Moving!

Well, I've decided to move my blog to WordPress.com. I hope you'll join me over there. The link is:

http://olivehopedesign.wordpress.com/

See you there :)

Fish City

Do you ever get to a point working on a project that you've had for so long, you start to wonder what possessed you to start it in the firstplace?

Yes. I felt that way earlier this year with "Fish City" by Stoney Creek. I finally set it aside earlier this year, deciding that I wouldn't put any more time into it until I wanted to. Well, I picked it up again last night, and at least for now I'll continue working on it. I still don't know where I'll put it once it's done, but I think I've got a few years to figure that out. I've been finishing about a page per year, so at that rate it'll be done in 12 years or so.

In the Mail

In the mail today were three issues of my favorite magazine:

I collect these, mainly for nostalgic reasons. When I first started cross stitching, and the hobby seemed to "stick," my mom subscribed to this magazine for me for 2 years. I hung on to those magazines, and in the past year I discovered back issues could be found on Ebay. I have since expanded my collection, and I hope someday my collection will be complete. I don't have a huge collection of stitchery (compared to some - my husband would argue that I do indeed have a large collection of stitching supplies), but I admit, this is the one thing that I do go out of my way to collect.

What is your favorite fiber?

I have a monochromatic design I'm working on, and I'm almost ready to decide on fiber and color. I'm thinking about using Carrie's Creation Threads, or trying silk. I have not yet tried stitching with silk, as my hands have been quite dry, and I've heard that can make it difficult to work with silk. Now my hands are better, so I'm thinking I might just try silk. Any suggestions of silks to try? What is your favorite fiber, silk, cotton, or other? Why?

Mother's Day Gift

I received my son's gift for me for Mother's Day today when I picked him up from school (I think it's a marigold plant):

The poem on the paper watering can reads:

I planted a seed, and watched it grow. I watered it daily, so you would know, that this flower for you is to show, how much "I Love You So!"

I just about cried when I read it. I love the gift, especially since my son had a part in making it!

Family Heirlooms

Do you have any pieces that you would like passed on to future generations as family heirlooms?

As I was thinking about this question, I realized that aside from my models, most, if not all of the stitching I've completed has been given away. I have a couple of unframed pieces that I did when I first started stitching, but recently I've either stitched design models, or for gifts. The models I would hope would become family heirlooms, but right now I view them as business-related, and not so much as heirlooms. I do have plans to stitch an advent calendar this year, I that I do hope becomes a family heirloom. I would love it if years from now my son would want to use the calendar with his children.

How about you? Do you have any pieces you would like passed on as family heirlooms?

Blended Threads

How do you handle blended threads? Do you kit the blends up before you start a piece, or do you grab what colors you need and blend when the need arises? If you kit up the blends beforehand, how do you store them? Do you have another option for blends to share?

I grab the colors I need, and blend as I need to. I'm always so excited to start a new project, that I just want to start stitching. I make sure I have all the colors I need, and go buy the ones I don't have, and then when I have the time to stitch, I just start stitching. I don't think I've ever planned out a project enough to know how much I'm going to need, and it would drive me nuts to have to figure out how to store the floss I've already blended, but turns out I don't need. What are the chances that I would ever use that particular blend again?

I haven't done many projects that require blending, but I just started one over the weekend. I don't particularly like using 3 strands on 14 ct Aida (it just seems so thick), but it's for a charity square, and the blends require 2 strands of one color and 1 strand of the other. I probably would have considered just using 2 strands, if it wasn't for noticing that there is one blend of 2 strands 747 with 1 strand white, and another blend of 1 strand 747 and 2 strands white. So I'm stitching with 3 strands on 14 ct aida. I've just barely started stitching, so you don't get to see a picture yet ;-)

Backstitching, and Door Prize Winners

I enjoy backstitching. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I love it. I love watching how an image really becomes defined as I'm backstitching. I'm currently working on Girl with Lambs for a charity square, and I was amazed at how just a little backstitching turned some white and yellow blobs, into pretty white flowers.

I'm hoping to finish the backstitching tonight, but there is a fair bit to do, so we'll see if I can get it done.

So how do you feel about backstitching? Love it? Hate it and avoid it? Necessary evil? (lol) I'd love to hear from you.

And now, the door prize winners are:

1. Joan R.
2. Barbie D.
3. Linda W.
4. Kai'

Congratulations on winning, and I'll be drawing 2-3 more names tomorrow, so if you haven't entered yet, visit my "booth" to find out how to enter.