Last week I was “tagged” by the lovely and talented Kirsty Neale to take part in a sort of blog hop. It’s set up as a way for you to be introduced to new blogs, I’m going to answer some questions about myself and at the end I will tell you about three new blogs. Next Monday stop by to read about them!
So let’s get started with the questions!
What are you working on?
I have so, so many projects I’m in the middle of and a long to do list! Lately I haven’t been cross stitching as much, I’ve been doing a lot more embroidery and other projects. Jess from The Crafting Geek set forth a challenge she’s calling 30 for 30 Crafting. Every day for the month of June I am going to put in at least 30 minutes on some of my neglected projects.
I am also working on getting the motivation to take on some less fun projects. I have a list of changes I want to make to my website, a list of patterns I want to make, and a desire to make a Storenvy shop. However, all of these things require more time sitting at the computer than I want to spend. I would much rather be on the couch stitching, but I really need to just sit down and make myself accomplish some of these things!
How does your work differ from others in its genre?
I think this question used to be easier to answer when I felt I was squarely in the genre of cross stitching. But this year I have been expanding my horizons so much, embroidery and felt and English paper piecing. I find it’s harder for me to fit into a single genre anymore.
I will answer though as if I am part of the cross stitch genre, because no matter how far I wander, it still always feels like cross stitching is my thing. I want my work to have a more modern feel, I don’t want to create any “typical” cross stitches. I try to make my work different with bright bold color palettes and fun topics. I also set myself apart by stitching on a variety of different surfaces. I’ve done quite a few stitching “experiments” and I want to get back to that, continue exploring different ways to utilize cross stitch!
Why do you write/create what you do?
This is a tricky one for me because I do jump around. I create what interests me and makes me happy. As I said before, it’s hard for me to want to sit down at the computer and make patterns, I would much rather be stitching something. When I was in school I always found myself jumping around mediums as well – digital, watercolor, acrylic, paper cutting… But there is something about working with a needle and thread that just feels right for me.
How does your writing/creating process work?
Recently I signed up for a lot of swaps and other project commitments. While I really enjoy doing these, I find that I my process for a project I have to finish goes something like this –
Spend weeks avoiding the project.
Realize the deadline is quickly approaching.
Wrack my brain until I come up with an idea.
Stitch furiously.
When I am doing a project without a specified deadline, it usually goes more like this –
Happily stitch project for several weeks.
Get extremely close to finishing.
Lose interest and start working on something else.
I don’t think either of these are particularly effective ways to work and I really need to come up with a better process because my WIP are getting out of control!
Now is the time where I introduce you to the awesome participants that I am tagging.
Bridgeen Gillespie from Cherry and Cinnamon
Bridgeen has a fantastic, illustrative embroidery style. She is a contributor at Mr. X Stitch and has recently begun blogging over at Craftsy. She’s displayed her work internationally and was a regular contributor to Crafty magazine. Bridgeen’s portrait work is absolutely gorgeous and I love her work.
Visit Bridgeen’s blog here.
Visit Bridgeen’s shop here.
Teresa from Daisies for Violet
Teresa is the only one of the three I know “in real life.” We met over a year ago at our local library’s knitting group, though neither of us were knitting. For a long time I knew her as a crocheter, but I’ve added her to my slowly growing list of friends I’ve converted to cross stitching. Though she did tell me she likes embroidery better, but I won’t hold it against her.
Visit Teresa’s blog here.
Visit Teresa’s pattern shop here.
Victoria from Poverty Luxe
Victoria isn’t strictly a craft blogger, but she does do crafts. Victoria also blogs about food, (she’s gluten-free not by choice) fashion, and budgeting. She has an Etsy shop where she sells a variety of handmade clothes and accessories. She recently quit her job and started focusing on selling Jamberry.
Visit Victoria’s blog here.
Visit Victoria’s shop here.
Visit Victoria’s Jamberry party.
A super post! Lovely to learn a bit more about you and your creative process – and I had more than one giggle of commiseration with your WIPs! Chrissie x
Apparently I’m not the only one who works like that, I’ve had a few other people who understood how that goes!
Hey Rebecca! Thanks again for taking part, and with such a great post. I can empathise *hugely* with both of your project processes – definitely something similar going on over here, especially the stitching furiously part. I often try to convince myself that the last-minute, panicking-to-a-deadline brings out the best kind of work, and while sometimes it can, I’m not sure it’s quite the healthiest way to create!
Really looking forward to checking out your three tag-ees, and hopefully seeing more of your stitching experiments, too – they’re fantastic. 🙂
Thanks for tagging me! I wasn’t sure I had much to write but once I sat down at the computer I really enjoyed putting my creative process into words. I tell myself that it brings out my best work too, but I’m not sure it’s true!