May Stitching Blogger's Question

Lee from Lake Stitcher has brought the Stitching Blogger's Question back to life! She will be posting a new question for us to answer every month. I was terribly excited when I heard the news as this was one of the first things I "joined in on" as a new blogger.

Lee's first offering asks:

Suppose we say that there are two types of stitchers.

There are those who enjoy the “process” of stitching. They stitch for stitching’s sake and if something gets finished, so much the better, but it’s not necessarily the end goal. Primarily, it’s the application of needle and thread to cloth that makes them happiest.

Then there are those who are “project” stitchers. They move steadily through their projects, certainly enjoying their stitching time, but finding their greatest joy in the completed stitching.

If you had to pick one to describe yourself, which type of stitcher would you be? I imagine that we could all say that we fall somewhere in between, but really think hard about this and try to pick just one. And once you’ve decided whether you’re a Process or Project stitcher, tell us if your recognize that approach in other parts of your life.


I would say I am a "process stitcher." I stitch because I must. I stitch a certain project because it called the loudest to be stitched. If something calls louder the first project gets put aside and I'll start the new one, no problem. If I never get back to it, whatever! Unless it is a gift or an exchange item I usually have no great plans for a finished piece. My huge pile of finished but unfinished pieces can attest to this!

I do not find this is true in other areas of my life. The house gets thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom only so I can admire the "finished product." The garden gets an entire week of attention just to see the results.

Big thanks to Lee! Way to go, girl!

I had a wonderful weekend! Not only did I complete the April block as I planned but I was able to make good progress on the May block as well. Sunday, the weather was so fine I brought my stitching outside and spent a couple of hours enjoying it while I worked! And, guess where I am now? On the back patio with my laptop enjoying another glorious Spring day! I rarely "unplug" the laptop and move it from my stitching area so this is quite unusual!

Doesn't that looks fab? This block is fun stitching to do and I hope to complete it a lot faster than as I dawdled on April. And here is Ms. Ladybug with my almost worn out piecemaker. I think I'll send this little needle minder to a friend. She is too cute not to share!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

SBQ 08/07/08

This week's SBQ was suggested by Outi and is: What do you do with your thread clippings? Do you just scrap them or do you use them in something else?

I keep my ort in a glass jar. I used to just toss them every so often or put them on the lawn in case of bare bird nests but nowadays I find myself saving them. Who know what for? I've heard they make great bear stuffing. It would have to be a pretty small teddy bear! They are kind of pretty, just as they are. I'll just continue to save them in my jar and one day perhaps I'll find a use for them.

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Confession time: I find myself collecting ort from the floor and carrying them back to my jar. Why not throw it out? Come on, girl...It's one little ort! Are you really going to miss it? Yes. I might.

SBQ for 05/14/08

This week's SBQ is:

For seasoned stitchers: Define a stitching term or acronym for new stitchers.

For newbies: What stitching term or acronym would you like defined?

I like the term ORT. This means Old Ratty Threads...you know~the little thread ends you snip off. Some stitchers keep a container of some sort to put their ORTs in. I use a jar. There are even ORT containers on the market now!

Just for fun, that is my ORT jar above!

Do you keep ORTs?

SBQ for 04/30/08

Gee, I just answered last weeks! (I was late!) Oh, well here goes...

This week's SBQ, suggested by Jennifer is: Do you have any pieces that you would like passed on to future generations as family heirlooms?

Not really...perhaps Peacock Tapestry; if I ever get it finished! I would like to think most stitching gets saved anyway, especially those pieces given as gifts.

SBQ for 04/23/08

The SBQ this week is -
How do you handle blended threads? Do you kit the blends up before you start a piece, or do you grab what colors you need and blend when the need arises? If you kit up the blends beforehand, how do you store them? Do you have another option for blends to share?

I use LoRan project cards for my blends. The blends are marked with the symbol and thread numbers and looped in the proper hole. I store my base threads in floss bags (with an index card to make it stand up) and these get filed in order in index card drawers. Before I stitch, I check the current area of the chart for the blends I'll be using and make sure there are enough threads kitted for a few days.