Saturday 19 January 2013

Welcome to Stitching in Crosses and More ...

Hello and welcome. It was suggested to us to share a little about ourselves... so here it goes ...

I am Lija and I am an addict. I have been hooked up on cross for some time now. I have learnt to stitch at the age of 6 or 7 and one of my first finishes I remember to be was some snowdrops - the flowers. I have then over the years picked up knitting, and other crafts. Most get picked up and put away for spells of time over the years, but when I picked up cross stitch up again about 2 years ago I couldn't stop ... so here I am, blogging about this small part of my life.

that's me
I have graduated as a Master of Mathematics last year and am now studying towards being a Chartered Accountant. In my spare time I stitch, blog, collect stamps, knit, paint, draw, read books ...

Me pretending to read War and Peace
for the picture - I will finish it one day! 
My favourite authors are Paulo Coelho, Dostoyevsky, and Margaret Atwood. I was a World Book Night giver last year, which was a lot of fun, and I got to pass on Coelho's book to unsuspecting victims. I am part of a reading group, ran by the library (aren't they wonderful - all the books you can borrow for free, mine even does e-magazines so I get Crossstitcher for free now). Of course I also happen to be a part-time librarian so maybe a little prejudiced, an artist (participated in about 13 exhibition over the past 5 years), and recently I have started an online business, selling handmade bags and accessories - a sort of a family run online store.

me modelling the scarf ...
From our website:

ILiNi designs is a creative enterprise based in the North East of England. The handmade bags and accessories that we design and make are unique, each one individually thought out. The products available for purchase range from everyday use to special occasions. You will find exclusive leather handbags, hand painted silk scarves, jewellery, and many more treasures waiting to be picked. 

And if you would like to check us out, Click here! for our website and here if you would like to find us on facebook. I would appreciate any likes we get.
Another one of ILiNi designs bags
And a progress picture of a scarf with my oil painting hiding in the background:


So where are all the cross stitch pictures you ask, after all this is a blog mainly about cross stitch. There is a tab on the top of this page for all the finishes I had in the last 2 years which feel free to browse. And here are some highlights:


the first of eight
John Clayton

Fizzy Moon

Where would I be without Margaret Sherry?

Aren't they beautiful ...
I am stitching another one by the same designer at the moment
 And finally my progress on the HAED 'Christmas Candle':


This is the biggest project I have ever attempted and so far has taken half a year to do ... maybe a finish in a few years time. After all I can't say I am a heavy cross stitcher without having attempted one of these.

I should probably stop now, I have most likely disclosed too much about my life (personal information which we are told not to broadcast over the internet). 

I am looking forward to browsing all the blogs out there, and seeing what everyone else stitches/knits.

Bye for now and thanks for looking,


                                                             

P.S. Don't forget to check out all the other wonderful blogs that are here for the party at 2 Bags Full. I am very grateful to Vicki for organising this.

25 comments:

  1. Hi, I love your blog and all the different projects you have. Will enjoy reading your blog in the future. Luv Lesleyanne xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad to find your blog via GYB. I hope lots more bloggers join me in following you. Pam

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, I do like brainy people! My bend is more for languages, but I enjoy maths and science too - albeit at a rather lower level than you thus far!!=)

    You have some great looking projects on your WIPocalypse list for this year and I do hope you'll finish them off. It looks a very achievable goal to me as you've done a lot on many of them.

    Good hunting, Lija!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such lovely creations and a beautiful blog! I knit and crochet and garden and write and photograph--all to keep my creative juices flowing. So nice to meet you through the Grow Your Blog party.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Lija~
    Your work is amazing. I admire those who cross stitch because I am cross stitch challenged!
    I am your newest follower.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello

    I just found your blog.
    Your stitching is lovely!
    Happy weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for your visit earlier. I do love your cross stitching. Brings back memories of when I used to stitch. Good luck with your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful stitching! Hope you are enjoying the tour as much as I ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice to meet you, Lija! You are a very interesting young woman with some beautiful work. I will enjoy seeing more of it, I know!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lija, what a pretty name. Just as pretty as the cross stitching you posted on your blog. I hope you make lots of like minded friends.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are a busy lady Lija. Love your stitching and the scarf is very very nice love the colors. Good luck in your studies and you really look like you are reading that book.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for stopping by my blog :) It was great to visit yours and to learn more about you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I work in a Library too and I run our book club. I'm jealous you can get e magazines....wish we could. I think I'll put forth the suggestion :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Lija, I really like what you do here, so I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award. Check out my post with the details and let me know if you have any questions! It’s all about new blogger getting to know each other and motivating each other! http://crossroadsofmymind.blogspot.com/2013/01/another-liebster-this-is-so-fun.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your stitching! You have a lovely blog. I'm new follower and 'Grow Your Blog' participant. Have fun in at the party!
    Evalina, This and that...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Lija,

    It is so nice to meet you. Your blog is lovely. I'm still making my way through visiting everyone from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party. I hope you will stop by to say hello.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your stitching is beautiful! I picked it back up myself in 1997, after learning as a young teenager many years before and I haven't stopped. There's so much joy in those little x's!

    ReplyDelete
  18. It is great to meet you through Vicki's GYB party. Your handbags are exquisite

    If you have a chance, please drop by nonniescedarchest.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nice to meet you Lija!!!!Please come visit my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great to meet you, and see your lovely stitching!
    http://wilhelmina46.blogspot.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nice to meet!
    Great stitches!
    Found you through GYB Party ;)
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  22. wow a Master of Maths and a Librarian, I do love a Polymath! Both my brother and I studied Maths and English at A level. He went onto university but I rather enjoyed my 6th form social life too much and had to get a job when my grades weren't good enough for uni!

    I've signed up for World Book Night again this year. I work for Waterstones so it's kind of compulsory (according to my boss!). Last year a few of us got together and pooled our books so we gave out bags of 6 different books to appeal to lots of people.

    That HAED is truly vast!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lija,
    I enjoyed visiting your site via the gybp event. You've been working on some beautiful projects. Congratulations on getting your degree, that is so awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Lija, nice to meet you. You've done some lovely stitching and the bags are gorgeous

    ReplyDelete