Hello---total novice

[guenever]

greetings!

i am totally new to cross stitching. i literally bought my first counted cs kit last week. well, about 20 years ago i bought one but never finished it. it was counted--the picture was printed on. but i have been wanting to try counted cs for a while. i just went through a terrible, terrible divorce and so i am trying to figure out what my life looks like now. it's ironic. i don't sew! i can't even sew a button! but i have almost completed my first piece. i am totally addicted. i love it. it is like 'moving meditation' to use my mother's words. i have ordered some other kits and printed some free patterns off line. i am excited about this new hobby!

for about 8 years i 'dolled'. you can see what i mean at my website. http://www.freewebs.com/guenever/" target="_blank

i think those skills actually have helped me with my stitching because i am used to doing close work with pixels on a screen--so looking at pictures in a graph/square format makes sense to me. don't get me wrong! i have ripped out a lot of stitches and even began my first piece all over because i totally miscounted.

but i really enjoy it and i look forward to this new creative hobby and chatting with all of you.

right now i am trying to get in as much stitching as i can before i go back to school!
i am a 36 year old 11th and 12th grade english teacher (my 13th year this year) from rural new york state and i have a big house, lots of barbies (my passion), and my dear cat who is like my child.

[thegrindre]

I'm brand new to cs, too. Thot I'd take up another hobby in my retirement years.

You've come to the right place. These folks are about the most helpful and supportive I've ever met.

Welcome to CSF.

[karen4bells]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your stitching soon. Love browsing thru your website, it's full of wonderful information!!

[Mary Kay]

Hello and welcome to the forum! This is a great place to be, lots of wonderful stitchers here.

[rcperryls]

Hello and welcome to the forum from South Carolina! This is a great place to encourage, motivate and develop your new hobby. I just looked at your website as I had never heard of "dolling" and think your dolls are fantastic! I found it fascinating. I hope you will find cross stitching another wonderful way to help you through this stressful time in your life as it has for so many of us. I hope you will post pictures of your projects. We love pictures!

Carole

[Cecilia]

Hello & welcome to the forum. I hope you will enjoy it here.

[Parksfarm]

Welcome from Oregon!

[guenever]

somehow i double posted! so i am copying my thank you from the last post! sorry!

yes, the divorce was bad. the worst. my husband had a bi-polar psychotic break with reality. and i am paying him alimony. it ended me in the hospital with ulcerative colitis. i am still reeling. tomorrow would have been our ten year anniversary...but a new dawn, a new day as nina simone said.

thank you for the warm welcome! and thank you for looking at my website! and the compliments! oh! thank you for looking at my dolling--i am so flattered. there is actually a huge dolling community out there. i loved dolling--but i find stitching to be more tangible. and i can't smoke when i stitch! i don't even have the urge! i only smoke 5 a day--but when i write or doll i have to smoke. but not with stitching!

i just finished my first project. i will post a picture tomorrow.

again--thank you for all the encouragement!

does anyone know of a free cross stitch pattern program for macs? or how i can make my photoshop elements make cs patterns? i've looked on the web--but there is a lot of confusion out there!

thank you!

oh--and thegrindre! i adore your site! great patterns. i downloaded the moon and owl and the gingerbread house. i want to do that! but that program won't work for macs...

[calico]

Welcome to the forum!! Interesting hobby with the pixel dolls.....never heard of it before but I can see how it could be fun!

Can't wait to see your finished project and many more to come?

I have no advice for the software, sorry...

[wwdiva]

Hi and welcome to the forum from Vancouver Canada!
Great group of folks here, beginners, intermediate and advanced stitchers here to support each other in this great hobby.
Look forward to seeing pictures of your stitching.
Cheers

[Oriettait]

Hello and welcome from Italy

[thegrindre]

Thanks and have fun!
I don't know any program for Macs either. Sorry.

[guenever]

double post! sorry!

[Louise1262]

Welcome from Ireland
You'll find lots of inspiration and encouragement here - very friendly people.

I use Cross Stitch Professional Platinum Plus by DP Software which I upgraded from their other versions. My system is Linux so use a similar thing to Parallels - my husband is the techie and set it up and it works perfectly.
Recently DP announced the launch of a version for the Mac and are looking for Beta testers.
http://www.dpsoftware.com/

On the home page on the right is a link "Mac users click here"

I have no connection to the company.

[wtnlvr]

Welcome You will find lots of great info here. Sorry about your divorce. I am just starting the process after 24 years of marriage. Not fun that is for sure. Cross stitching really helps take your mind of things though. Be sure to look in the gallery section. You will see lots of beautiful work there.

[vanessanjf]

Hello and welcome

[Serinde]

Welcome from the West of Scotland! You've come to the right place, I hope you'll agree, if counted stitching (or indeed almost any sort of stitching) interests you. We tend to be a friendly crowd, but terrible for enabling!

PS -- I can't "sew" either! It's on the list.

[guenever]

i am so thrilled about the diversity here! and wtnlvr---i am so sorry about your divorce. it is a horrible, horrible thing. today would have been ten years. i understand--but you will survive it and come out stronger. i couldn't even cook for myself before i filed for divorce.

i found a great program---macstitch! awesome!

Louise1262--Ireland, i've never been but what a glorious country.

Serinde--Scotland! next on my list. England is my heart home--especially glastonbury and avebury. i'm glad i'm not the only one who can't sew.

where do i post a picture of my first project?

[rcperryls]

Generally we post pictures in the Stitch-A-Long section. In the top left you will see a button which says New Topic. Click it and get started. This thread Posting Pictures in a Thread explains how to do it. Looking forward to seeing your pictures!

Carole

[guenever]

duh me! thank you!