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!
Here’s a concept layout. I think this is the photo you liked, and the font for Faith is Harrington. The rest of the quote would be in plain block letters.
Hebrews-11-1-Come-v1, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
In 20 point, this would be 9″x6″, and is just at the limit of what I think will provide good detail on her face.
If you were willing to go finer, it could get smaller or more detailed. Going to a larger size would also allow more detail. Maybe standard letter size, in landscape? Or would you want to keep the book smaller?
Here’s a layout of the verse for Bella. It takes up about 175 pixels in width. So on 20 point canvas, it would be about 9 inches wide. I don’t know how this compares on cross-stitch fabric…
Hebrews-11-1, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.
Prayer: Father, we lift Bella up to you. Please be with her, and help her to walk with you.
I first saw this movie last year, and it immediately shot to the top of my favourite movies list.
It’s about William Wilberforce, a Christian who was central to getting slavery outlawed throughout the British empire. I knew almost nothing about him before seeing the movie. Before our Civil War, he fought for human rights.
The movie is an amazing historical drama. It’s beautiful, and inspiring. Wilberforce suffered from chronic illness, and struggled with an addiction to painkillers given to him because of it. But he did not succumb to discouragement. He was an amazing fighter.
The movie has joy, humor, trouble and triumph. It highlights love, faith, seeking one’s way and then sticking to it once it has been found.
This is a very sweet movie about finding life and love again after tragedy. It’s also about an atheist finding faith from the example of a man of great faith. It’s not an incredibly deep movie, but it is comforting.
My favourite line from the movie is the one which gives it its name: Sometimes love isn’t fireworks, sometimes love just comes softly.
NeedlePrayer 