Ariadne from Greece

This week's Blogger is also taking part in my Easter Treasure Hunt blog hop so you'll see some great Easter themed stitching there this week.  I'd like to introduce another of our European bloggers who blogs in English just to make it easy for us!

Ariadne from Greece

1. Please introduce yourself – name, where you are from, family, pets etc.

Hello everyone. I am Ariadne Skyrianidou from Greece. I am a teacher of English as a Foreign Language in a Primary State school in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. I am married to dear Themis and am the proud mum of a 21-year-old son Miltos from my first marriage. Sweet Barca, a stray dog we adopted four years ago is the other member of our family. I am a very active person. I am a member of the Teachers’ Association Drama Club and we mount plays for children, schools and charity. I also belong to a crafty group with which I really enjoy learning new techniques and make things for charity. I love reading, watching movies, collecting sea glass and have recently taken ceramics classes.

2. How long have you been stitching and how did you start?

I have been stitching since I was a kid. My grandmother Ariadne taught me how to and I admit at first I didn’t really like sitting down and making all those stitches. But when I was pregnant to my son and positioned away from home as a teacher I met with Needlecraft and Cross Stitcher magazines and started stitching again. It was a revelation and haven’t stopped since.

3. How long have you been blogging and what inspired you to start? Is there a story behind your blog title?

I have been blogging since January 2012. I must say I was more active at first. Nowadays I blog about once a month as if I am keeping a journal. I was inspired to have my own blog after following the blogs of Margie of Resurrection Fern, Geninne’s Art Blog, Sonia’s Cozy Memories blog and a couple more.I loved their art making and gorgeous photos and wanted to do the same. The name of my blog was a spontaneous choice because everywhere on the Internet I visited I used to mention my country next to my name so that people know I am from Greece. 

4. How would you describe your stitching style? Are you a serial starter, a rotator, a OAAT (one at a time), highly organised, random and eclectic, etc.?

I definitely am a OAAT (One at a time) stitcher. I try to finish each piece I start and in between make smaller projects for exchanges but not too many. I usually concentrate on one thing. I am an eclectic stitcher and choose various different projects usually inspired by what other people stitch but I usually stitch things I already have in my basket. I stopped buying new things due to the financial crisis in Greece but I have friends who pass me on the things they don’t want to stitch or they find at thrift stores! I am lucky!

5. Do you have a favourite designer or style of design you are drawn to?

I can’t say I have. I really like the designs of Lizzie Kate, Silver Creek Samplers, Prairie Schooler,Thea Gouverneur, Mirabilia,Little House Needleworks, Carriage House Samplings, The Little Stitcher, The Snowflower Diaries and more although I haven’t stitched many of their works yet. Still I like them!

Michael Powell

6. Which piece are you most proud of in your collection?

Now it has to be The Balinese Dancer by Thea Gouverneur which I recently finished after having it left unattended for ages. It was so difficult for me and had so many colours but I did it!

The Balinese Dancer by Thea Gouverneur

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

I can’t say I have one. I am usually a disaster when trying to finish a piece.


8. Which new technique would you like to try, either stitching, finishing or another craft?

I wish I could learn how to finish my pieces in other ways than framing them. I tried making some pin cushions but it didn’t go very well. Lately I realised I love mounting cross stitched pieces on felt and make ornaments. I’d love to learn to crochet better than simple stitches and to embroider better.

9. Do you have a box of finished-but-not-fully-finished pieces? Or is everything FFO'd? What's your favourite way to fully finish a project and what do you do with them?

As I mentioned earlier my projects wait to be framed and as custom framing is expensive I have a waiting list of to-be-framed pieces.The smaller projects I give away as gifts.

10. Which of your projects most represents "you"?

I think it is the collection of blue and white china frames I love this type of stitching that is stitching cups and teapots and china and want to make some more.

11. Tell us a secret about yourself. Or a joke. About anything!

A secret isn’t a secret if you tell! LOL! And that’s a joke!
Ok to be serious I love stitching a little bit every evening in front of the TV while watching movies at the same time.It finishes my day in a relaxing happy way!

12. Anything you would like to add?

Thank you Jo for starting this blog and keeping the Blogger of the Week feature of one of my most favourite magazines Cross stitch Collection alive!

Barca helping with the stitching!