Cross Stitch Tag - Part 2

Here is part 2 of the cross stitch tag rambles! The first part can be found here~

Question 9: Do you stitch for gifts or keep for yourself?
As of late, it seems like it's been nothing but gifts! Don't get me wrong, I love making gifts for other people but I have very low confidence in my abilities. It terrifies me to give handmade stuff to people other than my mom (because all moms love stuff from their kids, right?). If the gift is going to a known-to-stitch person, I'm less afraid because I feel that they will appreciate it. I do keep all my Final Fantasy stuff; after all the designing and stitching and tearing out my hair I'm never going to part with them!

Question 10: Favorite finished stitched piece?

Southwest Spirit

I found this piece in a thrift store back in 2010 with the border and a bit of the background started. All of the floss was included in little floss-a-way baggies and the pattern was in pretty decent shape. It smelled horrible. I had to wash it at least twice because I was nearly overwhelmed with cigarettes. Admittedly, I purchased it mind of picking out all the stitches and using the fabric for something else. My mother saw it though and really liked it, so I decided to finish it up. I am glad I did because it was so much fun to stitch! My absolute favorite part was that little brown pot on the left. It was also the first piece I ever stitched on a floor stand and that may have contributed to the love, haha. It's so much easier to stitch using both hands.

Question 11: Worst experience while stitching?
Washing a finished project... that bled! After some panic and frustration with less harsh methods, I bleached the spot. Turned out fine!

Framed, and in sunlight!

Question 12: What do you love and hate about cross stitch?
Hate: FROGS. There is nothing that can demoralize me faster than a stupid counting error. It's like a downward spiral of frustration and despair until I'm convinced I'm the most worthless human on earth for not being able to count. Then projects get half-abandoned until I put on my big-girl panties and stop sulking. :)

Love: I MADE A PRETTY PICTURE! But seriously, there is something incredibly satisfying about making a picture come alive with nothing but a needle and "string" (as my husband lovingly calls it).

Question 13: Have you introduced anyone else to cross stitch?
Hmm, I don't think so. My friend recently picked it up but she's crafty anyway so I don't think it counts. She's already blazed way past me with all her Q-snaps and adorable needle minders and making her own Q-snap cozies ahaha.

Question 14: The first project, did you finish it?
Alas, no. The afore mentioned stamped kit is still unfinished and will probably never get completed. There's a childish sort of charm about it, I suppose.

Question 15: How do you store your floss?
Bobbins, bobbins everywhere. After picking up a 1000-pack of plastic bobbins off of Amazon, I find myself using them to relax between those odd jobs around the house. Harvest the garden? Wind a bobbin. Trim the sidewalk? Wind a bobbin. I definitely need more plastic bins to store my floss but I'm being horribly picky and wanting bins in different colors (I can only find clear around here.). A friend found purple and blue ones at a Micheal's or Jo Ann's but the nearest one of those is over two hours away. Not an easy trip by any means.

BOBBINS

Whew! I hope you survived my longwindedness. I need to get my tiny IHSW report up (timely as ever~) with an equally tiny stitch. I am happy to announce that the pink is completed on my slightly larger project and it didn't wind up being two full skeins. VICTORIES.