Well that's just... odd!

During the giveaway blog, I wanted people to ask questions that I could answer, so that's what I'm doing now - answering another question. Nic wanted to know what was the strangest thing I've ever been asked to chart.

I thought about this for ages, and every time I think oh yeah - I'll put that, ten minutes later, I remember something else which was odd, The thing is, no matter how odd something might seem to me, if someone has gone to the trouble of asking for it, it obviously means something to them.

Chacmool, for example. I hardly even know if I'm pronouncing the name right! But someone asked for it, having never been able to find a chart anywhere of it before. A little research, and...

Then there was the day someone simply said "can you chart me a spoon please". I thought maybe an intricate love spoon or something. Oh no. Just a spoon. Turns out it was to do with Spoon Theory, which if you don't know what that is, google it. I did, and the information that comes up makes for some fascinating reading. My eyes were opened, and I felt the need to chart not one, but two spoons.

Of course let's not forget the Unicorn fiasco. I believe it started as a joke, or at least, I hope it did. But somehow, and to this day, I still don't know how, the idea gathered speed. I couldn't move without someone asking if I'd done the unicorn yet. In the end, charting a farting unicorn was easier than putting up with the nagging, and Unicorn Magic was created.

I also want to give the tribal charts a mention.... especially the manatee. I really was confused about this one when the request came in. I mean, a manatee is just a blob, right? Well, no, I know they are more than that, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect for someone to pay good money for a cross stitch chart of one, but mine is not to question. I just went ahead and fired up the software and...

If I'm honest, I love the unusual ideas. Unusual ideas provide two things.
1) A challenge. What's the point in creating easy charts that anyone can create in the blink of an eye? Every chart I create is a learning curve for me, and the more complicated the design, the more I learn.
2) My aim is to build a reputation in the cross stitch community for being the person who charts the designs that you can't find anywhere else. And I hope I'm getting there. I mean, if the above charts are anything to go by.... I've certainly had some odd requests!

Until next time,

Happy stitching,

Kim xx

As the mood takes me... (Giveaway now closed!)

I've decided that the most difficult thing about writing a blog (for me at least), is deciding what to write about. I've thought about this quite a lot, and what I can use it for. I thought I could use it to get organised and write myself to do lists, but with running a house with three kids as well as KLT Charting, I rarely get to plan out what I do each day, let alone have each day be dictated by a blog list. I chart according to two main things... customer requests, and my mood at the time. Sometimes I have a long request list, and what I WANT to chart has to wait, and at other times, I might think I need to do some more 'In Words' charts, but I feel like doing a new tribal animal, for example. So working from a list probably wouldn't work either. I wondered if I could write a new blog each week, on a Monday for example, outlining what I'd done the week before, but as organised as I like to think I can be, I know after the first or maybe the second Monday, something would of come up that prevented me from doing what I intended. In the end, I've settled on blogging as I chart... I'll do it as and when I feel like, as that usually produces better results. Sometimes there might end up being 3 weeks between posts, and other times, you might get three in four days. I'm just going to wing it and see how it goes!

In the meantime, I'd like to do a little blog giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning a free standard PDF chart of your choice from my website, simply comment below with a question you would like me to answer. It can be anything you like, to do with KLT Charting or not (within reason!! lol), and I'll do my best to answer the questions in future blogs. Each question you pose will earn you 1 draw entry for the chart giveaway. Entries will close at the end of this week (Sunday 21st September), and I'll announce the winner next week, so make sure you follow my blog to see your answers and if you have won. Sound good? Ask away!