Thursday, 20th May 2010

It's a frame-up

Going through boxes is a bit of a voyage of discovery.  Today I found two cross stitch pictures that I did years ago, and even had frames professionally made for them.  But for some reason I never did get around to hanging them up.  So I have washed the pieces, re-blocked and ironed them and re-framed them.  They are now hanging on the short wall that is actually the end of the built-in wardrobe in my workroom, just beside the doorway as you enter the room.

The frames measure approx 30cm square outside measurement, so the stitching area itself is only about six inches, I guess.  And all those years ago I happened to choose a green that goes perfectly with the green that we have painted our walls now vbg.  It is really easy to frame the work yourself, and you can take the piece off and re-wash it when needed.

It is so long since I did these pieces that I don't remember who did the charts, but they are stitched with DMC thread on Aida cloth.  And yes, they are full-size cross stitch, not mini needlework!

My mini needlework has not been neglected, however.  In the middle of the chaos that has been our life lately, I have been continuing with items for birthday swap items for the SaHMC.  Alas, I had probably better not post photos of them because members of the club follow this blog. 

But I can say I have completed another 12 of the items.  I did five to begin with, earlier in the year and posted the first couple of them off.  Imagine my dismay when I went to post more only to find that at some time the bag in which I kept them had got wet and all sorts of damage had been done.  Mouldy items, damaged chart - you name it.  So unfortunately several people received their swap late.  However now I have done twelve, so I am ahead for a while.  And I will do quite a few more, so that I have plenty to send and also some left over.

And on top of that, the large carpet on silk gauze that I started in 2008 and got half done then (on our Queensland holiday), and nearly completed last year on our round Australia trip, is now finally finshed as well.  It has languished since we arrived back, with just a small amount to go, while I did the birthday swaps and also had periods when I did no stitching at all.  Then I finally got down to it the other night and in just a short time over two evenings it was done.  But I can't show a photo of that yet either, until a little puzzle we are posing on Petitpointers is done.  So keep watching vbg!