Cross-stitch projects update

Tree Frog is nearly complete, but I have gotten distracted and it has been put off to the side for awhile.  First I did a small owl pattern that I found a picture of on google images, that I charted out from the picture.  Here is how he turned out:

I plan on framing it using one on my old hoops and gluing a ruffle type ribbon, in the same color as the heart, around the outer edge.  It will be a gift for one of my crafting friends.

Next, I pulled this out of my UFO stash.

Actually, it was someone else's unfinished project that I bought at a thrift sale some years ago.  I'd put it away, because I'd only worked on Aida and the even-weave fabric intimidated me.  Now that I have experience with even-weave, I decided to pull it out and give it a try. I took a look at the stitching that had been done, to see if I should frog it or just pick up where they left off.  The answer to that question is definitely frog it.  Take a look at the back, pre-frog:

It was obviously someone's first attempt at cross-stitch. They'd used knots to anchor the threads, and there was mid strand snarls left in place.  The stitching did not follow any real discernible pattern.  And as I was picking out the stitches, I discovered not all the crossing stitches leaned the same direction.  Oh, the horror.  Once I finished frogging, I put the fabric into my q-snap.  At first I couldn't get the q-snap c-clamps to go on because it kept getting caught on the 7 count Klostern fabric.  So I cut some strips of fabric from an old t-shirt to cover the fabric and the c-clamps went on easy after that.  And yes, I said 7 count fabric.  It uses all 6 strands of floss at once.  With such big stitches, the stitching has come along quite quickly.  I am about 90% complete. 

Happy Stitching!

Batman cake

Here is how Alex's Batman birthday cake turned out:

Alex's Batman Birthday Cake

As I said before, the cake pan was discontinued in the late 1980's, so I had to get one from Ebay.  I found the instructions on the Wilton website, which were fairly easy to follow.  I've made buttercream icing before, and it is quite easy using the Kitchenaid Stand Mixer.  Hardest part was mixing all the colors.  The one I had the most trouble with was black.  I used about 3/4 of the gel coloring, and it still wasn't black, so I resorted to using a pre-mixed black frosting I had on hand.  I just squirted it into a piping bag and it was all set.  The frosting went pretty well, but it did take quite a while.  All those little stars weren't all that bad.  It is a pretty neat way to cover a cake, and it uses much less icing than I thought it would.  The batman symbol on his chest was half tracing and half free-hand.  I was very nervous, and quite happy when it was done.

Alex loved it!  I was thrilled that it came out so well.  He had an awesome Birthday.  We drove to Las Cruces and took him to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and some games.  Then we went to the Bouncy Place in the main part of the mall.  Let him run himself tired.  Then back to home for cake and presents. 

Hello Mr. Frog

All cross-stitching is complete! 

Tree Frog Among Leaves WIP 10OCT13

 

Now on to the back-stitching.  Have you ever looked at a pattern and wondered if all or part of the backstitching is unnecessary, distracts from the overall picture instead of adding to it, or just might look better without it?  I'm sure that the backstitching to define the features on the frog are necessary, but the backstitching on the leaves might not be.  I think I will backstitch the frog and then remove the EZ-Count guidelines to get a good look at it without backstitching on the leaves and decide.

Happy stitching!

WIP update

The branches are done... holy cow, that went quick!  Started on them last night right after I posted about getting the leaves done, and finished them right before 9pm tonight.



Tree Frog Among Leaves WIP update 7Oct13

Now on to Mr. Frog... he has 8 colors left in him.  First one up is Pale Peach.

Happy Stitching!

Sunday status

The leaves are done!  Check it out:

Tree Frog Among Leaves WIP - 6Oct13 update

Now onto the branches, with Dark Green Grey being the next color.


Here is a look at how I keep track of progress:

I highlight the color to be worked next in yellow.  Then mark them with orange highlighter when they have been worked.  I also make a copy of the pattern to work from.  The original pattern never gets marked on.  I've been doing it this way since around 1997.  Before that I used to mark worked stitches with pencil. I much prefer using the highlighters.

Happy Stitching!


Froggie update

Here he is:


Tree Frog Among Leaves WIP 30Sep13

I just finished with Light Yellow Green.  One more down, actually 2 more.  As it happens, hubby came home from work on Tuesday and announced he had to go the Las Cruces for a career seminar.  Of course I went with, so while he was in the seminar I could do some shopping.  As we prepared to leave the house, I packed up my stitching for the drive.  Once on our way, I worked the length of floss that was already started, and discovered that I had forgotten the envelope with the Light Yellow Green on the arm of the couch.  So I looked at the pattern and decided on a symbol that I could see easily enough without highlighting,  and started stitching Pale Yellow Green.  Worked on it during the drive to Las Cruces, then once Jason was dropped off, I went shopping.  After I was done shopping at Hobby Lobby and Joanns, I parked the truck back at the facility the seminar was being held, hopped into the passage seat and continued the stitching.  Pale Yellow Green was completed and I started with the color Charcoal.  Got one strand of Charcoal done and Jason's seminar finished up.  Sun was already down, so I couldn't stitch during the ride back home. 

Next color to be worked is Brown.  Not much of this color on the pattern, only a spot here and there, so it won't take long.  After that there will be Olive Green, Dark Olive Green and Charcoal, which are the last colors in the leaves.  Dark Olive Green has about the same number of stitches as the Light Yellow Green.  Charcoal has a low number of stitches, so will go quickly.  Olive Green has about the same number of stitches as the Dark Yellow Green so it will take some time to complete.  But then the leaves will be done and I can start on the branches.  I am leaving the frog for last.  He will be my reward for finishing all the cross-stitching.  Then comes the back-stitching, which there is a considerable amount.  At least it is a lot of long continuous lines, so it should progress steadily.

One last thing, is I finally found the perfect travelling Ort container.  I've struggled using a snack size baggie for sometime now.  I just happened to see this sitting on the countertop and the light bulb in my head went off.

It is working wonderfully!  Light weight, easy to open and pop in the bit of floss and close up.  A little flick of the wrist and all the orts compact to the bottom making room for more.  I'm not quite sure where this container originated from, but I am so glad I found it.  Whenever it gets full, I can just dump it into the big Ort Jar and start filling it up again.

Happy Stitching!


Birthday cakes

My son's 7th Birthday is coming up in October, so last week we asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday.  We've always given him the option of doing something special with us, or a birthday party with his daycare/school friends.  So far he has chosen to do something special with us.  This year he has made the same choice.  Although before he answered that question, he answered a question that wasn't even asked yet.  He piped up and emphatically stated he wanted a Batman cake this year.  Today we asked him about it to make sure he wasn't going to change his mind.  Still Batman.  He has said he wants the Batman image on the cake, and not just the Batman symbol.  Darn it.  The Batman symbol would've been easy and sure to turn out awesome.  So after doing research, I've found there are not really any designs that lend themselves to my skill set (I don't do fondant, not yet anyway, and this is not the time to start).  I've decided to use a Wilton cake pan, the kind you decorate by piping hundreds of little stars onto it.  I've avoided it as long as I could.  Now is the time to try it.  The cake pan was discontinued in 1989, so I had to buy one off eBay.  This is what it looks like:

 Hopefully it turns out well.  We'll have to see.  Admittedly, I may have set the standard a bit high with last year's cake.  He asked for Spiderman.  I found some great tutorials online for a simple Spiderman face design.  My only real challenge was getting the Red color icing deep enough for my liking.  Once I solved that problem, the rest was fairly easy.  Here is how it turned out:


Alex's 6th B-day Spiderman cake

For next year I may need to figure out what is doable for me and start planting the idea in his head a little earlier.

Who knows, I may find I really like the Wilton shaped cake with all the piped stars on it.  Maybe I'll find an occasion to finally try out fondant.