Artsy Tribulations

Tues 2/6 Blog Prompt: The first thing I made that I considered art was . .

my cross stitch. I'm going to toot my own horn here, I really do beautiful cross stitch pieces. Most, if you see them from across the room you really can't tell if they are cross stitch or paintings.

I normally work on linen and several years ago had gotten a Mirabella angel pattern that I made for my uncle. It was an extremely lovely pattern, but I thought there was more that could have been done. So on the face, hands and other small areas, I started stitching over one thread rather than 2. I liked how it turned out so much I started doing it with other pieces. Then about a year later, I noticed that the new patterns coming out had instructions on how to do it. Oh well.....

The other thing, is there is not much difference between the front and back of my pieces. I have to be careful when framing them or having them framed.

This is the one I made for my uncle:


I need to get a better picture of it one day.

This is the one I have been working on for my mother (and maybe now that I can get to it, I can get it finished). By the time I bought this pattern they were putting the hands and face over one thread in the instructions. I still need to put the wings on and have a feathery type thread to use instead of the recommended one.



I have never been one who could think of something off the top of my head to draw, paint, etc. I work better with a pattern to follow and put the effort into making it just enough different that it is still my creation. And I have sold several of my pieces, so I guess I have done alright.

It's just that I am a left-brain thinker, I am more comfortable with numbers and calculations than with a pen or paintbrush. I think that is why I like cross stitch so much, it's a counting thing......