3.11 - Rose is......COMPLETE!

Yep you read it right, Rose of Sharon is complete as of February 16, 2014. I am so excited! Got a coupon in the mail for 50% off an item at the place I get my pictures framed so I ran down to the Framing Shop today and picked out a frame :D Will decide at a later date if I want to get any kind of special cut around matting or anything for her, but I pick the finished product up tomorrow!

Ok, here is a picture from two nights ago of the little part I had left to do.

 I just had a bit of the center arch to do and the flowers to the left.

And here she is complete! Nine months of work, I think it was worth it!

Off to start something new, will post again later!

2.20 Celestial Dragon Completion

This evening, an entire chapter of my stitching history was closed for good.  Yes, it's official, my dragon picture is now finished.

Finished!
*giddy dance of glee*

The final version.

<3

Top left corner, and ironically the last section I did.  So many patterns tell you to start in the top left corner.  Did I listen?  Oh hell no.
Symbol means Happiness - which I suppose is true, I AM happy it's finally finished now.

Top right corner.  Symbol means Longevity.  Which also turns out to be true, I mean, it's taken me 8+ years to finally getting around to finishing this?
Doing it for a few hours every other month and leaving it for 4 years mid way through probably didn't help either....

Bottom right corner, and Wisdom.  Not much I can say about this fitting.  Since it's a blatent lie, if I had been smarter I would have sat down and JUST FINISHED ALREADY.

Bottom left with Virtue.  Even less to say about this, except for some reason it was the first character I did.

The face of the long-suffering dragon.  Pity him.  But rejoice in his completion.

Sadly, my camera doesn't pick up the detail of the scales too well.  But all that green?  Has gold thread scales.  Yup.  ALL of it.

Another attempt at finding the scales.  It's ok, even if noone else ever sees the details, I KNOW IT'S THERE.










Now, I know people who have seen the pattern (and Es and Sarah) will notice that the blue beads on the background were not done.  OMG, I hear you cry, IT IS NOT FINISHED.
Well, I have just two words for all those people.

FUCK
THAT

There are a number of reasons I chose not to put the blue beads on.  1) It would be another 2 years to finish the damn thing. 2) Putting it into my frame would be hell, and even in a hoop would be too.  Beads would be crushed.  I would cry.  I would attempt it again.  Cycle would repeat until I gave up.  The other option of doing it with no hoop or frame, and thus no tension.....will not even be considered.  3) I don't think it needs the blue beads, to be perfectly honest.  There is enough detail involved in it already, most of which will go straight past most peoples heads.  And last of all, 4) it's my picture.  There is no reason I have to follow the pattern exactly.  It's become MY work, my hours, my efforts.  So what if it deviates from the original guide a bit?  It's becoming more mine, more original.  And as the person creating it, I am fine with my decision.

There may be a photo in the future of it framed as well, but as of this moment...done.  <3

2.10 - Completion!!!

I have finally completed my first project! Firstly, I would just like to say a few words.  This project took a lot of hours, there are times where it all seemed so hopeless, all the trials and tribulations, threads breaking, knotting, and tangling.  All the times I had to hope that the thread will last to the last stitch so I don't have to get a new thread, of trying my hardest to keep things tidy. It wasn't easy. There are a few people I'd like to thank. I thank Kat for getting me started on cross stitching, it was enjoyable. I thank Sarah for her hours on skype with me while I stitched away, bitching about messing up and missing stitches. I thank Ian for not bugging me while I do this all the while neglecting my household duties, like cooking, cleaning, sleeping....... basically, everything. Lastly, I thank myself, especially my fingers... They got pricked a few times, so I thought they deserved mentions. Oh, before I forget, I also thank all the online stores that I bought stuff from... WHEEEEE (which I suppose I owe Ian another thanks for letting me get all the stuff >.>). Either way! Without further ado, my completed project!

This is of the picture completed without all the back stitching and french knots, so, a couple of days ago. It's nice to see what the little details adds to the whole picture.

 This is just after my last french knot. I have discovered, I like french knots. They are adorable little roses.

This is with the gridding threads out. Looks nice, if I do say so myself.

Now come the close ups:

Here we have the french knots which make the stars in the sky on the top right:

 The french knots down the centre making the fairy dust (or at least I think it's fairy dust)

 I have also discovered.... I HATE blending filaments... They are curly! and tangly! and twisty! and flimsy! If they weren't so pretty and sparkly, I might not have done them at all!! Okay, well, I would have.... But I'd complain about it! Well, okay, I did complain about it... But I'd complain even more so! (hard to imagine it's possible, but it is!)

 Here's the other side of the sky... Did I mention I love the look of french knots? and doing them?

The fairy with wings... WHEE...

And I DID say I like the sparkly right? and french knots? Yea? Just making sure....

 Here is the 'grass'. Nice and wispy...

And more grass... I hate back stitching, it's slow...and annoying...because of all the research I had put in to make sure I was doing it right, then it turned out, I was doing it wrong, because, for Dimentions kits, you're apparently SUPPOSED TO carry thread, rather than stitch individual squares like EVERY OTHER TUTORIAL TEACHES. Yea....

So I had to pull out the first few sets of back stitching I did (since they just sank into the stitches on the side and I couldn't see them, being they're black on black), it was, annoying.

And  SINCE I had to put in so much work, you'd better see ALL of it >.>

 Oh, there IS one thing that held me back on absolutely loving the french knots... It's the back. My back wasn't perfect before, but at least it was nice and  organized. However, since this piece isn't fully stitched, and the stars were sprinkled  everywhere... Well, I've had to carry threads everywhere... with no place to hide them... Let's just say, I was NOT happy with this.....

And here we have the bottom left corner, with the reflection in the water...

 And here's the bottom right corner... (I know it's boring, but it's my first project... Think of it like a mother with her newborn, you're gonna see all the monotonous crap, deal with it!)

And the reflection in the middle... Ahhhh... That is all. I might go and frame it. I can't wait for my next project!

 And, for no reason whatsoever, here is a picture of Squeaks, being King, ruling over his laundry pile kingdom. Don't ask why the laundry isn't folded yet... That is a question for another time... or, you know, never...

And Odette, looking adorable. (it was hard taking a picture without cutting out her ears since she kept moving!

Now, onto the next project!