Stitching Meme

I'm sorry, there's still no pics of works in progress at the moment - I'm just running out of time here. There's been some issues at my main workplace and although some are resolved (yay!) some are on-going and I'm having to put in some more hours than I would like because there is a long weekend coming ... and after that a weekend away... holidays are great, but they get stressful beforehand!

Anyway, Anna over at Stitch Bitch had a little meme, so I thought I'd pass it on. I did change the wording to British spelling :op

What are your hobbies? knitting, needlecrafts, reading, Women's Institute, studying. I need to get back to doing yoga.
What crafts do you do? cross stitch, embroidery, blackwork, hardanger, quilting, beading, knitting. I occasionally make cards.
What sounds do you craft along to? Usually, Radio 4. But come the cricket season, Test Match Special on Five Live Sports Extra. Cricket and crafting are a perfect combination. On knitting group nights - well, the conversation can be quite bizarre, but is always very funny!
First Project You Ever Made: The first one I remember is a cardboard star covered with blue glitter I made for Christmas. I wasn't quite four. Not long after that, my mum taught me to knit and I made a dishcloth.
Favourite Project: Oh lordy. What to choose? I think it's probably No Bees No Honey - it has a lot of good memories atttached to it.

Favourite Items to Make: I always get a thrill out of knitting socks.

What's your favourite...
Colour: Anything that reminds me of autumn - golds, russets, plums, faded greens.
Movie: Local Hero
TV Show: I don't have a TV.
Band: It's a toss up between The Men They Couldn't Hang and Crowded House.
Book: You're asking someone who is going for a literature degree to choose one book? Okay, from the "classics" it has to be Persuasion by Jane Austen. For something a little more up to date, If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things.
Food: It's a toss up between good cheese and good chocolate. 
Craft: It used to be cross stitch, it's possibly a dead heat with knitting these days.

And you? What are your favourites?

Interview

This interview comes courtesy of Stitch Bitch - thank you!

1. The local news media shows up on your doorstep. It turns out your neighbor is a serial killer. You cannot say, "He was so quiet. This is such a shock. This kind of thing doesn't happen here." What do you say? (You can choose the neighbor.)

" Really? I did wonder why she was always digging around in the planters. She's 91 you know. I hope to be that active at her age. She always looks so smart too, mascara, lipstick ... er, I think it's lipstick..."

2. What's the greatest invention created in your lifetime?

Although silicon chips pre date me by about ten years, I suppose I ought to say the computing revolution - in particular the world wide web (the pre cursor of which was created in 1980, so it is younger than me!)

3. What was your best job?

I think my last two have both been pretty good, working in the arts. I currently work for a community circus theatre company.

4. Over the next 18 months, we're all likely going to have to cut back. Where will you make these cuts? What luxury will fight to save? Will you actually come to blows? (That last one is a joke.)

Fortunately, we're used to frugal living here, so we probably won't see much difference. The Hermit works in a care home for the elderly, and they always need care. And it seems likely that the project I'm working on will get funding for the next 2 years - hopefully I haven't jinxed that by saying it.

That said, I am watching more carefully what I spend, and trying not to get more 'stuff'. So I'm not buying books (even second hand) and reading through the huge library I already have. And I'm not buying needlework stash until I complete a few more projects.

I think the 'luxury' that I would miss most would be the monthly meetings of my knitting and book groups - being able to order a nice hot chocolate at the meeting place, or having a meal there.

5. Are you a good speller?

Yes. And I always have been, I think because I have always been a reader.


1. If you want to participate, leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” (And your e-mail address if I don't already have it, please.)
2. I will respond by e-mailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Review of the Year Meme

Lee put together this meme, and here are my answers:

1. Did you discover any new (or new-to-you) designers in 2008? And your favorite was? Thanks to the many bloggers who love her designs, I 'discovered' Little House Needleworks, and The Sampler Girl
   
2. Same question - New Fabrics? Not really, as I didn't really buy much fabric this year. However, I did use some 32 count Vintage Zweigart Linen from my stash, and was very taken with it,
   
3. Same question - New fibres? Stef Francis. Gorgeous colours and lovely to work with.
   
4. Same question - New finishing techniques? Oh yes! Floss Tags, Pinkeeps, Scissor Pouches, Biscornu, Mattress Pincushions... all thanks to other stitchers sharing finishes and tutorials on the web! Especial thanks must go to Vonna, I use her instructions all the time!
   
5. Did you have a favorite “theme” in 2008? Probably the usual sheep and bees and samplers although Quaker crept in there too.
   
6. Did you try any new gadgets? I don't think so.
   
7. Did you discover any new (or new-to-you) LNS in 2008? Unfortunately, no. And My LNS closed at Christmas.
   
8. Same question: new or new-to-you online stores? Yes, Thread Bear - I was very impressed by the service and helpfulness.
   
9. Same question: new or new-to-you bloggers?
   a) stitching bloggers: Gosh, too many to list. My Google Reader is stuffed- I think I need to cut back a bit, as I'm not having time to comment and interact with everyone.
   b) bloggers in general: Not a huge number, mainly coming through links other people point me to. These tend to be people on LJ (as I have another blog there)
   
10. Same question: communities/forums? Hooked on Exchanges was the main one, I guess. Oh, and Ravelry, although I've not really got to grips with it all yet. I've come to the conclusion I'm not hugely keen on forums, they are too time consuming.
    
11. Whose blog in 2008 was the most inspirational for keeping you stitching?I'm going to say my own, simply because being accountable to myself and to the other people who read it keeps me focussed! LOL
    
12. Whose blog was funniest in 2008? A three way tie, I think, between Stitch Bitch, Yarn Harlot and Crazy Aunt Purl. Although SB probably edges it because it's a two way thing, she pops along to my blog :o)
    
13. Which blog’s posts did you “star” the most in your reader in 2008?A work related one that posts funding news. Sad but true.
    

Meme

Taken from quiltorstitch, although I have seen it in other places too.

1. How do you hold your fabric? In a circular hoop, usually no bigger than 8 inches - excess fabric gets rolled and pinned out of the way.

2. Floss licker? Only if flattening it with my thumb nail hasn't worked.

3. How do you thread your needle? Trim the end, flatten with thumb nail, and hope :o) Actually, with DMC, I use a loop start if stitching with two strands, so quite often I thread the loop through, it's easier.

4. What needle do you like best? John James Petites, size 26. I didn't used to worry what sort of needle I used, and then, because so many people recommended these, I bought a packet. It was a revelation! Finer needles are so much smoother in use, and with the smaller length, it's easier to finish ends.

5. Are you a needle loser? Not too bad, my main problem is breaking the eyes on them, as I use 26s or 28s a lot.

6. What fabric do you prefer to stitch on? 28 or 32 Count Linen or Evenweave.

7. Bobbins or floss bags? Bobbins

8. Are you a scissors collector? Not really, but I have a lot of pairs, as I tend to leave them lying around, I like a pair for each project - and it also shows off my fob collection! I'm lusting for Ginghers, but can't really justify buying a pair...

9. Do you do your own framing, and if so, do you lace or pin? Yes, I do. I will lace if I have to, but here's the confession - double sided tape tends to get used. Only on the small pieces, which I don't really regard as heirlooms...

10. Are you a floss floozy? I think so - I have full sets of DMC, Six Strand Sweets, a part set of Anchor, GAST, and others...

11. Silk? It's good, but not something I would use every day, I don't think it's worth the extra cost.

12. Railroader? I do try to keep the strands separate with the needle, but only generally on the top leg.

13. Are you a pattern or designer snob? Probably. Or if not exactly a snob, I can be very opinionated. There are certain designers I loathe, and it's always a bit tough making comments on happy dances if people have completed certain things - I do choose the blogs I read on the basis of the stuff people stitch, I'm afraid!

14. Do you get antsy when you give someone a stitched gift? No, because ony people I know who will appreciate something handmade get stitched gifts from me.

15. Have you reached S.A.B.L.E.? Probably not, actually. Possibly enough for ten to fifteen years, though - but I'm a fast stitcher. The good news is that I come from long lived forebears, who kept their eyesight ...

16. Do you wash your projects? It has been known, although I'm always cautious with overdyed flosses.