Here Be Dragons: Third Post - Framed

Here's the second half of Compass Rose Dragon, Here Be Dragons.  So, except for the specialty cut around Compass Rose Dragon, I framed them the same.

And that's all I have for this post.  Much shorter than Compass Rose Dragon.

Compass Rose Dragon: Fourth Post - Framed

So this will be a little bit longer than a single picture with a framed piece.  As most of you know, I worked in framing and many people I framed for don't know about a simple option, so I'm going to show you really quickly.

Most people know when you frame and mat items there's a white 45° bevel on the edge of the mats.  But what most people don't know, is you can make it so the white doesn't show, it's called a reverse bevel.

On this piece I wanted a reverse bevel on my mats, however, the chop shop didn't cut them correctly so I have the two different options to show side by side:

Regular Bevel

Reverse Bevel

I thought the white from the bevel was too bright with this piece, I thought it looked much better without it.  Especially since the mat colors are so dark.  You can't even tell the middle mat is green on the first picture, or, at least, I can't.

And finally it's all put together with the frame:

And that's it from me this post.  I have actually been working on stuff, I just haven't gotten far enough to actually post anything on them.

Compass Rose Dragon: Third Post - Complete

After Rahenna graciously sent me the Kreinick thread I needed I was able to finish stitching Compass Rose Dragon.  Thanks Rahenna!

Here the thread is added in the center of the piece.

And the backstitching is in.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Here Be Dragons - Compass Rose Dragon
Pattern by: Dragon Dreams
Started Stitching: January 26, 2014
Finished Stitching: February 22, 2014
Fabric: 28ct. DMC Linen
Floss: DMC 2 over 2, or 1 over 2 Kreinick #4 Braid
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 1,744 out of 1,744 complete

Compass Rose Dragon: Second Post

I got as far as I could on Compass Rose Dragon.

A couple of days ago I finished up the darkest and lightest greens, and did the remainder of the yellow.

Last night I did more of the greens, then finished up with them and the navy blue today.

I still do not know where my vintage gold Kreinik thread is, so I'll put it on hold for now.  Once I find it, I'll finish it off along with the back stitching.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Here Be Dragons - Compass Rose Dragon
Pattern by: Dragon Dreams
Started Stitching: January 26, 2014
Fabric: 28ct. DMC Linen
Floss: DMC 2 over 2, or 1 over 2 Kreinick #4 Braid
Percentage: 98.52% complete
Stitches: 1,720 out of 1,744 complete

Compass Rose Dragon: First Post

Finally, I started working on the second half of the Here Be Dragons charts, the Compass Rose Dragon.  To see the front page of the chart pack just go to the original post for Here Be Dragons.  I was cleaning up the piles of thread and realized one pile was for this, I decided to stitch it before putting the thread away.

I  actually got quite far today.  I started with the compass part, the blues, and the yellow middle.

Then added the reds and the red of the compass.

And finally the rest of the compass except for the navy blue outer circle since the entire thing is back stitched in navy blue, so I'll do that color last right before I start back stitching.

Now it's time to continue on to the dragon.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Here Be Dragons - Compass Rose Dragon
Pattern by: Dragon Dreams
Started Stitching: January 26, 2014
Fabric: 28ct. DMC Linen
Floss: DMC 2 over 2, or 1 over 2 Kreinick #4 Braid
Percentage: 57.68% complete
Stitches: 1,006 out of 1,774 complete

Here Be Dragons: Second Post - Complete

What?  Another completed project?  How did that happen?

So, after my last post on this, back in early August, I did the rest of the cross stitches:

It was going so well and so fast I didn't even add it to my WIP page because I thought I'd have it done in no time...

And then I started on the backstitching and got bored, really, really bored.  There was just so much of it, and it seemed to never end.  So I put it aside and worked on other stuff.  Thursday I finally picked it up again and told myself I wouldn't be able to work on anything until it was done, so I finished up the dragon on the right with the eastern hemisphere this morning:

And tonight, the left dragon and western hemisphere:

I did leave out the 2002 that was at the bottom.  If I had stitched it in 2002 I probably would have kept it, but, since it didn't have any meaning to me, I left it out.

Project Stats:
Pattern: Here Be Dragons
Pattern by: Dragon Dreams
Started Stitching: July 11, 2013
Finished Stitching: September 27, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. DMC Linen
Floss: DMC 2 over 2, or 1 over 2 Kreinick #4 Braid
Percentage: 100% complete
Stitches: 2,998 out of 2,998 complete

I have one more little project that I started on and am only lacking the backstitching on it.  My goal is to have that one finished up by the end of the weekend.  Why so long?  I have many plans between now and then and I don't like it when I don't make my own deadlines, not that there are any repercussions, but it's nice to be able to keep a goal.

Here Be Dragons: First Post

So in my current fashion, I started another project, and almost have it completed.  This is Here Be Dragons, by Dragon Dreams.  There are two small charts in this one pack.  The actual Here Be Dragons chart and then a second called Compass Rose Dragon.  He has the same colors that I had to pull for Here Be Dragons, so expect to see him soon.

This is fashioned after the very old maps that were never very accurate, and many times in places unexplored they drew a sea monster of some sort.  Here, however, the dragons almost seem to be protecting the earth, at least in my opinion.

So first up I started working on the blues of the oceans and white of the ice caps.  Can you find your continent?

Now all the land is in... can you see your house from here?

Is it just me or does it appear that Australia is attached to Antarctica?  Well, as I mentioned, maps in the old days were never very accurate.

The greens of the dragons are now in.

I only have four colors left, and there are hardly any stitches on those four.  I'm hoping to finish tonight, but it's probably more likely I'll finish tomorrow.  Back to stitching I go!

Project Stats:
Pattern: Here Be Dragons
Pattern by: Dragon Dreams
Started Stitching: July 11, 2013
Fabric: 28ct. DMC Linen
Floss: DMC 2 over 2, or 1 over 2 Kreinick #4 Braid
Percentage: 89.59% complete
Stitches: 2,686 out of 2,998 complete