One Stitch At A Thyme

SBQ Meme: Stitching Term or Acronym

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:17:00 +0000

This week's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

For seasoned stitchers: Define a stitching term or acronym for new stitchers.
For newbies: What stitching term or acronym would you like defined?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/05/sbq-stitch-speak/

I can remember the first time I joined the stitching boards over at www.ezboard.com ( now www.yuku.com ) I was so bewildered by all the abbreviations used in the messages.

The one memorable one that always gave me a start when I read it in a header was:

SEX = Stash Enhancement eXpense ( or eXperience )
: Materials bought, gained in an exchange, won in an auction, etc.

Others that always gave me trouble trying to remember:

SABLE = Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy
: To know for sure, simply ask yourself this one simple question - If I quit buying anymore stash and stitched everything that is currently in my stash? If the answer is no, you have reached SABLE.

AFAIK = As Far As I Know
FWIW = For What It’s Worth
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary ( your experience may differ from mine)

Kitchen Towel Finished

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:47:00 +0000

I was going to post this Sunday but simply didn’t have the time, so it gets a quick little blurb today. My ordered supplies came in on Thursday the 1st and I finished the towel by Sunday afternoon. Now I’ve got 3 weeks left to stitch the pot holder. This is a first for me and proving very interesting as I have never counted cross stitched in-hand before. That and I had to dismantle the potholder down 2 of the 3 sides so I could work the stitches. I’m fairly confidant that I’ll get this finished in the next 3 weeks and mailed off to my girlfriend in England by the last Monday in this month.

Name: BlueBerries Kitchen Towel
Type: Counted Cross Stitch
Finished Chart Size: 3 3/4" x 5 1/4" (9.6cm x 13.4cm)
Leaflet/Kit #: Fruit Tarts & Towels Book 244
Designer/Publisher: Stoney Creek Collection, Inc. © 1999
Finished: May 04, '08

Potholder progress as of Sunday:

This will probably be the first and last potholder I stitch in a very long time. I find I don’t really like to stitch in-hand on pre-finished items.

Well, that’s all for this blog blurb.

SBQ Meme: Family Heirlooms

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Thu, 01 May 2008 04:54:00 +0000

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer is:

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

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-heirlooms/

My fantasy would be that everything I stitch gets passed along. That said, I doubt that any of them will become family heirlooms and will most likely end up in a yard sale long after I'm buried and gone. I'm not married and don't have any children, and by the looks of things I'm not going to have either in the near future. I do have 3 younger siblings,1 niece and 1 nephew so far, and they've all gotten wedding and birth announcements stitched by me. So hopefully some of them may appreciate my stitching after I'm gone and rat-pack away a few items.

Birthday Present Update

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:11:00 +0000

Well it’s been 1 1/2 weeks now and I’ve worked all I can on the kitchen towel for my girlfriend’s present. I’m still waiting for a skein of Glissen Gloss spectrim gold and a ball of DMC Pearl Cotton #12 I’ve ordered from www.needleartmania.com. Jackie’s brick n’ mortar shop is in Pasco, Wa. the only needlepoint and counted cross stitch shop in all of the Tri-Cities sad to say. I’ll be giving her a call next week about my thread. I’ve never ordered from her before so I don’t know what her ordering schedule is. I do hope I get my order before the middle of May, cuz the birthday package need to be sent out the last week of May if it’s to get to England in time for her birthday. In the mean time I’ll be working on the matching potholder that goes with the towel.

In Other News: I’ve been laid-off and out of work for 3 weeks so far, and it doesn’t look like the company is going to be calling me back to work this month. Damn but on-call work really sucks.

SBQ Meme: Blended Threads

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:30:00 +0000

This week's SBQ was suggested by Christine and is:

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?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-blends/

Like most stitchers I blend (tweed) as I go. I set up my LoRan small project cards so the 2 solid colors are on either side of the blended color. Example [ 378 – 378/379 – 379 ]. That means I pull 1 thread from each solid color, use the blend and place the unused piece in the middle hole to be worked later in the same project. I try to organize all my blended pairs this way on 1 – 2 project cards. That way I'm not duplicating solid colors on more than one card. When I'm finished with the project I either toss the blend or, if the length is still usable, separate the threads and return them to their respective plastic bobbins.

A hint for the LoRan cards: Write on the back and not the front of the cards, that way you can easily erase the pencil markings and use the cards again.

Christmas Sampler 2003 Update and Page Loading Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:23:00 +0000

As promised here’s my progress picture for parts 3 and 4. This will temporarily be set aside as I work on a birthday present for a girl friend. Her birthday is coming up in June and I’m going to stitch her a kitchen towel and potholder combo with a picture of blueberries. No worries about her finding out, as far as I know she doesn’t have internet access so my secret will be safe.

After that I’ll be working on Le Marquoir - Il était une fois replacing french knots with seed beads for part 4. Then it’s back to christmas sampler forcing myself to finish it.
Do you ever get to a point working on a project that you’ve had for so long that you start to wonder what possessed you to start it in the first place? That’s what I’m feeling about christmas sampler. There must have been something about it I liked back in 2003 when I started it that drew my interest, but for the life of me I can’t remember what. Now I feel like it’s a chore to finish the beast. But finish it I will, then it will either get rolled up and put away never to see the light of day, or it will get turned into a bell pull and only hauled out during December to be hung up on the wall.

As for the wonky page loading problems. I’ve gone out and bought myself a 3 inch thick Cascading Style Sheets book. Basically it’s a developer’s guide for CSS1 and CSS2. It may take me a while but I plan on teaching myself the basics and fix my blog myself. I guess it doesn’t pay to go copying and pasting other peoples code together when you have no idea what the hell you’re doing.

Well that’s it for this blog blurb.

A New Face Lift, Sampler Progress, and the SBQ Meme: April 10, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:33:00 +0000

Well after four years I finally decided it was high time for a face lift. I got tired of seeing blue skies and fluffy clouds deciding to go for a green motif and earthy flowers, orchids to be specific. It took me roughly six hours to tweak the template just the way I wanted it, and for someone who know zip about style sheets I think it looks damn nice. There's just one catch - it only works in Internet Explorer. For some reason, I can't figure out why or how, the style sheets screw-up in Mozilla's FireFox.

On the stitching front I'm hard at work on Christmas Sampler 2003. I'm up though part three, the center flowers, and halfway through part four the band just below it. I should have a progress picture by Monday or Tuesday showing both parts completed. Then thank goddess I'll be in the home stretch with part five. I've decided to leave off the bottom row of diamonds, part six, as I feel it unbalances the length of the bell pull.

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

What is the most complicated piece you've ever completed?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-complications/

At this moment in time none. I consider Teresa Wentzler's Camelot Sampler the most time consuming if not actually complicated, as I'm still plugging away at it after 7 years. Most things I've done aren't actually complicated. Then I guess it all depends on your idea of what complicated is.

QuizFarm Silliness

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:10:00 +0000

I found this bit of silliness via Jim Butcher's Livejournal posting today.

Looks like a tie between Snape and Harry. Dang it I wanted to be Severus!!!!

Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...?
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Harry Potter

You can be a little reckless and hot-headed at times, but a more brave and courageous friend would be hard to find.

Severus Snape

75%

Harry Potter

75%

Ginny Weasley

65%

Remus Lupin

65%

Hermione Granger

65%

Ron Weasley

60%

Albus Dumbledore

55%

Sirius Black

50%

Draco Malfoy

50%

Lord Voldemort

35%

SBQ Meme: April 3, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:27:00 +0000

This week's SBQ was suggested by Terri and is:

What items do you consider essential to your needlework that you keep in your stitching bag?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-the-essentials/

I have 2 navy blue DMC heavy-duty travel bags.

They have a 3 ring binder that holds stitchbow transparent inserts, my charts, & working copies. Then of course there's the fabric, plastic embroidery hoop, a package of size 28 tapestry needles, needle threader, scissors, laying tool (if needed), clear tape for getting rid of the fuzzies the frogs leave behind, 11 inch bookmark for cutting 18 inch lengths of floss, colored pencils and florescent pens for marking the working copies, magnets for holding the needles to the fabric, LoRan cards to hold the cut floss, stitchbows to hold the uncut skeins. Last but not least single wrapped life saver candies!!!

SBQ Meme: March 26, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:41:00 +0000

This week's SBQ is:

When you stitch a pattern that you have downloaded do you print out the pattern or do you stitch directly from your computer screen?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/03/sbq-downloads/

Nope! There’s no way I can look at the computer screen and work on my scroll frame at the same time, which happens to be in another room. So I puzzle out if I can convert the file to a PDF and enlarge the chart through the Adobe Reader program and then print it out. Thankfully one of the places I buy downloadable charts – Patterns-Online.com - allows me to save them in that format.

But whether it’s a freebie or something I’ve purchased, I collect the charts downloaded and burn them on disk. It's much easier (and cheaper!) then to keep them in dozens of 3-ring binders and use up a couple of pounds of paper and printer ink.

What be Your Nerd Type...

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:36:00 +0000

Ha!

Well with the amount of romance books I read in a month it's hardly surprising.

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Literature Nerd Does sitting by a nice cozy fire, with a cup of hot tea/chocolate, and a book you can read for hours even when your eyes grow red and dry and you look sort of scary sitting there with your insomniac appearance? Then you fit this category perfectly! You love the power of the written word and it's eloquence; and you may like to read/write poetry or novels. You contribute to the smart people of today's society, however you can probably be overly-critical of works. It's okay. I understand.
Musician
Artistic Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Anime Nerd
Drama Nerd
Social Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Needle Book Happy Dance!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Well I finally got around last night and finished my dragon needle book after 5 weeks of procrastinating. I think my check book design turned out excellent and with 4 pages I've got more than enough room for my needles. Also instead of marking the needle size numbers on the pages, I plan on using small paper stickers and writing the size on them. That way I can re-arrange the needles when necessary.

Here’s all the info from my finished projects page on my website.

Name: Needle Guardian Needle Book
Type: Counted Cross Stitch
Finished Chart Size: approx. 4" x 6" (10.16cm x 15.24cm)
Designer/Publisher: Teresa Wentzler - © 2007 TW Designworks / PatternsOnLine
Finished: Assembled March 14, 2008
Misc. Info. : I tried to take pictures up close of the Kreinik metallic braid and beads as they kind of get lost on top of the stitching for the head and tail. The bead used as a clasp is a stone - Tiger Eye.
Front Panel : Started August 14, 2007 - Finished October 7, 2007
Back Panel : Started February 3, 2008 - Finished February 7, 2008

I used waxed cardboard panels from an orange juice carton and 4 used Bounce dryer sheets as padding to make the front and back covers stiff. On the inside I used a white felt fabric square as pages.

I think It's time I got back to working on my WiPs and to that end it's going to be a toss-up between “Christmas Sampler 2003” and “Summer's End”. Oh, I'll still be reading my romance books but I think I'll keep it to a Friday/Saturday 12 hour reading marathon. I have a tendency to read a book cover to cover in one go.

Other News:
I’ve decided to start looking for a new job. The company I’m at now was suppose to upgrade me to permanent full-time hours. Instead I’ve been down graded from full-time temp to on-call status. Which means I’ve only had 4 weeks of work so far this year, and since I’ve got bills to pay *now* I can’t afford to wait around for them to call me. Looking for full-time work really sucks when the only thing out there seems to be 4 hour-a-day part-time jobs. It’s also hampered by the fact that I don’t own a car and have to rely on public transit.

Well that all for today's blog blurb....

SBQ Meme: March 5, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:16:00 +0000

This week's SBQ is recycled from January 4, 2005 and is:

After you stitch a pattern or kit, what do you do with it?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/03/sbq-recycling-questions/

Being a packrat of grand proportions I save all charts, instructions, thread samples from kits (where necessary), and design cover sheets to clear sheet protectors and organize them in a "Projects Completed" 3" D-ring binder. In the hopes that one day some other family relative or future kid of my own takes an interest in needlework.

SBQ Meme: February 26, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:24:00 +0000

This week's SBQ was suggested by Rachel and is:

What is your cross stitch weakness? (i.e., What do you have to have when you see it, even if you are supposed to be on the Wagon?)

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/02/sbq-stitching-weaknesses/

That’s an easy one. Anything designed by Teresa Wentzler. Even if I don’t stitch them all, I have this compelling need to collect her designs.

Belated Valentine's Day and Fantasy Author Autographs

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:50:00 +0000

Greetings everyone two posts in as many days the mind boggles. ;-)

Well I managed to get to Wal-Mart today and there were no mini rose bushes to be had. So I hoofed it across the parking lot to the Home Depot Mega Store and lo and behold they still had a dozen left by the front entrance for $5 each. White, deep red, pale pink, and something that looked like bright pink tipped in orange. I got one 4 inch pot of the bright pink tipped in orange.

I had a friend of mine take pictures outside of his house to day. He cut off the bottom of the picture so you can't see my hand holding the bottom of the pot. I don't know what's up with that yellow bud in the bunch. Next.....

RADCON a Sci-Fi and Gaming convention was held this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Red Lion Hotel in Tri-Cities, Washington. One of the fantasy authors I read, Patricia Briggs, was going to be there this weekend but not in an official capacity.

As I live in the Tri-Cities I wanted Patty to sign the six books I have of hers. Problem - what if I'm not able to find her during the 3-day convention after shelling out over $30 admission fee.
Solution – Patty is good friends with the owners of the local new/used book store "Book Worm" and took the time to visit both branch stores and signed every new book they had on hand. Huzzah!!!

I missed her for a personal signing at the "Book Worm" because of a doctors appointment on Friday. But I made it over to the larger of the two stores before they closed that same day and picked up an autographed copy of each of the 6 books I wanted. Some of her earlier novels were there but I only had $50 with me at the time so I could only get the 6 I really needed. Yeah, I know $30 verses $50. But I figured I'd spend more on a sure thing, and get a second set, than to risk $30 and come away with nothing. Anyway here I am grinning like an idiot at my book acquisitions. The one in my hands is the anthology "On the Prowl".

Yes, definitely a late but still happy V-Day even if I had to buy it myself.

One Last Thing:
eHarmony.com sent me spam a couple of days ago saying – come take our personality profile test and check your matches for free this valentine’s weekend. So on a whim I did it today. I answered all the questions truthfully and the final outcome of all this was….. Soooo sorry but we can’t match you. They basically implied that I’m too old, too fat, unattractive and set in my ways. THANK YOU so much eHarmony for letting me know I’ll never find a husband, die an old maid, and never have sex with anyone for the rest of my life. That’s what you get for telling the truth….I should have lied through my teeth and been happy. ;-p [snicker]

Miscellaneous Updates and the SBQ for Feb. 6th and 13th.

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:00:00 +0000

Well it looks like I’ve gone and fallen behind again with updating my Blog. The only new thing I have to report is, that after going back to work at my temp job in January and managing to work the entire month. I’ve now been laid-off at the first of February. It’s been two weeks now and no phone call, so I have a feeling I’m going to be off for the entire month. Hopefully no longer than that.

I hope everyone who’s married or has a Significant Other had a happy Valentine’s Day. For me the week came and went just like any other. No flowers, no card, no acknowledgement from anyone. Not having a boyfriend really sucks during certain times of the year. Anyway, I dare say I was temped to buy myself a single rose, then I gagged at the price they wanted. Maybe I’ll head out to Wal-Mart tomorrow and see if they have any potted miniature red rose bushes left, hopefully they’ll be on sale.

I’ve gotten tired of reading paranormal romances for the next few days, so I’ve decided to pull out and do the finish work on an old project TW’s Dragon Needle Case. I’ve finally stitched a back for it and now all I have to do is sew the front to the back, line the insides and sew in the felt pages. Maybe if I can muster a little enthusiasm I might put it together in the next week.

SBQ - February 6, 2008

This week's SBQ was suggested by Kathryn and is:

Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned?
Why do you like stitching better?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/02/sbq-other-crafts/

Abandon seems like such a harsh word, I think I’ll say temporarily lost interest in. The crafts that came to mind when I read this question were crocheting and knitting.

My grandmother taught me the basics of crochet and I eventually inherited her steel hooks. The projects – a circular Pineapple Sunburst doily 15 inches across and various baby blankets for cousins, and a couple of queen size blankets for me and mom were the bulk of my interest. I moved on to knitting and taught myself the basics - making your standard knit 2, purl 2, winter scarf. From there I jumped in the deep end making a long sleeved, hooded, with pockets, Irish cable knit sweater. As I recall it had 3 different types of twisted cable designs and I made it without a single problem save one. It was too small for me. So I ended up giving it to my sister. Everyone oooh’d and aaah’d over it, and even my dad whined about making him a sweater. But my interest in knitting had petered out by then - that was over 20 years ago. Although, last year I had the urge to make myself a simple knit cap for winter. I bought myself a set of double ended needles and found a free chart on-line. Just like the last time it turned out perfect except for one thing - it was too small, again, so this time I ended up giving it to my mother. You’d think I’d learn by now.

Anyway, I can’t exactly say why I’ve settled on counted cross stitch. Maybe because it looks more like art work. Or maybe my packrat gene, which I inherited from my mother, leans more towards cross stitch charts, embroidery floss, and evenweave fabrics. In any case, I’m happy knowing that I’ll be leaving something of myself behind after I’m long gone.

SBQ - February 13, 2008

This week's SBQ was suggested by Loretta and is:

Do you have any projects that you have scrapped and started over?
What made you start over from scratch?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/02/sbq-starting-over/

The only project I have ever scrapped and started over was Camelot Sampler by Teresa Wentzler. I had finished the center sword block and had gotten 75% of the Guinevere block done, when I decided I didn’t like the look of the over-one section of the face. It seemed too lumpy and contorted. That and I didn’t like the count and quality of the fabric that came with the kit. So I special ordered a half yard of 25ct. evenweave Lugana [Mushroom] and started over. It will be 7 years come this November ’08 and I’m still working away at it.

SBQ Meme: January 16, 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:01:00 +0000

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?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/01/sbq-favorite-pastime/

I usually listen to music CDs or audio books when I stitch.

I tried watching TV and stitching, but would usually end up miscounting and being off by a square frogging what I just did. Or I’d wait for the commercial breaks and only managing 8 - 12 stitches per break so in reality I hardly got any sewing done at all.

Audio books can be a bit tricky too. Sometimes I get into listening to the narrator and have a tendency to stop stitching if it’s a brand new book.

No specific book favorites, just what every happens to be handy - Fantasy, Romance, etc. For music I prefer new age, classical, anything instrumental.

SBQ Meme: Favorite Finish

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:45:00 +0000

Today's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

What was your favorite finish of 2007?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/01/sbq-last-years-fav/

It's not only my favorite but my only finish for 2007.

Name: To Love and Cherish
Type: Counted Cross Stitch
Finished Chart Size:
11" x 14" ( 27.9cm x 35.6cm ) on 28ct. Jubilee by Zweigart [Antique White]
Kit #: 023-0139
Designer/Publisher: Sandy Orton/© 2004 Janlynn Corp.
Finished: May 29, 2007

SBQ Meme: New Year Starts

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 03:43:00 +0000

Today's SBQ was suggested by Renée and 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?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/01/sbq-new-year-new-start/

Sorry to say – not a blessed thing. I’m putting all my stitching out-of-sight for the next 9 months. So when I do get it out again I’m going to be r-e-a-l-l-y enthused to work on it.

SBQ Meme: Holiday Gifts... What ya get?

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:52:00 +0000

Today's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

Did you receive any stitching-related gifts for the holidays?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/12/sbq-holiday-gifts/

Nope, no stitching related presents for me.

All I got was a card and some money from my sister, but it was enough for me to head straight to Hastings today and picked up My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon Anthology – edited by P.N. Elrod and Lynsay Sands' The Argeneau Series, all of them up through the latest - The Accidental Vampire. She's the latest on my list of newly discovered authors.

I've basically gone a little off the deep end in finding and buying books from new (to me anyway) authors. Here's the complete list so far.

Monica Ferris ……………. Mystery
Patricia Briggs …………… Paranormal-fantasy
Jim Butcher ……………... Paranormal-fantasy
Carole Nelson Douglas …. Paranormal-fantasy
P.N. Elrod ………………. Paranormal-fantasy
Tanya Huff …………….. Paranormal-fantasy
Elizabeth Amber 1 …....... Paranormal-romance (Erotica)
Amanda Ashley ............... Paranormal-romance
Alexandra Ivy .................. Paranormal-romance
Kathy Love ...................... Paranormal-romance
Katie MacAlister ............. Paranormal-romance (Humor)
Sharon Page .................... Paranormal-romance (Erotica)
Sara Reinke 2 .................. Paranormal-romance
Stephanie Rowe ……...... Paranormal-romance
Lynsay Sands 3 .............. Paranormal-romance (Humor)
Susan Sizemore .............. Paranormal-romance
Shiloh Walker 4 ............. Paranormal-romance (Erotica)

1: The Lords of Satyr Series
2: The Brethren Series
3: The Argeneau Series
4: The Hunters Series

And to think I started out with just reading Jim Butcher, Katie MacAlister, & Monica Ferris. Don’t however get me started on science fiction; big trekie fan here. I’ve got the original series, next generation, and all the spin-off series in my ancient paperback book collection. As well as the Babylon 5 series.

Later, Y’all……

Merry Christmas!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:52:00 +0000

Just thought I'd pop in here before the day was over and wish everyone a

Merry Christmas

Happy New Year!!!!

I'm afraid I've done absolutely nothing stitching wise since my Thanksgiving Day post. Instead I've turned into a paranormal romance reading whore. I don't know when I'll get back to stitching again. Maybe taking a few months just to read and indulge my fantasies will do the trick. I don't think I've ever totally packed my stitching away so I couldn't physically see it. Maybe that's what I need to do to really get back into a proper stitching mood. In the mean time I'll try to keep up with the SBQ Meme, other than that I'll be on a blog posting hiatus.

SBQ Meme: Taming Your Threads

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:43:00 +0000

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?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/12/a-finished-row/

I only use two methods to make my threads more manageable.
1) A make-up sponge and water. And 2) Thread Heaven.

I only use “Thread Heaven” on projects that are totally over-one in nature, like Teresa Wentzler’s the “12 Days of Christmas” ornaments. Other wise it’s just plain old water for me and spit on the ends – Yes, I’m a floss licker too.

Happy Day After Thanksgiving…..

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:43:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a hassle free Thanksgiving yesterday, I did. The family (me, mom, dad, sister – kids & husband + mother in-law) all went out to Old Country Buffet for dinner.

On the stitching front I finally manage to finish part 5 of “Il était une fois”. After much debate I decided to go back and frog out the french knots for parts 1 and 4. French knots on 18ct aida looked really suck-y so I replaced them with Mill Hill petite seed beads #42012 Royal Plum. I think it gives the project just that little bit of “Bling” that was missing. That and no more making french knots with a single strand of thread….YEA!!!

Anyway, I’m starting to get bored with this so it’s time to move on to the next project on my WiPs list. That being Camelot Sampler. I just now took a look at my website and I can’t believe it; but it’s been 2 years this month since I worked on it last. Looks like I need to put some serious work into getting that over-1 section of the jousting scene finished. It’s either that or I finish the twisted rope border around the top half of the chart. Hummmm….. decisions, decisions…..

In other news: I went and got myself a very early christmas present. A black Zune 30 gig digital media player with docking port. I was a little over whelmed by it at first trying to figure out the computer software interface. But once I figured out how to rip my audio books and set them up in a play list under the music folder I was a happy camper. That’s what I plan to use it for mostly, that and maybe two dozen of my favorite music albums. It also has folders for pictures, videos, and an FM radio. It also has a built-in wireless connection to link up to other Zune devices, but since I’m a little paranoid about viruses I turned that feature off. I don’t like the idea of riding on the transit bus and suddenly getting a pop-up message from a stranger in the vicinity.

Well that’s it for this blog blurb……

Once Upon a Time Update & SBQ Meme – Catching Up

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:37:00 +0000

Well I finally managed to finish part 4 after many weeks of delay, plodding along, and being called back to work, just for a week. I discovered that Aion NeedleCrafts message board is now gone. So I’ve signed up on a different message board called “A Crafty Natter” in the hopes that I can generate interest in this stitch-along mystery. Well a week and a half went by and only 2 other people said they’d look at the chart, so I guess that’s a bust there. O well, guess I’ll just plod along by myself then.

Here's what it looks like so far....

Remember to click on the pictures for bigger images.

And now to catch up with the Stitching Blogger's Questions......

SBQ - November 8, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you
start over with a new strand?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/11/sbq-recycling/

You know I could have sworn I answered this same question before in the SBQ. But I can’t seem to find it in my blog archives. So…

It depends on how much I have to frog and what condition the floss is in once I have pulled out the stitches. Also if I find it immediately or if it’s found a section later. It also depends on if it’s back stitching or regular 2-strand stitching. If I don’t have to frog more than half a dozen stitches or so, I just trim the ends, re-thread my needle, and continue on unless the floss is too short or too frayed. If, on the other hand, it’s back stitching I’ll usually just snip it out and start over with new thread. If metallic thread is involved it’s a definite snip it out and start over with new thread.

SBQ - October 31, 2007

Today's SBQ was suggested by Ternezia and is:

If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-designing/

Wow, tough call there. I’ve always loved Teresa Wentzler’s designs so Fantasy/Mythical would one, another would be a combo of Pagan/Wiccan/Celtic design styles. Celtic knot work has always fascinated me.

SBQ - October 24, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

Do you railroad?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-working-on-the-railroad/

YES! In fact I was doing it long before I knew that was the official technical term for it.

SBQ - October 17, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

What proportion of your stitching is for your own personal use versus
gifts?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-gift-giving/

For the last 15 years or so it seems I’ve been doing, for the most part, projects for family members. But as of this year I’m putting my foot down and “Just saying NO!”. I have to start thinking about myself for once, and sometimes I got the feeling that my stitching was more or less expected and not appreciated for the work and time I put in on it. So from now on I stitch just for me!

SBQ Meme: Stitching Mastery

noreply@blogger.com (Ja'niece) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:28:00 +0000

This week's SBQ was suggested by Ternezia and is:

What for you means to achieve mastery as a stitcher?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-master-and-queenie/

I guess for me, it would be to set myself a series of goals and achieve them. Some of those goals being…

* To finish Camelot Sampler by Teresa Wentzler, and get on with stitching all the designs I’ve collected of hers.
* To rein in my fear of cutting fabric so I could attempt my hand at hardanger.
* To discover as yet untried techniques of needlework and see if they’re to my liking.
* To stitch a design I created for myself, but have yet to see if it’s marketable.
And the biggest goal – to get my list of Works In Progress stitched and completed !!!!