“My Interview” -- March 22, 2009

I volunteered to be interviewed by Ruth, "The Musing Badger". The way this works is that you volunteer to be interviewed. The person interviewing you gives you a list of five questions to answer. After posting your answers, you select a person to interview and you make up your own interview questions for your interviewee. You can read Ruth’s answers to her interview questions on her blog, "Interview with a Dork".

I’ve finished with wardrobe and makeup (yes it took a while) so on to the interview!

1. How and why did you start needlepointing? Do you still remember that first canvas? Do you still have it?

My first needlepoint canvas was a simple house in a garden scene and yes I still have it. The center of the design was already stitched and you just stitched the background. I finished this when I was about 9. I framed it when I was in my teenage years by purchasing a small frame at the local 5 & 10. The mat was made by me by cutting up a paper trash bag as that is what I had available. LOL! I did lace the needlepoint around the cardboard center of the frame as I knew I shouldn’t be using glue. I am not a fan of glue and I think I can get a better finished project by lacing and using a needle and thread. And by the way, don’t ask me my opinion of glitter which is not positive! :-)

I come from a long line of crafty/creative women and we used what we had long before reduce/reuse/recycle was re-invented again. This was also stitched and finished long before many of our local needlework stores were available and definitely before the craft big box stores opened. Anyone else remember when J.C. Penny had a fabric and craft department? :-)

2. What's the best ANG (or ANGesque) class you've ever attended and why?

This is a harder question for me as I haven’t attended many ANG or stitching classes. These weren’t available when I was younger and just started becoming available after I was married and I was raising my children. I’ve only taken one class through my LNS and only five classes through the ANG so I don’t have a favorite as I’ve liked all six! :-)

My grandmother was a wonderful sewer and knitter. She could just look at an outfit or a knitted garment, and then she would go home and not only recreate it but make it better! My grandmother could also crochet but she only did that when she had to (her words not mine!). She was able to get me started on my needlework journey though we did have one challenge. She was left-handed and I’m right-handed. We were able to work out several techniques but I never did learn how to knit from her and believe me, we both tried! Many years later this has been helpful as I teach needlework to children and teens and I can translate what we are doing for those who are left-handed.

My mother could do different needle work techniques though she preferred folk art painting. Now she spends her time working on making story time kits for the local library and gardening.

I’m self-taught mainly through trial and error, except for the few things that I learned from my grandmother and mother. For example, I figured out on my own how to lay threads and how to railroad as it looked better though my grandmother and mother did teach me how to thread a needle properly! No licking and sticking here… lol

3. What piece(s) of yours just make you smile when you see them/think of them?

I love this question as this is one of the criteria that I have for choosing a new canvas/design! Not only does the design have to appeal to me but I have to smile or grin when I see the project though I don’t like designs that are very whimsical or over the top. A gentle sense of humor or whimsy appeals to me. My favorite designers are Pat Thode of “Heartstring Designs”, “JB Nutcrackers” (love these little guys though I don’t collect nutcrackers), and canvases by Janet Zickler Casey. I then have an eclectic mix of “Lee”, “Associated Talents”, and “A Collection of Designs” painted canvases and a few other designers thrown in. I do stitch geometric designs and I have several older books with these types of designs. I also have charts from primarily “Laura J. Perin Designs” and “Kick Back and Stitch” designs.

My favorite things to stitch are Christmas, Patriotic, and Halloween designs. Our house is very neutral as I love to decorate for the seasons and the Holidays.

4. If you could take an all-expenses paid holiday anywhere for as long as you wanted to be gone, where would you go and why?

This was my hardest question as I’m not a big traveler. I’m very comfortable at home and we only travel for vacation and that’s usually locally. Hmmmm… I’d have to say that I would want to travel to wherever my family is. Though we are hoping to be able to travel again soon to Walt Disney World as DD and I want to have tea at the Grand Floridian! Does that count?

5. Why did you start blogging about your stitching?

I started blogging to share my love of needlework with others. I was enjoying reading the few needlework blogs that were available (this was several years ago). Since there weren’t that many of us way back then, I thought it would be fun to create a blog to share what I was doing. I created my first blog on Yahoo 360 several years ago. Unfortunately, due to family and work activities I wasn’t able to post as many times as I wanted. When that system started having problems, I moved my blog over here to blogger.com in early 2008. By the way, that took a while to move all of the blog entries and comments!

I should also add that I post entries when I can as family, job, and volunteer work come first. I’m pleased that I’ve been able to post as many entries so my fellow needle workers have another blog to hopefully inspire them or to at least hopefully give someone a laugh when they need one! :-)

Now that I’m done answering Ruth’s questions, I’m going to interview Kelly of “Orts”. Kelly is new to blogging though we’ve been email friends for several years. And yes, we were able to meet in person once at the Baltimore ANG Seminar! Hmmmm… now what am I going to ask Kelly…

Thanks for stopping by Windy Meadow!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow