Introduce yourself

[sharonb]

Hi all I thought I would start this group and see if people were interested in joining. If you are here leave a message to introduce your self. Tell us what your fiber interests are too

I will also test the image function and leave some eye candy

[Deborah Harris]

Hi everyone , I'm Deb should have done this a week ago but anyway here goes.
I am finally in a position where I can spend time doing what I really love. We still run our business but from home & downsized.
The great love of my life is wool yarn knittng...I do also sew but knitting is my passion. I have tried beading ( on a loom) but suffer from repeditive strain which unfortunately causes too much pain to be able to continue with this craft.
I have knitted since I was 5 & am now in my early 60's . I am really over the jumper cardigan knitting & over the last couple well perhaps 4 years been knitting large throws but am constantly looking to turning knitting into more of an "artform" as in wall hangings but not conventional. I struggle with this as I haven't ever seen what I am trying to achieve. I guess it is a form of scrumble but I want modern trendy cool...whatever you want to call it!
The main problem is hanging them & using backing to keep them firm...any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Lin Taylor]

Hello, everyone. I'm Linny T. & new to this site. I've been following sharonb for awhile on her various sites, but just now joined. It looks like there's loads of experience here and loads of creative ideas. I'm a beginner compared to most of you, so bear with me. I've seen some pretty incredible work so far.

Of all the things that have gone on in my life, I've always found myself with a needle & thread in my hand. I'm also a quilter and I love to embellish. I love crazy quilting and mostly approach it the old fashioned way. In other words, I don't sew and flip. I layer and baste then embellish. I also love applique because it gives me a chance to embellish.

I'm looking forward to learning more stitches and combinations and making a few friends along the way.

linny t

[melissa]

Hi everyone,
I'm Melissa, I have been teaching myself how to do embroidery the last few years. I do quilting and some knitting, crocheting and beading. My next project to tackle (when I get the nerve to) is crazy quilting. It seems rather intimidating. I have been picking up supplies that I intend to use for it. Hopefully after the new year I'll have time to try it. Unfortunately I don't have a whole lot of time right now to be able to play because of the hours I work. So I figure it's more quality than quantity :) .
I looked through the photos and they are so inspiring! You are a very talented bunch of ladies!

[Julia Hale]

HI, I am Julia from Hot Humid Georgia. I have been stitching/needlepoint some cookies. I guess better to stitch them than to eat them. I am starting a color study with Orna Willis the color she has given me is not in my color interest so this is a good challenge for me. I have many project going right now. I have a baby quilt in the works as well as a dress for a granddaughter. (what am I doing on the computer?) A Christmas stocking that should of been finished 5 years ago.
I am traveling for Linclon, Nebraska this week to visit the International Quilt Museum there. This should be very interesting and a great study for me.

[Jo]

Hi I live in the UK, I will post some work but I am moving at the moment so will be out of contact for a few weeks. The site is great and I am really impressed by the photo's of the work you have all done.
Great to see so many fellow stitchers.
Jox

[vijayalakshmi]

Helo Sharon, Thanks for the group.
I am vijayalakshmi(viji) from India, TamilNadu. I am a craft lover and very much interested in doing Embroidary.
I underwent embroidary classes in Tamilnadu and i am still learning through your stichinfingers TAST and Thanks teaching so many new stitches. I am happy a part of yours
I a having a blog and that is
.
http://viji-crafts.blogspot.com
viji/

[Cynthia Bonnell]

Hi!

It's funny how a change in format can draw my attention to something I didn't notice before. I've been a member of Stitchin' fingers for some time, but didn't notice the forum before.

My name is Cindy. You might see me around the web as Cindy B, or Cynthia Bonnell. I wasn't very good at "branding" myself when I first began.

I am more or less retired now (there aren't many jobs for me now, anyway), which leaves me much more time for my passion - stitching. I like crazy quilting and hand embroidery. I have done lots of various arts and crafts over the years, but always gravitate back to textiles and stitching.

My flickr site is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38196082@N05/

[D. Paula Banerji]

Hi all! I live in Manitoba, Canada and love to stitch. Sharon, you have started a wonderful site and I am addicted to it. It is a wonderful place to meet like minded folks and have a lot of fun.
I love doing crewel, stumpwork, goldwork and white work. I have lately started learning needlelace and really enjoying it. We recently found out we are having another grandchild (our 4th) and since this one is going to have loads of hand-me-downs I decided to make a receiving blanket with a whole lot of cross stitched animals, birds and insects on it. It is coming along pretty well and will post a picture when its done.

[Blandina]

hello, everybody!
My name is Blandina, I live in Florence, Italy and I am 57. I have 4 children form 17 to 27, I am living on my own since 1 year and happy to do so. I have now a lot of blessed free time and I can indulge in my passion for fibers and textiles. I am learning to embroider, I weave a bit, I sew and I knit. I took a workshop in shibori, which I loved and would like to learn more about dying.
A month ago I started a blog where I speak abou my life and my passions. This opened a completely new window on creativity for me, and also compelled me to learn how to take digital pictures and post them. What an adventure!
I am happy to be a member of this very inspiring group, thanks for having me.

[Lin Taylor]

Welcome Blandina. Nice to meet you. I live alone also, since last November. My husband passed away. I find that indulging myself in my passions eases the pain a bit. It is nice to have the time, isn't it?

Blandina said:

hello, everybody!
My name is Blandina, I live in Florence, Italy and I am 57. I have 4 children form 17 to 27, I am living on my own since 1 year and happy to do so. I have now a lot of blessed free time and I can indulge in my passion for fibers and textiles. I am learning to embroider, I weave a bit, I sew and I knit. I took a workshop in shibori, which I loved and would like to learn more about dying.
A month ago I started a blog where I speak abou my life and my passions. This opened a completely new window on creativity for me, and also compelled me to learn how to take digital pictures and post them. What an adventure!
I am happy to be a member of this very inspiring group, thanks for having me.

[Blandina]

Thank you, Lyn. Your works are beautiful.

Lin Taylor said:

Welcome Blandina. Nice to meet you. I live alone also, since last November. My husband passed away. I find that indulging myself in my passions eases the pain a bit. It is nice to have the time, isn't it?

Blandina said:

hello, everybody!
My name is Blandina, I live in Florence, Italy and I am 57. I have 4 children form 17 to 27, I am living on my own since 1 year and happy to do so. I have now a lot of blessed free time and I can indulge in my passion for fibers and textiles. I am learning to embroider, I weave a bit, I sew and I knit. I took a workshop in shibori, which I loved and would like to learn more about dying.
A month ago I started a blog where I speak abou my life and my passions. This opened a completely new window on creativity for me, and also compelled me to learn how to take digital pictures and post them. What an adventure!
I am happy to be a member of this very inspiring group, thanks for having me.

[Bev Bunker]

Hello everyone. I am a stitcher doing Japanese Silk Embroidery. I have done other forms of embroidery and cross-stitch. A few years ago I was looking around on the 'net and discovered the Japanese Embroidery Center in Atlanta, Georgia and I decided to look on their site. I was blown away by the work I saw there. I have always loved doing embroidery in particular, and especially for useable items (table-toppers, etc.) . I found out that this traditional Japanese art is indeed an art form! It was used for the purposed of embroidering kimonas and obis (sashes). This art form has just come to the West since the late '80's and is gaining rapid interest.

I live in Canada and wondered how I could learn this. I discovered there is a small group of people here who have been doing is for about 10 years, and so I joined them. We brought a teacher (Canadian) here and had a wonderful four-day session in July. Japanese embroidery techniques are taught in phases, beginning with Phase 1 and up to Phase 10 where one becomes a certified instructor. Then there's more if one wants to continue on. Within each phase there are multiple patterns to do on silk. It gives one the practice to get comfortable and have a finished piece to frame until the next phase can be learned.

Stitching with silk is a challenge all its own, but once you get familiar with it there is no turning back! I love it and find it very relaxing to do. The use of gold within the piece is stunning as is the sheen of the silk. We stitch on traditional kimona fabrics directly from Japan. They are very beautiful and enhance the designs stitched on them.