SBQ for June...2012???

WOW has this post been sitting around for a while!!  Over two years.  Yikes!  (Yeah, so now I am just randomly pulling up drafts of posts and finishing them up.)  Still a good one though, and showcases some of my favorite pieces.

Also, since there seems to be some interest in SBQs, not to mention they're a great "blog prompt" when you don't know what to write about, I think I'm going to start something up in the fall with monthly questions.  More on that later.  For now, back to um.... 2012.

June 2012:  Do you stitch patriotic/national pieces (or maybe just pieces that represent a specific place)? What's your favorite? (submitted by CinDC)

While there are some very lovely "American" and "USA" pieces out there, they generally don't attract my attention for stitching.  I do, however, have more than a few pieces that represent specific places in the US, mainly lighthouses, such as this one from The Design Connection (though I must confess it was stitched by Mr. Sweet Pea).

NOTE: I believe this design is now OOP.  I can't find it in any of the stitching shops, only on eBay.

Or this piece, Maine Fishing Village by Seguin Designs, that we modified as a birth sampler for our son.  Without a doubt, if we were to chose our favorite places in the world, New England in general, and Maine in particular would be high atop that list, so we have several lighthouse pieces in our collection.

I was also gifted with Blue Ribbon Designs Americana Panorama, which is waiting to be stitched.  So yes, in that respect, we do purchase and stitch what could be considered national pieces for the US

I also tend to find myself attracted to those pieces that reflect my Irish heritage, such as this one from The Sweetheart Tree, Tangled Shamrocks, and my husband has honored his German heritage with a few pieces as well.

April Showers bring May Flowers

When I first started blogging, I wasn't exactly sure what to share or write about that would be interesting to other people.  I was also looking for a way to get to know people through blogging and become part of the stitching community.  One of the most useful ways to make connections that I found, other than through exchanges, was the Stitching Bloggers Questions, or the SBQ.  It used to be based out of a Yahoo Group that's been inactive since 2008 (and I thought I was an infrequent poster!  LOL)

I lost track of it for a while, and then Lee the Lake Stitcher picked it up, though it seemed to fizzle out in July 2012.  I wonder if there's any interest in picking it back up again - I know I enjoyed doing it, and I'm sure others did too.  It was a great way to get to know each other and get insight into how and why our fellow stitchers work, and what they were working on.  It's been so long that even if questions get recycled and you've already answered it, it would be interesting to see if your answers changed.  And there are plenty of stitchers out there that haven't participated.

What brought this on?  I may or may not have been going through my draft posts and ended up finding a few unpublished SBQ questions.  (Some of them were just the questions that I hadn't answered yet).  If there's enough of an interest, I'd consider hosting the SBQ, though it might be better done on a blog that has a larger readership / reach than mine does, so that the word gets out and more stitchers can participate.  At the very least, I'd be willing to do some research and supply the host with a list of questions.  Anybody interested?

And now on to one of the forgotten questions...

May 2012: What's your favorite floral piece that you've stitched? Do you prefer your flowers as the centerpiece of the design or as an accent? (submitted by CinDC at Pencil Crossings)

I don't know if it counts as a "floral" piece, but  I do love this Ink Circles piece, Pot Luck.  I stitched it for a friend, and blogged about it in this post (you can get the details here).

I've stitched some floral pieces, though they tend to be more geometric in nature, or floral "motifs" than straight up pictures of flowers.  Mr. Sweet Pea has done some of the Dimensions flower pieces and framed them as gifts for his mom.  (I went back and looked, and haven't yet blogged about them yet.  I guess I should).  He also did Quaker Floral Puzzle and Quaker Geometric Puzzle, also by Ink Circles.  I know I haven't blogged about them because I just took pictures the other day and I haven't even uploaded them.  (All the stuff I HAVEN'T done yet should provide me with blog material for months.)

I do have a special fondness for a particular floral piece.  It was my very first Fair & Square Exchange, with the lovely and talented Michele.   (you can see her blog post here and how she had it finished here.)   It's Manuela's Sunflowers, a freebie from Chatelaine Designs.

Since being paired up in the exchange, Michele and I have exchanged countless emails and messages, and have become good friends even though we live on opposite sides of the country.  I love how this craft of ours brings us together!

But back to the question - I guess my answer is "It depends".  Though i am not generally drawn to strictly floral pieces myself, sometimes there's a pattern that speaks to me or has a special meaning to someone.  In that case, I enjoy stitching it.  But as a personal preference, I like more geometric interpretations of flowers, or flowers as accent pieces in a more botanical piece.

Breaking up is hard to do

February 2012:  Is there anything in your stash that you are ready to end your relationship with? (submitted by CinDC)

Oddly enough, this ties in nicely to the January SBQ about the oldest patterns.  I started stitching in 2002-2003, and over the years, have acquired several charts, patterns and kits I am now willing to part ways with.   In some cases, my tastes have changed, such as with these snowmen, Mr. Mittens and Frosty.  They're very cute, and I stitched them both as gifts, but they're not really my thing anymore.

I also have several birth and wedding records in my stash that I stitched once and will most likely never stitch again (more from my early days of stitching, when I stuck to pre-packaged kits.)  Now that I regularly modify things to personalize them, I've moved away from kits and I'm ready to make room in my collection.

There are a few charts I'd be happy to send along to a new home for more personal reasons.  I bought them at a different time in my life, with the intent for stitching them for people who are no longer a part of my life.  There's nothing wrong with the charts - some of them are brand new and have never been out of the package.  They just don't fit with my life, and in fact, going back to look over them as I was writing this post kind of annoyed me, that minor annoyance you feel when you look back at mistakes you've made along the way, ones you didn't realize were mistakes at the time. but can see them in hindsight.  No point in kicking yourself over it, but no point in keeping reminders around either. 

Along with these charts, I have a collection of Aida cloth taking up space.  The more I stitched, the less I relied on what came in the kits I was still purchasing, and I branched out.  I started by substituting fabrics, exchanging a 14 ct. Aida for a 28 ct. evenweave, and going from there.  

Don't get me wrong - sometimes those pieces of Aida come in handy for some projects, but it's now become a design choice I make, instead of having it made for me.  Sometimes I like the chunkier, more obviously stitched look that Aida gives to a piece, and I have two birth sampler charts that I've used several times that I stitch on Aida fabric.

These are "Snips and Snails" and "Sugar and Spice" from Serendipity Designs.  I like them because they stitch up quick, and done on a 14 ct. fabric, fit perfectly in a 5x7 frame.  They're my go-to design when there's no specified theme for a nursery.  So while I may not chose kits anymore, there's still some room left for Aida fabric.  Perhaps just not all of it though...

So, that's my story.  If you're interested in any of the charts I have listed, please let me know and we can work something out.  You can see them all here: Stash for Sale or Trade

Catching up on some long overdue SBQs

I've been trying to come up with ways of blogging other than what's become typical for me - "Hey, look what I finished!"  I'm not much for progress photos because most of my stitching projects aren't massive undertakings like a HAED or a big Long Dog sampler (I leave those to my husband).  Plus I've been overwhelmed by digital images - I am the sole currator of our family photos, and we have a 2, soon to be 3, year old, which means we take a LOT of pictures.  I get tired of keeping up with them sometimes, but I usually prefer blog posts with at least one photo so I am stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place.

I also try to keep my "everyday life" stuff off my blog.  It's not that I don't want to share, and I certainly enjoy reading about other people's everyday lives, but because of some personal family issues, I am not comfortable publicly writing about my own.

So I am going to go back to answering the Stitching Bloggers Questions, currently being hosted by Lee, the Lake Stitcher.  At least I can provide a little more stitching related content.  I will also be linking back to Lee's original question  as many of the stitchers who participate in SBQ either answer the question in the comments, or link back to their blogs where they answer the questions.  If you get tired of checking in on my sadly neglected blog, perhaps you will find a "new to you" blog that will keep you going in my frequent absences. :-)  Let's go back to January and start from there, shall we?

January 2012:  What's the oldest pattern in your stash? (Either the one with the earliest publication date or the one you bought the longest ago.) What's it's story? Have you stitched it? (submitted by CinDC)

Oldest patterns in my stash?  I do have some vintage patterns (early 90s and before.  Wait.  Is early 90s vintage?  I hope not, seeing as how I just graduated HS) Anyway, said vintage patterns were given to me by a friend who traded in stitching for knitting.  She knew I stitched, and gave them to me to do with what I wanted.  They're not my style, but perhaps there's someone out there that's interested in them?  Please let me know if you are - I'm sure we can work something out.  You can check them out here.

As for oldest patterns I purchased myself, they'd probably be from the Dimensions kits we started buying at the craft store in our early stitching days.  The very first piece I ever stitched (along with my husband) is a piece that we did for our niece.  Since we finished it in 2003, it was our pre-digital camera days and I don't have an actual photo of the finished piece, but this is from another website:

God's Babies Birth Record by Dimensions

Eventually I will get a photo of the finished piece we did for our niece, but this is the oldest piece that currently resides in my stash.

SBQ: Fabric and Floss

8/21/2008: If you had to choose, would you rather spend money on overdyed floss or hand-dyed fabric? (Submitted by Dawn)

Good question. I have yet to stitch on hand dyed fabric as it has been too expensive for me. My former LNS only sold it in pre-cut packages and I could never seem to justify the expense of it. However, my new LNS custom cuts fabrics for projects and sells grab bags of the off cuts. One of my recent purchases contained a piece of the hand dyed fabric, so I will see if I like stitching on it.

For now, I'd prefer to spend the money on the floss, but only some of the flosses. If I can use a DMC alternative, I'm happy with that, and will tend to spend money on overdyeds that are more varigated. If you can't tell the difference between a $ .35 skein of DMC and a $2.25 skein of overdyed, I'd rather purchase the DMC. Although I do admit that sometimes I can be swayed by a cool name for an overdyed!

SBQ: Threads

8/7/08: What do you do to your thread clippings? Do you just scrap them or do you use them in something else? (submitted by Outi)

May I present my ort jar?

I've posted this before, but this is a picture taken a few months ago of my ort jar, a repurposed candy jar. It contains most of the thread clippings from almost 5 years worth of stitching. A small bit was taken out as an experiment with our local wild birds to see if they would be interested in using the threads for their nests. They were not, so I stopped offering. And the clippings from the wedding record piece DH and I stitched for ourselves are inside a glass ornament that gets hung on our Christmas tree. Which means most of the rest of the clippings are in that jar, and pretty tightly packed in there.

I don't know what I'll do when I just can't pack any more in there. Probably cap that jar, put it on a shelf and start a new one.

And yes, I do gather up my clippings when I travel and put them in the jar when I get home.

PS - Some people say that ORT stands for "old raggedy / ratty threads". Anna contends that its meaning stems from the Middle English / Low German use of the word, a small bit or left over scrap, usually from a meal.

It's been a very long time since I've done some SBQs

Would you believe it's been since APRIL? Wow! I didn't think it had been that long! I guess I have some catching up to do.

7/11/08: How do you balance your stitching time with your other obligations such as work, household chores, etc.?

I don't really have trouble balancing stitching with other obligations. I stitch when I can, usually at night. I find it relaxing and somewhat meditative. I always take stitching with me on vacation, even when DH and I are traveling place to place. When we stay in hotels, I like to spend a little while before I go to bed stitching. I guess I like that little bit of consistency.

And I guess the other big thing is that we don't have children yet. Some of my friends and family members who have children say I better stitch all I can now because I won't have time once we have a baby, and I sincerely hope that's not the case. Maybe this is a non-parent saying this, but I really do think you need to make time for yourself as an adult, as your own person, once you have a child, even if it's just a few minutes a day. I've seen people who allow their entire life to be dictated by their children, and I think it just burns them out very quickly. If you don't do something for yourself to recharge your batteries, how can you continue to do for other people?

Thankfully, I've been involved in the stitching / blogging community, and I know a lot of you are both stitchers and parents of children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers and up. I know it is possible to continue stitching without neglecting your children, and to continue pursuing a hobby that brings you joy (and much needed relaxation.) I want to say thank you to all you parents who demonstrate that your entire life doesn't have to be consumed by your kids!

~~~~~~~~~~

6/18/08: Do you currently subscribe to any stitching publications or have you in the past? (Either in print or online) If so, which ones?

I don't subscribe to any publications at all. Occasionally I will flip through magazines in the bookstore, but the only ones I've ever been tempted to purchase are the JCS Christmas Ornament ones. In fact, I wish I discovered those sooner! I only started buying them last year, and it's something I'll definitely continue.

I refuse to buy the stitching magazines that are sealed up without knowing what's in them. I think they're just too expensive to just buy without knowing what you're getting into, and most of the time, there isn't a pattern in any magazine that makes me say, "I MUST OWN THIS NOW".

~~~~~~~~~~

5/18/08: Do you ever get to a point working on a project that you’ve had for so long, you start to wonder what possessed you to start it in the first place? (Submitted by Jan)

I can't say that I have. I usually make myself try to finish things so they're not sitting around forever (Yeah, right. Who am I kidding? LOL) No, seriously. I do try to finish things up. The trick is to not start any huge projects. I obsess and obsess and obsess over things before I pick them, so usually when I buy something, I'm really in love with it and am excited about working on it. Usually. Sometimes things do fall by the wayside.

I must admit, I do own some Dimensions kits that I can't figure out why I got them or what I plan on doing with them if and when I stitch them. They're from my early days of stitching, and I think I've gotten a little more sophisticated (for lack of a better word) with stitching where I prefer to take on more complicated projects than some of the early purchases. And most of the Dimensions kits I have are on 14 ct. Aida, which I don't really like to stitch on as much any more (I prefer stitching over 2 on evenweaves or linens)

SBQ, Thank You

I'm a poet, and I don't even know it. (I crack me up). Actually, I could use a good laugh now and then, just to deal with this house hunting. I want to say thank you to those who have offered advice, support and hugs. It means more to me than I can adequately express and I really appreciate the time taken to leave a comment or send me an email. Hopefully we'll have good news soon.

I did get a lovely "unbirthday" gift from Barbara yesterday - the coolest bookmark I own. Unfortunately, the weather today was cloudy and dim, so I didn't take a picture yet, but rest assured it's a lovely piece, one that I will treasure. It's also the very first piece I've ever received from another stitcher. (And if for some strange reason you don't know who Barbara is, do head over to a blog and "meet" her. She's just wonderful!) I will try to take a photo tomorrow - just wait until you see it!

And now for this week's SBQ (yes, I know I just did one yesterday...)

04/03/08: What items do you consider essential to your needlework that you keep in your stitching bag? (Submitted by Terri)

I usually use a plastic box with a snap on lid to keep my stitching in, unless we're traveling, and thanks to Nicole, I purchased a sweet Vera Bradley Little Travel Case. I haven't tried it out yet (we haven't traveled lately), but Nicole just loves hers and I'm sure I'll love it too. They're discontinuing the style, so if you're interested, pick one up soon. Mine is in Nantucket Navy (my favorite!) from eBay, but the Vera Bradley site is offering them at almost 1/2 price.

Most of the time, I keep my tools in a small, plastic lined cosmetic bag. I'm still without a decent scissor sheath, so I don't want any renegade scissors poking holes in my fabric or my fancy new stitching bag. Obviously scissors and needles are the most important tools a stitcher has, and despite LOADS of temptation from you guys, I have yet to succumb to Gingher scissors. (I confess to checking them out online and maybe possibly looking for them while I was out this afternoon, but I resisted!) My scissors are pretty boring - I use a pair from a set of scissors I bought at Garden Ridge a while back. They get the job done, but I will probably end up treating myself to a nicer pair sometime in the future. Say, oh, I don't know.... these that dear Janet brought to my attention.

They're called Scissoroos and they have a KANGAROO on the scissors! I adore kangaroos - I've been fascinated by all things Australian for as long as I can remember, and I actually collect kangaroos. I have probably about 2 dozen stuffed ones, not to mention a few pieces of kangaroo jewelry, some figurines, etc. I even have a kangaroo coffee mug.

Anyway, I also have a Needle Nest I found in the quilting section to hold my needles. The white part is magnetic and the lid snaps closed. Very handy, and I will occasionally use it to park threaded needles if I am working with color changes.

I usually buy regular old size 28 needles I use to stitch pretty much everything. I did pick up some fancy John James needles here and there, but usually I just use the DMC ones you can buy at Michael's. I have a few other needles of different sizes, but I like the 28s the best.

I do have a needle question though - my DH, who is also a stitcher, has on more than one occasion broken a needle. Literally snapped a needle in half while stitching. This has never happened to me and I thought it was strange that he actually broke a needle while stitching, but perhaps it happens more than I realize? Have you ever had a needle break on you while you were stitching?

Other essentials in my tool kit include:

a leather thimble - I don't use it that often, but it's nice to have. I do have to keep it hidden from our cat who has a distinct fondness for leather (we keep our leather shoes and shoes with laces on the steps down to our front door - where he can't get to them). The leather is nice because it's adjustable - if it's too small, you can snip the thread that holds it together and use a bigger piece.

Thread Heaven - I didn't think it was necessary to have, but I've found it makes hand-dyed threads so much easier to work with! DH even likes it on regular DMC threads.

A seam ripper, for when the dreaded frog pays a visit. I find it's easier to work with one of these if I have to take out a large section. Rather than trying to unstitch or use my scissors to cut out the stitches, I use the seam ripper and it works out much better.

Tweezers - yep, regular good old slant tip tweezers that you can buy at any Target, Wal-Mart, etc., in the health and beauty aisle for a couple bucks. These are enormously useful in conjunction with the seam ripper for getting threads out of my fabric as well as picking out the occasional cat hair or two. I also keep a pair or two of tweezers in my beading box as they're quite useful there too.

Scroll frames - I like stitching on these. Stitching in hand causes my hand to ache and I can't do it for very long. If something is just too small to get on a scroll frame, I use a plastic embroidery hoop. I find I stitch better when I have consistent tension in my fabric.

Fray Check / Pinking Shears - I use a combination of fray check and pinking shears to keep the edges of my fabric from unraveling. For sturdier fabrics, I find pinking shears to work just fine, but for more delicate fabrics like linens, fray check works better

Pencils - colored and regular - I always keep a pencil and eraser with my stitching for making notes and marking charts if necessary. Pencil erases easier thank ink! I like to use a mechanical pencil with a retractable lead so there's less chance of a rogue pencil marking up fabric or stitching projects. I find colored pencils useful on hard to read charts - I color in each symbol with a different color and it makes the chart easier to read. I've also used highlighters for this purpose.

Ruler / Measuring tape - I have a 12 inch plastic ruler that lives in my stitching box and gets used for absolutely nothing else, so I don't have to worry about anything transferring to my fabric from the ruler. I also have a retractable measuring tape. I'm obsessive about measuring two, three, six times before cutting.

Finally, I like to have some baby wipes around for wiping my hands if I can't get to a sink (I have a few individually wrapped ones I keep in my stitching bag. And I need to restock, but I like to keep Shout wipes handy in case there are any accidents. I'm usually very careful with my stitching, but better safe than sorry!

SBQ: Downloads

3/26/08: When you stitch a pattern that you have downloaded do you print out the pattern or do you stitch directly from your computer screen?

When I first read this question, I thought, "How can anyone possibly stitch from a screen?" I was sure the answer would be that they couldn't, so imagine my surprise when I discovered some of you are capable of doing just that! More power to you - I'd probably make myself blind and/or stab my screen with scissors at some point! LOL

I absolutely must have a print out of any chart I stitch. Our computer is in our guest room upstairs, and I prefer to stitch with the TV on. We don't have a TV upstairs or a computer downstairs, hence the need to print things out. Also, I spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen during the day - I'm not so sure I want to continue looking at it while I'm stitching. And I like to keep my stitching portable, and a printed chart lends itself to that much better than a desktop computer.


In other news, I am making some progress on my crab - he now has the rest of his legs at least partially completed, so he's a least a little in balance. He's the only thing I've been stitching on - yes, my ornaments for my SALs have fallen a bit by the wayside. (Extra shameful for me, considering I administed the 2 ornament SALs.) I really do need to get back to at least one set of the Bride's Tree ornaments, seeing as how the wedding they're for is coming up in August.

I haven't been stitching (or blogging) as much as I normally would because we're in the process of house hunting, and I am so frustrated with it I could just cry. DH and I have a set budget that we're not flexible on. We've both read too many stories of people getting in over their heads and we don't want to put ourselves in that position, even if it means we don't get everything we want. We had what we thought were pretty solid ideas about what we wanted, but looking at houses, considering our budget, etc., has forced us to change some of those ideas, and unfortunately, DH and I have gone down slightly different paths. He wants a bigger house with more space and an opportunity to fix it up, something we can "grow into". I'd love that, but I don't think it's practical for us right now, especially since we want to have a child. I'd rather a more finished house with a great yard and a good neighborhood, even if it is smaller. Really I just don't know what we're going to do.

SBQ: Recycling Questions

This week's question was originally posted on January 4, 2005. Renee, who does a great job with the SBQs, has started recycling questions, and with good reason, which you can read about here.

After you stitch a pattern or kit, what do you do with it?

Usually, I file it away in one of my 3 ring binders. I use sheet protectors with my charts when I stitch, which helps keep them clean and neat and makes the transfer to the binder super easy. If the chart is particularly cumbersome or in a book or magazine, I use sheet protectors and photocopies so I don't damage the original chart.

When I'm done, I file the chart and any unique paperwork that might have accompanied it (usually in kits) such as cover sheets and color photos, right in the page protector sleeve. I do not keep generic "how to cross stitch" diagrams. Sometimes I will write on the back of the color illustration the date or the occasion for the piece. If the chart is from a kit, I put the extra threads in the sleeve as well.

I'll trade or sell most charts I've already stitched, though there are a small handful I will keep for no good reason other that I am sentimentally attached, even though I will never stitch them again. There are also a few small charts for baby, housewarming and wedding presents that I won't trade off because I will probably stitch them again.

The charts I am willing to part with are in the link in my sidebar.

SBQ: Stitching Weaknesses

2/26/08: What is your cross stitch weakness? (i.e., What do you have to have when you see it, even if you are supposed to be on the Wagon?) (Submitted by Rachel)

Like Kathryn, I cannot resist a sale. Well, I can, but it's extremely difficult and usually involves physical restraint. But you take 10, 20, 30% off, and I am salivating at the thought. I also have a hard time resisting things that have personal meaning to me, or something that connects with an inside joke, such as the Sue Hillis Chart, "Love You More". I'm pretty picky about what I like personally, though I have a weakness for Celtic designs or lighthouses. I comfort myself with putting it on my wishlist, which is ALMOST as good as buying it, but not quite. And if it's something I think I won't be able to get later or is a limited edition, I usually end up buying it.

But by far my biggest weakness is colored flosses, mostly because they're relatively inexpensive and I can buy a couple without breaking the bank. I just cannot resist pretty colors, especially shades of blue (my favorite color). Sometimes I have no idea what I'm going to stitch with them, I just know I need to have them.

SBQ Time

2/13/08: Do you have any projects that you have scrapped and started over? What made you start over from scratch? (Submitted by Loretta)

I have one that I scrapped, but I don't intend on finishing it or starting it over. It's The Wedding Sampler by Design Connection. I started it and then lost touch with the person it was for. It's now unfinished and I'd be willing to pass along the chart and whatever I have done on it. Other than that, there's nothing that I've started over.


And now for some oldies but goodies...

4/19/07: Are you on “The Wagon?” If so, how long have you been on and how “serious” are you about it? If not, have you considered it? (Submitted by Danielle)

I'm pretty good (I think) about my stash, so I don't force myself to be "on the wagon". It's not all over the place, but I am just about at capacity for my storage space. I limit myself to 2 underbed storage boxes for the bulk of my stitching stash, plus a few binders and my floss. Sure, I have a TON of stuff on my wishlist, and I will occasionally treat myself to a few new fibers (every single time I go in the LNS) but I think I'm fairly under control. I do work pretty hard at avoiding temptation by staying off a lot of websites for "stuff" like fabrics and fibers. I think that's my real danger area because I love looking at different colors and I think, "Oh I can definitely use this for SOMETHING!" instead of "What will I do with / Where will I put / who will I give this to?" I can get in a lot more trouble if I don't have a specific idea in mind.


4/5/07: How do you decide which stitching blogs are worth repeat and/or regular viewings? Are there certain things you look for in particular? Are there things you wish there were more of? Less of? Is your blog a good example of what you like to read? (Submitted by Heather)

I subscribe to a LOT of blogs, so how picky can I be, really? LOL I started out subscribing to every cross stitching blog I could find, not realizing how many of them there are. As I've read and gotten more familiar with them, I've added and subtracted from my list so that most of what I read is of interest to me. My favorites are those that have plenty of stitching content, especially of things that are similar to my tastes. I've also developed relationships with fellow bloggers by interacting with them, so their blogs are always of interest to me. Also, I give a blog at least 5-6 readings before I decide to cut it from my list - sometimes a blogger has an off day or whatever, and I like to give them a fair chance. I've discovered many new designs and designers by looking at things that are different from my usual tastes.

I love tutorials and how-tos, so I appreciate when stitchers take the time to show how they've done something. I also appreciate it when a stitcher lists the designer and the flosses they've used (not so much the fabrics). I've made many additions to my wish list because of pretty things on other blogs.

I think my blog is a pretty good example of blogs I like to read. I try to keep the stitching content high (and posts interesting), provide useful links to cross stitching resources, and inject a little of my own personality into the blog. I don't think anyone wants to read endless posts of "Hi, I stitched this. Here are pictures." I like to know a little bit about the stitcher, what made them choose the pattern, what they plan on doing with it, etc.

And I hope I don't offend anyone, but I could do with fewer blinkies and mish-mash pages. One of the reasons I've more or less abandoned message boards (and LOVE using a reader) is that I don't have to look at all kinds of crazy signatures with blinkies and glitter text and such.

SBQ: Other Crafts

Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned? Why do you like stitching better? (Submitted by Kathryn)

I've always been interested in crafts and needlework from a very young age. My mother and grandmother sewed, so I was brought up around fabrics, threads, buttons, etc. I was also very involved in Girl Scouts, so there was always some kind of craft being done at meetings and camp. As a result, I got to try different things and experiement.

One of my favorite things is working with clay or modeling compound. I'm nowhere near artist level with it, but I still enjoy working with the material and shaping different things. I don't do it as much any more, but I could probably really get into making clay polymer things like beads. (I don't have the time, space or disposable income to invest though!)

I do a little scrapbooking but not in the traditional sense. I can't get into all the embelishments and fancy cutting, stickers, etc. I also don't understand doing elaborate layouts and putting one picture on a page. Rather, I use colorful 12x12 background papers and I cut and arrange photos in interesting arrangements on the page. I also use postcards, bookmarks, ticket stubs, etc. from our travels. It's more like a memory book than a scrapbook. I only work on these books occasionally - I have to work on our living room floor and it's a hassle to drag everything out.

I've tried knitting and crocheting and I don't know if I have the patience for either. My mother tried to teach me to knit, but she's not a good teacher and I quickly got frustrated with it. My grandmother in law crochets, and my husband can crochet a little (she taught him and his brother when they were very young to keep them quiet and occupied!) I have the desire to knit, and especially crochet, pretty things, but I don't know if I have the patience to learn it. Also, I am afraid I will like it too much and want to spend my resources on that!

It's SBQ Time!

1/23/2008: Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it! (Or just point to the entry that mentions it.) If not, when do you predict it will be?

Why yes, yes I have. Several, in fact. Nothing "finished finished" but I have finished stitching on my niece's birth records (never mind that one is 4.5 and the other is almost 2). I've finished stitching on a few ornaments as well. Oh! And I finished LHN's Princess and the Pea. Yay me!

And now for some oldies but goodies...

5/16/2007: If you could only stitch one more piece what would it be and why? (Submitted by Juls)

The very thought of this question is stressing me out. One more piece? Are you crazy? I don't think I could narrow it down to just one. Seriously. I love the creativity, the process, the materials involved. Maybe it's a cop out, but I'm choosing not to answer this question.


5/10/2007: How do you choose a project for an exchange? Do you pick solely on what you know of the taste of the recipient or are there other reasons you pick the piece you do? (Submitted by Ish)

I haven't done any exchanges as of yet, but I have done quite a few pieces for gifts and I think I would approach an exchange the same way. One of the things I like best about needlework is the opportunity to personalize a piece for the recipient. Whether it's changing colors, adding initials or names, or selecting a theme that most closely matches their likes, I always try to bring something of the recipient into the piece. I find that it makes the gift far more meaningful and special, and really demonstrates the time and care that went into making it. (Which is why I don't stitch for people who won't appreciate it)

For someone I didn't know, I'd read their blog carefully, definitely keeping an eye out for their wishlist (something I think all bloggers should maintain if they're going to be participating in exchanges). I'd try to pick something that matches their tastes so they would enjoy the piece. I'd hate to give someone something and put them in a position of saying they liked it when it's really not their thing at all.


5/2/2007: How many WIPs do you have? How many UFOs do you have? When does a WIP become a UFO? (Submitted by Kathryn)

Hmmmm, let's see. There's at least 3 that I've started, but got sick of stitching on and put them away for a while: Celtic Welcome Friends, Pineapple Welcome by Amaryllis Artworks, and a Dimensions kit. They're in the UFO bin because I haven't touched them in weeks (months) and they're not in active stitching.

Then I have a few pieces in my active stitching box, mostly ornaments that I've been working on. Probably about 5 or 6 at any one time. I also have a few projects completely kitted up and ready to go, but I haven't started stitching on them.

For me, a WIP becomes a UFO when it moves into a storage box instead of my active stitching box. Anything in my active box may be picked up to be stitched on at any time, so I consider them WIPs.

SBQ: Favorite Pastimes while Stitching

1/16/08: What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy silence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you “watch” TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching? (Submitted by Outi)

I am a multitasker, so I almost always stitch while I'm watching tv. During the season, DH and I watch a LOT of football, so I stitch during games. Unless of course it's the Dallas Cowboys, and then I pay more attention to the game than I do to the stitching, so occasionally it will get set aside. I can stitch through almost anything on television and I feel a little weird if I'm NOT stitching, which is why I almost always take a small project or two with me whenever we travel.

SBQ: Favorite Finishes

1/9/2008: What was your favorite finish of 2007?

It was hard to pick just one, but I'm going to go with a housewarming gift I made for very dear friends of ours who just bought their first place. After years in the military (and generic apartments), they were very glad to settle down into their own home.

It's the Bless Our Home Sampler by Design Connection. (Stitched over 2 on 32 ct. linen with recommended DMC threads). I had a hard time selecting something because I didn't really know how they were going to decorate their home (they had no idea either) so I wanted to pick something a little traditional to suit their personalities. As it turns out, they loved it and it looks great on display.

I had a great time stitching it as well. Sometimes my attention span is a little short, so I enjoy stithcing samplers because the pattern changes up and it seems like as soon as I get bored with one section, I'm on to the next. This was also the first time I used beads, and it won't be the last. The design called for Mill Hill beads, but I substitued copper color Blue Moon seed beads from Michael's.

If you look, I did make one change to the pattern. I know it's traditional, but I don't like the letter Q represented with the backwards P, so I changed it to the O and put a little tail on it. Much better! And you may be wondering why it says 1995 when they bought the home just recently. Well, I went back and forth quite a bit on what date to put on it (and on another housewarming gift). I originally had 2006 stitched on there (they bought the house in December), but I changed my mind and stitched in 1995 - the year they were married - instead. I came to that decision while stitching the other piece. I think the year a couple gets married is the year they are "established". For the second piece, I modified the pattern to include the location and the month and year they purchased the house (in small letters under the house) but I had already finished stitching this piece and couldn't change it. So I wrote on the back of the frame. I always write a little note on the back of the frame, wishing the recipient well and noting the occasion for the gift because I think it's pretty cool when you turn over a picture frame and see a handwritten note or signature or date on the back. It's a little secret that adds to the sentimental value of the piece.

And as usual, my DH framed it up for me, using a frame and mat board from http://www.pictureframes.com/. If you haven't checked them out yet, I highly recommend them!

Whew! I bet you didn't expect such a long winded answer to THAT question, did you? :-)

Better get these done... SBQs

1/3/08: Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in “Guilt Free January?” If so, what are you planning on starting?

I didn't really start anything new (no BAPs or super special pieces) for 2008, though I am doing 2 ornament SALs. One is the Christmas Ornament SAL which I've taken over (along with Barbara) from Nicki. I did a little redesign on the site and added some new ideas, so I'll count that as starting a new project. The other is my Bride's Tree SAL, something I've been wanting to do for a while, but never quite got to. I did start my first ornament, a 3D House by Meg Evershed. In fact, it's one of the set of houses from the front cover of this book.


12/26/07: Did you receive any stitching-related gifts for the holidays?

My MIL paid to have a piece my husband stitched professionally framed for us, and I bought myself a new stitching case for my birthday with money from my grandmothers-in-law. It's a Little Travel Case by Vera Bradley, and it's perfect for stashing my small scroll frames and necessities like scissors and needles. Nicole had it posted on her blog and I was inspired to pick one up for myself. Luckily, they're on sale at Vera Bradley, but my favorite pattern is Nantucket Navy, which is now retired, so I went to eBay and VOILA!!! A Nantucket Navy travel case at the sale price AND free shipping. Woo-hoo! I bought it, and 2 days later, I am the proud owner of a stitching case. I'll be taking it with me to show my grandmas what lovely taste they have in birthday gifts. :-)

Speaking of Vera, have you seen the new colors yet? I have to check them out in person, but I am really liking the Raspberry Fizz and the Yellow Bird.

SBQ: Teaching

Today’s SBQ is: Have you ever helped anyone else learn to stitch? Have you ever helped anyone learn a new stitch or technique? (Submitted by Kathryn)

I learned to stitch on my own, and I've never tried to teach anyone how to do it. Since my DH and I both stitch, sometimes one or the other of us will have trouble with a specialty stitch, so we try to help each other out when we can, but mostly we just figure things out by following the directions, or looking for an alternative set online.

I'd love to teach my niece how to stitch. She just turned 5, so she's a little young, but I might take a kid's kit down the shore with us in June and try teaching her then (she'll be just shy of six). She likes to do crafts and things, so I think she might like it. My MIL also wants to learn to stitch, so I promised I would teach her when she retires next year. However, I have more hope of my niece sitting still than my MIL!!!! LOL

SBQ: Thread Management

Do you do anything special to your threads before putting them through your fabric to make them more manageable? (Submitted by Nancy)

Other than licking the end of the floss to get it through the eye of the needle, nope. Of course, I've been working mostly with DMC and have only recently branched out into overdyed threads, so I never really felt the need to, unless you count working with metallics. I hate working with metallics. Probably some sort of thread conditioner would make my life easier. So I ordered a bit of Thread Heaven when I placed a Stitching Bits and Bobs orders. We'll see how that works out.

Well. That was easy enough. Might as well contemplate some more SBQs while I am at it.

6/14/2007: How do you store your WIPs and other projects that you have kitted up? (Submitted by Jennifer)

I try not to kit too much up ahead of time, but when it comes to stitching, Ziploc bags are the best thing ever. (Okay, one of the very best things). If the chart doesn't come in it's own ziplock bag, I put it in one, along with fabric and fibers that I may have purchased especially for it. Until I'm ready to work on it, it lives in a plastic underbed storage box with the rest of my stash.

When I'm getting ready for new pieces, I usually pull about 2-3 things that are appealing to me or that I need to get done and they move into a smaller plastic storage bin next to my stitching chair. At this time, I make sure I have everything I need in there to start stitching, and I will usually take out the fabric and cut it to size, marking the center. That piece goes in the project bag, and the excess goes back in the original fabric packet bag that's marked with the count and color.

I work on scroll frames, so I usually don't worry about taking pieces off the frames between stitching. All of the fibers for current projects are stored in a plastic bag, and that bag, along with the chart, sits on top of everything else in the stitching bin next to my chair. If I'm working on a small project, that goes in the box too and the lid snapped on. If I'm on a frame that doesn't fit, I put the frame where it won't get damaged or dirty, usually behind my chair. (No kids and a very complacent cat makes this possible)

6/6/2007: What has been your most challenging project and why? (suggested by Ish)

I might have mentioned this one before - the On Safari piece I stitched for my friend Michelle's daughter. They did her nursery in a jungle theme and I couldn't find anything I really liked for her birth record until i found this piece on eBay. I was so excited when I saw the listing that I didn't realize it was on plastic canvas until after the sale was complete. But I thought I'd give it a try anyway, and at first, it was fun. Stitching on the canvas was a new experience and different that stitching on fabric (it was still using threads). Stitching the crosses wasn't bad, but for some reason, doing the backstitching on this piece was sheer torture for me and it took me longer than I thought to finish it. I'm pleased with how it turned out, but I would never want to stitch it again.

5/30/2007: How many needles do you use during a project? Have you ever loaded up a needle for every color? Do you use a new needle for every project or recycle your favorite needle? (suggested by Kathryn)

I probably use about a dozen needles at various times during a project. I picked up a square plastic magnetized needle case in the quilting section and I like to use that because it keeps my needles in place and with the lid that snaps shut, they don't fall out when I travel. Probably I should sort my needles better according to size and all, but I like to pick needles by how they feel - I can tell the difference between the really thin ones for high count fabrics and the thicker ones for Aida just by feeling them.

If I am going to be stitching a lot of one color, I will cut my strand of floss, separate out the threads and thread up three needles with 2 strands each. I only like to have one or two colors out at a time, so if I stop working with one of those colors and move on to a new one, I take the threaded needles, stick them into the threads on the bobbins and wind the excess thread around the bobbin. Then I move onto the next color and repeat the process. Usually when I am done, I have to pull out at least 5-6 needles from various bobbins, unthread them, and wind the thread back around the bobbin for the next thread.

SBQ: Stash Questions (11/28/2007)

This set of SBQs was submitted by Heather. I've editied out a lot of the context, but you can read the whole thing here.

1. What would your stash tell others about you?
That I have a short attention span, and like a lot of different themes and ideas. Many of my patterns were stitched for gifts and I try hard to match the personality of the recipient or reflect the theme of the occasion, such as a wedding. I have charts that range from complicated and realistic to simple and primitive. My own personal charts reflect things that are important to me - my Irish heritage, lighthouses and nature.

2. Most of us stitchers joke about having reached SABLE (stash acquired beyond life expectancy), but what would you like done with your stash after your death? Do you want it to reach other stitchers who will love it, too? Would your family know what to do with it or recognize its value?
I don't like to think about things like death or destruction (losing everything in a flood or fire). Forced to consider the subject, I would say that I hope I have children that are stitchers, or that my nieces or nephew take up the craft and would want my patterns. I'd also hope that many of the stitched pieces we keep for ourselves (both my DH and I stitch) would be passed down to future generations as family heirlooms. As it stands now, however, I don't know if anyone would recognize the value of what we have, though we don't own any rare or expensive patterns or materials. I would hope that it would be sold or given to someone who would use an appreciate it rather than thrown away

3. How well organized is your stash –could it be sold easily or would it require lots of organizing? What would you like to see done with the funds collected from such a sale?
Our stash, compared to some others, is fairly small - it fits mostly in 2 under bed storage boxes, plus a few binders. I've been working on an excel spreadsheet for inventory, so hopefully that would help, but I don't really keep track of prices (I'm afraid it would be too shocking to add up everything that has been spent). If my stash was not given to a family member or another stitcher, I would like my family to profit from the sale of the stash

4. Are there items in your stash which are rare and highly desired by stitchers that might make a much larger amount of money if sold on eBay? Have you done anything to designate which items these more valuable ones are to guide your family in how to handle them? Who would you tell your family should handle such a sale so that they don’t have to do it themselves? Have you done anything to make these thoughts known to others, either through discussions or through a codicil to your will?
I don't own anything particularly rare or expensive, but when the time comes, I will probably add a notation to our wills designating who gets what. I'd probably want everyone to pick the pieces that mean the most to them.

5. Have you ever attended a similar sale of a passed stitcher’s stash? How did it make you feel? Did it encourage you to make any changes in your stitching lifestyle?
I've never attended such a sale, though I have been to estate sales for other antique items. I appreciate the value of treasured, well cared for items that are passed through generations and that have sentimental value. I have a green depression glass bowl from my grandmother that means more than any price tag that could be put on it, and I hope that some day, things that meant a lot to me will mean a lot to future generations of my family. And if it's not my family, then I hope those things find their way to someone who will love them.