More Than You Ever Wanted to Know...
In my free time (something that I find I've got very little of nowadays), I love to do counted cross stitch. I have been doing cross stitch for over fourteen years. It is a hobby that I enjoy very much. I have gotten into it so much more in the past few years, thanks to my discovery of Count Your Blessings and the numerous bulletin boards devoted to cross stitch, one such being the board at Cross Stitch Pals.
It's a very relaxing hobby...well, that is when my thread isn't knotted up beyond all recognition and my cat isn't on my lap, making all movement impossible! I have been lucky to find one of the best shops in the Baltimore area only a stone's throw from my door. Count Your Blessings is a wonderful place, and if there is something that you need that they don't have, they can get it for you! Everyone there is wonderful!
What I like to do: My stash is so huge, it takes up half of my office!
Anything by Lizzie*Kate
The Sweetheart Tree
Bent Creek/Heart
In Hand/Twisted Threads
Cherished
Teddies
Cats
Dalmatians
Anything with raspberries
Snowmen (I absolutely ADORE snowmen!)
Tropical
fish
Angels & Faeries
Most of the projects I work on are simpler projects, like the ones you'll see on the next few pages. I do have a few more difficult projects in the works now. I do prefer the smaller projects, though. I like getting things done quickly! (Don't we all?)
Recently Finished:
February 25, 2002: "Peekin' Tom" by Homespun Elegance.
April 10, 2001: "Checkerbird" by Heart in Hand. One of their small tuckaway pillow kits.
April 2, 2001: Bent Creek's "Summer" Zipper. All I have to do is add the beads for the watermelon seeds. I did it over one thread, so the buttons that were included are way too large!
Waiting for Framing:
Quite a few projects...and they're going to be waiting for framing for quite some time, as I am truly BROKE.
Works In Progress (Also fondly known as WIPs):
Being the addicted stitcher that I am, I always have numerous projects going on at the same time.
In Various Stages of Development:
Another present for my Dad. (Maybe I should do something for my Mom. I haven't stitched her anything in years!)
"True Love" by Calico Crossroads. (I recently had to frog the entire outer border of the piece. I was stitching the words one night and realized I was WAY off!)
"St. Valentine's Day" by Curtis Boehringer.
A small box clock face with raspberries on it
One of the Daydreams Collections by Dimensions. "Wishful Hearts."
"Heart Wreath". A small Sunset kit.
"Life is a Bowl of Cherries" from one of my cat books.
"Mr. Moon and Me" from the Bucilla Baby Collection.
I figured I would get a head start for if ever have
children! This project has now been packed away. No
kids...maybe one day I'll finish it up for someone else...
"Frost Faerie" - Barbara Baatz
DMC's Xmas Freebie Cherished Teddy. This one pretty much just needs the backstitching done to be finished. I've been working on this project for about three years now. (10-3-2001: I have been working quite hard on the backstitching lately. I'm really close to having this finished!)
"Cats Are Purrfect". A Dimensions kit.
A wire whimsy of a crow sitting on a watermelon.
Two Mill Hill beaded Halloween pins.
Holly House Designs "Snowman Sampler".
Bent Creek's "The White Cat."
My most ambitious project to date: Lavendar & Lace's "Winter Angel." Even though the projects are large, you don't have to change colors every other stitch!
In the "To Be Done" Pile:
Basically, these are the ones that are kitted up and ready to go, but haven't made it into the "WIP" bag.
Bent Creek's "Hope".
Ellen Mauer-Stroh's "Snowbaby".
A few Lizzie*Kates.
Numerous Sweetheart Tree projects.
I forget how many others......
I usually have at least six UFO's (UnFinished Objects) going on at the same time. I keep them in a soft sided briefcase that goes just about everywhere with me. I was able to get a lot of projects done while I was waiting for my husband to pick me up from work.
Working on one project at a time becomes boring to me. My biggest accomplishment was finishing up three projects in one week. Most of the projects I've done have been your basic type projects. Now I'm moving into stitching on evenweaves (I'm not liking linen overly much!) and stitching with specialty threads, such as The Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and Krienik Metallics, and adding beads and charms. Cross stitch has changed so much since I first started all those years ago. Now it's much more expensive!!
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