Subscriptions

Do you currently subscribe to any stitching publications or have you in the past? (Either in print or online) If so, which ones?

I currently subscribe to Crosstitch.com and Artecy.com. Both sites have beautiful designs, and I cannot say enough about them. I've recently been looking for a print magazine with cute patterns, but haven't found any. Far and few between are the good LNS around here. If any reader has a good suggestion, please let me know.

Tomorrow: a happy surprise.

Why benevolent being, why?!

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 first place?

Good googly moogly, yes! Who doesn't? My current PITA project is my parrot. I worked on him for 5 hours today and still am not where I want to be.

Great question, Jan. She can be found here: http://www.alpineme adow.com/ stitchery/ weblog/

Y'all can't get rid of me that easy!

I'm ba-a-ack! Miss me? Thought I fell off the face of the planet? Well wonder no longer, dear readers. CraftWench is back.

My life has been, to put it bluntly, circling the drain. Mr. CW's grandmother passed away (may she rest in peace), D-san (the ninja baby) decided giving the entire family a heart attack by not breathing was a good idea, my migraines are packing a huge punch, my computer is still dead, and finals happened. D-san is now being treated for apnea and finals are over. Two out of five ain't bad, I suppose.

So what does this mean for the craft-corner? No progress was made... at all. I dropped everything to deal with what life threw at me, until two nights ago. I picked up my hummingbird cross stitch, took my frustration and turned it into something positive.

I've decided to donate my hummingbirds (that one was bittersweet as it was meant for my grandmother) to a friend's rescue to auction off at a fundraiser. (http://www.arfchicago.org/) Check them out, they're a great organization.

So to get back into the swing of things, I'm answering the newest SBQ:

For seasoned stitchers: Define a stitching term or acronym for new stitchers.

Well, my favorite term has always been SABLE. SABLE means Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy. I... am so there. Between what I have acquired on my own or through my pusher (Mr. CW), and what I inherited, there is no way I will ever finish.

Ayo, I'm tired of this technology.

So... I'm back after a slight crash of the computer, I'm back. Nothing has changed on the crafting front, but I did get one of my research papers done. So... on to new things!




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

I actually save them on a disc and print out copies as needed. I always have a working copy so I don't mess up the original. This makes things so much easier. That way, I have it stored neatly, and I don't have to go back to the site/search my hard drive for it or deal with trying to count on the screen.

Something Old, Something New... You Know the Rest.

For my old:

I'm recycling an SBQ question that I never answered. This one was suggested by Ternezia and is:

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

I think if I were a cross stitch designer, my style would be realistic wildlife. As much as I love dragons and unicorns, a beautiful tiger or deer is what will catch my eye every time.

Now for the new:

Baby D is home! He came home on Monday and things have been kind of whirl wind since then. Welcome home, little guy.

Also, I got a wonderful package from Mary at Confessions of a Craft Addict (link on the left) after winning a drawing for her blogiversary. Thank you so much! I can't wait to pull out my sewing machine and start on that bag while listening to my cd.

And something borrowed:

I found this meme on Incoherent Scribblings (also linked on the left) and decided to do it.

In a Word. One word answers for every question.

1. Where is your cellphone? - Desk
2. Relationship? - Wonderful
3. Your hair? - Red
4. Work? - School
5. Your sister? - No.
6. Your favorite thing? - Crafting
7. Your dream last night? - Weird
8. Your favorite drink? - Cappuccino
9. Your dream car? - Spyder
10. The room you’re in? - Computer
11. Your shoes? - Nike
12. Your fears? - Tarantulas
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? - Loved.
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? - Matt
15. What are you not good at? - Math
16. Muffin? - Lemon
17. One of your wish list items? - Dragons
18. Where you grew up? - Midwest
19. Last thing you did? - Type
20. What are you wearing? - Pajamas
21. What aren’t you wearing? - Socks
22. Your pet? - Numerous
23. Your computer? - Gateway
24. Your life? - Happy
25. Your mood? - Fair
26. Missing? - Matt
27. What are you thinking about right now? - Food!
28. Your car? - Huge
29. Your kitchen? - Yellow
30. Your summer? - Far
31. Your favorite color? - Crimson
32. Last time you laughed? - Today
33. Last time you cried? - Weekend
34. School? - Gah!
35. Love? - Matt

And finally, the something blue:

My next project is the Carebear- Grumpy Bear. He's blue.

What do I do now?

SBQ time:

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

Once I'm done, I usually frame them and either give them to someone or keep them for myself. Either way, I feel better when they are somewhere the Corgi known as Cheyenne can't chew them when she gets mad at me. (Trust me... it happened more than once. I've had to rebuy a few kits and a Mobile speed pass.)

On a different note, little D finally ate for the first time today! Yay! So things are looking good. Mom O' CW was released from the nut house-- I mean hospital today, and the doctor said if we cross our fingers, believe in magick, and clap our hands to show our support for fairies, he'll be able to come home Sunday. Until then, we'll be driving up and spending the day with him.

Thank you to anyone who has been praying for the little guy. It seems to be helping him a lot.

No-o-o-o, my weakness!

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?)

If it has dragons, horses, or tigers on it, I have to have it. The Wagon does not exist in that case. I can never have too much of any of those.

Starting Over... and Over...

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?

Oh my goodness, yes! The parrot I am doing for Mr. CW's grandmother has been started over twice now. The first time I started it, I didn't like the aida I chose. I originally chose a light blue aida that had clouds stamped on it. It just didn't look right so I switched to plain light blue.

The second time I started it over, I realized that the change I had made to my colors didn't work as well as I had hoped. I went back to the colors it was designed in, and it looks much better.

Great question, Loretta.

This week’s SBQ was suggested by Kathryn (thank you!) and is:
Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned? Why do you like stitching better?

I've tried quite a few different crafts and I've stuck with them all: drawing, painting, latch hook. The only one I have abandoned is knitting. I just can't do it. I love the look of stitching and the looks I get from people when I give them something is worth it!

Happy Dances?

Here's another SBQ:

Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it! (Or just point to the entry that mentions it.) If not, when do you predict it will be?

I have not, unfortunately, had a happy dance yet this year. I should have one very soon however. Sweet Treat is almost completed and I also picked up some quick stitch things for my baby brother today. What nursery is complete without Carebears, I ask you? I've got 8 and can probably knock one out in a couple of ideas.

Passing the Time

This SBQ was suggested by Outi (http://snowprincipe ssa.livejournal. com/). Thanks for the great question.


What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy silence, listen to music/audio books or do you "watch" TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching?


Usually when I am stitching, I'm watching a movie or a favorite TV show. They are almost always something I've seen 5,000 times. That way I can "watch" without focusing on the details. I do have favorites. For TV, it's House. For a movie, it's a comedy, one I don't have to think too hard about.


On another, slightly unrelated note, I now know that the CW house is expanding in a masculine way. I officially have a baby brother. Sweet! Now, if only I can keep my parents from giving the poor boy a cringe-worthy name, it'll be all good.

Favorite Finish

Today's SBQ was:

What was your favorite finish of 2007?

Well, this is hard for me to answer. Sadly, I did not have even 1 stitching finish in all of 2007. Yes, that's right. I should go hang my head in shame.

I did however finish two latch hooks. My favorite of which was one entitled "Cat Nap" by Caron International. So, there you have it.

I now must go work on my WIPs so I can have at least 1 finish for 2008. Eep.

Guilt Free January!

So I decided to post an answer to the SBQ:

Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in “Guilt Free January?” If so, what are you planning on starting?

I haven't the foggiest to be perfectly honest. I want to start a couple of bookmarks for my mom (an avid reader) and Mr. CW's mom, but I haven't committed to anything for either one of them. I might just for the heck of it. The parrot for Mr. CW's grandmother is taunting me with its unfinishedness (okay, so that isn't a word. Feh.) and I'm getting a little tired of my hummingbird pattern.

I'm beginning to think that I'm one of those stitchers that have way more stash than I will ever be able to use. I even inherited my grandmother's stash. Eep!