So close yet so far!

Hi everyone,
Sorry I've been quite quiet recently, I've just been so busy with life stuff that blogging has taken a bit of a back seat. I've been trying to keep up with all of yours though!

I've regained my stitchy bug this week after a few weeks of sewing being a bit of a chore. Boofle is so nearly complete now, I can't wait to get to finished and framed! I went into my local Hobbycraft the other day to get some advice on framing as I've seen so many options, and met the most wonderful sales assistant. She was so helpful that she put all my worries at rest including telling me to bring my piece in and she will go through how to frame it for my first time. No sales tactics involved (apart from what I was going to buy anyway), just truly excellent customer service. Think a nice letter to head office is due!
In other news.....I PASSED MY EXAMS! I'm over the moon that I passed my second year of university with a high 2:1. It's such a great benchmark for me to carry forward to my final year. However first things first, got my work placement at the homeless shelter starting in two weeks. Need to get my list out and start ticking off the things I wanted togetdone before starting. I know it's around here somewhere....
While I was going through all of your blogs, I came across Shebafudge's and she had put a list of questions and answers about herself to allow us to get to know her better. I loved this idea so much that I've pinched it for here!
Q1 - How did you start? Who introduced you to cross stitching?
Nobody in particular introduced me to cross stitch, although my first memory of stitching is making a bookmark on Brownie camp when I was 8. I always admired crafty people and have always been useless at making things with my hands but when I realised you could get cross stitch kits, I fancied a go. So this January just gone, in order to wind down from all my revision, I bought a simple butterfly kit to do. I loved it so much that I got the bug!
Q2 - Favourite theme or designer
I don't have a particular favourite designer although I think Margaret Sherry's designs are cute. I tend to pick Dimensions kits more often than not, purely because I like their style.
Q3 - What brand of floss do you use?
Whatever comes with the kit haha. Otherwise, I have a stash of both DMC and Anchor.
Q4 - What is your fabric of choice?
See Q3 lol, I like stitching on 14ct aida for ease but I'm still a complete beginner. As I advance, I would like to try different fabrics.
Q5 - Do you use a needle threader or are you a floss licker?
Floss licker all the way!
Q6 - What brand of stitching frame (or hoop or otherwise holder) do you use?
I have wooden frame arms that clip together and you have to tape them in place, Sierra I think? No idea as I've chucked the packaging. Although I've heard loads about Q-snap frames so may have to invest in some of those at some point...
Q7 - How many projects have you finished?
I've only completed 3 so far, the butterfly which I framed for my mother in law, a giraffe for a friend who was ill and a bookmark for my mentor at university.
Q8 - How many completed works are hanging in your house?
Grand total of 0, although I have my eye on some that I'd like to do for my own home one day.
Q9 - Do you stitch for gifts or for yourself?
Mainly gifts for people, my pile of kits and charts at the moment has me booked up till next year in gifts for others. Baby samplers, wedding samplers, bookmarks, cards, a large piece for my mum...it's fab!
Q10 - Favourite finished cross stitch piece
I loved the bookmark because it was the first piece where's felt like I 'knew what I was doing'. Sounds silly but I felt more of a stitcher doing that one, possibly because the other two kits were beginners. I don't know.
Q11 - Worst experience whilst stitching?
The frog....and losing the stitchy bug. I hate spending ages getting something ready and hours on a piece, feeling like you have really made progress only to find you have miscounted somewhere.....argh!
Q12 - What do you love and hate about cross stitch?
I love seeing something come together that I have created, watching a design form under my fingers. It's a lovely feeling. I'm also great with tedious tasks, so even large blocks of colour are lovely and therapeutic for me.
I hate fractional stitches. They just bug me, I know they can add definition to a piece but the aida never seems to split properly and my crosses tend to look a bit off. Stupid things *mutters*
Q13 - Have you introduced anyone else to cross stitching?
I haven't, but my family are fascinated watching Mrs Impatient (me) sitting stitching for hours without a break. Especially doing something with my hands as I'm notoriously clumsy and slapdash, so seeing me create something beautiful intrigues them.
Q14 - The first project, did you finish it?
Yes I did :-) framed in my mother in laws summerhouse.
Q15 - How do you store your floss?
I have a floss box where I store all my floss on cardboard bobbins in numerical order by manufacturer

And there we have it, a little more about me that you didn't know. I've really enjoyed doing this so I hope to see some of you maybe doing it also? I'll be popping along to see!
Until next time......happy stitching!!

Thanks for popping by!