Friday 18 January 2013

Grow Your Blog Party!

I discovered this event, being run by Vicki of 2 Bags Full only just in time to sign up - thus my not being able to publicise the event until now.  Still, you can hop over to her blog if you like and see who you'd like to visit from the 360-odd sign up comments (as of when I signed up - there may be more since) on the Grow Your Blog event page, and I hope that qualifies as my having done the best I could at advertising under the circs.=)

So, down to business:

Hi!  Welcome to Sew In Love whoever you are and wherever you've arrived from, but especially if you've come through the Grow Your Blog blog party event.  I'm a 41 year old (even though I look more like 14...) textile hobbyist living in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England, originally from 30 miles north of here - from Leeds in West Yorkshire.  I'm married with no kids and don't work much just now owing to poor health - but I always live in hopes that that can be changed....!=)  I used to be involved in the teaching of Mandarin Chinese to beginners at Leeds University, but left that just about 3½ years ago when my hubby and I went over to Taiwan to take part in intensive advanced Chinese language classes.  I was lucky enough to get a scholarship and he went self-financed.  If and when I can return to work, I'll look for some part-time/ad hoc admin work and also try to do something more creative, independently, on the side.

I love to travel and have been to 19 countries so far, if one cheats and includes England, Scotland and Wales as three separate countries (I dare say our Welsh and Scottish neighbours wouldn't object=) ), but I'd love to make it up to 30 or more some day.  Some day....  Maps showing which countries those 19 are are on our travel blog, Brauns on Tour, (which needs updating with photos from Durham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Windsor) and one of my main dreams is to have the 'need' to increase its scope somewhat, esp. to include Scandinavia, more of Italy, the five tiny countries/states/principalities in Europe, Canada, Mongolia, Spitsbergen and Antarctica!!  We have our eyes on some of those nice escorted coach trips they offer around Europe.  I like independent travel, but these tours have the advantage of being more relaxing, esp. for Sir, who wouldn't have to drive.  He's doing a funded PhD at the University of Sheffield right now and still has 2½ years to go, so it'll be a while before there are funds enough for that and I can investigate a few more regional embroidery styles and buy local embroidery magazines (I already have some in five or six languages!!) on the continent.  I love languages and more or less anything to do with language and I sometimes post to my blog about language learning: Polyglot in Training, which I'm trying to get something on at least once a month now.

You can find out a bit more about this blog on my About page (link above, under the header photos) and you'll have got some ideas from my header photos, the fairly random selection of pictures I've included in this posting and the brief intro I left on the sign up comment, but here's what I do on this blog, generally speaking:

On Mondays I post my weekly update from the Creative Every Day challenge which details (briefly) what creative things I've been doing each day.  It can range from one or two rows of knitting, to about half a dozen different projects, books and ideas and is quite diverse in scope.

Many Wednesdays find me posting to Sharon B's Work in Progress Wednesdays event.  It's not exactly a challenge, more of a Weight-Watchers weigh-in for stitchers where we can show off how far we've got with a long-term project, an unfinished/long neglected piece or something like that.  It's great to have that weekly check in as, wanting to have something to post, I often get on with something in good time for it.  So far I've finished one piece that I found really challenging through this event and hope to add another two to that within the next month, so I can heartily recommend anyone who feels the need for a kind of 'support group' to join in.

Most Sundays I get to post a yarn crafts update called 'The Sunday Yarn'.  I didn't manage it this last week, thanks to a nasty headache that got worse when I put my glasses on (needed for computer work, sadly!), so I had to pass on it.  However, there was a nice one the week before with two cute baby knit finishes=) and I've been knitting away, headache or no headache, and will have something to show this weekend.

Sometimes I post tutorials and things on other pieces I'm working on and I hope, perhaps sometime this year, health permitting, to start putting together some simple stumpwork kits for those wishing to learn this technique and also to try making some little bags - mostly with genuine oriental fabrics, bought in the Far East - and dolls house textiles (bedding, cushions etc) to sell.  Let's see how we get on with that!

My style tends to lean towards the classic, but I have been known to do and enjoy some more contemporary pieces as well and may well even develop that later on - especially if I ever get to move forward with plans to take City & Guilds classes locally.

I also have an art blog, Art Excursion, which I really need to do more posting on - and more art to post, but I suppose that type of art doesn't really hit the spot with me as embroidery and textiles do.  There's something deeply nurturing (to me) about textile arts, a feeling I don't get from the paper based variety, much as I admire and like them.

There's also my general topics blog, Fluffy Little Idiot, where I keep my oft-updated general goals lists.  There was one for 2011/2, I'm working through the 2013 one now and there's also a 'stuff I want to learn and achieve' general list to pick from at any time.  I find goals lists help me enormously in being productive and keeping my activities focused.  I'm a big list maker and get a real kick out of crossing things off them as they're done.=)  As far as textiles go, having a project on the current list to be finished is a great incentive to complete the piece and not to let it slide.  I have a passionate objection to the concept of UFOs - unfinished objects and I, basically, don't allow myself them.  What I start must be either finished or completely dumped (which has only happened once and I took all the stitches out, erased the outline and put the fabric and threads away).  I still remember being horrified at one lady's blog comment to the effect that she'd never finished anything!  What IS the point in starting something you're not going to finish??  I also find it a bit challenging to get my head around having so many projects on the go that you cannot possibly work on them all and so pieces regularly fall into the UFO category.  It's not for me so, despite temptation to get a new project or three under way, I will not do it until two out of my three current WIPs are complete.  I just LOVE the sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes from a completed piece, a goal met and something worthwhile accomplished - to say nothing of having got that off my mind!!!

So, do stay for a couple of minutes more and have a look at some of my gallery pages (links just below the header photo series) and leave me a comment telling me about your work and where to find you.  I'm always on the look-out for more textiles and embroidery blogs, but I also sometimes follow others, so you just never know!

Many thanks for coming around to see me!  Hope you'll call in again soon....

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2013

24 comments:

Nima said...

wow..it was nice to read about you..

Patty C. said...

Beautiful Blog :)

Thearica said...

From one stitcher to another, your work is awesome! The stitchery of the dog is just fabulous!

Unknown said...

I enjoyed reading this.Thank you for posting.

Embroidery designs

Rachel said...

I think one of the reasons some people have for UFOs is that they lose interest once they've learnt the technique or solved the problem that prompted the work. I have a lot of experiments that haven't been turned into anything, but I don't count them as UFOs because they were never intended to be anything!

Sami said...

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for visiting my blog and becoming a follower from the Grow your blog party. You sure are a very talented embroiderer, I love the raised flower petals, and the dog is just so life like. Great work!

MarchAnn said...

Nice needleart Elizabeth. Thanks for stopping by my blog I love having people stop by.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Your stitching is very beautiful, perfect in every way. Loved seeing your travels photos. A very lovely blog. Hugs Judy

Patrice said...

Your stichtery is lovely! I enjoyed visiting your blog.

Patrice said...

That spelling should be "stitchery". Oops!

Thearica said...

Elizabeth.. Did you know you are a "no-reply" blogger. That means you don't have your email set up in your profile. When your comment comes in to another bloggers inbox, they cannot respond to the email because they have no way of contacting you.

Kat said...

Wow Elizabeth! Your embroidery is beautiful. I'm so glad I found your blog. http://katstitching.blogspot.ca

EvalinaMaria said...

Nice to meet another stitcher! You have a lovely blog, thank you for sharing. I am a new follower and 'Grow Your Blog' participant. Have fun at the party!

Evalina, This and that...

Maureen said...

Oh Elizabeth! Your work is AWESOME! Wow! Thank you for stopping by my place so I could return the favor and find your wonderful blog. And I will be back. In the meantime, please consider this an invitation to come to Canada - we would love to have you and Sir visit (but come in the summer, unless you like a lot of snow ;) )

I'm your newest Follower!

Tammy said...

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for stopping by my corner of the world. Sounds like you have a busy, beautiful life. Your stitch work is incredible. I love cross-stitching, but don't do it as much anymore; I find crocheting much easier (now that my eyes aren't what they used to be :). I do hope that your health will improve so that you can do all you want to do. Best wishes, Tammy

The Sage Butterfly said...

There are a few things I have not finished, but I love the sense of satisfaction I feel when I finish something. Such a nice blog, and I love the dog...wonderful. So nice to meet you through the Grow Your Blog party.

Sowing Stitches said...

Oh my goodness! We hosted an exchange student from Sheffield!!! She stayed with us this past Christmas for several weeks.
Your stitch work is beautiful!!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

the dog is amazing. what great work. so like you could almost pet him. i'm mind bobbled. ha. ha!! please stop by my blog when you can. take care. ( :

Laurie said...

Your blog is friendly and, my, you are busy! I hope you have a great time doing the party and that you'll pop by my blog as well!

Neesie said...

Hi there Elizabeth...I'm adding to your list of comments hehe...you may well pass that record soon ;D
I'm visiting from the GYB party and having great fun meeting so many bloggers across the globe.
I'm in awe that you've visited so many already ~ I'm a tail end Charlie so probably will be party hopping for quite a while yet.
Your embroidery is stunning and amazing especially considering that I have trouble motivating myself to sew on a button! :$
Have a fantastic week whatever you have planned and keep cosy in that snow!
Neesie ♥



CATHY said...

I was hoping to be number 22 to beat your high post but alas I am only 21 to tie your record! I love how you post your Creative every day...what a great motivator! I may have to try this. And "technically" you can not count England, Scotland and Wales as three! : )
Thanks for visiting my blog!

JudyC said...

妳的部落格真的很美很專業!!! 如果三年多前認識妳,我一定會非常興奮的歡迎妳到台灣玩!!!沒錯...妳確實看起來就像還在唸書的小女孩! 呵呵.... :-))) judy

lynda said...

I'm getting to the end of the list and have just found your blog...I'm looking forward to reading more!

mybearsnme said...

I have enjoyed reading your blog :) thanks for sharing :) I found you through the blog party - if you need a giggle - come and visit me at
http://leftoverchocolatestitches.blogspot.ca/
:)

 
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