Daffy's Stitchy Friends

Monday, November 9, 2009

First Finish

After I stitched those little Christmas ornaments I think I messed around with a few different projects. These were always unfinished and I am pretty sure it was because of how the stitching looked. Even back then I was OCD and if I couldn't make it look how it was supposed to look I would be frustrated with it. There finally came a semi-maturing point and I completed a project.

I started this Garfield right after I married, so I was 17 years old when this was stitched. Ride 'Em Reindeer...worked on 14 count off-white aida with DMC. This was stitched for my brother and carefully mailed to him for Christmas that year. I think it held some bitter memories for him after he divorced and he asked if I'd take it back.

Oh, Lord, do you remember these plastic hoop frames?


Take a giggle at these pea-sized knots. Can you even call that a French knot??

I'm pleased to see my backside has improved by now. No knots but still lots of carrying. It was this design I learned half-stitches, not fun on aida, I can remember being soooo confused trying to figure out the direction of each half-stitch! We've come a long way, baby!



Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox


29 comments:

valerie said...

Wow, I'm still trying to believe you got married when you were 17! I was a huge Garfield fan when I was a kid too.

You won my butterfly giveaway. Congrats! Please email me with your mailing addy! =D

Missy Ann said...

Love it! And who cares how the back looks, no one looks at the back. And if they do, they deserve what they get. lol

Good of your brother to send it back rather than burn in the bonfire with the wedding pictures and all.

Meadows08 said...

I remember trying to do fractionals on Aida! Talk about an exersise in frustration! We've ALL come a long way.

JOLENE said...

That ornament you made makes me laugh, Garfield is such a character and that reindeer, poor thing!!! I have been trying to remember what my first finish was but I can only remember my second.....kind of strange huh?

Tatkis said...

This design is so cute :) congratulations with finishing!
I love Garfield :)

Carmen said...

:D i like Gardfield, and Oddie too.is a cut ornament.

Lindsay said...

I remember being obsessed with Garfield and my Mum worked in a bookshop at the time so I used to get her to order Garfield books for me and I payed cost for them!

Love the ornament and your brave for showing the back, it's not that bad

Annette said...

What a cute design and a great frame finish. I love it, lovely stitched....

Claire said...

I think it look's good :).

Shari said...

cute!!!! Garfield has been around a while, hasn't he?!?!?!!?

Annie said...

I still like those plastic hoop frames. And the back looks fine to me (you should see mine and I've been stitching for a hundred years). I always glue some felt onto the back of those frames to cover my stitching! Plus I envy small French knots. Mine are always too big... more like golf balls than pea-sized!

Karyn said...

Wow! I love that finish, and I think your backside was and is beautiful ;) I love those old ornaments that bring back so many memories of early days of marriage.

Thanks for sharing it with us...I think it's fabulous!

Hugs

Carol said...

Your first stitching was a lot more complex than mine, Sharon (and a lot better!). Love the bug-eyes on Garfield :)

Parsley said...

Well, since I'm a beginner, I think you are being too hard on yourself. LOL

Cute!

staci said...

Look at you, so brave to show the backside of your first piece (it really doesn't look that bad!)

My first piece looks way worse than that. I was in jr high and didn't know anyone who cross stitched, so I thought you were supposed to knot everything, lol!!!

Mel said...

So cute! I have really enjoyed seeing everyone's "first stitching".

Kathy said...

Cute first finish. I still have mine as well. It is a Christmas piece. Also with a plastic frame. LOL Lots of carrying on mine then too. I'll have to take some photos when I get the Christmas things out.

Brigitte said...

A great idea to show some of our first ever stitched finishes. Garfield is really funny.

Pumpkin said...

Awesome! LOL! I love seeing the beginnings for others :o)

Jo said...

oh yes, I remember those frames.... maybe I'll hunt out a few of my early finishes!

Christine said...

I remember those plastic frames! Actually I think your Garfield ornie is gorgeous, gotta love that cat...

Loralynn said...

I think it's darling! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Patricia Lessell said...

Thank you so much for sharing Garfield with us. It is great!
Love
Patti xxx

Linda said...

Garfield is too cute and what a fun first stitch. The back looks good....this is something I struggle with....hugs, Linda

Angela said...

Sharon this is just tooo cute :) I loved Garfield as well and had these charts in my collection at some point in time too!

Karen said...

Hey...I think I still have this in my "to do" pile with a couple other Garfields. Too cute.

Lilang said...

I like Garfield!
Nice work!

Carolyn NC said...

I've always loved Garfield - too cute!

Karan said...

Cute piece. Fractionals on aida was what made me try evenweaves & linen.... then the whole stitchy world opened up. :0)