Darth Vader Cookies: Sixth Post - Framed

Michael's had their 50% off one, and 60% off two or more framing sale the week of 6/3/12, so I gathered up my finished Darth Vader, and two other things I wanted framed and took my sister and mother, with nephew and father in tow.

I have to tell you, the first time I saw the main mat I chose I made fun of it thinking, When would you ever use something like that?  Well... now's the time and here it is:

Obviously my light source is to the left, also known as the Sun.  The main mat is black linen with silver sparkles in it.  I think it makes it look like outer space filled with shining stars.  But it needed more than just the one mat.  First we started off with a red to try to bring out the light saber, but it just didn't look right.  So between myself, my sister, mother and the employee, Calvin, we came up with the dark gray mat.  The frame was 100% Calvin.  I wouldn't have even considered it without him, but the gunmetal/industrial look to it just seemed to fit perfectly.

It took a bit longer than normal to get done.  I guess after they stretched the fabric, the mat was uneven around the border and they wanted to reorder the mat to make it look better, so I was absolutely fine with the wait.  I have done the same exact thing when I was framing.  When you know how long someone takes on an item, you want to make sure they'll be proud to place it on their wall with your own work.

I hope you like it... actually I don't care, well, maybe I do a little.  This will be my first project on this blog from start to finish.  How exciting.

Storykeep - Magical Arrival: The Fifth Post

After I finished the Melon color on Thursday, wow it's pink, it seemed too early to post, so I went ahead and did the Mocha Brown color as well and took a picture with every intention of posting.  But I was on a roll so I continued on.

I've completed 16 colors since my last post.  I did a whole bunch of greens and have the leaves almost completely done.  I have five skeins of thread that I bought when I made a Jo Ann's run that I mentioned in an earlier post.  I'm going to fill in those, then find holes to fill in, like those five missing stitches in the toe of the stocking, it looks like there's a hole in it or something.

The five colors I'll be working on are pinks, reds, and reddish browns, so more of the stocking will be filled in for the next post.

He's going so well I think I'm going to procrastinate on the Christmas Cactus for now, I just need to get it done before they return on the 30th, that's still plenty of time.  I think.

It's amazing how two different pictures of the same item can look so different.  The picture on the left was taken with the Ott-lite in the middle of the night.  The one on the right was taken near a window in mid afternoon.  Maybe the blue reflection from my parent's pool caused the strange coloring.  Who knows.  I've also been taking all my pictures with my iPhone, because I always have it with me, it's a pretty decent camera, and I'd like the pictures to be as consistent as I can make them.  I'm still working on them being consistent as these two obviously show.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Storykeep - Magical Arrival
Original Artist: Anne Stokes
Pattern by: Heaven and Earth Designs
Started Stitching: January 31, 2012
Fabric: 18ct. White Aida
Floss: DMC 2 over 1
Percentage: 68.10% complete
Colors: 39 of 89 complete
Stitches: 16,191 out of 23,775

Storykeep - Magical Arrival: The Fourth Post

Back at my parent's house again.  This actually took me a couple of visits to my parent's house to finish.  I was slacking a little.  Finally, red.  With this first red in, or Garnet, I've passed the halfway point!  Halfway as in number of stitches, not number of colors.  I've barely done 1/4 of the 89 different colors in this piece.

The next color I'm going to be working on is called Melon.  It will be, by far, the brightest color I've worked on with this piece.  It'll be a nice change of pace.  After that, I think I'm going to fill in the holes towards the bottom with the Mocha Brown.  It'll be nice to see a full section completely stitched.  That will also mean I can throw away page four of the chart, even if it's just a partial page, it still feels like an accomplishment.

After that, I'm thinking of finishing all the green, and whatever colors, of the leaves of the mistletoe.  At least I think it's mistletoe.  It's Christmas themed and has white berries, I can't think of anything else it should be.  Finishing those colors will also mean filling in the toe and heel of the stocking.

I guess I don't really need to keep typing my plans since you'll see them unfold soon enough.  I will be putting this on hold starting next week while I finish up a long overdue Christmas present for my mother.  A French Beaded Flower Christmas Cactus.  I want to have it done and sitting on her coffee table when she gets back from her trip.  I'll post my progress on that as well.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Storykeep - Magical Arrival
Original Artist: Anne Stokes
Pattern by: Heaven and Earth Designs
Started Stitching: January 31, 2012
Fabric: 18ct. White Aida
Floss: DMC 2 over 1
Percentage: 58.38% complete
Colors: 23 of 89 complete
Stitches: 13,879 out of 23,775

Completed Project Add: Cross Stitch - Alluring Sorceress

I'm in a crafting slump, so I'll update with an already complete project.  I will post the item on the blog then add it to the completed projects pages.

This is Alluring Sorceress.  I started her back in 2007 and finished her in 2008.  The chart was created by Dimensions Crafts as a "Charts and Charms" pack. They supplied the chart, and charms, you bought your own floss and fabric. This chart has been discontinued. There is another piece that matches this same style called Midnight Enchanter. It's next on my non HAED to do list, of ones that I haven't started already.  So you'll be able to see that one from start to finish.

This one was really quick until I got to the back stitching and cording.  My first time cording, it was a bit of a pain.  But it turned out beautiful so I guess I should stop complaining.

I also messed up and used the wrong color in a couple of places.  I had done too much to go back and change it without losing my mind.  After looking it over with my mother, with e-mailed photos, and my DMC sample card this is how it ended up looking.  Can you see where I messed up?  It's like Where's Waldo without knowing what you're looking for.

This was the first piece I hung in my current place, and was the only piece for quite a while.  I have this really cool burgundy wall that I knew she'd look great on, you can kind of see it at the edge of the photo, but I cropped most of it off.

Project Stats:

Pattern: Alluring Sorceress (Discontinued)

Pattern by: Dimensions

Started Stitching: September 8, 2007

Finished Stitching: April 7, 2008

Fabric: 14ct. Black Aida