I started a post, then went back to see what everyone else had written, and 'poof', it was gone!  So, I'm starting over (and now I know that I can't do that anymore ).

I live in southern Michigan, in a restore brick schoolhouse built in 1869.  I have a wonderful husband, 3 grown children, 3 grandchildren, 5 rescue dogs and 1 cat.  I always say that when the kids grew up and moved out of the house, I started replacing them with dogs…they don't ask for money, want to borrow the car and I don't have to wait up for them to come home at night…so much easier than children!!  I have been stitching for 45+ years and enjoy almost every form of embroidery except anything done on canvas or congress cloth.  I just can't stand the feel of those fabrics or being tied to a frame to do my work….I know, I'm a 'linen snob', as that's my favorite ground fabric.  There is something so soothing about holding that linen in your hands…(I know, I have to use something for tension when doing Hardanger, but a Q-Snap will suffice in that case.)

I love Hardanger embroidery and will jump at the chance to try new filling stitches.  Some of my favorite finished pieces are full of new and different filling stitches.  I always seem to have at least 3 or 4 'projects' going at once; that way I don't get bored with one of them and put it away (never to see the light of day until a periodic 'cleaning fit' overtakes me and I start trying to organize my sewing room!).  I also love cross stitch, pulled and drawn thread, specialty stitches and quilting (don't even ask me how many quilt tops I need to put on the quilting frame!).  I like to try new techniques and, have been known to change existing patterns to make them my own (different threads or add/subtract something from the pattern).

When I'm not stitching, I love to read…and, of course, chocolate is always welcome although not needed since it seems to immediately settle on my hips once it passes my lips!