Blogging

Well, I am finally catching up to the times by opening a blog to share my needlework projects as well as my love for needlework. My two favorite needle arts are cross-stitch and crochet. I learned crochet when I was in junior high from my Home Economics teacher. My first project was an adorable green worm bookmark. I was so proud of it. Coming from a large family (I had six siblings) my parents couldn't afford to support a hobby of crochet so I never continued on with this wonderful needle art. It wasn't until many years later when my son and daughter were very young that I bought a 'Learn To Crochet" book and the rest, shall I say, is history. I have enjoyed my crochet over the years making bookmarks, doilies, ornaments, afghans, and charity projects. I still crochet today and imagine I will until I am no longer able to do so.

My very deep love for needlework is with counted cross-stitch. I taught myself to do this wonderful needle art 26 years ago. My son was almost two years old and I would have the time in the evenings to stitch. My mother had given me a cross-stitch poinsettia bell pull kit and that is where my love began. I read the somewhat complicated (at the time) instructions and told myself that I could do this! Well, one bell pull kit and many projects and years later I can proudly claim the title of Cross Stitch Addict!

After the birth of my daughter and finding myself a single mother of two small babes my cross-stitch sat in a bag for years. I was able to get back to it when my daughter was three years old and have not stopped since. I remarried in 1987 to my 'knight in shining armor' who supported my hobby and encouraged me to pick it up again. Can you imagine that? For my 30th birthday he took me to the store and bought me every color of DMC six stranded threads that was available. What a gift! I am current with every color DMC offers including their new Variations!

I find that stitching reduces my stress levels and keeps me patient and relaxed. When I first started stitching I frequented a little LNS in my small town and increased my stash in leaps and bounds. I would visit her shop once a week. The shop owner would invite in the back for a cup of tea and give me lessons in specialty stitches. Bless her sweet heart for being so patient with me in teaching me that darn French Knot! (Note: If you are looking for a place to learn the stitches for cross stitch I recommend Johanna's Needlework Stitches. It is the best site!) I so loved my weekly visits to the LNS until the shop owner was forced to close due to her failing health. Shortly after the shop closed she passed away. I will always remember this wonderful teacher and friend.

As the years went by I found out more and more about this craft. But it wasn't until we bought our first computer in 2000 that I found the world of cross stitch was larger than I could ever imagine. The sites that offers tips, online stitching shops, designers, etc. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! LOL After stitching for 26 years now I am still finding new things regarding counted cross-stitch.

Back in late 2000 I decided to open my own cross-stitch community so that I could meet stitchers from all over the world. It was a very slow start but Shelley's Stitching & Stuff eventually grew into the best little online stitching community. Just a few years ago I changed the name of my stitching community to Needleworkers' Haven and we have shrunk down to just a handful of faithful friends. We love to visit together and work on stitch-a-longs, exchanges and our annual Ornament Club! By the way, feel free to join us at NH. We love to meet new friends. You have to join in order to view our place so be sure to let me know where you heard about us. I

plan to add links to some of my favorite online stitching shops, sources and anything else I can think of. I love this special needle art and will be stitching for as long as God blesses my hands. Until later stitching friends....