With housesitting, limited internet access, and lately limited time available, I’m woefully behind with the SBQ’s … so here goes a massive catch-up (I’m killing time before the traffic dies down, so I can make a trek across town with another boot load of stuff – Nigel & Brenda have convinced me to stay here another night tonight so I’m not pottering around in an empty home, but I’ll definitely be heading out there tomorrow for good). Rightio, here goes with the SBQ’s, starting with the most recent first:
17 January 2008 – This week’s SBQ was suggested by Outi and is:
“What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy silence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you “watch” TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching?”
This is a nice easy one – without a doubt my favourite pastime is watching DVD’s or TV … coming in second is listening to audiobooks. I can watch movies over and over again and not get bored, and I love my DVD collection almost as much as my stitching stash!
9 January 2008 – This week’s SBQ is:
“What was your favorite finish of 2007?”
This one is harder to answer … I’d have to probably say my CA Wells class project – Peacock Needle/Scissorcase – it’s the most challenging piece of ‘finishing’ I’ve one to date, and I’m particularly proud of it. Coming up a close second is Just Nan’s “A Little Joy” Christmas Ornament – I absolutely adore the little over-one centrepiece and was pleased as punch how well it turned out with the nun’s stitch edging etc.
3 January 2008 – This week’s SBQ is:
“Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in “Guilt Free January?” If so, what are you planning on starting?”
My entire year of 2008 is going to be Guilt Free and Enjoy your Stitching Year – no January new starts for me … but watch out when I’m settled into my new home 😉
27 December 2007 – This week’s SBQ is:
“Did you receive any stitching-related gifts for the holidays?”
I was going to say no, but then I remembered Mum bought me a new floor model Ott-lite daylight lamp, so that would make my answer a “yes” 😀
19 December 2007 – This week’s SBQ was suggested by Kathryn and is:
“Have you ever helped anyone else learn to stitch? Have you ever helped anyone learn a new stitch or technique?”
Yes – I taught a small group of girls how to XS when I was an adult student at College – I kitted up a bookmark design for each of them. I also taught Mum how to XS at the grand age of 70 … and now she’s hooked and wondering why she didn’t start it up when she was younger 🙂
12 December 2007 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Nancy and is:
“Do you do anything special to your threads before putting them through your fabric to make them more manageable?”
Every now and then I’ll use Thread Heaven, but that’s about it.
5 December 2007 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Nancy and is:
“What tips would you give to a new stitcher to help her stitch faster and neater while still keeping it enjoyable?”
Just to make sure all your crosses go in the same direction – and don’t stress … personally I think the enjoyment part should be the most important – I don’t stress about having perfect stitches, and I certainly don’t railroading etc, I just stitch for the enjoyment of seeing that fabric fill up and come to life. On the other hand I’ve found using a frame with scrollbars wonderful to increase the speed of stitching, as I can use both hands at once. The only other thing to suggest is having a few pieces kitted up, so there’s always a project on hand that you can pick up without having to think – that always slows me down, as it takes me forever to get my A into G and kit something new up, and I end up not stitching at all because of it. Sorry, not many tips coming from this gal!
9 November 2007 – Today’s SBQ is:
“When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you start over with a new strand?”
Depends on the state of the thread – if I only have to frog a few stitches, I’ll frog and continue again with the same thread … likewise if I’m on my very last strand of a kitted thread and I don’t have any more in my stash, I’ll end up having to re-use it again – otherwise I scrap it and cut off a new piece of thread.
2 November 2007 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Ternezia and is:
“If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?”
Very eclectic, I guess – I don’t have one particular style of design that I like to stitch, so it would be a mix of whimsical, traditional, and contemporary … either way it would likely be a type of stitching small (I’ve been tempted to try designing a needleroll a few times now – one day I might finally achieve that!).
24 October 2007 – This week’s SBQ is:
“Do you railroad?”
Only for satin stitches – everything else is fair game and falls as it lies …
17 October 2007 – This week’s SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:
“What proportion of your stitching is for your own personal use versus gifts?”
All of my stitching was given away as gifts until recently – now I’m more of a selfish stitcher and I’m stitching with myself in mind … although I’ve often started a project for myself then learnt someone adores that subject or project and it ends up being given away. I’d like to get back into some more small pieces of gift stitching, though.
6 September 2007 – Today’s SBQ is:
“Would you ever stitch one of your BAPs a second time? (This does not include starting over because of mistakes, bad fabric, etc, rather stitching something from the first stitch for a second time.)”
That’s an easy one – no way!!! A BAP takes me long enough to stitch it the first time, and with a stitching stash to keep me stitching until I’m 300 years old, there are too many other projects to excite me.
15 August 2008 – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:
“How did you get started stitching? Was there a person that inspired you?”
I’ve always been keen to try new crafting projects, so XS was just something else new to try – I picked up a simple tiny kit and taught myself from the kit instructions, and haven’t looked back! It’s also the only crafting thing I’ve tried and kept up (don’t ask about all the supplies still sitting back in Auckland for basketweaving, silk painting, fabric dyeing, glass painting, and goodness knows what else!!).
I think I’ve missed a few dates out, but they’ll have to wait until another time … it’s time for me to get dressed and hike to the other side of town and kill a few cockroaches and/or spiders 😉
Feather Stitching 
What is SBQ? Kathy
Audiobooks are a great way to train your brain, and learn a new skill or healthy habit. Checkout http://www.audiobookteachers.com