Friday 8 September 2017

Vickie from Reading and Stitching

This week's Blogger of the Week discovered my blog last September and has been an enthusiastic participant in a number of my Blog Hops already.  So it seems right that she should be as enthusiastic about this latest venture!  She's one of those crazy people doing the Year of Starts so there's always lots to see on her blog and plenty of inspiration.  If you don't like the project she's stitching today, hang around, there will be seven more by next week!  She's also quite keen on Disney as one or two of the other Bloggers have been.  Please welcome Vickie from



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

My name is Vickie Hartwell. I live in Bella Vista, AR. which is in the northwest corner of the state. I have a wonderful husband who I met on the yahoo dating site over 14 years ago.  We have 4 furbabies, Brigen a 12 year old yellow lab, Gibbs my 7 year old lab,  Bert, 6 year old cat and finally Tiger Lily, 1 year old.    I am a high school special education math teacher and I just started my 20th year of teaching.  I have always taught special education and I love it.  I love Disney!   Cinderella's castle is my happy place!!

Inspirations



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

I started stitching when I was 12.  My grandmother had a set of the Days of the Week tea towels that I started embroidering.  We stayed at her house every other weekend so I worked on them while I was visiting.  We went to Wal-mart one day and I found a cross stitch goose pattern that she bought me.  My love of stitching started with a goose.



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

Is there a story behind your blog title?  I first started blogging when Yahoo had their Yahoo 360...then in 2007 I moved over to blogspot.  My blog title “Reading and Stitching”  is a combined title of my two favorite hobbies.   You will always find me with a book.  I love to listen to audiobooks in my car as I drive to work.  My go-to genres are Historical Romance and Murder Mysteries.



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.?  

Right now I am attempting the “Year o Starts” from the Stitch Maynia group on Facebook.  I am starting one new project a day for the entire year.  So far I am doing well on the goal.  I am however, focusing on one project, my HAED Faery Tales.  I work for 30 minutes on my new start then move to my HAED.   I guess I am organized due to the year of starts but you couldn’t tell it by my sewing room!!

Mill Hill Christmas Village



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

I am drawn to Disney designs, and as I call them “Fancy Lady” patterns.  I love to stitch people in period dress - the Victorian dresses are so pretty.  

Happiest Celebration



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

My favorite piece is my “Eye of the Tiger” piece by Cross my Heart.  I actually had this hanging in my classroom, until I was moved to a smaller room.  My second favorite piece is my “Summerball” by Sandy Littlejohn.  I just feel like I am at a ball with Jane Austen’s characters.

Eye of the Tiger



7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?  

I was working on the HUGE Sistine Chapel design. I followed the pattern for over 30 pages when I found some areas were not matching up.  I counted, recounted and there was no mistake. When I contacted the designer about the possible error….I was told to keep going it would eventually match up.  Ummm...No….so I tossed the whole project.  I loved that project!!!  



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

I am a terrible finisher.  I would love to learn to finish something that looks great instead of like a two year old finished it!



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 HUGE box finished but not FFO’d projects.  I want to finish them but they all just go in the box!  My favorite way to finish is a project is to frame it. Boring,  I know...but I like things framed.  When I finally frame them, they go up on my wall.

Augusta 12th Hole



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

I think the one project that represents me is my “Cinderella’s Castle”  I have always loved that story, and my favorite place to be is sitting on main street, staring at the castle.


Mirabilia Cinderella



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

My husband and I lost our marriage license after the wedding. He thought I had it and I thought he did when we checked out of the hotel.  Neither of us had it so we had to drive an hour back to the town we got married, get another copy of our licenses, FedEx it to the preacher, and have them FedEx back to county courthouse!  We still laugh about this!!!!

Amazing Grace



12. Anything you would like to add?  

Thank you so much for allowing me to share my stitching story.








38 comments:

  1. Vickie the pieces you have shared today are so amazing and beautiful!

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  2. Oh my goodness Vickie. All of your finishes are absolutely stunning.

    Linda

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  3. What beautiful finishes! I knew the Sistine Chapel was on hiatus but didn't know it was completely gone. I'm so sorry. Glad it didn't steal your enthusiasm or love of stitching!

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    1. I just couldn't see finishing a piece that may or may not work out in the end! Never!! Just moved on over to some new projects!! LOL!!!

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  4. Hi there!I too love to read! I love framing my pieces but I don't have wall space any more so I rotate them!Great finishes you have there.I am heading to your blog now.Nice meeting you!AriadnefromGreece!

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    1. Nice to meet you Ariandne!!! I don't have many pieces framed...I hate to admit it but my most of my finished pieces go in the box of "I will frame them some day!"

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  5. Hi, Vickie, thanks for sharing your beautiful stitching with us. Eye of the Tiger is amazing --- wow!

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  6. What gorgeous finishes! Sorry to hear about the Sistine Chapel design....you would think the designer would be anxious to fix the mistake.....such a shame you had to toss it.

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    1. I was in shock when she said to keep stitching...it would all line up in the end! UM...no! Not on such a huge piece, I just couldn't take a chance

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  7. Beautiful pieces! That Cinderella is exceptional!

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    1. Thank you! She was my first and only so far Mira that I have completed

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  8. Great to get you know you, Vickie.
    I'm like you when it comes to finishing. I fully finish some of my smaller projects but the bigger ones go into the large box.
    Your stitching is amazing, I love the projects you show here. So sorry that you had to toss out the Sistine Chapel.
    You must be very organized when you take part in the Year of Starts :)

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    1. That is where most of mine go too!! The box of shame!!! I am not sure how organized I could be..I seem to have lots of kits!

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  9. I love all the stitching you have shared here,particularly the Tiger's Eye. It is lovely to meet you

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  10. Beautiful pieces! I'm a big fan of Disney, too; glad I bought them when I did, because it seems like they don't have many new ones anymore. :)

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    1. I know! I keep waiting for something new and nothing!! I love my Disney kits

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  11. A very interesting read, lots of lovely projects.

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  12. Vickie, loved reading more about you! Your finishes are stunning ;o)
    What a shame about the Sistine Chapel... all that hard work... ;o(
    You are doing great with the year of starts - well done!

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    1. Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate the compliment.

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  13. Hey a person I know in person haha. Hi Vickie! We've been to a few stitching retreats together for everyone else. Nice to see your answers.

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    1. HI Katie!!! Love seeing all your vacation photos on FB!!!!

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  14. It took me a second look to see the tigers in the tigers eye, I can understand why that is a favorite.

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    1. This piece just speaks to me!! Thank you for the compliments!

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  15. Loved learning more about you Vickie and already regularly enjoy your blog. I am still in awe over your Year of Starts! Mirabilia's Cinderella is a piece I would immediately associate with you.

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  16. Nice to meet you! Disney seems to be a virus that stitchers are very vunerable against. You have some really pretty finishes and a year of starts, wow! How to you not get lost?

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  17. It's lovey to meet you, Vickie. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful pieces - and I can see why you love the Cinderella piece and the Eye of the Tiger x

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  18. Lovely to read about you Vickie and see some of your finishes. Eye of the tiger is an amazing piece and thanks for putting that song in my head!

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  19. All beautiful stitching, WOW to the Eye of the Tiger! And oh, Cinderella!

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