Friday, July 24, 2009

Customer Spotlight - Sue Pollock

Welcome to the first in an on-going series where I will be featuring my customers. Cobweb Corner Customer Spotlight will highlight a different customer on each post. My cross stitch customers are very passionate about their craft and I'm so excited to give them the opportunity to share their work with you.

Enjoy the interview and the fabulous photos chosen especially to share with you. Please comment after reading the interview - the featured stitcher will be thrilled to know you took the time to admire and comment on their craft.

Customer Spotlight with Sue Pollock, Kernersville, NC

Tell us something unusual about yourself. There’s really nothing out of the ordinary about me; just a normal, run of the mill homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother.

How long have you been stitching and how did you start? I started stitching at the age of 15 so I’ve been stitching approximately 41 years. I found a set of two 8x10 embroidery/appliqué projects at the Sears and Roebuck store and thought they would make a nice present for my parents. I continued dabbling with all types of needlework until my sister-in-law taught me the art of counted cross-stitch a year later. I’ve been addicted ever since! By the way, those first embroidered pieces are now hanging in my master bath!

Why did you select the pieces you did to share with us? I wouldn’t consider Suko (John Clayton Elegance Series) the most difficult piece I’ve ever stitched, but she is my first “human” with such lifelike features. I stitched the Fishing Trawlers (Fiona Jude) for my husband. He was born and reared on the east coast of North Carolina so they remind him of home. The Antique Floral (published by Leisure Arts) was a Christmas present for my daughter and my first attempt at a floral piece. I thoroughly enjoyed the intricacies of the color shading as the flowers seemed to blossom on the fabric.

Do you have a favorite designer or style that you prefer? I have many favorite designers, but lately, I find myself drawn to John Clayton, Margaret Sherry, Valerie Pfeiffer, and Crossed Wing Collections. I never shy away from the huge projects and I love a challenge of the more detailed projects. The “squished” or fractional stitches these designers use really bring their designs to life on an Evenweave fabric.

Is there anything you wish would change in the cross stitch industry? I would love to see more of the UK designs/designers available here in the US at a more reasonable cost. I also love Cobweb Corner’s “rare and collectible” section; you can usually find such great selections of many OOP publications! Just because a design has some age to it, it hasn’t necessarily lost its character!

How often do you stitch and where in the house do you do it? I stitch every day, if only for 30 minutes. It is my only mode of true relaxation. I have to be busy at all times and with my stitching, I’m not only busy but productive as most of my projects are given as gifts or stitched for charity. I have a small corner in our den specifically set up for my stitching supplies. My husband purchased both my chair and my light with my stitching habit in mind. However, since that time, he has attempted to invade the area several times because he sees how comfortable I am, but he’s yet to succeed!

Are you embarrassed to admit to friends and family how much stash you have on hand? When my family and friends see my two stash closets, I give the excuse that I use it for RAKs (Random Act of Kindness) and other gifts. They seem to buy my reasoning; therefore, it eases my embarrassment!

Do you have a favorite Quote? Not really but my catch phrase is “I’ll do it tomorrow!” I’ve said this since I was a child and evidently so much so my Mom once threatened to have it engraved on my headstone when I died. She did purchase a paper weight and had that engraved for me with the phrase. I can’t say that I really procrastinate completing the important stuff; it’s just that I might have better things to do at the present, and if I do, well....now you know what I’ll say.

Anything else you would like to share? I only have a suggestion to all stitchers; share your tips and techniques freely with others, especially new stitchers. Since becoming associated with Yahoo groups, I’ve heard more fantastic tips on how to make my stitching more professional in appearance such as railroading my stitches, or making it easier to begin a thread, such as using the loop method. I knew never to use a knot so that wasn’t an issue, but the loop method is GREAT! Cross-stitch is an art to be shared with others. So many of these little nuggets of wisdom would have helped me tremendously if I had only heard about them sooner in my stitching life!

Thank you Sue!! Please post comments/questions for Sue!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sue, that was great information, and I couldn't agree with you more. Sharing your art with others, keeps it alive. Thank you so much, and you do beautiful work!
Debbie

Jo said...

Beautiful work, Sue! Love the skin tones of your Oriental lady.

Sue said...

Suko is just gorgeous Sue! She looks like she is going to 'come to life' at any moment!

Sue V.

Anonymous said...

Sue!

What wonderful work you've displayed to us! Your choices of designs are beautiful and you stitch superbly! I am glad I got to see some of your works - you are truly a skilled stitcher!

Happy stitching all the way from Norway.

Janice Boucher said...

Sue... your stitching is exquisite! So nice and even. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Janice, MA

Janice Boucher said...

Sue
Your stitching is exquisite! So nice and even. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Janice, MA

Anonymous said...

stumbled on this post via Twitter and found it very interesting. keep these coming!

Mary M. said...

Beautiful work! I think I like the boats the best.

CareyCottage said...

Very Nice Sue, Excellent Pieces!

Shirleejean said...

Wow, 40+ years... how I wish I had started sooner. Your work is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pieces and superbly stitched! Thank you for sharing Sue.

Dawn B. said...

This is a great thing you are doing. Sue is very talented and I love the info about her. Thanks to both of you.

paintingpam said...

What a great story!! Thank you for sharing

Anonymous said...

Joan W. said...
Your stitchery is very beautiful keep it going.
Thanks for sharing.

Julie L said...

I love your work Sue. What is looping? I have never heard of it and I am always looking for new ideas and suggestions. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

great stitching, Sue!

Anonymous said...

You do beautiful work.

Trish said...

Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I really love to read about other stitchers!

Anonymous said...

Sue

I don't think I'd seen the boats finished great job

love sally