Tuesday 12 March 2013

Ta-dah! Tuesday - And then I played the harpsichord and ordered new ribbons for my bonnet...

Ok, I didn't really, but I have been cross-stitching, which is basically a really good way to feel like you live in a Jane Austen novel. It's also a good method of developing a squint and an arthritic claw, but don't let that put you off. For some reason I have had the fear of counted cross-stitch charts and haven't done any since the age of about 10, when I would make my Mum and other female relatives bookmarks and dressing table mats using that binca fabric designed for kids.  Anyway, aside from the distinct possibility of becoming cross-eyed, I quite enjoyed my latest foray into ladylike pursuits.

The kit came free* on the imaginatively named Cross Stitcher magazine, and everything was included, although I did change the colour of her dress from lurid turquoise - which clashed with the pink - to purple, using my own thread. It claimed stitching time was 4 hours. Ha! I reckon it must have taken me twice that, which is a sobering reminder that perhaps I'm not quite ready to attempt their larger cushion charts, for which they give times of 40 and 62 hours respectively. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice some of the projects were - there was the inevitable cupcakery nonsense, but also a Mad Men inspired retro phone design, some Scandinavian style birds and sweet designs for little girls.

Mothers' Day Card

[I'm not sure my Mum is really a pink polka dots kinda gal, any more than I am, but I didn't have any aperture cards, and this one came with it. I guess with a kokeshi doll design you need to embrace the kawaii factor anyway.]

I have some more aida, graph paper and a book of motifs and alphabets, so I quite fancy working out my own design or slogan. Did you see this on HuffPost? I thought 13,000 stitches was what was required to create Joan Rivers, but apparently you can end up with Bruce Willis too.

A Good D'aida Die Hard
[photo and work by BriocheBun]

Amazing huh?
What have you been making? Link up any makes, bakes, finds and fripperies below.

Lakota x

*Speaking of freebies, I will have a post on those tomorrow.

30 comments:

  1. Cross stitch is the only thing I am ANY good at. After working in celebrity portraits in the past (Freddie Mercury, Lennon and McCartney and James Dean)I don't think I could stomach another one. So, what am I doing right now? Yeah. ANOTHER celebrity for someone else. GAH!

    I love designing my own - and once this last gift for another is outta the damn way - I shall be :D

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    1. Oh - I want to see! Why haven't I ever seen these on your blog?

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  2. Love the wee cross stitch. Haven't done any for ages!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  3. Oh God, cross stich. I'm RUBBISH at it - as I discovered in recent times when I got some easy peasy set for my daughter and I could not get to grips with it at all *cue cross words and tantrums*. Anyway, your cross stitch card is adorable. Clever you, Lakota! I'm hoping to link up some cack handed ta-dah later. xx

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  4. I need to get my eyes checked out because I thought it was Patrick Stewart at first. I can't even blame my eyesight on cross stitch (I don't think I have the patience)

    I think you should aim high and do a self-portrait next!

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  5. I've been waiting DAYS for this - I finally actually, sorta, kinda, made something!

    That Bruce Willis cross stitch is the best thing I've ever seen in my life.

    xxx

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  6. I admire anyone who can cross stitch i love the craft but those sticthes and the concentration is huge with it. Your card is lovely i bet your mum loved it to. That Bruce cross stitch is amazing i have to say, dee x

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  7. I have always quite enjoyed cross stitch and even started an art nouveau sampler; I was all but finished when I magnificently bungled the last peacock. But, once I have some spare pennies I am taking myself off to a craft shop to buy everything I need to do another .. maybe without peacocks this time.

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  8. The cross stitch is so cute! love Bruce :)

    Bee happy x

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  9. Well, that's a coincidence. When I prepared my post for today I had no idea we'd be both highlighting cross stitch - and Cross Stitcher kit at that! Though as you will see mine certainly is a Ta-dah! moment - it only took me ten years :) That design is very appealing and I've been known to change the colours myself if they don't look right. I get the mag on iPad now so no kits (probably a mercy) but I have such a stash of threads and Aida it hardly matters. I love looking at all the ideas in the magazine and I don't really need it but it's so cheap on Zinio. I must check this little lady out. The Bruce Willis? No thanks! Where the heck would that end up hanging?

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  10. I've cross-stitched in the past...maybe i need to get my stuff out again!! although bald Bruce Willis will NOT be on my list!!

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  11. You are seriously a great comedic writer: "cross-stitching, which is basically a really good way to feel like you live in a Jane Austen novel" and the Bruce Willis/Joan Rivers bit is pure funny business.

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  12. Very well done. Don't recall every doing it...hmmm. I have embroidered a bit here and there, but don't know any official knots or stitches. More into sewing I guess. I agree, everything takes way longer then they say, or then I think. That's one of those laws.

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  13. My sister has a sampler which says "Just F**ing Get On With It" truest sampler ever stitched.

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  14. My idea of crafting hell, so I salute you! Cross stitch really has come a long way, and I've seen a few projects I'd love to have the skills and patience to complete. Made cards are the best, no doubt.
    Re home schooling, my friend Eleanor home schools 3 of her 5 kids - happy to put you in touch for tips - she's so lovely and really laid back about it all, she inspires me to stress less.

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  15. I think cross stitch looks incredibly difficult and I have 3 little kits just waiting to be tackled but I just can't ...seem...to....
    I love the locket necklaces and rings I have seen on etsy. Little works of art I tell you. I think yours is pretty darn special! Nice work Lakota!

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  16. I need a cross-stitched Bruce Willis in my life. It'll go with my cross-stitched Hugh Laurie :p xxx

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  17. Sweet little Geisha! I like small pictures that can be finished quickly, but haven't done one for ages; you have inspired me!!

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  18. Oh, I forgot say, I have played a harpsichord recently . . . .!,

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  19. Oh how fab! Much more effort put into this than my sequiin jobbie! Very impressiveI really do want to cross-stitch a dalek at some point but I am sooooooooooooooo bad at needlework!
    (P.S. I also have played a harpsichord recently!!)
    x

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  20. Well done, your little Japanese lady looks cute! Not completely sure that Bruce Willis and cross-stitch are a match made in heaven, but what do I know?
    I don't even know what aida is (apart from an opera) so I feel I may be missing out on the cross-stitching humour here... xxxxx

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  21. OMG, Bruce Willis? And I just mentioned Burt Reynolds in my last post. As long as the name Jean-Claude van Damme doesn't come up, we might still be okay.

    I've never tried cross-stitching, but I used to do a lot of embroidery. In fact, I was thinking about trying it again. On the one hand, I can drink wine while I do it. On the other hand, I know an awful lot of swear words that will ruin my ladylike image.

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  22. I do so enjoy your posts! I haven't cross-stitched since my 20s when fancied myself some sort of homesteader who made everything from scratch. And wanted to spend my nights baking bread and doing cross-stitch rather than going to clubs and getting drunk like normal twentysomethings.

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  23. Bruce Willis? That's ace, wonder what Ms Austen would have made of him?
    Never tried cross stitch, far too intricate and dainty for a clumsy old cow like me. I commend your talents. x

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  24. Your posts always cheer me up even if ,according to Sarah Misfit, I got the consumption, so I fit perfectly in this Jane Austen's novel mood..now I need to start to cross stitching, probabily a Kurt Cobain portrait!
    Love xxxxx

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  25. Uh-oh, you're in so much trouble now. I'm going over to Deviant Art to send their stitchers round to sort out the Jane Austen references!
    At least you didn't mention "grannies" or call it crochet!

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  26. I'm sooo bad at cross stitch...I do the tension thing all wonky. I appreciate others efforts, but hope never to be given a pillow with Bruce Willis cross stitched on it.

    Thanks for hosting Ta Dah! Tuesday.

    Sue xo

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  27. well done! she's great, definitely kawaii. Although I do like lurid turquoise and pink myself. I haven't done cross stitch for years so well done for giving it a go and making it look lovely! the bruce willis is kind of amazing, if not creepy, I'd prefer Joan Rivers myself

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  28. That's really good, well done you. I have only managed a little piglet cross stitch so far. I bet your mother loved it x

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  29. Brilliant! I've not cross-stitched in ages. Well done you on your project. Also, that Bruce Willis piece ... well I can hardly believe it! /Madison

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