FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Many of you have sent wonderful feedback comments, questions and encouragement. Although I do try to answer all of them, there are still questions and ideas that I think about long after I've sent the reply. I've pondered long enough, so here are my thoughts on your thoughts . . .

"Where do you Start a piece?"

Every piece has it's own voice, direction, soul. I have a few guidelines but no set rules.

If the canvas has a 'face' to stitch, I like to begin there. It attaches me to the piece and I begin to live with my creation. I recently saw a magnificent cross stitch as it was being stitched, very intricate and beautiful. However, the stitcher had left a face unstitched, just a blank circle in the midst of the stitching, to be completed at the end. That felt so impersonal that I just wanted to take the needle and fill it in!

If the canvas is very large and detailed, I will begin at the top or in a top corner, finding a 'logical' flow to the stitching, rather than jumping around from one place to another. This prevents missed stitches and creates a smoother finish. I like to work downwards, covering my way knots and way tails as I progress.

Whenever I return to a piece, even if it's within a few hours, I sit for a moment and think about what part of the piece is 'asking' to be next. There's always a part that speaks out. This is important because each colour placement affects the next one.

"How long will that take you?"

I'm often asked this question when I'm at the needlepoint shop. It takes as long as it takes. "An inch an hour, usually" is my frequent answer. I only stitch what I love, so being with a piece for years doesn't bother me (and many of my pieces are large). This attitude allows me to stitch as many pieces as I wish rather than being confined to one piece till finished.

"How many pieces do you have in work?"

Once again, the question frightens me into silence!! I don't want to face the actual count. Only my web designer knows for sure and even then, I sometimes wait a bit before confessing to her. I've found a way to deal with all of this self imposed pressure. I now keep (only) 6 pieces in my rotation. When one is complete, I'll allow another one to replace it. This helps me to free my mind and to have a completed piece to show you more often.

I learn from each piece and then take that knowledge to the others so they are all of the same level of skill. That's an interesting phenomenon because each piece has a sense of evolution as I'm experimenting and learning. I used to be concerned that the 'old' part of the piece didn't match and should I rip!? Instead, I'm now doing a piece where I'm combining an old canvas with a new creation. I love to experiment so I give myself free reign to do that.

"Do you teach?"

I'm often asked this question and prior to now I couldn't really answer it, not knowing if or when I would begin to teach. Now I can say that I do teach and I had a great time doing it. Thanks to the ANG SunStitchers Chapter for giving me the opportunity to show and share with them what I love to do!

News: Ruth Schmuff invited me to teach a cyber class from her website Bedecked and Beadazzled. The class is my Canvas Collage® piece
"Flight of Fancy".

"How DO you do that?"

I just do. I thread the needle and go. But don't ask me to stitch from a chart!

I hope that through this website I can share my style and the way I work with many of you who express such interest. My 'stories' - learnings, ideas, methods, experiences, delights and mistakes, are all there with each piece of my work in my galleries here in stitchamaze.com

Do get in touch if new questions pop into your head!


Till next time . . . happy creating!

Rosalyn

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