1. Please introduce yourself – name, where you are from, family, pets etc.
Hi everybody! My name is Carol and I
live in the United States in the state of Pennsylvania (think cold
and snowy!). My husband and I just celebrated our 40th wedding
anniversary last year and are the proud parents of three sons ages
35, 32, and 29. Our oldest son was married in October so I now have a
lovely daughter-in-law who I'm teaching to cross-stitch... Only one
of our sons lives nearby, unfortunately. The oldest and his wife live
all the way across the country in San Diego, California and my
youngest lives about 4 hours away in Washington, D.C. I was a
reference librarian for nearly 30 years in a very busy public library
and just retired last year. I'm missing my job, but am enjoying the
extra time I suddenly have for stitching. When my husband retires in
a couple of years, we hope to spend much more of our time traveling
and seeing the wonders of the world.
"January
Sampler" by Waxed Moon
2. How long have you been stitching
and how did you start?
I've been stitching since the early
1980s. A fellow librarian stitched on her lunch breaks and I was just
fascinated to watch a design appear on empty fabric. I was hooked,
although I did take a ten year break from stitching during the years
that I was busiest raising my sons. I got back into it in 2003 when I
was making a scrapbook for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I needed something to put on the front cover of it. I found this
pretty heart design and personalized it for them and ever since, I've
stitched almost daily!
Anniversary
Album For My Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary
3. How long have you been blogging
and what inspired you to start? Is there a story behind your
blog title?
I began my blog, "Stitching
Dreams" nine years ago in January 2009. I honestly have to
credit my sons for it! When they suggested I start a stitching blog,
I had little idea of what a blog even was. But, I began looking at a
few of them and figured it would be a good way to keep track of my
finishes. Little did I know that my blog would open up a whole new
world for me--friendships with stitchers from around the world, gift
exchanges, and beautiful inspiration on a daily basis! It has been a
wonderful thing... I named my blog "Stitching Dreams"
because that very first year, 2009, it was my dream to stitch an
ornament sized piece a week for the entire year. And you know what--I
did it! My other hobbies include baking, photography, exercise (to
work off all of those calories from the baking!), and reading.
Ornament
a Week Challenge From 2009
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 stitch whatever calls my name,
although I do tend to stitch seasonally. The only thing I've done is
make it a goal to stitch a Christmas ornament each month since I
began my blog. My Christmas tree is pretty full after all these
years, but I love it. Many stitchers have told me how I've inspired
them to stitch an ornament a month, too, which make me so happy. For
the most part, I am a one-at-a-time stitcher. I do have a couple of
unfinished projects waiting in the wings, but my problem is that if I
leave them, I don't want to go back to them!
My
Stitchy Christmas Tree
5. Do you have a favourite designer
or style of design you are drawn to?
Definitely Prairie Schooler! Especially their Santas--they are such classics... I call Prairie
Schooler my "comfort stitching"--the charts use good old
DMC and what you see is what you get. There is no wrangling with
overdyeds that look nothing like the front of the chart and it is
easy, uncomplicated, meditative stitching.
Prairie
Schooler Santas
6. Which piece are you most proud of
in your collection?
I'm most proud of not just one
piece, but of the 2012 "Year of the Bowl Challenge" that I
did. Each month I would stitch five or six little pillows to
represent that month (Snowmen in January, Love in February,
Thanksgiving in November, etc.). It was a lot of work, but so much
fun and I think that is the year that many of my blog readers first
discovered "Stitching Dreams."
Thanksgiving
Bowl
The Year Of the Bowl Stitched Pieces
7. What has been your worst stitching
disaster?
I can't think of a true disaster--my
iron has had a run in with ric-rac a couple of times leaving a melted
mess on my stitching, but I've been able to cover it up with a bow or
button.
8. Which new technique would you like
to try, either stitching, finishing or another craft?
Actually, I'm becoming very
interested in English paper piecing. I've been reading more and
more about it and I love the look of hexies! We'll see if I get up my
nerve to try it. I tend to stay within my comfort zone most of the
time :)
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 am great about finishing my smalls
as I stitch them--larger pieces, not so much! I have a large
portfolio filled with unfinished larger things that really should be
framed. I haven't found a good framer near me, which is part of the
problem. I will frame smaller things myself, but I should really push
myself to get those finished things out, framed, and hanging on my
walls!
Cricket
Collection's "Eggs...etera"
A Bowl Full of Smiling Snowmen;
10. Which of your projects most
represents "you"?
I would say "Simple
Life" most represents me... I am very content with the simple
things in life--a newly built nest filled with Robin's-egg blue eggs,
a fresh snowfall, the laughter of my sons, a kind word given or
received.
"Simple
Life" by Little House Needlework
11. Tell us a secret about yourself. Or a
joke. About anything!
I can never remember jokes so it
will have to be a secret--sort of (some of you know this!). In 1996
we spent a year remodeling our home and in 1997 the magazine Better
Homes and Gardens honored us with the Grand Prize in their annual
home remodeling contest. It was featured in the February 1998 issue
of the magazine--exciting, but a bit hard for me as I'm naturally shy
and quiet. It was most interesting to see the photographers and room
designers at work, though!!
12. Anything you would like to add?
Thank you all for reading my
little interview--and a special thanks to Jo for the "Blogger Of
the Week" feature! It is so much fun finding new stitching
blogs. Happy Stitching, everyone!
