Catherine from I Love to Stitch

We have a very special Blogger of the Week this week, someone known to most of us by her "sparkly" nickname and her lovely comments on our blogs.  She has been stitching for longer than some of the previous Bloggers of the Week have been alive and has some gorgeous work to share with us.  She also has a great secret to share with us, one I would not have guessed!  Please welcome Diamond C AKA Catherine from

I Love To Stitch

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

I am Catherine Laurent, I live in Annandale, Minnesota, I have a wonderful husband named Mike, I met Mike at work on November 17th 1976, I proposed to him on January 26th, 1977, we were married on June 11th 1977, everyone including the Priest at our Church said it would not last, I have been happily married for almost 41 years. We lived in a tent building our first home with our own hands, from June 12th to November 15th 1977, a time I will never forget.

We have a cat, named Blondie and a dog Krissy, they are both rescue animals.

We were not blessed with children, we tried to adopt but were told it would be a ten year wait back

in the late 70s.

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

I started stitching back in 1979, I was given a gift of a craft magazine Needlecraft For Today, it had a design of a baby floating on a cloud that was my first attempt at cross stitching, it was a gift for my sister in law, I think she still has that little pillow.

I love stitching on 32plus count linens, I find some designs challenging, I am always up for a

challenge.

stitched on 50 count gauze

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 2009, I was sitting in a coffee shop on my lunch break and came across a Blog, I was intrigued and started on the next day.

The story behind my Blog title is one day my mother asked me what I was doing and I said I love to

stitch, she said that would be a great title for my Blog so I changed it in honor of her suggestion.

Feltwork Heart

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 one at a time stitcher, I am maybe OCD when it comes to stitching, I get nervous when I have more then one design going at a time.

Blackbird Designs Lady Liberty

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

I cannot say I have a favorite designer, I think all designers are worthy of anyone's attention to stitching their designs.

Betsy Morgan Bristol Bag

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

I think the piece I am most proud of is a design I did from a magazine it is a couple of bunnies in a

lettuce patch, I only say this because there was so much green in there I almost stopped stitching it. I did frame it myself, it hangs in my Foyer so everyone can see it when they come and leave.

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

I have never had a bad stitching experience as of yet, that is always a possibility.

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

I would love to learn Japanese Gold thread stitching, it is beautiful but a little intimidating to me,

maybe someday.

Beadwork

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 do.   I am currently working on getting things constructed and framed or finished into pin pillows or needle books or whatever I can decide on, I will be gifting some things this Christmas.

Ellen Chester With My Needle designs, Kindred Spirits

Scattered Seeds Sampler Design

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

I would have to say a project I stitched a while ago and had framed just lately it is Brenda Gervais’s Paper Snowflakes, I love the fact that it has snowflakes and scissors, please do not ask what the significance is of those two things but I always seem to have a pair of scissors with me, I carry a pair in the car I do not know why, maybe I am a little eccentric, the snowflakes represent what a beautiful thing life is, not everyone is the same just as no two snowflakes are alike.

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

I am a animated junkie, I love all animated shows, I salivate when Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter come around then I watch all the Charlie Brown movies, I also am in love with Hotel Transylvania, it tickles me to see them, I am 67 and they make me feel young.

12. Anything you would like to add?

Thank-you Jo for an opportunity to share with other Bloggers what I am about, I find all the

Bloggers of the Week have the same mindset, we are all friendly creative and of course loveable.

Class Project from Victoria Sampler

Bonnie of Bonnie's World

This week's Blogger of the Week has been blogging longer than I have but I only really got to know her when we resurrected International Hermit & Stitch Weekend.  Which is this weekend, so it seems really appropriate to feature her today!  She has a wonderful selection of WIPs from tiny series to the BAPs of Ink Circles and Long Dog Samplers.  Please welcome Bonnie from

Bonnie's World

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

Hey everyone.  My name is Bonnie Brown.  I am from a VERY small town in Southern Ontario, in Canada.  Like blink and you miss it small.  There is still only one street light there!  I currently live in Cobourg, which is a bigger small town, still in Southern Ontario.  Cobourg is on Lake Ontario and about an hour east of Toronto.  The beach here is a very popular attraction.

I am married and have two furbabies.  My husband Blair and I met in College where we both took accounting.  We have been married for almost 12 years.  Our two “kids” are two black cats names Leonard and Sheldon… yes from Big Bang Theory.  We do not have any 2 legged kids.

The Happy Couple

A couple of happy cats

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

I have been stitching on and off for a very long time.  A teacher in elementary school taught some of us.  I’m thinking that was probably around 1989.  My stitching has been up and down over the past almost 30 years, but I would say I have stitched the most over the past 10.


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

My first blog post was March 2009.  I can’t remember the exact reason behind starting, but I think I can thank Ann of Knowledge and Needles (My LNS) for that.  I was complaining to a few people on a Yahoo Group that there was no one in my area that stitched.  One poster (a friend who is no longer with us) mentioned Ann.  I was shocked as I didn’t even know there was a stitching store in that area. I ventured to Ann’s store in June of that year.  That day I purchased a few charts (Ink Circles) and that got me stitching again.  That also was when I got the invite to her annual open house and that day is the reason for “and days that have changed my life” under the title.  No story behind the blog title… I can’t remember how or why that name came to me.  I have never been 100% happy with it, but can’t think of anything better so it has remained. 

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 definitely NOT a one at a time person!  I do however have a limit on WIPS I can have before I get a little stressed about them.  It seems that this number is around 10.
I have a stash room, which is a little organized.. but is in desperate need of a good clean and re-org.  I am currently trying out a bit of a rotation to try and get some older WIPS done.  Basically I have decided to stitch one ornament and one of the Year in Chalk a month.  Then I pick a focus piece to work on.  This worked well in February, so have my fingers crossed for March.  Who knows how long I can keep it going for.


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

The name that comes to mind first when I think about favourite designer is Ink Circles.  I love the symmetry of her designs, and the fact that they are not your average cross stitch from the 80’s.  I don’t think I have a specific style that I am drawn towards.

This Ink Circles was one of the first I did (2nd I think) called Growth Rings. I did it to match the colours of the company I work for, and it hangs in my office. 

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

That would have to be Touching the Autumn Sky.  I know it is a unicorn for many.  I have actually stitched this as well (sorry… chart is not for sale).

There is also a memory behind the chart. I was on a holiday to Quebec City (my happy place) when I talked my hubby into a side trip to go check out an LNS there.  I happened to see the chart and grabbed it and never let it go.  When I got back to the car, I couldn’t stop talking about this amazing find! 

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

I think I am VERY lucky on this front (knock on wood).  I think the worst disaster I have had was an issue with dye lot on my Cirque de Carreux (Ink Circles).  I had not planned ahead and realized about 1/3 way through that I had 2 different dye lots.  This meant a TON of frogging!  I was lucky enough to get enough of one dye lot to finish the project.



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

I would like to get better at finishing… especially ornaments.  I tend not to go outside the box and finish the same way. 

I have recently learned how to tat, and this is one craft I would like to continue to learn.

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 don’t have a box, but I do have a drawer!  Framing is just so expensive that I can’t work all of it in my budget.


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

This was a hard question.  The only project that comes to mind is AAN’s Maple Leaf as I am a proud Canadian.

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

I wanted to be a school teacher when I was growing up.  I didn’t get into the program I wanted, so ended up in College with Accounting.  I love what I do, recently graduated from University (I only had college when I first went to school), and have almost finished my Professional Designation Course (CPA in Canada).

Cindy from Home of a Floss Junkie

This week's Blogger of the Week is a complete Full Coverage Fanatic!  She does the most amazing giant projects and has actually finished one which you can see proudly displayed in her header.  Another animal lover and contributor to a forthcoming feature - Bloggers and their Fur Babies - please welcome Cindy from

Home of a Floss Junkie

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

My name is Cindy. I am from Great Falls, MT where I live with my husband Jim, my youngest daughter Jessica and my 2 stitching buddies Elvira and Gomez. Cats are great stitching buddies.

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

I have been stitching for 40+ years. My mother taught me to embroider and do crewel but once I discovered counted cross stitch there was no going back to either of those.


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

I don't remember exactly how long I have been blogging. I started to be able to keep a visual record of my stitching. I don't post as often as I should because I would rather be stitching.
My blog title is a reflection of the fact that I have at least 2 full sets of DMC floss and I love all the color.

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 serial starter/rotator and highly organized. Each project has its own box complete with floss, q snaps, working copies etc. All I have to do to rotate is grab the box I want.

Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate

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

I am totally addicted to HAED but I also like Long Dog Samplers, Rosewood Manor and Ink Circles.

The Universe in a Jar

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

I am the most proud of the one HAED I have mangaged to finish.  Train of Dreams.

7. What has been your worst stitching disaster? 

Don't know if I've ever had one.


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

My 20+ full coverage WIPs.


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

I love to watch Ancient Aliens and How the Universe Works while stitching.

Irene from Little Stitches Art

This week's Blogger of the Week is another newer-to-me blogger and another very talented multi-crafting European.  She is stitching some lovely monthly and seasonal designs including some for the old traditional festivals such as Lammas and Ostara.  And guess what?  There's another cat picture!  Stitchers do love their cats.  And dogs too.  Please welcome Luna and Irene from

Little Stitches Art

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

My name is Irene and I am 43 years old. I define myself as a citizen of the world. I am originally from a pretty city in the south of Spain, Seville. After finishing my PhD in chemistry I moved to Paris and I was living there for almost 5 years. After that I got a job in London and I am living here in UK for more than 6 years now.

I am divorced and at that moment I don’t have a partner. I love my family, mum and dad, my sister and my grandma. I have then my other family, which is my hairy family. I have a very nice dog called Leti and a cat called Agu, who for different reasons are living with my mum in Spain and I have my small treasure, a lovely cat called Luna who is living with me and who became part of my life and my embroidery. I think I have forgotten how to embroider without Luna on my lap.

I like to spend my time cross stitching but I like other type of embroideries and crafts as hardanger, blackwork, patchwork, soap making, candle making,.... I love gardening, I have an allotment where I grow my own organic vegetables and I enjoy going to the gym.

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

I started stitching when I was 25 years old and, to be honest, I don’t remember why did I start. I was stitching couple of years and then when I moved to France I stopped. There I was so busy and I didn’t have time at all. My mum still has at home an unfinished piece of embroidery framed as a part of that period of my life.

I re-started in France when I became unemployed. I had a lot of free time and I needed to occupy myself. I started making jewelry but after some time I decided to come back to cross stitch. From that moment I didn’t stop anymore.

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

I started my first blog in 2011. It is a blog in Spanish and I still keep it. Last year I decided to start a new blog in English to reach more people and that is how Little Stitches Art was born.

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 define myself as random and eclectic. I like to stitch several projects at the same time but I don’t keep an organized rotation. I prefer to stitch what I want in every moment. That has a negative side effect, I have plenty of UFOs.

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

I like different designers. I can’t say I have a favourite one. All depends in the design itself.

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

Looking Back, a HAED from Crystal Dune. But I need to say that I still didn’t frame it…...


7. What has been your worst stitching disaster?

I don’t remember any.


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

I like to learn and try different techniques. I am trying to learn traditional embroidery and patchwork. I would like to learn to make my own frames.

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 plastic box where I store my finished-but-not-fully-finished projects. Most of the time, after stitching the design they go to the box. When I really finished I like to frame them if the design is large enough or finish as a pincushion or biscornu if they are small.

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

Doubtless, the Sabbats of the Year series. They are a real reflection of my beliefs.

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

I talked before about Luna, my lovely cat-friend. Well, last Christmas I was stitching Yule Sabbat banner. I left it in the embroidery hoop on my stitching corner and next day I went to my job. After coming home, I was about to continue stitching when I couldn’t find my project. I can guess Luna took it and hide somewhere. The funny thing is that I looked around every single corner of the house, and still I couldn’t find it……..

12. Anything you would like to add?

I want to encourage people to start stitching. It is a very good therapy for many things, that keep you busy, develop your abilities and keep your brain trained.

I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity of talking about my life and my hobby.