Cross Stitch Pieces Framed & Ready to Hang

One of my goals for this year was to get these two cross stitch pieces professionally framed.  I finished the stitching on both of these pieces in 2009, so for once I wasn't dilly dallying too much to get them framed and on the wall.  We won't discuss the year in which the stitching was started.  I waited patiently until Joann ETC had a 60% off your entire framing order coupon, which happened to be in June, and then took both pieces in to have them framed.  They were ready for pickup when I returned from my trip to North Dakota.  Can you believe that the framing for both of these pieces with custom frames and museum quality glass was only $120?  Plus tax, of course. 

I've found that the key to getting pieces framed at places like Joann's is to find a good framer there that understands how to properly frame needlework using silk pins and stretching and then make sure you ask for them to do the work.  I know how to do it, and Joann's will let you do the stretching and pinning part yourself, but I find it's more cost effective to just pay the pros to do it if I'm buying a custom frame, etc.  If I am using a frame I have on hand, then I do everything myself.  Don't even get me started on what Michael's did to some of my pieces.  Never again will they touch any of my stitched pieces.

The first piece is by Shepherd's Bush, whom you cross stitchers out there will probably recognize since they've been around so long.  I love their pieces.  This one was a kit called Old Glory.  It's stitched on linen with silk thread.  Interesting lesson learned with this piece.  I have always washed my silk pieces before framing, even though they say not to, and I've never had a problem.  Until this piece.  I used the Orvis soap for needlework like I've always done, but this time, one of the green silks used in the flower sections completely lost all of it's color.  Everything else was fine, but I had to take all of that stitching out and re-do it. 

The second piece I had framed is "B" by M Designs.  I've met Mary, the designer behind this lovely piece, and for a time we talked frequently via email and on the phone.  She's a great lady!  Anyway, she charted an entire alphabet using this letter styling.  The letter "B" is the only one I've stitched so far and it represents our last name.  I stitched this piece on hand-dyed linen with Silk 'n Colors thread in Amethyst.

And for the kitty fans, here's Sassy helping me with some of the fabric I washed last week.  As a side note, that dot fabric is one that I picked up in North Dakota.  Isn't is great?

Testing the pile:

She also made sure that the drying rack was ready for the laundry I was doing:

She's so helpful!