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.
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!
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!
