Newbie on board

[Teri Kozeluh]

I hope I get this is the correct forum...my name is Teri and I'm 54 years old. I've been doing some kind of handwork since I was around 5 or 6, I guess. I can remember sitting next my mom and learning my first embroidery stitches. This is one of the best memories I have.

I'm currently residing in the LA area of California, but I was born in raised in San Diego County out in the boondocks. I lived for 14 years in Alaska, and one year in Rhode Island. You could say I've lived the in the farthest south, north and east of the United States.

Almost 2 years ago I became disabled and was forced to stop working and since then handwork is one of the few things I do to entertain myself. I used to have a small home business in Alaska and I worked with birch bark and beadwork. I pretty much started selling because I needed money for more beads. Now I just do what I do for gifts or because I see a new pattern I want to try out or learn a new skill. This year I concentrated on knitting between embroidering dishtowels for Christmas gifts. Next year I plan to concentrate on needlework...perhaps stumpwork. 

I looked at some of the photos here and this is a group of superbly talented artisans. Wow! I feel a bit intimidated and yet excited all at the same time because I really want to learn new skills so I can design my own needlework pictures from photos I take. I love to take pictures and I would like to somehow put the two loves together.

I'm sure this was more than anyone wanted to know...I am very pleased to be part of this group of talented stitchers!

Teri

[Debra Spincic]

Welcome to Stitchin Fingers!  I'm sure you will want to join some of the smaller interest groups and get to know the ladies there too.

[Pamela Joy]

Happy New Year and welcome! I'm new also...just a few months but this is an awesome community...lots of unique groups like Debra said....it's given me great courage to finish a collage of 19th century baltimore ...and pick up crocheting after 25-27 years yaaaay!   I look forward to seeing your projects, working with birch sounds really neat...thank you for sharring with all of us....huggs, Pamela

[Barbara/Hopscotch]

Welcome to stitchinfingers, Teri,

It is such a great site for exchanging information and sharing your love of handcrafts.  Never feel intimidated by others work - just inspired :)

Everybody was a learner once, even the most talented of us!

Just take a good look around and enjoy yourself.

Barbara

[Jules Woolford]

Welcome Teri and a very Happy New Year to you!

This is a great community and I have made some  terrific friends over the last few years. It's without a doubt the best on-line site for making connections, sharing, learning and having fun! ( Not that I am  biased at all!)

I will be really interested to see your projects, the birch sounds fascinating.

Happy stitching and creating!

[Teri Kozeluh]

Thank you everyone for the welcome. I've been gone for the last week enjoying Christmas vacation with my family and just got back this afternoon. What wonderful comments to come back to! I'm still not sure how to get around and I will be making my way through all this wonderful artwork!

[Donna Abrams]

Hi Everyone,  I am new to this site as well.  My name is Donna Abrams and I live in Plains, MT.  I am retired 13 years now and my life pretty much revolves around my family, friends, church and my quilting and needlework.  I have a Bailey Quilting Machine and love doing my own quilts from start to finish.  I also am in love with crazy quilt blocks which entails embroidery with thread and silk ribbon.  I am a lefty so it has been a challenge to do right handed stitches but I have limped through and recently found a book that gives directions for left and right hand people.  That is awesome.  I look forward to meeting all of you and getting to know you.

[Barbara/Hopscotch]

Welcome to stitchin...., Donna,

I'm sure you will enjoy ogling everyone's work - I do :)

Best wishes,

Barbara

[Emily]

Hello and welcome to you both!  I hope you find lots of inspiration and fun here.

[Donna Abrams]

thanks for the welcome ladies,  this looks like fun.

[Pamela Joy]

Barbara I'm with you...I get so entranced with everyone's work - oh my LOL it's all so beautiful !!!

Hopscotch said:

Welcome to stitchin...., Donna,

I'm sure you will enjoy ogling everyone's work - I do :)

Best wishes,

Barbara

[Jackie Lott]

Teri, I feel the same way you do.  I'm a bit intimidated also.  My main interest is  CrazQuilts and the embroidery and embellishments.  I did a Christmas Tree skirt which took me about 5 years, but it was fun.  If you go to my page, Jackie Lott, you can see it.  I just look at the embroidery books a lot and try to learn new stitches.

I learn a lot from the pictures on this site too.  Keep stitching.