Around the World Blog Hop

I know some of you don't like blog hops, and I'm not so keen on the 2-week long ones with 20 people each day, but I do like this one as it's one blogger leading to three others, who lead to three others... I've found some fab blogs to follow through this hop.  Today I'm joining in.  So here we go (intro shamelessly copy-and-pasted!)

I was invited to join in on the Around the World Blog Hop by Kris from Sew Sunshine

The idea is I get invited by someone. Then when it is my turn I get to tag 3 other bloggers in my post. The following week those three write a post and tag their own 3 bloggers.

I have 4 questions to answer, I hope you're interested enough to read on, but if not, skip to the bottom and go and visit my nominees, you may find your new favourite blog or a new bloggy friend:

1. What am I working on? 

Lots of things!  I'm a serial starter.  Here's a few of them:

This is a large blackwork sampler.  I love all kinds of needlework and I'm a bit obsessed with this one, I find it hard to put down.  You can see more in this blog post, including links to the previous posts on the subject.

This is a Stained Glass quilt I'm making, using Cuzco by Kate Spain.  I started this a good 2 years after the quilt-along finished!  You can read about it here.

That's pretty much all I can show you as I am terrible at taking photos of works in progress.  Other projects currently on the go are a knitted rabbit, a kumihimo necklace, a bead embroidered brooch, a quilt using Bluebird Park, a wall hanging using fusible bias tape, a large cross stitch, a small embroidery and a crochet dishcloth.  Maybe one day I'll get round to showing you.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? 

I don't think it does.  I don't have a style of my own, I use a lot of other people's patterns (I'm a craft book addict and not ashamed of it).  I don't think there's anything wrong with that as if no-one followed patterns, no pattern designer would ever make money.

Where I do think I'm a little different to many crafters is that I'm multi-craftual.  I wouldn't like to only quilt or only embroider, I like to do it all, try everything, have a go at new skills and techniques.

I also like to focus on my mistakes and failures.  This makes some of my readers annoyed or even angry and they tell me off.  But I don't mind my failures, it's fine.  If I've messed it up, I'm going to show you.  I certainly don't want to come across as one of these "perfect" bloggers who makes "perfect" stuff and takes "perfect" photos.  OK, you can pick yourselves up off the floor now you've enjoyed that good laugh.

3. Why do I write/create what I do? 

Because a life where I only go to work, watch TV and sleep would be very, very dull.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

Generally I spot something - a pattern in a book, something on Pinterest or on someone's blog, or I see some fabric or something else that triggers an idea in my head.  I either then find all the supplies I need and get going, or a I buy the bits I need and wait for them to arrive, or I store it on my massive to-do list.  Occasionally I'll start and finish, more often I'll start, then start something new, then something else, then go back to the first project for a while.  I don't have a fixed way of working at all.

I do have more of a system with blog posts.  I try to post every 2 days.  I only get a chance to take photos at the weekend (especially as we're now heading into the dark end of the year), so I tend to write a few posts and schedule them throughout the next weeks.  Sometimes this means eeking* them out to one post every three days, other times I'm squeezing in a post a day.  Not having posts ready makes me anxious.  Yes, I know that's stupid, but I can't help it.  It's the same when I know we're running out of Marmite or milk, and especially toilet roll.  The panic of the last roll... not good for my heart.  

*I can't figure out how to spell that!

Anyway, got a bit sidetracked there, where was I?

Ah yes, on to my nominees.  I have chosen three ladies who are also multi-craftual.  They will be posting next Monday so make sure you go and visit.

First up is Jo who blogs at Explorations in Stitch. Jo is a quilting, appliqueing, cloth doll making, beading adventurer into all things fibre.  She's always working on plenty of fab projects, so go and see what she's up to now.

Then we have Wendy.  Yep, another Wendy.  She blogs at Wendy's Quilts and More.  She makes some amazing quilts, including a medallion one she's currently working on.  She also does needlework, you should see her gingerbread village, and wool applique.

My final nominee is Chris who blogs at UK City Crafter.  I emailed Chris asking if she'd like to join in, but didn't get a response (I hope she's just on holiday), but I think she's worth checking out anyway!