Anne from An Evening of Wonders

I discovered this week's Blogger of the Week via the Stitch Maynia Facebook group, they have a list of the blogs written by the members of the group.  I am so pleased I did because she has some beautiful projects including Chatelaine's Desert Mandala.  She also features regular book reviews which are always interesting to read.  In fact her blog is named after a book quote, see if you recognise it before she tells us which book!  Please welcome Anne from

An Evening of Wonders

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

My name is Anne. I’m not sure I’m “from” anywhere anymore – I’ve moved so many times in my life, but I grew up on the east coast and now live in the southwestern US. I’ve been happily married to my DH for 20+ years. We currently have 2 dogs (Lizzie and Rowan) and 1 cat (Emma).

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

I learned how to sew from my dad’s mom, but I learned how to embroider when I was 5.   I went to a sort of hippie school as a little kid where we learned traditional crafts like how to make lye soap and how to embroider.  I stitched quite a bit in my early 20s, but then put it aside for a while and mostly knit for the last decade or so.   

With Thy Needle & Thread - January Wordplay

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

I have been a blogger for 10+ years, although not with this particular blog.  (I had a knitting and handspinning focused blog called How the West Was Spun for many years prior).  My current blog, An Evening Of Wonders, takes its name from a quote out of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by Mr. Bennet.

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’d say pretty organized – I tend to be that way about most things – with lots of lists and spreadsheets because I like those.   I generally work off a rotation and I try to mix up some smaller pieces in with the bigger/epic ones so I have a few finishes now and then to keep me motivated.   I didn’t think I’d like have a bunch of projects on the go, but I participated in Stitch Maynia this year (2017) and found out I loved having so many things to pick from. Now I just have to actually finish some of them!

Plum Street Samplers - Babushka's Blossoms

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

I don’t have any one favorite designer or style, but I tend to like more complex pieces.  I’m a fan of full coverage pieces.   I love how there is SO MUCH detail encapsulated in a piece of needlework with those. (Side note: I’ve got a full coverage group I just set up on Facebook, so anyone who is a fan of full coverage project is welcome to come join us!  Link: Full Coverage Fanatics.

HAED - Star Weaver

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

I don’t have it any longer as it was a gift for my younger sister, but I finished a Paula Vaughan design many years ago for her to hang in her room when she was a teenager. It came out beautifully, I thought. 

Chatelaine - Desert Mandala

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

Thankfully, I don’t think I’ve had any disasters.   Or at least maybe I have a very skewed idea of what a disaster is.   I’ve had things I’ve had to rip out or redo, but nothing that I couldn’t get back on track. Maybe I’m just lucky? 

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

I want to finish a piece with a flat-fold a la Vonna/The Twisted Stitcher’s tutorial.  I haven’t done one of those before, but I really like how they look and it would expand my knowledge base for a different type of finishing technique.    (And I do NOT need any other crafts. Let’s not even suggest that I try something else.)

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?

Everything is FFO’d.  If I have a larger piece, it might sit for a few weeks until I decide how I want to finish it, but generally, if it’s a small, I finish it right after I’m done the stitching, or for larger things, I’ll get those framed up fairly quickly after finishing the stitching.  Most of the finished pieces I still have are smalls – but I really enjoy finishing those, picking a coordinating fabric for the back, and having them to give as holiday gifts or to display in my own home for year-round events.

Drawn Thread - Full Moon

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

The project that most represents me – I haven’t even started it yet.  I ordered the Quick Stitch version of the pattern from Heaven and Earth Designs as a birthday present to myself and just received it this month.   It’s Aimee Stewart’s Eternia.  First off, it’s a pretty in-depth project (something I love working on), and the horse reminds me of my long-time competition horse, Bhen, who was a gorgeous black bay Arabian I rode for years and was my best friend.  Of course, doesn’t hurt that the lady is lovely and wearing a long medieval-style dress, since I love historic clothing and textiles!

HAED - Eternia

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

 I secretly wish I had Hermione Granger’s Time Turner. (Maybe not so secretly….)