Friday 18 August 2017

Andrea from Goofin' Off Around the Block

It's funny how some stitchers start blogging, leave comments and it feels like you have known them forever when it's only been a few months.  This week's Blogger of the Month is one of them.  She made a grand total of 4 posts in her first year of blogging but since then she has become a regular blogger and commenter on many of our blogs.  It's always nice to meet new friends and this is a chance learn more about her.  So please take the chance to sit down with a drink and Goof Off with Andrea from:


A big thank you to Jo who puts this together every week.  It’s been a fantastic way to get to know so many of you and make new blogging friends.

1.       Please introduce yourself

My name is Andrea. I was raised in the Pacific Northwest in the state of Washington. As the crow flies, my current house is just a few miles east of the home I grew up in which is just a few minutes north of Seattle. I have a fun-loving husband who has always likened himself to Goofy. I also have a son who is grown and lives south of us a little ways. We get to see him at least once a week…and still like to take him on family vacations.



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

I have been cross stitching for about 35 years. I took a class in middle school where we learned how to knit, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, embroider, quilt, and probably a few other needle arts I’m not remembering. Cross stitching was the hobby that really found a place in my heart, so I’ve been stitching ever since.


3.       How long have you been blogging and what inspired you to start? 

I have been blogging for a little over a year, although I really didn’t get into it until March of this year. I started blogging as part of a school assignment for a college class. I have been making so many awesome friends through blogging that I am hooked and haven’t stopped even though the class is long over!


4.       How would you describe your stitching style? 

At this point, I am pretty much a one at a time person…or one quilt and one cross stitch project at a time.  When I am working on a large piece, I’ll usually throw in some smaller projects just to mix things up. I used to be a serial starter, but now I like to see things through to the finish.

Chef Freddie's Favorites - Quilt Top Finish

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

Pretty much anything Disney, for starters…or anything that reminds me of Disney. My last project I finished was a Tinkerbell cross stitch. I am absolutely in love with that piece. Currently, I am working on a piece of Mickey Mouse and his friends all dressed up as Pirates. I am also a huge Randal Spangler fan. I have a number of his charts in my stash.

The start of Goofy and Friends

How the finished design will look:



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

Currently, I would have to say my Tinkerbell finish. However, I’ve got some fun projects planned over the next few months, so that just might change.




7.       What has been your worst stitching disaster?  

Fortunately, I don’t think I have any…at least not that I remember. I am a very…sssslllloooowwww stitcher, so mistakes are far and few between [knocking on wood].


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

I want to sew a quilt where the center of each block is a piece of cross stitch. I’ve got several designed but have a lot of other projects ahead of it.


9.       Do you have a box of finished-but-not-fully-finished pieces?  

Not anymore.  Hubby and I went through and got rid of a lot of “stuff” that was taking up room last year. All of those types of pieces were either fully finished or donated to Love Quilts or WOCS if appropriate.


10.   Which of your projects most represents “you”?  

Anything Disney or Disney inspired…and that includes the Marvel universe, Star Wars, and some other movie related things like Harry Potter, etc.



11.   Tell us a secret about yourself.

My dream job would be to be a Disney and/or family vacation travel agent. The Disney theme parks have an extremely special place in my heart. As a teenager, my family traveled to Disney World for the first time together. I was experiencing some difficult things at that period in my life, and Disney World was a magical place for me where I found a temporary escape. During that week, I became a different person. It may sound strange, but that week at Disney changed my life. I am very grateful that my hubby and son have embraced Disney just as much as I have.


12.   Anything you would like to add?  

I love, love, love making new blogging friends. Feel free to stop by my blog any time and leave me a message or “follow” me.


I should also add that as well as being a talented crafter, Andrea is a great wedding planner too!  Check out this blog post for a lovely wedding with a surprise theme:





29 comments:

  1. Hello it is nice to meet you and I will next stop by and visit your blog.

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    1. Thank you! It is nice to meet you, too! Please stop by any time. I try to respond in a timely manner. Andrea

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  2. This was great to learn more about you Andrea.

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    1. Thank you, Vickie! I am always inspired by your posts and stitching. Andrea

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  3. Nice to meet you!I really wonder how long it will take you to finish that huge piece.AriadnefromGreece!

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    1. Ariadne, I have no idea how long it will take, probably several years. But seeing my favorite Disney characters come to life will make it worth it. Andrea

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  4. Lovely to learn more about you.

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    1. Thank you! I love getting to know my blogging friends better. Andrea

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  5. It was fun to learn more about you Andrea. It would be so fun if we lived closer to each other. I love Disneyland and have been there over a hundred times. My favorite place in the world. Sad to say I probably won't get to go again but I have my memories.

    Linda

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    1. Linda, You've been to Disneyland over 100 times? You're my newest hero. Sorry you probably won't be able to go again. I know there will reach a time it won't be so easy for me to get there. I try not to think about that right now. I've committed to myself to take as many pictures as possible next time, so I can make myself a "virtual" trip to Disneyland, put it to music, and go there any time I need at the touch of my computer keyboard. Have a great weekend! Andrea

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  6. What a pleasure to meet you Andrea! I love Disney as well, and what a lovely story why it means so much to you! I visited Seattle a couple of years ago and loved the area, it's so beautiful there. I've been over to check out your blog and left a message there too. I'll keep checking in on you, I want to see how you finish that mystery quilt!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I am always so happy to meet new blogging friends...and you love Disney, too! Glad you enjoyed Seattle. It's really beautiful here...about three months a year. Now I've found your blog and will be following along with your adventures. Happy stitching! Andrea

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  7. So nice to meet you and to learn some more things about your stitching and quilting world.
    You are right, through blogging we make new friends by leaving and getting comments and I love that as well.

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    1. Brigitte, Thank you for stopping and leaving a comment. I look forward to meeting more and more friends through the blogging world. Happy stitching! Andrea

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  8. Lovely to read about you Andrea.Our now adult sons have lovely memories of Disney Paris which we were lucky enough to visit twice within the year it opened back in the early 1990's.Their dad and I had a great time too.
    Your Goofy and Friends is going to be fantastic and Tinkerbell is very pretty.

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    1. Lesley, One day I hope to visit Disneyland Paris. I hear they have been putting a lot of money into it and updating it the past few years. Thank you for dropping by and leaving a message! Happy stitching! Andrea

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  9. So nice to learn more about you, Andrea! I love watching your progress with the pirates, that will be amazing when finished. I have a couple of Randy's pieces to stitch too, did you know I met him a few years ago?! Great guy, I really should get stitching what I have!
    Tinkerbell is adorable, the colours look great together.

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    1. You met Randy? How fun!!! I really enjoy looking at all your stitchy updates. Have a great weekend! Andrea

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  10. It is so nice to learn more abut you Andrea! Love all your Disney projects.

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    1. Thank you, Beth! It's fun getting to know so many great bloggers and fellow stitchers and quilters. Happy stitching! Andrea

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  11. Very nice to learn more about you Andrea! I enjoy your blog and I love seeing your quilting and stitching.

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    1. Faith, The feeling is mutual. I enjoy catching up on your blog and seeing all the beautiful things you're working on. Happy stitching! Andrea

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  12. Lovely post :) it's so nice to read more about you :)

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    1. Thank you! I've been enjoying getting to meet so many new friends and fellow stitchers through blogging. It's been a fun journey. Andrea

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  13. Nice to meet you, Andrea! There seem to be quite a few stitching Disney fans out there...good thing there is so much Disney-related crafting to do!

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    1. Nice to meet you, Leonore! Yes, there are quite a few Disney fans out there. There are definitely a lot more Disney projects out there than when I started stitching some 30+ years ago. Thanks for leaving a comment. Hope you join me on my blog adventures. Andrea

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  14. It's great to meet you! I love your love of Disney - I'm with you on that! I look forward to seeing your cross-stitch centre quilt; it sounds like a great idea x

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    1. It's nice to meet you, Bethan! I took a peek at your blog and see that you're working on the Kinkade piece of Beauty and the Beast. It's one of my favorites. Hope you don't mind if I follow along with your blog. It's always nice to meet other bloggers who share my love of Disney and hobbies. Happy stitching! Andrea

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  15. I agree with Jo from the first comment I just felt like I knew Andrea too. I'm a fellow Disney lover and we have so many things in common. I'm glad she did this so I get to know her even more. Great answers Andrea!! Just love the Tink piece!!

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