when I want to "dress up". Dressing up for minor special occassions is a good thing IMO, as long as I can do it without sacrificing simplicity.
   
I should also mention that I have received some compliments about my simple dress and my choice to dress this way.   It seems that there are some people who have also thought about doing this. I don't have a single negative thought towards anyone who has thought about starting to dress simply but decided against it- it's a tough, big decision and for many, starting would require much more resolve than in my case. But the hope I have, that my example might encourage someone else, that it might show that it is possible to make this decision and survive, has become just a little stronger.

Thanks, Lisabelle!

About winter bonnets: I obviously don't know how I will like the Plainly Dressed bonnet, but I absolutely love my existing winter bonnet that I got from Christian Coverings in 2005 (well before I became a simply-dresser). Unlike hats, it accommodates an updo -even hairsticks-, and unlike scarves, it doesn't mess up my hair. It is lined with flannel, so it's quite warm too.
    It is more inconspicuous than I first expected, probably because it's such a simple style in simple black fabric. I have never noticed anyone look twice at me when I wore it with an ordinary winter coat, though it is just as unusual as my dresses (have never seen anyone else wearing a bonnet). Take a look!


Because of its shape, it leaves forehead area exposed unlike an ordinary hat. OTOH, it covers the back of the head and neck better. And did I rave enough about its ability to cover an updo comfortably?!


From the side- this is pretty much the only angle where one can tell for sure that I'm wearing a bonnet


Back.

If you do, let me know how you like it!  

Hair: I did some more internet shopping (yep, that's it for the month, unless I get certain grant!), and bought two Lalo Orna hairsticks from eBay. Lalo Orna hairtoys are so cute and cheerful- just the kind of toys that are good to have at hand when the dark, wet and miserable part of fall arrives. It's not here yet: apple trees are still mostly green and though other trees aren't, they are in tiny minority and can't spoil my views unless I go out. But it will come. And I will be prepared.
   Inspired of my little shopping spree, I started today with a cinnabun decorated with the violet LO hairstick I already have. Besides that, I needed some Amish pins to secure the bun, but the end result was very cute. That stick and my yellow dress are a match made in heaven! The contrast was just perfect, not too loud. Unfortunately, both dress and updo had to go after I had finished cleaning up upstairs. But it was fun while it lasted!
Now that I'm writing this my hair is still wet. I still need to go out of the house during the evening- how I'm going to wear it will greatly depend on how wet it still is when I must leave.

Crafts: T's sweater is still progressing very quickly. I'm almost halfway the front piece now. T already likes his new sweater. He's so cute. It's becoming more and more obvious though that in the end, I will have even more leftover yarn than I first anticipated. No problem though- the color is very nice, natural forest green. It's a good color for any project.

Thanks, juri! I did have breaks, even weeks breaks while this project. I'm not always in cross stitching mood, and in my experience, if the mood isnt' just right it's best not to force it but do something else. Crafts are supposed to be fun and relaxing. I think I crocheted a doily and knitted/crocheted two shawls, plus did lots of sewing while the cross stitch was on hold.
      Hmm. I think I should start keeping notes on the crafts I produce. I do something almost every day, so it might be fun to see what comes out of my craft corner during a year or so.

I shopped some more yarn so I can make stripes to the things I am going to make from the yarn left over from T's sweater. While I love luxurious mohairs, soft alpacas and cashmeres and adore interesting effect yarns, you should see just how much I use plain wool/polyamid yarn in one winter. In spite of how exotic ideas I have at first, every year, at some point I find myself carrying home a shopping bag or two full of plain wool blend yarn. And then some more. Most of my life is everyday life, and in everyday life we need simple, warm and durable things: socks, mittens, plain sweaters and cardigans, all for which the humble wool blend is best. Chenille and and mohair days are much more rare, though certainly welcome when they occur.

Hair:I had braid waves (=a little texture) this morning. I got a sudden inspiration to see how Chinese buns look in these days. It turned out very good! I can only think that having more than just barely enough hair for the style really helps. Violet LO hairstick looked very good, though not terribly dignified in it. But then, I'm not feeling dignified today.
    Sadly, I'll have to take the bun down and change my hairstyle before we leave to have lunch at T's father. His wife (aka. The Hairstick Grabber) is also there, and I want to keep her out of my hair. So, best not to leave toys around. I still have gorgeous clips to wear with a bun, and for somre reason they are much less inviting.

Good news first:   Woohoo!

Then something not so good: T has a chicken pox. I had it when I was a child and am safe...but, I have (again) a rather bad flu. I guess sweating outdoors in cool weather was not smart...

Hair: My hair creativity has continued- as I lay down sick, gorgeous chinese buns and other hairstick creations suddenly stand a chance to survive the day, and I've enjoyed nice hairstyles for the past couple of days.
     Because the grant will be paid in a couple of weeks (and because we're both ill and T is confined to home for a while), I'm celebrating the grant by growing a handsome VISA bill made out of all the "non-essential" stuff I have not bought while on budget: Ficcares, eartoys...
I think I've earned it. 

Thanks, everyone!  Yes, I'm very, very relieved. Hadn't I received this one, I would have had to seriously reevaluate my whole career plan. Now, I'm looking forward to another year of adventures and exciting opportunities.

I have to say- I'm a lousy shopper. I've bought three Ficcares, two pairs of MT sticks and two pairs of eartoys, and am done. Can't think of anything else I'd want. With those Lalo Orna sticks here soon, I think my "little Christmas" will be extra early this year.