Completed Cross Stitch - R. Ivan's "Alice"

Iconography.  You know who this is without me giving any "deets" (details) which I think is kind of cool actually. 

That is the beauty in seeing an image and understanding who or what it represents and all of its associations without an explicit explanation.  If you have ever read a Dan Brown book:  think Robert Langdon.

This is my first experimental design (I have a gran
d total of 2 btw) that has ever made it to cross stitch completion and I am glad it is still a "back burner" thing because it is very, very time consuming and frankly not very easy LOL.  

There is a lot of agony that comes from finalizing details and design (fashion designers unite and groan all together!) ha ha.

As an example, for those of you who know your shoes, I was hemming and hawing over whether to add socks to be sported with the Mary Janes.  Am I right?  Small, yet important detail.

But the main reason that I wanted to post this is that I wanted to show now matter how a small an idea or big of a desire anyone has, you can make it real and it does not have to be perfect on the first go. 

Now this may apply to you differently and in your own way but whatever your dreams are, start small and try and take some steps to make it real and see how it goes.  You can always change your mind :-)  But challenges are good (e.g. "ahem"...linen vs. aida/evenweave.."ahem").

So, this micro cross stitch is just that....very tiny (1.5" high) and at the time of making it (at night) it was a little tricky to see good placement for back stitching (Ottlite was too far away). 

Although I did not mark this remnant, I believe this is a 22-count Aida cloth that I cut up from a larger bolt and experimented with green RIT dye (I still have to try Kool-Aid, coffee and tea and see the different outcomes).

Instead of dipping it in a wash, I just used a paint brush and painted from the bottom up and also from side to side in one application.

So hey, now I can say I have designed and "published" my first cross stitch picture.  I can't wait to hear about and see some of the steps that you are taking in your life for your desires to come true too!

Completed Cross Stitch - Valerie Pfeiffer's "A Chorus Line"

I absolutely adore this piece. I saw this completed in a nearby cross stitch specialty store and what was unique about the finished project was that the stitcher used 1 strand of thread and stitched this over one. The cloth is 25 ct and stitching this in miniature was a little tough but worthwhile.  Please click on the picture for a close up.

Completed Cross Stitch - Bent Creek's "Brown Dog"

What can I say? I'm a dog person (but I like cats too but just do not own any right now).  So, anyway I definitely have to have a completed work of a cute, wee, little dog. I love mushrooms and especially the red and white I think is very cute. I hand-dyed this small piece of Aida cloth too. I had already dyed it long before I had the pattern and they seemed to match up perfectly with each other. I had a lot of fun dying this piece because I was trying to create a "ground/grass and sky look".

Completed Cross Stitch - Just Nan's "Mermaid Heart"

 

Please click on the above picture for a close up.

 

This particular finish needed a couple of photos to show off the detail.  I did not dye this fabric, if memory serves me correctly, this is PTP Davinci. After buying it, I held on to it hoping that I will find a project that will suit it....and here it is.

The colours are bright enough to stand out on the darker fabric and although you can't see it in the picture, there are rhinestones around the inner square (this comes in the bead kit).

The easy part about working on this cross stitch is that since the pattern is mirrored you don't always have to look at the pattern, you can look at the work already stitched on one side and do the same thing on the other.

 

Completed Cross Stitch - Joan Elliot's "Bonsai Tree"

 This pattern was taken from the book:  A Cross Stitcher's Oriental Odyssey by Joan Elliott for Design Works Crafts.  The original design has a Chinese symbol but I replaced it with this casted dragon charm instead.

 

Completed Cross Stitch - Lanarte / Maria Van Scharrenburg's "The Kiss"

 

If you can believe it, I found this kit in a Michael's bargain bin. I worked on it on and off over 2 years.

It is now beautifully framed with a picture light over it in my living room and when you walk by and look over at it you can see the gold thread woven throughout the picture give off little sparkles.

When friends visit my house, they always comment on it and am proud that I didn't give up on such a large project because now everyone can see it and admire the finished job.

Never give up on a large project! It is worth it when you stitch the final stitch ladies and gentlemen!

 

Completed Cross Stitch - Carolyn Shore Wright's "Promises Wreath" for Design Works

This is my very first cross stitch that I ever completed it. I started it when I was in my late teens and I don't remember when I finished it or how long it took. 

I am thrilled to have located the original artist's name who designed the original artwork.  The artist's name is Carolyn Shores Wright.  After finding this artist and reviewing her other artwork, all I can say is wow!  What awesome art!