Carla from Alaska Wolf Pack

This week's Blogger of the Week and I bonded over a love of Teresa Wenztler's designs a good few years back.  I have followed her blog and her FlossTube channel from the frozen wastes of Alaska to the Tiny House living in Colorado.  If you watch her videos, you will read this interview in her voice which is always fun to do!   Please welcome Carla from

Blog - Alaska Wolf Pack

and

FlossTube - Alaska Wolf Pack

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

My name is Carla.  To state where I’m from would take all day as I’ve been from all over the United States and Canada.  Originally, I’m from New Mexico.  I’ve spent most of my life in Alaska (35 years) and just recently moved from Alaska to Colorado and now live in a 36ft 5th Wheel RV in my second son’s backyard.  I know that sounds “off”, but really it’s quite wonderful.  I own the RV so essentially I own my home.  I am the proud mother of 4 incredible people; two boys and two girls.  They are all adults and have their lives, but strangely they all still want me around!

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

I have been stitching for about 30 years now.  When I was 8 months pregnant with my second son, his father decided we were going to move back to his hometown of Manistique, Michigan.  This is located in the U.P. (Upper Penninsula) between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.  Once there I realized I had nothing to do and found myself wandering around downtown.  There was a Ben Franklin’s Store there so I went in.  It was similar to an olde timey General Store and was really fun to wander around in.  I came across the “craft” section and noticed some cross stitch kits and thought I would try making one of them for the new baby.  Please don’t choke when you view the picture...it was Barney and Friends.  All the rage back in the day.  When I got home I set to work on this little kit without reading directions or knowing how to do anything….because why read directions or learn anything?  It ended up being horrible, but I did finish it and showed it to my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law who both looked on in horror and amusement.  I was gently told what I had done wrong and to this day can still hear their voices any time I want to “cheat”.  They taught me how to start a thread (knots are unacceptable) and advised me that all stitches should go the same direction (not however you want them to).

  

Even though that first bit of stitching was horrible, I WAS HOOKED.  I was fortunate enough to have two experienced stitchers at hand to tell me what to do and how to do it and I am forever grateful to them for teaching me so gently...I can still see Jane’s face...the struggle she had not to laugh at me could have caused an aneurysm!


Thank you Ben Franklin’s and thank you Jane and Joann for showing me the way.

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

I had started my blog August 30, 2009.  The original name was Sceal Teach which means Story House.  I wanted to write the stories about my cross stitching and crafting because I felt that each project I worked on had a story behind it.  That still holds true today.  I love a good story and it occured to me that some of my cross stitch pieces had some great stories behind them.  No one really read my blog for a really long time so I didn’t really post very often, and I wasn’t sure how to write the stories.


After a few years went by I found other bloggers who blogged about cross stitch, knitting, crochet and quilting...our main staples of the crafting world!  That’s when my blog started getting noticed.  It was strange going from no one reading what I wrote to getting over 1,000 hits per month.  I had found a way to write my stories and strangely people liked them.


A few years ago I decided to change the name of my blog to Alaska Wolfpack.  When I did this, I ended up losing most of my followers because I did it wrong.  I still haven’t managed to get my followers back up to where they were.  I wasn’t very smart about how to change my blog name and how to notify everyone of the name change.

I changed the name because my business was going to be called Alaska Wolfpack and I had some serious personal reasons for the change.  Even though I don’t live in Alaska anymore, the name will stay the same.  I love the name and it represents myself, my siblings and my children.  We ARE a wolfpack.

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.?

When I first started stitching I was one at a time.  I did it this way for YEARS.  When my desire to stitch ALL THE THINGS really ramped up, I had too many starts, UFOs, WIPs, and I had to buy ALL THE THINGS.  I think this really became an issue when I finally found groups, and met more stitchers around the world who introduced me to EVERYTHING.

When you are a solitary stitcher it’s easier to stitch one thing at a time.  When you become part of a community...well we ALL know where that leads us!  The excitement of stitching everything and showing it off to others who appreciate what you have accomplished is wonderful.

I have tried rotations, finish the WIPs, and various other ideas over the last few years and have finally settled on a small rotation.  This actually worked in 2017 and I believe it will continue to work throughout 2018.

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

My all time favorite designer is Teresa Wentzler.  Her patterns are works of art that make a stitcher better at stitching.


Honestly, I like everything.  I think I have stitched every kind of pattern so I’m not really stuck on any one particular style or design.  I do go through phases.  One month I’m all about Sampler patterns, another month I need something pretty and bold and another month I want cute and simple and so on.  It’s safe to say I’m drawn to cross stitch in general!



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

I couldn’t really narrow it down to just a few.  This is a difficult question for me because I love everything I’ve ever stitched.  I supposed I’m most proud of stitching the pieces I lost interest in or had serious emotional issues attached to them. 


Two examples would be Peter Pumpkin and Butterfly Vignette.

Peter Pumpkin I absolutely LOVED!  It was pure joy to stitch and so fun I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it every single day.  

Not so for Butterfly Vignette.  I despised it and wanted to throw it away every time I thought of touching it.


Of course, when I look at the framed piece I actually like it more and am proud I finished it, but it still is a constant reminder of a period in my life I wish had never happened.

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

This question makes me laugh!  I immediately remember EPIC FAIL (the name of the posted picture).  It was a speed stitch competition that Jody with Unconventional Cross Stitch had put on back in 2009 where she would release one section of the pattern every week and the first to finish wins.


I made a serious error when I started and during that time I was using a scroll frame so wasn’t paying attention to positioning.  I knew the fabric was large enough for the full pattern…..

…..but as you can see I started in the wrong spot.  I was so disappointed!  I could have won that contest hands down, but I made a serious error in spatial judgement.  Sadness!


I did re-stitch this pattern and my brother promptly claimed it as his.  I still have this in a box, hidden from view...away from the world...sadness!

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

Hardanger.  I have never done this particular type of stitching and the joy on stitcher’s faces when they finish something really has me wanting to give it a try.


Also, I’m currently trying different ways of finishing projects.  You can only make so many pillows or wall hangings!

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?

Oh yes, but thankfully there are only five finished things in that box waiting to be finished off.  I don’t really have a favorite way of finishing anything.  I usually wait until my mind figures out a way it should be finished.

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

This question has me feeling a little soulless.  I know many stitchers have a favorite thing, but I really don’t have anything in particular that represents me.  I love everything I stitch, so I suppose everything I stitch is a representation of me.

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

From the immortal Chef Ramsey:


Q:  Why did the chicken cross the road?
A:  BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T COOK IT ALL THE WAY!!

12. Anything you would like to add?

“In order to reach a goal you have never achieved you have to do things you have never before done.”


I found that quote somewhere and that’s what helped me achieve all the goals I had for 2017.  My dream of living a tiny house lifestyle has been achieved and now I need a new goal for 2018!



Thanks Carla for your great answers.  If anyone who follows Carla can think of an answer for Q 10 for her, maybe they could leave a comment!

Kim from Wisdom with Needle & Thread

I met this week's Blogger of the Week via Kaye who was talking about the beautiful work her friend did.  I went over and was bowled away by the things she was showing.  She has a wonderful generous spirit and while most people celebrate milestone Birthdays with a long gift list, she did 60 RAKs that year and sent the most beautiful and exquisite gifts out to people in the blogosphere.  Not just stitched items but hand painted china pieces too.  The timing of her feature is quite serendipitous as she recently hurt her hand and can't craft.  Hopefully this will cheer her up!  Please welcome Kim from

Wisdom with Needle & Thread

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

Greetings! Kim McCool here. I want to thank Jo for thinking of me and inviting me to participate in the “Blogger of the Week”. I live in the middle of the USA in the state of Iowa. My husband and I live on a small farm. He’s the groundskeeper, I’m the house help <G>. We have an upper garden, a lower garden, orchard, greenhouse, 25+ acres of tillable land, the other 25 are woods. DH and I have lived here for 20 years and have worked to create an environment for wildlife. On any given day we see deer, fox, coyotes, turkey, hummingbirds, and a multitude of other birds throughout the seasons. We’ve even had a pair of mountain goats (YEP, mountain goats) show up in our front yard. Our farm overlooks the Mississippi River Valley and in the winter we see the majestic bald eagles flying overhead or perching in our trees.

I have a daughter (34) and a grandson (3) living in Atlanta. DD is a professor at Georgia State University. My step son, wife and three children live in Michigan (over 10 hour drive) and a step daughter lives across the river from us. All are great kids and we love seeing them all whenever their busy schedules allow.

Of course, I can’t go without mentioning our two schnauzers - Emma (my lap dog) is a 5 pound teacup Schnauzer and our 85 pound GIANT Schnauzer, Bella (DH’s “REAL dog <g>). Don’t know what we’d do without them.

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

I started stitching when I was in fourth grade when I was 9 years old….so I’ve been stitching for over 52 years (COUGH!). My parents and I lived out in the country , my closest playmate was 5 miles away, so Mom needed to keep my busy. A good friend owned a knitting shop (I learned to knit from her, too). In the shop was a canvas of a ladybug - the hole count was probably 3 holes to the inch - it was HUGE. That was my very first project and I immediately fell in love with the process.

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

I started my blog in 2013 with the encouragement of LynnB of Happiness is Crosstitching.

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.?

An interesting factoid - I’M A OAAT eater….so I guess that’s spilled over into my stitching style. Yep - definitely a OAAT stitcher.

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

I love classic things - Little House Needleworks and pretty much anything to do with horses, dogs, Tudor-related themes, romance - I’m a romantic at heart.

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

This is a difficult question to answer. I can look at each piece and it brings back memories of when I stitched it - both happy and bittersweet. The best way I can answer this question is each piece is a reflection of me. Currently I’m attempting to go through our home, documenting each piece in a notebook for my DD so she will know the story behind them. When I’m no longer here, she will be able to look at the stories and, maybe, feel me there sharing each tale.

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

The worst one was knitting a miniature (1:12) scale sweater. I was ¾ of the way done, knitting along, oblivious to the world around me. Suddenly Bella, our Giant Schnauzer, EXPLODED - barking at aliens who were invading the house. (NOTE: There were no aliens to be found). I was so startled, most of the stitches came off the needles….I haven’t had the inclination to start one again.

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

I’ve been learning to sculpt, sculpting fairies, mermaids and wee little ones with polymer clay. I’d like to try my hand at sculpting horses next.

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

Oh yes…..about a dozen of them - stitched and begging to be finished into something.

10. What's your favourite way to fully finish a project and what do you do with them?

It depends on the project. Sometimes they’re made to hang on door or drawer handles, some are pillows, some standalone, some framed.

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

My “me” project is the needlepoint footstool with panels from the Cluny Tapestry.

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

I love Sci-Fy. I’m a huge fan of Dr. Who, Star Trek, Fringe, Eureka, Grimm, Once Upon a Time, etc. BUT……..I’ve never seen, nor read, any of the Harry Potter stories.

You can see all the 60 RAKs on this page here - Wisdom with Needle and Thread - 60-RAKs

Carin from Stitches by Carin

This week's Blogger of the Week is a multi-crafter and a great enabler!  She always takes beautiful photos and has tempted me to stitch designs I would not otherwise have noticed.  She lives in the Netherlands and blogs in both Dutch and English which is a relief as Dutch is yet another language I do not speak!  She is an avid reader too, so if you want a book recommendation do pop over and read her latest reviews.  Please welcome Carin from

Stitches by Carin

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

I’m Carin, 55 years and I’m from the Netherlands.  I’m married and I have a son (33) and daughter (31).  We also have a Jack Russell terrier who sometimes listen to the name Bowy.

Little House Needleworks - Home of a Needleworker (Too!)

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

I learned it myself when I was about 19 years young, so I’m stitching for more than 35 years now.  I saw a cross stitch kit in a local shop and bought it.  I read the description that was in the kit and just started.


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

I started in 2009 with my blog.  The reason was that I wanted a place where I could post pictures of my work.  I named it Stitches by Carin, because there are many kind of stitches I do, such as cross stitches, quilt stitches, knitted stitches and crochet stitches.

Little House Needleworks - Gingerbread Trio

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 work on many things at the same time. Most are small pieces, such as ornaments or pincushions and they are finished real fast.

Little House Needleworks - Seasons Greetings

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

My favorite designer is Little House Needleworks.  I think 90% of my work are made with patterns from this designer.

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

I’m most proud of all my Christmas ornaments.  I made the 2010, 2011 and 2012 ornament series by LHN and every year they are hanging in our Christmas tree and we all enjoy them.  Each year I’m on the look out to see if LHN has new ornament patterns, because there is still room in the tree.

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

That still has to come ;-)

8. 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 still have a few pieces that I need to fully finish, but most things are done.  My favorite way to finish things is making ornaments or pincushions.  I display them in my cubby organizer, in baskets, on trays etc.

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

I think that would be the advent animals which I just finished.  They are colorful and positively  funny.  I love colors, love animals and I always try to see the positive things in people.

Brooke's Books - Advent Animals freebies

10. Anything you would like to add?

The thing I want to say is, keep positive and think of the things you CAN do, instead of looking at thing you CAN’T do.  This motto helped me a lot one year ago, when I had my TIA and my right arm went out completely.
For a brief moment there was that thought: What if ...? But right after that thought, I was looking for solutions, just in case ;-)  That same evening I was knitting in the hospital, as good or bad as I could, but I did get some stitches done and knitting helped me a lot during the months after my TIA and it helped with my motor skills.
I couldn't do any cross stitching and quilting for almost three-quarters of a year, but I never have thought on giving up.  I kept on practicing and since a few weeks ago I can do cross stitching and quilting again.

Sally from Stitchyangel's Treasures

Welcome back after the Christmas and New Year break.  I am so pleased that everyone enjoyed the Christmas Special, a big Thank You to everyone who sent in photos and especially to Giovanna, whose choice prompted me to think of the way to tell the story.

Our very first Blogger of the Week of 2018 is a long time blogger from the UK.  She's been a commenter on my blog for many years too.  There's always something lovely to see on her blog, her finishes skills are wonderful and one of the projects featured today is a real treat for the eyes.  Please welcome Sally from

Stitchyangel's Treasures

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

My name is Sally. I am from a small, seaside town in East Yorkshire. I am married with 2 daughters in their 20s. We have a budgie named Freddie.

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

I’ve been stitching for about 25 years. My manageress where I worked did it and I took quite an interest in it. So, I went to the local shop that sold stitching supplies and bought myself a kit. I think my face would have been a picture when I opened it and saw a blank piece of fabric and the chart!

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

I used to blog on the MSN blogs (I can’t for the life of me remember the name ) and went over to blogger when I saw others on it. I’ve been on blogger for 11 years. Originally, I started just to have somewhere to keep a track of my stitching never thinking I’d become part of such a lovely community. My blog title was inspired by my friend Julie.

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 am a rotator I like to stitch something different every evening but that can change if I want to stitch gifts! I used to be a OAAT but I couldn’t go back to that now.

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

I do love Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks but if a design calls to me I will stitch it.

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

That has to be Just a Thought Sampler Garden Casket.

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

Attempting to make a tea bag pouch and making it too small! It barely fit a teabag in it! I used a free chart by The Little Stitcher called Tea Time.

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

I don’t think there is anything really. I’m quite happy with the crafting etc that I do and I’ve tried quite a few different ways of finishing.

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 quite a few not fully finished pieces! I promised myself I would try and finish a few a month but I broke my promise! I quite like to do pin keep type finishes and ornaments.

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

Anything with sheep!

11. Anything you would like to add?

Nothing to add other than I love the stitching blogging community even though I may not blog that often these days!