Swap-o-Rama

Recently, I ventured into swaps.

A swap is an organized event where participants are paired up with each other so that partners can send each other objects.  You can find swaps for any interest you have--coins, postcards, books.  If it is a crafting swap, the partners make unique gifts.

At least one website exists to facilitate swaps.  Swap-Bot is celebrating its 10th year.  Users can start swaps and the site takes care of a lot of the administrative tasks, like sending out reminder e-mails.

I first learned about swaps while browsing the more nebulous world of Instagram.  An IG friend posted pictures of things she made and received for swaps.  I asked where she found out about them.  Due to the nature of this social media platform, there is really no central location to find out about swaps.  My IG friend gave me the names of some users that are known for starting swaps on their own, and told me about one that was going to start up soon.  There always swaps going on.  Some are specific to one craft, like sewing or knitting.  Some are very specific to one theme, like Downton Abbey or the Muppets.  I am really jealous of all the Muppets swap participants.

The way a swap works on Instagram is that the organizer posts a link to a sign-up survey (usually on Google Docs).  The survey asks for your name, mailing address, whether you are ok with international shipping, and your preferences.  A few days later, the sign-up time ends and the organizer assigns swap partners.  The partners must make each other a gift by the deadline, usually a few months later.

To insure that participants are making good on their promises, the organizer requires that people occasionally "check in" to confirm they are still participating.  This might involve posting a comment on a certain date, or taking pictures of their works in progress.  Some organizers have larger demands, like posting a Pinterest inspiration board.

By the deadline, participants must ship the gifts to their partners.  At this point, organizers usually require participants to send them tracking numbers.  When you receive your gift, it is good etiquette to post a picture of it to publicly thank your swap partner.  If someone drops out along the way, the organizer will ask someone to volunteer as a "swap angel."  This is a person who makes a gift so that the dropout's partner isn't left empty-handed.

I signed up for the "Positive Vibes" swap.  The organizer touted it as being good for beginners.  It was open to all crafts, and you just had to make something that would give the recipient "positive vibes."  I received a partner in England.  The swap began in June--back when I had unrealistic ideas about how much time and energy I would have to craft as my new job started.  As I adjusted to my new job, I had to think of something to make that would be impressive, but realistic in the time I had. I decided to make her tatted items.  She would be unlikely to get tatting from other people.  She liked goth imagery, so I figured that black, white, and purple lace would be right up her alley.  It was intricate, but small enough not to break the bank on shipping.  I made her a flower bookmark and two blank greeting cards decorated with flower motifs.  I also included some fancy and unusual chocolate items.  She posted a "thank you" and seemed to really like what I sent her.

Many thanks to @embroiderelaine for my lovely #positivevibeswap package. Some beautiful tatted pieces and interesting looking treats!! The tatting is so delicate and intricate.

A photo posted by @edwardandthewhitebear on Oct 8, 2015 at 7:24am PDT

She made me a small sewing bag with a cute design.  She also included some thread, needles, and other small items.  It is the perfect size for taking my embroidery on the go.

How was my swap experience?  I came up with a list of the following pros and cons:

Pros:

1.  You are making a gift for someone who will appreciate it.

Every crafter has at least one sad experience in which they painstakingly make a gift for a loved one, only for the recipient to give an underwhelmed, "Oh.  A hat.  Gee, uh, thanks.  I guess."  The worst story I read was from a woman on Ravelry, who made a cable-knit hat for her brother-in-law and gave it to him at the family Christmas party.  The next day, she was taking out the trash when she found the hat--wadded up and stuffed in a bush.  These experiences have given rise to the term "knitworthy"--someone who has proven themselves to be deserving of the work of your hands.  Yes, it is inspired by Seinfeld's "spongeworthy."  (Insert any craft in place of knitting.  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has even proven herself to be tatworthy.)  I've frequently heard the tip that you should reserve your show-stopping handmade gifts for other crafters because they are the only ones who will appreciate the time and skill it took to make it.  With a craft swap, that is guaranteed.

2.  You can step out of your crafting comfort-zone.

We all have our preferred colors, patterns, and materials.  If you sign up for a swap, the combination of a theme and your partner's preferences mean that you can try something new.

3.  It makes mail fun again.

I love getting fun mail.  Is there any mail more fun than a package just for you?

4.  You build a connection with a far-off person.

Wether you get a partner on the other side of your country or the other side of the world, you get to exchange something with someone you would have never met otherwise.  It makes the world just a little bit smaller and friendlier.

Cons:

1.  Deadlines and requirements are stressful.

There's deadlines for sign-ups, deadlines for check-ins, deadlines for shipping.  I was especially worried about the shipping deadline.  The last date for international shipping was the beginning of a 10-day long stretch of rain, and I went nuts trying to find the post office in a heavy downpour.  I reached a post office, only to discover that it had closed at 4:30pm instead of 5pm.  I went back the next day to ship my package.  The organizer said that we all HAD to post tracking numbers to verify that we had shipped the package.  Well, the clerk explained that the only way to get a tracking number on an international package was to send it registered mail, which would have been an extra $13 and make the package take longer to reach its destination.  Yeah.  That wasn't going to happen.  I just stuck with regular shipping and posted a picture of the postmark from my customs form.  Still, for something called a "Positive Vibes" swap, the whole thing was really stressful.

2.  It's costly, especially for international swaps.
The cost of shipping a package can be a barrier for some people.  However, there are swaps for smaller items like bookmarks and cards that can be accomplished with one or two stamps.

3.  There's a risk of public humiliation.
Yes.  You read that correctly.  Public humiliation.  The swap organizer said that good swap participants have the chance to be part of an invitation-only swap.  If you dropped out or left your partner hanging, she threatened to out you on Instagram and ban you from all of her future swaps.  I read that and thought, "Yes, it is rude when people don't fulfill their end of a swap, but we are all adults here.  Outing someone publicly?  She has to be joking."

She wasn't joking.

She did a post listing all of the people who didn't follow through on the swap.  I didn't realize that Instagram was the middle school cafeteria in a new medium.  For someone who hosted a swap focused on positivity and has Bible quotes in her profile, the organizer came across as very petty.

Will I participate in another swap?  I'll have to think carefully before I do.  Even if I have free time when I sign up, unexpected events could make my life busy.  As a first time participant, I was also very anxious over the swap's requirements.  Still, I'm glad I did it, and my partner and I ended up very happy with what we received.  In the end, that is all that matters.

WIP It Good

After months of tiptoeing around, I can finally tell you my big news.

I got a new job!

It is my first full-time job after several years of unemployment and under-employment, and it is a job that I have always wanted in my field.  I am so happy to have this opportunity, but it also comes with many adjustments.  I have moved across the country.  I bought a new (used) car--and before that, I was in therapy to get over my phobia of driving that I have had for half my life.  Some days, I hardly recognize myself or what I have become.

All of these changes have had an impact on my crafting hobbies.  The biggest change is that I have MUCH less time to do it.  Obviously, part of that is due to my working more hours.  It is also because of my fluctuating energy levels.  Some days, I come home with enough energy to work on a project.  Other days, I come home and my only goal is to stay awake until a reasonable bedtime.  I didn't realize what a big adjustment this would be.

My new town also means that I have to work to find my crafting camaraderie.  Home Ec Workshop in my old town was a special place that embraced a variety of crafts.  I could bring knitting, embroidery, cross-stitch, or tatting and know that I'd be welcome to work there.  In my new town, there really isn't any store like that.  (And certainly none with delicious Breakfast Boats.)  Most stores and groups focus on one specific craft.  There's a knitting store with drop-in time, but I doubt I can bring non-knitting projects.  I found a tatting group of real, flesh-and-blood tatters.  They are very nice and welcoming, and I am looking forward to learning things from them that I will not get from a book.  Finding outlets for embroidery and cross-stitch is much trickier.  There are almost no stores in the area for supplies, and I couldn't find any pre-existing groups.  I actually started my own on Meetup.com, which I will talk more about in a future post.  The friends I find may effect which crafts I end up focusing on.

All of this means that the list of patterns and WIPs (Works In Progress) that I have has gone from improbable to impossible.  With my new schedule, I just can't have as many projects going at once as I used to if I hope to complete anything.

That is why I made a New Year's Resolution.  You might be wondering why I am making such a resolution four months early.  Between Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and most of my jobs aligning with the school calendar, it always felt more natural for me to make New Years resolutions in the autumn.  According to this article, non-Jews can also stand to benefit from setting goals at this time.

My resolution is the following:

1. Make a comprehensive list of WIPs I have in each of the crafts I do.  For the purpose of this list, I included both projects I have started and projects for which I have bought supplies.  I also included time-sensitive projects that I will need to start in the next few weeks (like blankets for Babies In Progress).  I am in a temporary living situation, so I am leaving off projects for which I do not have immediate access.
2. Starting on Rosh Hashanah, I will not start a new project until all of the WIPs I have in that craft are completed.

I'm not sure what will happen when I have completed this list.  Should I make a new list?  I see this mainly as a way to reduce the amount of projects I have going simultaneously as I transition into my new life.  By the time I have completed my goal, I will hopefully be used to my new situation, and have a better perspective on my crafting needs for the future.

And now some pictures from a WIP that is winding down.  The Story Time Sampler frame for September was Black Beauty (AKA, Tina Belcher's favorite frame.)

Story Time Sampler: March

Sorry for the paltry posting.  I've had a lot going on, some downs and ups.

In the meantime, I have gotten all caught up on Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Story Time Sampler.  I find the concept behind this sampler really intriguing.  Even more than the Once Upon a Time Sampler, Story Time makes me think about the imagery and characterization found in classic books.  How do you make a picture of a book so that it is obviously THAT book?  For example, if I was trying to depict Hamlet, I can immediately think of several images.  A young man in black clothing, a skull, a bouquet of flowers.

Now think about Pride & Prejudice.  How would you sum up the book in a few images?  What would you add to make it specifically P&P, but not Sense & Sensibility or Emma?

I started on the frames at the beginning of February and I finally caught up last week.  The frames are smaller, so each picture took me about three days.

January--Alice in Wonderland 

February--The Secret Garden

March--Sherlock Holmes

This would be a great project to work on while listening to CraftLit.  It is a podcast for people who love crafting and literature, but their hands are too busy making things to hold a book.  The program includes audiobooks of classic literature, as well as notes about historical context and crafting info.  What are your favorite classic books?

Stitching Goals for 2015

With a brand new year ahead, this is the time for me to decide what I want to accomplish and improve this year.

1.  Takin' care of business.
I've been embroidering for 2.5 years, and I've had this blog for about 18 months.  My blog has been steadily growing to the point where I now have readers beyond the circle of people who are legally obligated to love me.  My State Fair accomplishments and doing the Torah mantle on commission has been garnering me local attention.  When you get good at a craft, it inevitably leads to people asking to you to make things for them . . . or for their neighbor's sister's cat.  I do think about the idea of turning my embroidery into a business, but I can't lie to myself.  It is incredibly difficult to run a viable craft business, and there is probably a broken light on Broadway for every failed Etsy shop.  This year, I want to develop parameters for how I am willing to do paid work.  That includes the number and type of paid projects I am willing to do, how I will make expectations clear for me and my customer (for example, with a contract), what I should charge for my time, and how much I actually want to promote myself.  If I don't want to do a particular commission, it is acceptable for me to say "no."  I need to find a way to adequately reward--and protect--my time.
     I'd also like to promote my work in a wider variety of ways.  Last year I had a summertime gig as a guest blogger.  I'd like to explore what other opportunities are out there.  (One is already in the pipeline!)  This blog could also use a fresh new look at some point.

2.  Learn to frame.
I've figured out how to frame in a hoop, but for projects that don't fit in one I've been going to a framing store.  This gets very expensive.  I'd like to try framing at least one project on my own to give me more options.

3.  Get more items into the State Fair, place higher, and recruit more friends.
Faster, higher, stronger!  That applies to crafting, right?  I'd like to keep improving my State Fair showing.  I got two friends to join me this year, and I'm always looking for more.

4.  Learn blackwork . . . or something.
Ok, so this is a repeat of last year.  I am, however, giving myself more leeway.  I'd like to keep learning different styles of embroidery.  I have kits for blackwork and Hapsburg lace.  The library has new books on Hardanger embroidery and Swedish weaving (which is actually a type of embroidery that makes it look like the stitching is woven into the fabric).

Of course, finishing every project I can is a goal that will remain every year, and I've already succeeded in finishing one.

December 2014--Hansel & Gretel

Finished in less than a year.  Still counts as 2014

What are your stitching goals for the year?

I'm Going on a Diet

Last week, I ended my post with the announcement that I would be taking a "supply diet."  I plan on it being for the month of October, but I might extend it or bring it back depending on how it works out.  For me this means no buying new supplies for crafting, which include:

• Thread and yarn
• Patterns
• Books

I am doing this in order conserve several resources.

1.  Money--I got a bump in my hours at work.  Basically, it is enough to go from extremely part time to just regular part time.  Since then, I notice I've fallen into the mental trap of buying things more often on the grounds that "I can afford it."  That won't be true for long if I fail to set limits for myself!  I also have a tendency to justify purchases based on my mood.  If something good happens, I would reward myself with craft supplies.  If something bad happens . . . . I console myself with craft supplies.  I didn't think much of this until a woman at my synagogue gave a presentation on shopping addiction and how the retail industry supports this line of thinking.  (She began her presentation with a photo she took of a Hallmark card in a store that said, "It's not a shopping spree--its 'retail therapy.'")  I want to stop myself from falling into that pattern. 

2.  Space--I live in a 2-bedroom apartment, and one of those bedrooms is being used as a computer/storage room.  Guess what percentage of that room is taken up with my craft supplies . . .

3.  Time--Because of spending #1 and #2 on crafting supplies, I feel pressure to devote more time to crafting in order to justify my purchases and relieve some of the crowding in my craft corner.  Crafting is a relaxing way to spend time, but not if it is tinged with guilt or pressure to finish things by a self-imposed deadline.
     I've also realized that devoting too much time to a project can take away time from other important things--like TV.  This might sound odd, but TV has always been a passion of mine.  I discuss it online, show TV episodes to groups to discuss different topics, and I've even presented papers about TV at academic conferences.  When I started crafting while watching TV, I felt superior somehow because TV watching was no longer "idle time."  My progress on projects improved, but my enjoyment of TV did not because I was distracted from what I was supposedly watching.  I obviously don't want to swing wildly to the other end and do nothing but watch TV.  However, I have set a daily habit on HabitRPG to make sure I watch one TV episode or movie a day without simultaneously crafting or browsing the Internet.  It is not idle time if I am focused on a good story, recharging my batteries, and sharing time with my husband.

Can I last the month?  After 7 days, I am still going strong.  Granted, 25 hours of that was devoted to a holiday where spending money is forbidden, but I think I am off to a good start.

***
The last few entries I have done have been pretty heavy, so here is a long-overdue project update!

I finished the last part of Mysterious Halloween Town.

What do you think?  Is this a future State Fair entry?

I also completed Part 1 of Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Autumn Harvest Festival.

I liked the cursive writing combined with variegated thread.  I tried to make the stitches in the order that I would have used to write out the letters by hand, so the color changes would flow in the same way.  I am also trying out this project using the English method of cross-stitching.  That involves making each X one by one instead of completing one set of legs (///////) followed by the other set (\\\\\\\).  I can't decide if it has made a big difference.

There was also the September square for Once Upon a Time--Rapunzel.

Other updates:

• The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery ladies decided to give me and another woman a prize for entering our projects in state fairs and encouraging others to do so.  I'll find out what it is this month . . .
• &Stitches e-zine is holding a contest, Old Stitches New Tricks.  The goal is to take something old (vintage pattern, materials, historical stitching technique), and find a way to update it to a new purpose.  I've started a project that I've been wanting to do for a while and would be perfect for it.  Hopefully I can get it done by the November 17 deadline.  It's not complicated, but it has a lot of personal meaning for me.

Online Embroidery Classes

You've taken an embroidery class, and you are hooked.  You are stitching up all of the samplers that you can, you are telling all of your friends about your fantastic new hobby, and your weekends are starting to resemble a scene in a Jane Austen novel.  (In the Jane Austen Drinking Game, this would count as "Display of Womanly Skill.")

But soon, you develop a tolerance.  You start to crave the harder stuff--complicated stitches . . . other historical and international stitching styles . . . actually turning your embroidered work into an object.  You would gladly keep taking classes until you've drained your textile hobby budget.

And that's when you realize that you have taken the only embroidery class available in your tri-county area.

It's a crushing feeling, and that's if you could find a beginner class at all.  I was able to take a class at my local craft store because the owner happens to be interested in embroidery.  When my mom expressed interest, I looked on Google to see what classes were in her area.  After sifting through the useless "custom embroidered logo" entries, the only classes I could find were in little independent craft stores in the downtown of her nearest large city--a 40-minute drive on a good day, or a train ride.  Though Michaels and Joann Fabrics both carry embroidery supplies (usually languishing in the farthest corner of the store), I have yet to find any that offer embroidery classes.

That is where online classes can fill the void.  These have become more common in recent years, and are especially convenient for embroidery because you can work on your project in front of the computer.  classes can take different forms, depending on who is putting them out.

Large websites like Creativebug and Craftsy publish classes in the form of videos.  Subscribers can either pay a monthly fee to access all the classes they want, or pay individually for each class.  The classes here are a step-up from free video tutorials on YouTube, filmed with high quality equipment, adequate lighting, and higher resolution.  The videos are divided into chapters so that it is easier to go back and find specific parts to watch.  I find that visual lessons are very helpful for beginners, because it helps to see the steps being performed.  With videos, you can also rewind it as many times as it takes to understand a step.  Rebecca Ringquist of Drop-Cloth Samplers has several great classes up on Creativebug, including one that covers the stitches on her original sampler.

Individual teachers can use a different method, releasing each "class" as a PDF document with detailed instructions for completing the lesson.  The teacher makes herself available by e-mail for questions.  Sometimes the teacher will open a private Facebook or Flickr group for all students taking the same class.  In this virtual classroom, students can share pictures of their works in progress and ask each other questions.  While the class might last a few weeks in terms of releasing the PDF lessons, the group is open for several months so that students can progress at their own pace.  This style of online class is good for embroiderers who have mastered the basics and want to learn additional skills.  (If you find it easy to learn stitches from diagrams in books, that will work in your favor.)

For a birthday present, I am treating myself to an online class from one of my favorite embroidery bloggers, Nicole of Follow the White Bunny.  She designs patterns inspired by illustrations in children's books.  Her class, Furry Nice, will cover the techniques necessary to stitch small animal portraits.  I can't wait for class to begin on April 10.  Other students have been introducing themselves in our private group.  Nicole is from the Netherlands, and other students are from the USA, Norway, Australia, and the UK.  Even though we are worlds apart, we are able to introduce ourselves and visit each others blogs.  It really is starting to feel like a class.  I feel so lucky to be a crafter in the Internet age, when I can overcome geography and limited resources by clicking on a link.

Level Up in Crafting

Back in January, I talked about my stitching goals for the year.  With so many projects in my queue, I have to make sure to stitch every day that I can and I wanted a way to keep myself on track.  When I went to Home Ec last Saturday morning, my friend Angela brought up an intriguing option for those who want extra incentives to keep up with a task.  (Extra incentives other than the finished project or the satisfaction of a job well done, of course.)

HabitRPG turns your goals into a role-playing game, like Dungeons & Dragons or World of Warcraft.  You begin with a basic character that you can customize.  I'm not very imaginative--I just like seeing how I look as a low-resolution video game character.

Then you set up tasks that you want to make a regular part of your life, or that you need to accomplish by a deadline.  They come in three types:

• Dailies:  Tasks you need to do every day or at regular intervals (Walk the dog, weed the garden)
• Habits:  Tasks that you want to encourage yourself to do more regularly (Don't eat junk food, take the stairs instead of the elevator)
• To-Do List:  One-time tasks

Whenever you complete a task, you earn Experience Points, and gold and silver coins.  If you fail to do a daily task, you lose health points.

As the days go by, the tasks that you do more frequently earn you fewer points and coins so that you have extra incentive to do the less-frequent tasks.  The experience points allow you to attain higher levels for your character, which unlocks incentives like clothes, weapons, pets, and potions.  You can use the gold and silver coins to buy prizes in the game, or you can set up your own prizes (100 gold coins = 1 new embroidery pattern).  If you go too long without accomplishing daily tasks, then your character will lose all its health points and die.

Lots of people use HabitRPG as a way to remind them to do less pleasant daily tasks like cleaning, or to help them stay on a diet-and-exercise regiment.  This is a game where you set many of the rules, so people use it to make progress in a hobby, too.  There are forums called "guilds" where you can meet other people with your interests and get ideas on how to use HabitRPG to increase your skills.  If you have friends who use it, you can set up "parties" or "quests" to keep everyone accountable as a group.  There are already guilds for stitching and knitting/crochet, so crafters are in good company here.

With its RPG style and reliance on the honor system, this is not the right method for everybody.  My husband freely admits that if he signed up for the site, he would try to "break" the system by doing things like counting breathing as a daily task.  For those who are sincere in their desire to change their habits and have a love of computer games, HabitRPG seems like an innovative way keep on track.  It is highly adaptable to whatever area you want to improve.  I am using it to keep myself stitching for at least 30 minutes daily, to finish one project before moving on to new ones . . . and to see how I would look wielding a mace and riding a hedgehog.

Altering Patterns: A Debate of Art and Ethics

I finished the January and February squares of Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Once Upon a Time Sampler.

January--Snow White

February--The Frog Prince

I like the cleverness of the images.  Who would think to show Snow White during an ordinary laundry day?  It's like "A Day in the Life of a Fairy Tale Character."  These squares were, however, the beginning of a large debate among people following along with this pattern.

With the Woodland Sampler, the squares were all based on generic woodland creatures like racoons and hedgehogs.  They were not tied to any specific named woodland creatures or pop culture references.  Some people liked to alter the patterns to suit their tastes.  One woman replaced the rain in the April Jackelope square with a rainbow.  Another added a 2nd mushroom to the terrarium in the March square.  I made a few color changes, like making snow out of white thread instead of metallic thread because white "read" more like snow to me than silver and I was finding the metallic thread very difficult to work with.  When we shared our changes in the Facebook group, people complimented the changes.

Right away, it was clear that the Once Upon a Time sampler would be a different matter.  We've grown up with fairy tales as stories and movies, and many people have specific images come to mind when we think of these stories.  Overwhelmingly, people's images have been shaped by Disney movies, and that effect has been more pronounced since Disney has been promoting their "Disney Princess" line of merchandise.

As the speedy stitchers started finishing the January square, some of the finished products had changes that reflected these strong cultural ties.  Some women changed the coloring on Snow White's dress to be closer to the primary colors of the Disney character's outfit.  Some added poofy sleeves.  One enterprising woman added the Evil Queen's image in the mirror.  Quite a few women commented that they loved the changes, and the original stitchers posted charts and DMC thread colors so that others could make the same changes.

Unlike the Woodland Sampler, some people became extremely critical.  Long Facebook arguments erupted over whether whether it was acceptable, artistically or ethically, to change the images.

"If you are going to change the pattern so much, why did you bother buying it?  Get a Disney pattern or make your own."
"I'm making this for my granddaughter.  She loves the Disney princesses, so why can't I make it the way she likes?"
"This is really mean.  It's like you are saying you don't like the designer's ideas.  They probably aren't even allowed to make the characters look like Disney ones."
"I used to love sharing my photos here, but if it's going to cause so many complaints I'm just not going to do it anymore."

If you didn't agree with the changes, then you were stifling the creativity of others and clearly didn't want the children who receive the finished products to be happy.  (You don't hate children, do you?)  If you did agree with the changes, then you have bought into all of the cookie-cutter commercialism and questionable morals that Disney has come to embody.

Honestly, it was very disheartening to me to see all of this play out on Facebook.  Until this point, all of the crafters I have met in person and in this group have been so helpful and happy for the success of others.  When I discovered the world of crafting online, I was so excited to find other people who shared my interests and it provided validation for the things I made.  The Internet took what was once a solitary hobby and turned it into a social experience.  Once people started making changes reflecting Disney designs, things got downright nasty.  The whole experience made me realize that there is a downside to the online socialization of these hobbies.  Joining an online community means leaving yourself open to criticism, and feeling the obligation to justify your choices.  The lack of non-verbal queues and the anonymity of a large Facebook group makes it easier to make cutting remarks or misunderstand comments.  If someone speaks negatively about something you've made, it feels like they are speaking negatively about YOU.

The Frosted Pumpkin designers ended up stepping into the fray and laying down ground rules.

1. Hair and skin color can always be considered suggestions, whether you want to make a princess look more like your daughter or just like the idea of multicultural princesses.  They are also accepting of color changes that are necessary to make the thread show up better against fabric of different colors.
2. Feel free to post pictures of a finished square, but do not post charts of the changes you have made.
3. When describing the changes, keep in mind that the designers worked very hard to create these patterns.  Would you want something you created to be described this way?

With most of the cross-stitch patterns I have made, I have made very few changes.  I buy these patterns because I love their quirky design and their ability to come up with images I would have never thought of on my own.  There will come a time, however, where I will want to make alterations to reflect my preferences.  In the Springtime Sampler, I would like to change an Easter egg to a seder plate.  The Winter Sampler has many Christmas-themed squares that I would like to alter to Chanukah designs, like changing a Christmas cookie to a latke and tree ornaments to dreidels.  Some people might see these changes as significant, and would say I should design my own patterns entirely.  I buy the Frosted Pumpkin patterns because I like their style, and I am not that good yet at designing.  (My attempt to create a "Kawaii Shabbat" pattern was . . . . dismal, to put it politely.)  I think the original patterns are very cute, and if I was making them for a non-Jewish friend I would not hesitate to stitch them as is.  I just want the embroidered art I display in my house to reflect the reality of my lifestyle.

The important lesson I took from this experience is that people will always put their own personal flair into the objects they make, even when it is something as uniform as a cross-stitch pattern.  When we make these changes, however, we need to respect the original designers--both as artists with intellectual property, and as people with feelings.  

Fair Enough, Part 2: Lessons Learned

This weekend, I submitted my matzah cover to the Iowa State Fair!

I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this (in one awful night, quite literally), and now I have the satisfaction of meeting this exciting new goal.  I am also glad that next year, I will know what to expect.  Here are some lessons that I learned that I hope will be of use to other crafters who are considering competing in their state fairs:

1. Budget more time than you will think you need.  I was able to finish my matzah cover in about one month, but I would definitely start sooner on my state fair projects next time.  Maybe not 11 months in advance, but enough time that I won't have to rush.  I had to prioritize this project above other projects--including decorating fabric squares for a friendship quilt for the co-owner of Home Ec, who is leaving to go back to school.  I also felt rushed towards the end, which can result in mistakes.
2. Pay attention to deadlines.  I had to go to Des Moines and submit my project in person because I missed the deadline to turn it in by mail.  My husband and I ended up making a day of it, going to an IMAX movie and shopping at the only Trader Joe's in the state.  That was pleasant, but not everybody can make the trip.  Some of my friends had planned on submitting items, but did not realize that the Fabric & Threads department (which covers yarncraft, needlework, sewing, and quilting) has a MUCH earlier deadline than the other competitions.  Find out early what the deadline for submissions is and put it in your calendar.
3. Read the rules.  The rules (or premium book) say what condition your items should be in, how to attach the tag, and other specifics of preparing your project for submission.  It also lists every single division and class for which the fair accepts items.  As I was waiting to submit my matzah cover, I overheard the woman in charge talking to someone about how every year, people show up who have not only not filled out their tags--they haven't even looked at the rule book to figure out if their item fits in any particular class.  Entries can be disqualified if they are submitted to the incorrect class.  Don't let your hard work go to waste.  Reading the rule book is what inspired me to submit my matzah cover.  I figured it would be a breath of fresh air in a Christmas-dominated Embroidered Holiday Decorations class.  (Interestingly, there was a division that had both a Christmas Decoration class and a Non-Christmas Holiday Decoration class.)
4. No crafter is an island.  In the midst of a competition, your initial instinct might be to work on your project in secret.  After all, you might be submitting in the same categories as people you know, and you certainly don't want to give them clues on what you are planning!  No--fight that instinct.  Work on your projects with friends.  Give them updates.  Ask them for advice.  If they are also working on state fair projects, do the same for them.  Before making the drive to Des Moines, I stopped off at Home Ec to use their iron to flatten the wrinkles out of my matzah cover.    After working on it during Saturday brunch for several weeks, the regulars were so curious to see it.  They loved it, and told me how beautiful it was and how they were so happy I got it done in time for the competition.  After we left, my husband told me how nice it was that everyone was so happy for the success of others.  Maybe in a few weeks, we can organize a group trip to the fair.  I may not earn any ribbons or prizes, but the compliments of friends make me feel like a winner.