Friday, January 24, 2014

Grow Your Blog - 2014

Joining in the Grow Your Blog event hosted by Vicki @ 2 Bags Full. :)

Hi!  I'm Rahenna and this is my cross-stitching blog. :)  I also keep a personal blog on Livejournal, but I don't update it very much these days.  LJ is a shrinking community, unfortunately, but I use it to keep in contact with close friends and fandom communities that interest me.

But enough of that!

THIS blog is my public stitching (and rarely, knitting) blog that I started back in 2010 when I decided to get serious about cross-stitching.  I learned to stitch from a school friend back in 6th grade.  I distinctly remember that day!  It was one of the first days of middle school, where all the kids from the local elementary schools went to the one big middle school that was somewhat far away, so there were tons of new people to meet.  I ended up sitting with someone completely new at lunch, and she was doing something with a piece of fabric.

I'm sure I don't remember the exact conversation, but I asked what she was doing and found out it was a mysterious craft called "cross stitch."  I wanted to try, and she said it was okay as long as I was careful.  So while she went to buy her lunch, I tried stitching.  I managed to make ONE stitch by the time she came back a few minutes later!

I went home that day, asked my mom if I could get a kit, and we headed off to either Joann's or Michael's, where I picked out my very first cross stitch kit. :)  I don't have it in my possession as it's probably lost forever at my dad's house, but it looked very much like this:


This is the exact little frame that came with my kit.  The design was a simple one with bunnies on top, the phrase "somebunny loves you" in the middle, and some carrots in a row at the bottom.  Or maybe the carrots were on top with the bunnies on the bottom.  It was a LONG time ago!

Since then, I had several (mis)adventures in stitching, most ending without a finished product.  I think I completely gave up on pretending I was a stitcher once I was in high school, even though I tried to work on projects now and then, and even added a bit to my stash over time.  Back then, everything I owned fit in one tote bag, so it wasn't a big deal to haul it around to college and various apartments that I lived in as I grew up and became more independent.

Teresa Wentzler's Angel Procession was my One Big Project back then.  Back in the late 90s, that pattern was hot stuff on eBay and my mom was very much into buying and reselling to make some extra money for herself.  She collected Wentzler patterns but kept threatening to sell her copy of AP since it was worth so much... up to $80 back then!  She said I could only have it if I actually stitched it.  So... AP is my oldest, crustiest work in progress, literally old enough to vote in the US.

I'm going to finish it this year.  I swear.

I didn't think much about stitching or any other sort of crafting until about four and a half years ago, after my mom died from complications of throat cancer.  She had many, many boxes of stitching stash that she collected over the years, much of it while she was sick.  She'd become a bit of a hoarder toward the end and there were literally boxes stacked up to the ceiling in one bedroom.  Some of those got thrown away (!!!) in the confusion, but after I explained to my dad that he was almost literally throwing out money, he agreed to start shipping me the boxes.

Money was tight for me at the time, so I started sorting through the boxes and pulling all the most valuable items to sell first.  I've been selling on eBay since 1998 (wow) so it was a great way to supplement my income and ensure that my mom's stuff went to people who would really appreciate it.  As I sorted, I started to put some of the prettiest (to me) items to one side for myself.  Before I knew it, I was becoming more interested in stitching for myself again.

I don't remember exactly which item sparked my interest, or how I discovered that Blogger was THE place for stitching blogs, but once I did, I made a blog for myself and got stitching!  It was slow and painful at first, since my experience with stitching was so limited at that time, and it took me forever to complete even the simplest of designs.  But I got to work on my old works in progress and finished quite a few.

The oldest project I actually finished is a Dimensions kit of ballet shoes.  There are some mistakes, and hoo-boy, were there a LOT of stains on that puppy, but it cleaned up pretty well.  It's now hanging on my stitching wall along with many buddies. :)

Not my style anymore, but hey, I finished! :)

Speaking of the buddies, here's the stitching wall. :)  There are a few things scattered around the house that aren't part of the wall, so I'll show those later.  In case it wasn't obvious by now, I am THE WORST at taking pictures...




 And the other framed goodies...




There's also a growing mountain of stuff waiting to be framed... a quick count says there's 29!  They're projects of various sizes, from tiny ornaments all the way up to monsters that required a fat quarter of fabric.  I won't take a picture of those, but you can browse my finishes page to get an idea of what's waiting to be framed or finished!

SO YES.  I love stitching! \o/  If you love stitching too, please consider following, and leave me a link to your blog so I can follow you too.  I'm always nosy about the pretty things other people are making and I'd love to see! :)

32 comments:

  1. Wow, you have done some beautiful stitching! I like the idea of a WIP being old enough to vote. I think I may have a couple of enfranchised ones kicking about here somewhere

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    1. Thank you Christine! It's a little embarrassing that my poor WIP has gotten so old! I swear, this year is the year. :)

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  2. Lovely to read more about you. What an amazing stitching journey you have had. Your finishes are stunning

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    1. Thank you Jan! I know this was a long post so thanks much for reading through it all... and looking at all the photos, even if they weren't so good. :D

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  3. Hi there! I'm one of Vicki's GYB volunteers, just checking in. You have done an amazing amount of work!!!
    And it is all so beautiful!
    Thank-you so much for participating and have fun during this event!
    Andrea

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    1. Thanks Andrea! You must have been VERY busy checking all those blogs! I've barely started reading through them all. :D

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  4. Hi, I love to stitch too :) Your work is wonderful!
    I have a blog at http://backonthewallxstitch.blogspot.co.uk if you'd like to see what I'm stitching :)

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    1. Thanks for the link, I've followed your blog so I can be nosy about your progress! :D

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  5. I am not a new follower but I really loved reading all your story! I am glad you kept some good pieces of your mum!AriadnefromGreece!

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    1. Thanks Ariadne! I was worried that this post would be too long so it's encouraging to see all the nice comments. :)

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  6. I love your work! That wall is intense, its amazing that you only recently got back into cross stitching seriously yet have done so much in that time

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    1. Thanks Laura! I tend to be a bit obsessive about things and it seems to go in cycles. Right now, stitching is my favorite hobby and some of my others have been pushed to the side for now. I do hope to stick with stitching for a long time as I love making things... :)

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    1. Thank you for reading my post! I hope it was enjoyable :)

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  8. Love your stitching. I'm a long time lurker on your blog and enjoy every post you make.

    http://ladynero815.blogspot.com/

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    1. Awesome, thanks! I've followed your blog so I can check on your progress. I love seeing everyone's WIPs. :D

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  9. Rahenna, I am a long time stitcher too. Don't have a blog though. New Follower. I am having fun finding new bloggers to follow...love sewing and quilting. Greetings from Oklahoma, USA. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  10. Hi Rahenna, nice to meet you :) I've recently regained my appreciation of cross stitch and have been digging through my small stash (puny compared to yours), and stitching up a few new pieces. I'm a new follower and look forward to getting to know you and your work:)
    http://sewdarnquilt.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi there! Thanks for looking at my blog :) I'll check yours out in more detail later but I love seeing the variety of crafts you have posted!

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  11. Hi Rahenna. A beautiful array of stitching projects.

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    1. Hi Lorraine, thanks for reading my long post! :)

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  12. Hi Rahenna, found your blog through the GYB event. Wow, lots of beautiful cross stitch pieces and interesting to read how you got into stitching. I'm a stitcher too. I'll look forward to following along in the future.

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    1. Thanks so much for reading! I'm going to spend some time reading your blog once I get through some of the others on the GYB list :D

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  13. Hey Rahenna, Looks like you have been a busy little bee. What an amazing wall of accomplishments you have. Your stitching is lovely. It has been nice meeting you.

    Hugs
    Caroline

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    1. Thanks Caroline! Stitching keeps me out of trouble, I guess... haha! Except it's easy to get in trouble with building up a big stash of goodies... oh well. :) Nice to meet you too!

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  14. Hi Rahenna, Loe your wall of framed projects and I look forward to following your project progress... Visit me if you want to: xstitchibrarian.blogspot.com.au

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    1. Ooh, great, another stitching blog to follow! Thanks for reading and thanks for the link! :D

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  15. What a great post and introduction to yourself. I love the TW piece, you must try finish it!!
    I also love your wall, it's so eclectic! Most stitchers theme their walls so you see alot of samplers or figures but I could look at your's for ages, it shows so many sides to your stitching personality.

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  16. I like all things creative n thrifty and I found you from the GYB party.
    I don’t have a lot of blog time in for I just started blogging when I joined the blog party it was my New Year resolution. 600 entries and I am Reading my 387 blog and more to go. Whew a lot of good read and great giveaways too. My site http://overboardcreations.blogspot.com/and contact info is ovr_brd@yahoo.com I believe inspiration comes from all facets of life even knowing the great people out there with wisdom and knowledge the do's and don'ts and even the wonders of life from a personal point of view. And loving the crafting networks. You definitely have a talent for stitching.

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  17. your work is lovely. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  18. Hi Rahenna, I am visiting late from Germany with the GYBparty. Your stitiching is awsome!
    Tina

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I love comments! If you have a blog, leave me a link so I can follow you. :)