Jill's Hobbies

Here's a fun grouping of what I like to do with my time.

Creative Writing

Romance Writers of America - A member since 2000. I'm still in the 'Hopeful' category of writers.
Washington Romance Writers - Also a member since 2000. This local branch of RWA is incredibly supportive of new writers. I've met a lot of really wonderful friends here.
Rakehell - Where I get my Regency romance fix. The site is run by a group of fellow Regency romance addicts.

Weaving

Jill's Weaving Page
Interweave Press - The home of great fiber and craft magazines. Their homepage takes forever to download because it's one big imagemap (a big picture with links if you click on certain areas for those who are wondering). Here are the separate magazines to speed up the process:
- Handwoven - the magazine for handweavers
- Piecework - the magazine for a variety of crafts
- Spin-Off - the magazine for spinners
- Interweave Knits - a magazine for knitters
- Beadwork - a magazine for beaders
- The Jewelry Artist - Lapidary Journal has evolved into this magazine. It's quite beautiful.
The Handweavers Guild of America
Complex Weavers
Mid Atlantic Fiber Association
Family Heirloom Weavers - This family business sells historical fabrics woven on-site.

Needlework

Jill's Needlework Page
Embroiderer's Guild of America - National association for needlework. They've moved their headquarters to Louisville, Kentucky.
Counted Cross-Stitch, Needlework, and Stitchery Page - Kathleen Dyer's original FAQs --expanded. Yup, some of my old USENET posts are in here.
Chatelaine Designs Message Board - Martina Weber's main message board site with links to all of the designs
European Cross Stitch - Chatelaine Designs' American Store - American distributor of Martina Weber's designs
Online Cross Stitch Guild - founded by Jane Greenoff
Just Nan - I don't usually like samplers --but I saw "Lily Pond" finished and hanging in a shop and fell in love. I've been hooked on her pieces ever since.
Calico Crossroads - Whimsical cat stitchery among other things. I love her mischievous black cat graphs.
Lanarte - beautiful European graphs and home to the very talented Dutch artist Marjolein Bastin.
Imaginating - Another design publisher. I've collected some of their black cat designs created by Holly Gordon.
Vermillion Stitchery - Home of designer Donna Vermillion Giampa. Incredibly detailed medieval designs and other beautiful work like her cat designs. The Sudberry House clock with the pair of cats playing on it that I am working on is a Donna Vermillion Giampa design.
Mirabilia ...and Marilyn's daughter Nora Corbett
Theresa Wentzler - One of my favorite designers of very intricate cross-stitch pieces. I've collected most of her designs. Sad to say, I haven't attempted one of her designs yet, though.
Yarn Tree's Home Page of Counted Cross-Stitch - lots of fun stuff here

Miscellaneous Crafts

The harlot - Stef really doesn't need an introduction. We're all just wild about her.
The Art of "Temari" - beautiful photos of Temari balls
Temari Kai - Japanese Temari Balls
Barbara Seuss' Website - Japanese Temari Balls and Instruction by Barbara Seuss
Phiala's String Page - Phiala is a medieval recreationist who teaches and makes off-loom woven technique items such as sprang and tablet woven belts.
BraidersHand - devoted to braided things - kumihimo, takedai, ayatakedai.

Yarns

Webs Yarn
Halcyon Yarn
R&M Yarn
Lunatic Fringe
CARON Collection - what you stitch your needlework with. Watercolors and Waterlilies are my personal favorites.

Sewing

Jill's Sewing Page
Threads Magazine Online
Janome/New Home - Makers of very nice sewing machines. I bought one myself because I found a steal on a brand-new, in-the-box machine. It has a very good reputation and the service on the machines is great.
Thai Silks - A great place to pick up silk fabric. Their prices are quite a bit less than I've been able to find at the local stores.

Woodworking

The Center For Furniture Craftsmanship - This famous school in Maine is run by Peter Korn, who is well known for his books and articles on traditional woodworking.
The Woodworkers Club in Rockville, MD - This member subscription woodworking shop was where I learned woodworking. Look, if I can learn how to run a tablesaw, *anyone* can learn to run a tablesaw. This is also where I learned to sharpen chisels, plane a piece of wood with a handplane, use a router.
Fine Woodworking Magazine Online
Amateur Woodworker - This is an online site devoted to amateur woodworkers on the web.

Travel

One Travel.com - The quickest place to find out what the special quickie airfares of the week are. Decent selection of airfares.
Priceline.com - Name your own airfare. Seriously. If an airline wants to sell the seat badly enough, they'll take the bid.
Airtran Airlines - Tiny podunk little airline based out of Atlanta, GA. Really, really cheap airfares for Wash, DC to Florida. Great internet specials often.

Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels - Youth Hostels aren't just for the hostile youth anymore. I see quite a few retired folk in them these days. I love visiting youth hostels. Cheap. Basic. People from all over who aren't afraid of new things.

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