Message Board Question

I stumbled onto this board a few weeks ago and have been a regular reader since then. I've also posted a couple of times, nothing major. In reading some of the posts it sometimes seems that lots of posters are in the UK and that the board would like to stay more or less exclusive. Perhaps a long-time poster could give a description of this board, other than the name. When I changed my ISP this group showed up in their Newsgroups. Everyone here seems very knowledgeable and more than willing to share information. I participate in other message boards, mostly to do with MS software, but this is the first I've found that speaks to my particular passion - counted cross stitch. TIA for all your comments.

Reply to
Sallys Mom
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What gives you that impression?

Best wishes, Ericka

Reply to
Ericka Kammerer

Actually we are a pretty diverse group from many countries on this NG. You might want to look back at the archives. Not all members post all the time but usually when a message thread interests them. many just read most of the time. It is impossible to tell from names or email addresses where a person is from. We do about once a year post a thread of "who we are" which tells people more about us and it is customary for new comers to introduce themselves and receive a warm welcome. Myself I am from Canada. where are you from "Sally's Mom" ??? ruby

Reply to
Stitcher

We have bunches of Americans and Canadians plus others scattered all over the globe.

Sometimes new people take some time to gain their footing, as long time posters tend to talk in "shorthand" gained from knowing each other for years. This does not mean that we wish to stay "exclusive," it just means we are that comfortable with each other.

New blood is always welcome, sometimes that new point of view on various subjects is just what we need! lol

Most of us do counted cross stitch, but other forms of needlework are also discussed. Sometimes things get heated, as we have a few personality conflicts in here, like in any large group of people.

Caryn

Reply to
crzy4xst

Welcome to our group. I'm a New Yorker now living in Florida. I think we have readers here from every continent, except maybe Antarctica, and I love hearing from different parts of the world.

Lucille

Reply to
Lucille

Well, I've always thinked this ng is global. I have been in few ng's that were "uk only" and those sure were just that. I've seen that there's lots in ng's who are from States and Canada, but never they have been monopolizing the groups in any way. I thought (silly me) that in UK-group would be ok for me, as I'm in their side of the pond, but they weren't even nicely showing me the door...

So, I think this place is for everyone :)

Hugs, Johanna

Reply to
Johanna Koski

Welcome to the group 'Sally's Mom'. Hope we see lots more of you. :) Do you do any other types of needlework besides cross stitch? Personally I found my niche in petit point and surface embroidery, but I'm slowly branching out in my old age to include cross stitch samplers. I especially love the old samplers from the 17 and 18 hundreds. Time for a trip to the local antique shops me thinks!

Since the others will also see this post, I'll ask 'Anybody think it's time for another round of who we are and what we do?'

Maureen > I stumbled onto this board a few weeks ago and have been a regular reader

Reply to
Maureen In Vancouver, B.C.

Welcome, Sallys Mom!

We are not exclusive, please feel free to grab a cup of tea and join in the lively discussion! As stated, this group discusses primarily counted cross-stitch, but also other needle work, history of needlework, anything needlework related, as well as a myriad of off-topic (OT) discussions (if you participate in those, please remember to mark them OT).

As stated, there are a few squabbles that arise once in a while. While netiquette says those should be taken to private email, often they remain on the ng, but I've yet to be on a ng that doesn't have squabbles erupt once in a while - at least any *active* ng! Don't let that distract you from all of the wonderful advice and discussion that is the bulk of the messages!

I am from Indiana, USA, 30 yrs. old, married (no kids, just a cat). I have been cross-stitching since I was about 7 years old, and entered lots of stuff in the fair when I was in 4-H. I don't possess much of what I've made, since I usually make things as gifts. UFOs (unfinished objects) or WIP (works in progress) include: wedding sampler for myself and hubby, from Stoney Creek; Pooh baby sampler for a friend, whose baby is now 4...; Christmas towel that I dread because it uses metallic thread that's a pain in the you-know-what, and is on dark green fabric so is also hard on the eyes. I have other stuff waiting in the wings, but must finish at least the Pooh sampler before I'm allowed to pick up another large project.

Things I've learned from rctn - lots of help with patterns, both choosing and obtaining them; lots of how-to, both x-stitch and other types of embroidery; "what's out there" in terms of products and patterns I hadn't heard of (Thread Heaven, floor stands - I now have the Grip-It Plus, different fibers/flosses and their advantages & disadvantages). And lots of other stuff!

Please stick around, post your questions and interests, start up a thread if what you are interested in talking about is not being discussed.

Welcome again!

Barbara HJ

Sallys Mom wrote:

Reply to
Barbara Hass

So many answers - thanks! Erika - I got the impression from the thread(s) about swap boxes, but in retrospect maybe it was only because of the postage. Stitcher - I'm from the mountains of California, a million (almost) miles from any xs shops! Lucille - I, too, love hearing from lots of different people. crazy4xst - I haven't been reading long enough to see any obvious conflicts. Johanna - thanks for the "smiley face"!

I have no idea how to access the rctn archives. I don't know much about setting up a photo album. I just used eBay for the first time, as you can tell from my posts. In other words, I'm a rank internet amateur compared to what I see here. Computers are one thing, the internet is a horse of another color.

OK - my name, Sallys Mom, refers to my big furry dog. She weighs over 60 lbs, is the most loveable dog I've ever known, and 11 years old. We have 5 kids, and have 11 grandkids - each one has their own xs birth sampler. The oldest is graduating HS this month and will be attending SF State. We have been retired 12 years and use our RV as much as possible - I even have a stitching light and always carry a project to work on. I'm an active member of our hospital auxiliary and enjoy working in the garden, sometimes. I call myself a quilter when in reality I just do the patchwork tops and let someone else do the quilting with those heavy duty machines. (Hand quilting takes too much time away from my xs.) The only thing I knit anymore are slippers and the only crocheting is an afgan every now and then. My passion has been counted xs for over 20 years and now am particularly interested in Native American themes. I have a "sampler" wall from those years when I was interested in that.

For those of you that stayed with me through this dissertation, thanks for reading!

Reply to
Sallys Mom

Yeah, I thought that might be it. I think you're right-- that was only an attempt to make the project affordable because postage between the UK or Europe and the US would make it kind of silly to attempt such a swap internationally. I don't really think it's true that the group is either dominated by UK participants of unwelcoming of newcomers, though there are occasionally testy exchanges.

You can google at groups.google.com (though the interface is a bit unwieldy) to see past messages.

Best wishes, Ericka

Reply to
Ericka Kammerer

I don`t think that there are all that many members in the UK, and although we`d LIKE a UK based group like this, speaking for myself, I would still want to belong to this one. I`ve made good friends all over the world here. Ideally we would have this group AND a UK one. There`s a Crafts UK group which, I suppose, encompasses needlework, but I can`t say I`ve joined in on the discussions on there very much. They are uk.rec.crafts and uk.rec.sewing. Come to think of it I`ll check them out again, as it`s a VERY long time since I looked, when there didn`t appear to be much about embroidery/cross-stitch.

Pat P

Reply to
Pat EAXStitch

On more than one occasion, over the years rctn has been in existence, I have saved data from postings under the title "Who we are". The results have been quite consistent. Rctners come, over 90%, from what might be described as the old "British Empire". The UK of course, but the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. There have always been other nationalities, of course, and ex patriates of the majority living in other countries. Generally speaking, the larger the population, the smaller the representation. Thus the US and UK tend to be under-represented if anything. Over the years, the most popular type of needlework seems to be counted cross stitch, but many old timers, like Dianne (but many more as well), have done their best to encourage messages on other needlework types. We have occasional "flame wars", but they are not usually that intense. If you are still interested in more impressions, I suggest you email me. HTH.

-- Jim Cripwell. From Canada. Land of the Key Bird. This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter, shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"

Reply to
F.James Cripwell

Good plan Maureen. Ruby

Reply to
Stitcher

Welcome! I'm sure if you post before you head out in your RV you would get information about any needlework shops along your path. While this group strongly discourages blatant advertising by persons who do not participate in the discussions, we love to give business to our favorite shops and help keep fellow stitchers well-supplied.

It can be intimidating to join us since many of us have been here for many years and we gabble and spat at each other as neighbors over a back-yard fence. Just jump in. Chat isn't strictly limited to needlework but we do try to put "OT" at the start the subject line of the off-topic posts (wine, chocolate, hockey, travel, family crises, flowers, etc.) so those who are in a hurry (or, heaven forbid, disinterested) can skip those topics.

As for me, I'm currently > OK - my name, Sallys Mom, refers to my big furry dog. She weighs over 60

-- Brenda NEW to Styx, classic to the world: Big Bang Theory

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

Yeah, it has been awhile, hasn't it? I'll jump in....

I'm Joan and I live in North Dakota, which is, if you look at a globe, about as far from any gulf/sea/ocean as one can get! North Dakota boasts the Geographic Center of North America (about 150 miles west of me). :) I've lived here on the Great Plains all my life (and *love* the wide-open spaces) but have travelled to both coasts, many states in between and Canada. Haven't been south much. I'd *love* to travel overseas!!! In the meantime, I travel vicariously through rctn's members who live where I've never been.

I work in a university library as a cataloger and have been for over 25 years. I have a DH, 2 sons (who (whom?) will be 22 and 20 in June) and a DD that just graduated 1 week ago from high school. When she was 7 I coaxed her into being a cross stitcher, too, and she has also picked up rughooking. She's currently got a rotation of 3 projects going. Current pets are one horse, one dwarf hamster (DD's), DS#2's fish and a yellow lab. DS#1, who is on his own, has 2 bearded dragons. When my stitching isn't calling me (an unusual occurence!), I like reading mostly fantasy and mysteries. I also dabble in gardening but come nowhere *near* Cheryl's expertise.

I learned to embroider from my mother when I was a child, knit and crochet sometime in my teens, then picked up crewel and needlepoint in college. Although I *hated* the cross stitch, I discovered counted cross stitch in 1978. Got a set of 5 small pictures and found my passion! Interestingly enough, those 5 small pieces are as yet unframed, as is my first crewel piece!!!! Not that they aren't worth the effort/time/money, just I'm more the stitcher than the finisher! LOL! I'm currently coming upon the close of an on-again-off-again design of a little girl angel and bunny, "In His care", which has been in the works for about 3 years. Will finish the bunny in Wisper today and then just a few specialty stitches. I can hardly wait!!!! Eventually I will try hardanger, although there are only a few pieces calling my name, mostly by Lesa Steele and Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler.

Don't be afraid to ask questions.....we like answering them! You'll find people of all knowledge and experience levels and from just about any walk of life on this group.

Oh, and btw, you may want to put a lock on your credit card....these people can find you the most amazing items to add to your stash!

Another btw, some abbreviations you will see around here are: S.E.X. or Stash Enhancement eXperience S.A.B.L.E. = Stash Acquistion Beyond Life Expectancy

Joan in ND (who just posted stitching pics to webshots under ndjoan)

Reply to
Joan E.

Oh, well, I didn't do that, sorry.

My name's Elizabeth and I've subscribed to RCTN on and off since 1999, but have never posted much. About half the time I post as LizzieB. (another NG sig and I forget to change) and the other half Lizard-Gumbo. Way back in the day, and occasionally when I have completely forgotten which personality is in charge today, I have posted as Moonlight Mojo. I live in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. I've traveled all over the US, England, and Europe. Pretty things catch my eye. I'm mad as a hatter.

I'm a work-at-home mom and transcriptionist (amongst other such administrative and bookkeeper type things), and I do pretty much everything needleworky (except, I don't knit very well) and handy-manny. How long I work on any given project depends bad my ADD is that day/week/month/year.

Did the requisite genteel surface embroidery from 4 years on, but wasn't very coordinated, and couldn't get my stitches to look right, so I didn't bother with that much.

Then, at 14, went to my church's girl's camp, and took the cross stitch class (which I thought was stamped). I was a wee bit confused when she gave me a small wooden hoop with a piece of blue gingham and a small flower pattern, but I figured it out...and now I can blame that woman for this disease I have some people so lightly call a "hobby."

Right now I can honestly say that my only "hobby" is simply S.E.X. S.E.X. and more S.E.X. and looking at all my pretty charts.

Elizabeth LizzieB. Lizard-Gumbo MoonlightMojo

Reply to
lizard-gumbo

When we travel, I have my dazor in the Motorhome with me; it is such a lovely place to rlax and stitch; especially on a dizzly day with dinner in the crockpot!! Natually it is a DUTY to search out all needlework shops!

What RV do you have?? We have a 2001 Bounder 36S diesel. I am glad of the 10mpg these days!!

Gillian

Sallys Mom wrote:

Reply to
Gill Murray

Maureen,

I think it's time you try making a Japanese temari...perfect for gift giving at your club.

...Linda

Reply to
Linda D.

Which "mountains of California" do you live in? Since there are mountains from top to bottom, you may be surrounded by rctners and not even know it. Since you have an RV, let us know where & when you are planning to go & we can alert you as to stitch ins, EGA meetings and shops you shouldn't miss along your route. Liz from Humbug (southern Oregon, USA)

Reply to
Liz

I put a pic in my folder at RCTNP of some of the temari that I have done, I drag them out as Christmas decorations.

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

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