Monday, August 17, 2009

Customer Spotlight - Susan Alexion from NYC

This is the fourth in our series Cobweb Corner Customer Spotlight. 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.

Tell us something unusual about your self: I have been a ‘road warrior’ for the last 12 years. That means I travel every week and am away three or four nights.

How long have you been stitching and how did you start? It has been about nine years. A concierge lady at a Marriott hotel got me started. It was fall and I started on Christmas stockings. I did four that season. I started out along the normal path, 14 count Aida, followed by 16 and 18 count, but took the leap to linen about six years ago.


Why did you select the pieces you did to share with us? These were pieces that I recently finished. Plaisirs de dentelliere (lace) by Marie Suarez was a gift for my sister who is into making bobbin lace. The other, Sonata by Mari McDonald, Whispered by the Wind was for me whose favorite color is purple.

Do you have a favorite designer or style that you prefer? I tend to do anything that is part of a series. I started with all of the Kats by Kelly (Calico Crossroads) that I have framed and hung in two collections. I have done all of the word trees by M, and the Sekas hearts. I am partial to Whispered by the Wind for the geometry and few colors, not that I haven’t done complex projects such as Tulip Medley by KustomKrafts. I have a Heaven and Earth design (French Filigree) in progress.

Is there anything you wish would change in the cross stitch industry? I am sorry to see local needle shops close. Growing up (45 years ago) I was a knitter and had a local shop that I could walk to. I live in New York City, but the last of the old time shops are gone. I have been forced to become an internet shopper. But you don’t get the opportunity to ‘feel’ fibers or threads.

How often do you stitch and where do you do it? I stitch every day. Mondays and Thursdays are travel days so I get a good three hours of work done on the plane. Then there are the nights in a hotel room which affords another hour or two. At home I have my favorite rocker with an Ott light to the left.

Are you embarrassed to admit to friends and family how much stash you have on hand? Not really. I have organized all of this in spread sheets and stored in stackable drawers. I have every DMC color, most Caron Watercolours and a wide variety of specialty threads. I have more than 300 pieces in my fabric stash.

Do you have a favorite quote? I do consulting, so my favorite line is “A test of one is not a test, unless I am doing it.”

Thank you Susan! Please post comments/questions for Susan below.

6 comments:

Vicki Johnson said...

Her work looks very fine and intricate and, of course, very lovely. My threads are organized, but I could use some helpful suggestions on cataloging patterns. She said hers was organized, so maybe she cdould share some of her ideas. Thank you,
Vicki Johnson
Centre, Alabama hvj@tds.net

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous work Susan! These are all very challenging pieces! I have a very dear friend who also, enjoys pieces that tests her abilities! Her work is also, gorgeous! Again, your work is just beautiful!

~ Sue ~ said...

Hi Susan, your work is stunning and thanks so much for sharing. Like the others, I'd love to hear your suggestions in cataloging your charts and patterns. I'm using an Access database but so far, I just cant' seem to get a handle on this. And like you, I so miss going to the LNS and 'fondling' stash before you buy!
Sue

Anonymous said...

I just started to catalog my charts. I bought four magazine box holders and have sorted the charts by topic. I have them in a spreadsheet with the magazine box number so I can find them. I have kept all the charts that I have completed, but the yet to dos far outnumber the dones.
I appreciate your comments.
Susan Alexion

Anonymous said...

I am lucky to be your sister and the receipient of Plaisirs de dentelliere. You are very gracious in giving away the fruits of your labors.

Vixxen36 said...

Plaisirs de dentelliere (lace) by Marie ,
where did you get this pattern,
would you share it?