I think I have figured out how to use the new virtual private server thing that my webhost made me upgrade to. We're just having a "discussion" about how they've moved me from a server with php 5 (needed to run the wiki) to a server with php 4, and what they're going to do about it. I've been told I didn't "request" it when I ordered the vps. When they told me I had to upgrade they didn't mention that I would have to make a special request in order to have exactly the same version of php that I was using put on the new server. I'm annoyed but they're pretty good at sorting these things out so hopefully they'll get it fixed asap.

I don't know if they have installed imagemagick and netpbm yet. I'm not going to ask about that until I have the php issue resolved. I'm envisioning having to learn to install them myself, which means I'll have to figure out shell access and all that kind of thing. Luckily I have an ftp program that includes telnet and shell so as long as the documentation is good I might be able to do it.

Lest I start sounding like I know what I'm talking about, I can assure you I don't. I'm just repeating what the various "how to" manuals I have read say. I don't pretend to understand it at all. But I can follow instructions as long as they're not too jargonish so maybe I'll be OK.

On the needlework side of things, I just found out about biscornu.

Biscornu are cute little embroidered pincushions made from two squares. They're cleverly stitched together with a decorative seam with the corners offset to produce a shaped eight sided cushion. They're usually finished off with buttons or a charm in the centre. I'm putting one of these on my "to do" list after I finish my suffolk puff/yo-yo coverlet and Miss Binky's jumper.

Biscornu, originally uploaded by litlaskvis.

In case you'd like to try them too, here are some instructions :-)

Own Two Hands - Biscornu instructions and patterns