12 Stitches a Day: I've Completed Week 2

I just posted a photo of my progress at the end of Week 2 of 12 Stitches a Day on my website.

This week I changed the rules just a bit: I worked 12 stitches on each of the four little pieces of my sewing case.

What I like about this program: it isn't a huge time commitment and I have taken to stitching it in those spare minutes while I am waiting to go somewhere, minutes I probably would have wasted. The trick is always leaving a needle of thread set to go so the prep doesn't take any time.

To see my progress go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on 12 Stitches Week 3.

Week 3 starts tomorrow.

Gay Ann

Mail Jail (or when I send out patterns you've ordered)

I have received several inquiries from people about the dates I will mail out patterns they have ordered.
Please note that I always post my Mail Jail progress, ie what dates I mail things, on my website:

www.GayAnnRogers.com, then click on News&Views. Mail Jail report is on the right side of the page.

Gay Ann

12 Stitches a Day: I've Completed a Week

For 7 days I have added 12 Stitches a Day to a sewing case I am making. That's a week's worth of minimal stitching and I am surprised by the progress I have made, just by keeping at it each day.

Mid-week I counted wrong and had to rip out and correct my count. To make sure I was back on track, I ripped, figured out where I was and took about 50 stitches to make sure I was right. That day I spent about 20 minutes; otherwise I spent about 2 minutes a day stitching and an additional minute or so making certain I was set up for the next day. That's hardly a commercial break's time on the television!

When I compared the two photos on my website, I was quite surprised that so nominal amount of stitching time added up to a bit of progress.

Years ago my Mother-in-Law said, if you clean out a drawer a week (which isn't really that much), you will have cleaned out 52 drawers in a year's time. That's what made me try 12 Stitches a Day.

People have commented so far that it is difficult to stop at 12 stitches and they are right, it is. So go on a while if you wish, but not too long. I fear if you overdo one day, you won't return to it the next day, and the point is to work a bit each day.

The other secret I have found is making certain, at the end of one day that you are set up for the next day. Have the needle threaded and set to go.

So tomorrow begins Week 2 of 12 Stitches a Day.

Gay Ann

To see my progress:
www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on "12 Stitches a Day" on the yellow navigation bar.

12 Stitches a Day Challenge starts TODAY!

Amidst all the turmoil in the world, stitching is a bit like meditation. It carts me away and into a little fantasy world of color and texture, if only for a couple of minutes a day. With this in mind, here is a new little challenge: 12 Stitches a Day.

I worked 12 Cross Stitches over 1 Mesh this morning and it took me approximately 2 minutes!
I will keep a little journal and report my progress on my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on '12 Stitches a Day'.

I am hoping you will try it too, just 12 Stitches a Day and report your own progress in my classroom at Shining Needle Society.
To join Shining Needle Society, write to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com). Membership is free.

Gay Ann

A New Idea for Stitching Productivity

In my Shining Needle Society classroom we have started a new program: choose a project, leave it set up, make a commitment to working 12 stitches each day. Always leave a threaded needle for the next day's work.

I am doing it too, right along with people in my classroom. My assignment for the weekend was to find the project and its threads and set it all up. We all start stitching on Monday.

I found my project, took a photo of where I am as I start; I will photograph it each week to see how much progress I make.
So stay tuned.
I will publish photos and my comments on my website.

It will be interesting to see what happens.
Gay Ann

EGA's South Central Region Seminar

I am just home again from EGA's South Central Region Seminar in Dallas (actually in Arlington).

Super time! I posted photos from around the seminar on my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com, then click on Region Seminar.
The photos include an all-time favorite of Kate Gaunt and Marie-Therese Baker as they were standing at their Merchandise Night table right before the crowds descended. They weren't really selling, but were advertising Shining Needle Society and its classes. My, how the organization has grown!

As travel to seminars becomes more of a hassle and more expensive, Shining Needle Society is offering an alternative. As time goes on, and as we learn how to use more and more of the technology available, I wonder if we won't be able to bring the feeling of a seminar right into your computers. If it happens as I suspect it will, you will feel like you are attending a seminar, but you will be at home in your pj's.

The one element of real seminars that cyber-seminars won't be able to replace: seeing friends face to face. That's the joy of it all and the reason I had such a good time in Arlington!

Gay Ann

Redwork Revisited

For the month of June a new goal: Redwork Projects.

I am hoping people will pull these projects out of their closets and work on them throughout June.

To support the month, I will be leading a month-long Stitch Along in my Shining Needle Society classroom. The goal: a few minutes each day and maybe by the end of the month we will see some completed Mystery Cottages, Redwork Cat Samplers, Friendship Samplers and hearts.

These projects are not expensive to stitch (most use a single color of floss or silk), nor are they difficult. And best of all, they go quickly.

In the last couple of months several people have asked me if I would sell some of my redwork designs, so I have also posted them for sale again.

So here's a kick off for June's month of Redwork!
Gay Ann

Susan Boyle, aka Boylemania, Revisited

I had a great time because I found a 'live stream' video of Britain's Got Talent and watched it in realtime. Amazing!
Sat on my couch, stitched and watched and listened to the whole program. I even exchanged several emails with a Brit friend who was watching and stitching at her house.

It's over. While the dance group 'Diversity' were incredible, my heart belongs to Susan Boyle. She sang her beautiful song better in the final than in her audition. She sang it with a subtlety, a greater depth and a bit of pathos that wasn't there the first time around. Maybe a realization that fame has a sting.

I was disappointed with the results, but then someone gave me a great idea!

I went to Amazon and signed up to be notified when Susan Boyle's first CD comes out.
Then I felt better. Likely this vote will make a greater difference to her life than had I been in the UK and been able to vote for her.

If you want to do the same, click on the URL below.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Release-Susan-Boyle/dp/B0026P3G12/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1243723237&sr=8-1

Gay Ann

Boylemania has hit my little Stitching World

Today is the final for Britain's Got Talent and I am having a little personal Stitch In while I wait by MacSoph (my computer) for ITV to post the YouTubes of the performances and the results later on this afternoon.

I invited my class at Shining Needle Society to join me.

I confess: I am caught up in this one. I have never watched any of these reality talent shows before (I am a news junkie not a reality show junkie), but I got caught up in this one and Boylemania. Anyway, any excuse to stitch!

Gay Ann

Scissors Finale, Part 2 Today

Earlier this morning I posted photographs of the 'house' I created for the scissors I bought on eBay.
I loved making this sewing case, even though the details took such a long time.

I had started the sewing case but hadn't planned the insides of it yet, ie I hadn't decided what tools I would use in it. Then I found an eBay listing for two pairs of scissors; at first I didn't think of them for the sewing case, I simply posted them on my website with the details of the sale. They were a 'Buy it Now' item and I thought they were pretty.

I watched the listing for about a week, all the while stitching on the sewing case. One day I looked at the scissors and thought 'perfect!' and bought them. They were just the right size and I love the way they look in the case and best of all, they are the same age as the house that served as my inspiration for the sewing case.

It is fun to look at eBay listings for antique needlework tools. When I find tools I like, I post notice of the auctions, photos of the tools and the details about the close of the auction and how many people have bid so far.

This morning, for example, I found a listing for a white opaline egg with tiny sewing tools. These eggs were trifles, toys made to delight the 19th century lady, and they are so charming. They are also very collectable and the prices they fetch are often very high.

Even though too high for many collectors' budgets, particularly today, I enjoy seeing them for sale, finding out the details and watching what happens with the auctions. And every once in a while, I find a great bargain! Isn't that always the hope of the collector.

To check eBay listings I have noted on my website, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on eBay listings.
To see my sewing case with its eBay scissors, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on Scissors, then on Scissors 17.

Gay Ann

Scissors Finale on My Website

For the better part of a month I have been posting photos and descriptions of scissors on my website and chatting about them in my Shining Needle Society classroom.

So here we are, toward the end of May and with it, My Scissors Finale.
The Finale is in two parts: today the scissors, tomorrow what I did with them.

To see them and read the story, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com
click on scissors, then on Scissors 16.

I had SUCH a good time with this project!
Gay Ann

A Scissors Treat This Morning!

Kate Gaunt found a listing on eBay for an old pair of scissors with mother of pearl handles. These are scarce and fragile and the fact that any survived at all is amazing as they are over 200 years old now. And here is a pair on eBay.

Kate's find was perfect timing because I had planned to post a photo of my own old and new ones.

I posted one of my favorite pairs of old ones and also the modern scissors with imitation mother of pearl handles that are now for sale in many needlework shops. Both are beautiful! Of course the old ones are so thin, intricate and delicate but they wouldn't hold up to use on our work (imagine trying to rip with them! -- on second thought, don't imagine: they wouldn't last 10 seconds!). That's the advantage of the new ones: they are much more sturdy and they preserve some of the beauty of the old ones.

Enjoy!
Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com
click on Scissors, then on thumbnail 15.

A Dramatic Pair of Scissors this morning

I just posted a dramatic pair of French scissors now 200 years old on my website, along with a couple of the ways to tell French scissors from English or American.

If you are interested in identifying the differences between English, French and American scissors with silver handles, the photos I have posted are a good place to start. Here's what to look for: the shapes of the blades, the general proportion, the style of the silver work, and the finger rings.

It is a fun hobby particularly if you are addicted to scissors, as I am.

Enjoy!
Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com, then click on Scissors, then on the thumbnail for Scissors 14.

Scissors and More Scissors

On my website I continue to post photos of scissors. At first I posted modern scissors for A Case for Color. Now I am posting antique scissors, special ones that I love.

Yesterday I posted two of my favorite pairs, one English, one American and if you look at them carefully you will begin to understand the differences between the styles.

As for use, I have favorite scissors for favorite tasks, as I am certain everybody does. I love scissors with long thin blades for snipping and for ripping, but I think there is more to it all: there's also balance or the way the scissors feel in your hands. Some time back I posted my favorites for work, a pair of Dovos and a pair of Ginghers. I couldn't get through the day without them.

Gay Ann

My Scissors

Hello Gay Ann,

I love your new topic of scissors, the ones on your website are so colorful!

Will you talk about the kinds of scissors a needleworker should have for her craft. I don't mean like brand names, but more for function. For example, I assume the cute little scissors are for snipping threads as one stitches.

What about cutting canvas or linen? What about cutting silk, wool, or metallic threads? And what works well for the tiny cuts in hardanger and such.

I would love to hear your ideas on this.


Reply: Hi Cindy,

Thanks for your note and for the ideas.

I just posted photos of my all-time favorite scissors this morning, then ones I couldn't live without, my little workhorses. I confess to having more than one of each :-)

In the next days I will post more scissors good for A Case for Color; I will also start posting photos of vintage and antique scissors, a serious weakness of mine.

Gay Ann

A Surprise Topic on my Website

Some time ago we started this topic in my Shining Needle Society classroom and I have always meant to return to it.

Now is that time!
To see the first and second photos attached to the topic, go to my website

www.GayAnnRogers.com

and click on Surprise Topic 1 on the navigation bar.

This is one of my favorite subjects so I hope it goes on for a long time.
Gay Ann

Twitter: My Account

I did it, I signed up for Twitter and left two tweets (is that how you spell it?)
My Twitter name is GARogersinSts. Now I have to find out how it all works. Anybody know?
Gay Ann

Twitter

I am curious to know, does anybody in my little needlework world belong to Twitter?
If so, would you write me about your experiences there?
Thanks
Gay Ann

GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com

A Case for Color Deadlines

MAIL JAIL is the mail division of my little business. It is a necessity but I like to escape MAIL JAIL as often and soon as I can. In the interest of escape, I have put some deadlines on A Case for Color.

Here are the deadlines: You have until April 10 to order A Case for Color if you wish to receive the pattern now.

After April 10 registration will remain open for A Case for Color but I won’t mail patterns again until mid-May.

Why am I doing this? I have five sets of instructions I must write before the end of June, so I am carving out time away from Mail Jail to go into Instructions Hell.

On a lighter note, we are in week two of Color Inspirations on my website and in my Shining Needle Society classroom and this morning I have posted my own personal favorites. To visit them, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on Color Inspirations 8 on the navigation bar.

Gay Ann

A Case for Color starts tomorrow!

A Case for Color starts tomorrow in my classroom at Shining Needle Society.
For membership write to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com).

I hope you will come along and enjoy the conversation about the mystery of color.
Membership is free!

Gay Ann