Astrid from Dragon Stitches and Stuff

This week's Blogger of the Week is someone who has been a follower of mine (and vice versa) for many years now.  I fell in love with her photo of her youngest son dressed as a little dragon from the first time I saw him!  He's still there in her current header.

Dragon Stitches and Stuff by Astrid

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

I’m Astrid, married to DH almost 22 years. We have identical twin boys (our Gmen), 19 years old this month, and 10 year old Nathan. We have two spoiled Tonkinese cats, Ming and Maximus.
I was born in Wales, but we moved to the States when I was two. I live in Maryland, near Baltimore, but also close to Washington, DC.

My guys!

Max and Ming

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

When I was 12 years old, we did a needlepoint project in school making ornaments. From there I taught myself cross stitch and liked that better. I took a break when having the boys, only stitching here and there. Now I can stitch whenever, but get easily distracted!

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

I had to look that one up! This August it will be seven years. I guess I started because I wanted to show my stitching projects. Being Welsh, I especially love dragons, hence “Dragon Stitches”. I added “and Stuff” later since I was blogging about more than just stitching. My newest addition to the blog is being Thankful on Thursdays.

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 USED to be an OAAT stitcher until I found the internet and blogs! Now I try to finish pieces if they’re small and the bigger ones I tend to rotate when I get tired of working on them. I’d like to think I’m organized, but I do stray.

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

I like a variety of styles, but I’m not that fond of samplers. I love Margaret Sherry, especially the cats! I also love Nora Corbett’s fairies and mermaids. I’ve been working on her Emerald Mermaid, but got frustrated with her skin so I’m taking a break. And don’t forget the dragons!

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

I would have to say my Trick or Treat Fairy by Nora Corbett. I finally had her framed by Jill Rensel at Rensel Studio last year and they made her even more beautiful! Whenever I finish my mermaid, she’ll be sent there too.

 She will be displayed year round!

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster? 

Nothing major, just trying to start a piece 3x’s and getting it wrong every time! I have yet to try again.

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

I’d like to try Hardanger one day and I definitely need to learn more finishing techniques. I can knit scarfs, but would like to learn how to crochet. I’ll include learning German, maybe even Welsh! Oh, and I’d love to learn how to play the piano.

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? 

I have a lovely German tin with plenty of pieces inside just waiting to be finished! Since most of my finished pieces have been framed, I’d say I like them framed. But the smaller pieces I stitch, I like to make into ornaments.

Patiently waiting to be finished.

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

Since most of the things I make are for someone else, I make what I think they would like. Otherwise – Halloween for me!

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

As a little girl I wanted to be a “stewardess” aka flight attendant. Now as an adult it’s something I’m seriously thinking about it, I’m just not sure when!

12. Anything you would like to add? 

Many thanks to Jo for making blogging fun! I love that I’ve met so many stitching friends in the blogging world. The bad part… I’ve been so good about not adding more stash than I already have, but you all make it so hard!!!

To finish this week's post I'd like to add a link to what is probably my favourite non-stitching blog post - Astrid's Annual "I'm Not a Turkey" line-up.  Please visit this post and check out the previous years too!

I am not a Turkey - 2016