I decided to have “Reaching for Faith” professionally blocked and framed. Here it is, complete!
Reaching for Faith Framed, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, I praise You and thank You for making us artists, in Your image. Help me to do my art for Your glory.
This custom mat and frame set off the piece. Wish I could do this for all my projects!
IMG_3292 – Version 2, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
A stunning job of framing by Picture Perfect in Flemington, NJ!
Prayer: Father, we thank You that if we ask, You always do show us the way!
And here is the piece framed, as I presented it to her.
Tulips – Temporary Frame, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
I always frame my pieces before giving them. The last thing someone going through troubles needs it to be faced with the effort and expense of framing a piece of needlepoint! But custom framing for so many pieces is beyond my reach. I therefore design my pieces to fit standard frames, which are more modest in price.
When I presented this piece, she agreed with me that it would benefit from custom framing with a mat. I’ll post a picture of the final framing once it is done!
Prayer: Father, I pray this piece will continue to bless her and remind her always to turn to You.
Here is the piece fully stretched. Note that you do not place pins at the corners, as that would not fit into the frame. The piece should now look even and flat.
Tulips – Stretched, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, I pray for beauty, peace, and joy in her life and her work.
Next, start spreading out from the centers. Place a pin every 1 1/2 – 2 inches. Make sure they stay on the same line. Pull the canvas taut as you go.
Tulips – Spreading from the Centers, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: As she shapes her life, help her to start from the center, the core things, and grow peace and harmony from there.
Once the first pin is placed, pull the canvas taut and place the next T-pin in the opposite edge. Then do the other two edges. At this point the canvas may look worse, but just hang in there!
Tulips – Centers Placed, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: When we start stretching, it can pull unpleasantly. She stretches so much! Father, grant her ease from the pull.
It is important to have the piece properly centered and evenly stretched. Begin by marking the centers of all edges of the foam core. You have to mark the edge of the foam core, because when you are pinning the canvas will cover the top.
Then mark the canvas at the centers of the design edges, just outside the stitched area.
Now take a T-pin and put it through a hole in the canvas at one of the center marks. Then push it into the foam core at the corresponding center mark. Push the pin all the way in, making sure it stays buried in the foam core.
Tulips – Centering on Foamcore, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: It’s all in the details. Father, help her with making the little things right!
I’m going to stretch this piece on foam core to prepare it for framing. For this, I need thin foam core, and t-pins. The foam core has to be thin enough to fit in the frame. The piece has open-work, but the white of the foam core makes a good background for the cream of the canvas.
The first step is to cut the foam core to size. It should be a little smaller than the space in the frame, because the canvas wrapping around the foam core will add bulk.
Tulips – Ready to Stretch, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Sometimes the work of the days results in an uneven quality to how we perceive our lives. Father, help her to see and appreciate the beauty of her work as a whole.
Finally, here is the completed, framed piece!
Leap for Joy Complete, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, please bless the family this piece was made for, and bring joy and growing closeness to their walk with You!
The answer is to insert an appropriate mask. Here I have chosen a piece of green handmade paper which includes metallic golden highlights. I cut it to size, and then insert it between the front of the canvas and the edges which have been folded to fit in the frame. Note that you DO NOT trim the canvas to the size of the frame, or the edges may unravel!
Masking inserted, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, the love must extend even to the details! Help this family to find joy in the details of their lives.
NeedlePrayer 