It was in the year 1988 that I fell in love with cross-stitching. And I must give credit to my younger sister, Lat for introducing me to this wonderful world. When I saw her work, which was also of this picture, I scouted high and low for the cross-stitch book that had this particular picture. I found in a bookstore at Lucky Garden, Bangsar. The shop is still there, I think. (Have not been anywhere near Lucky Garden for ages.. There was this Malay restaurant that served a delicious variety of dishes, and I mean really many many and the price was reasonable, sayang, tutup already) I digress.. I suppose if it is something that you like doing, it becomes a pleasure.. So, within weeks I completed it and immediately started another one. And during my confinement period, I had Ja looking for some new patterns for me to do. I completed two more and there was no stopping me..
These two earliest projects adorn our bedroom now. Earlier in their lives, they hung proudly on the wall in our lounge. I also completed several other pictures as gifts: of bears to my husband's niece, Hannah when she turned two. (Wonder if her mum still keeps it. Hannah turned 16 last November.) Then of rabbits to Bahiyah, my sister-in-law, of dusk scenery to my parents-in-law, of birds to Lisa's standard three teacher, of bees (Chinese artwork) to my youngest sister, Norliah, of a boy and a girl painting (this one the biggest) to Kak Radzi for her childcare centre, Seri Manja.
Above picture is at our dining area. It has gone through three processes of frame change. Initially it had a black frame, then I changed it to green. Finally this year, sometime in July I thought it deserved an upgrade - new mounting boards and wooden frame. And it set me back a few hundred ringgit too..
Left, my latest project, taken up after a hiatus of several years. I started in July and completed it in September. I have yet to send it to my favorite frame shop.. Below are some other projects that I completed over the years:
Above pix was stitched with EA on mind - to complement his room, then painted blue when he was younger. His room is lime green now and this picture now hangs at the common wall upstairs.
below, @ Lisa and Ja's jamming corner, a glacier scenery.
Whilst for the picture below, I have Susu to thank for. She bought me the whole kit for my birthday. For a few years, it adorned Ja's office. He has since moved office and I thought it was time for this picture to come home.
Came home it did, in September, and is now hanging nice and pretty in our kitchen (hey! what is Patty doing up there?)
Facts about cross stitch:
• an oldest form of embroidery.
• the earliest known cross stitch sampler is housed at Pilgrim House, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• it was created by Loara Standish, daughter of Captain Myles Standish, circa 1653.
• it can be quite an expensive hobby.. one DMC thread that cost a mere 0.55 sen in 1988 is now RM1.50.
• a pattern uses 30 or more colors.
• aida cloth is like RM45 per metre and that's the cheapest.
• there is also the framing cost to consider..
