Since Fall is my favorite season for crafting I decided to create another shadowbox cross-stitch picture with a Fall wreath to add to my collection.
Like the other Mill Hill - Buttons & Beads Series patterns I had bought the Autumn Wreath kit included the pattern, embroidery thread, brown perforated paper, beads, button, 2 needles and instructions.
The Autumn Wreath pattern uses full counted cross-stitch and straight stitching as well as beads and buttons for emphasis and depth. The pattern also calls for certain areas of the perforated paper to be left untouched as the background. In this case they were leaving sections of the brown perforated paper background untouched.
I, once again, decided to frame my finished cross-stitch picture in a 5" by 5" white shadow box frame that is 1 1/2" deep and can stand on it's own or with its back picture stand (like the picture below) as I've been really happy with the way all my other cross-stitch shadowbox pictures have come out.
I also decided to once again utilize the rectangular wood frame jig that my darling husband built for me that I could tape the edges of my perforated paper to. The wood frame jig is a rectangular embroidery hoop of sorts, but without bending the perforated paper. He had made it out of 1/2" x 1" pine wood strips with an adjustable center strip that I used for this 5 x 5 square design.
I had learned from previous mistakes that I needed to draw diagonal lines to locate the exact center of the perforated paper as in the last perforated paper cross-stitch picture I had done was slightly off center by a few holes which caused a problem with inserting the needles in the holes along one of the edges of my frame. So, I drew a diagonal line across each corner to get the center point of the perforated paper. I also drew diagonal lines across each corner of the pattern to get the center point as well.
I had also run into a slight problem with one of the perforated paper cross-stitch pictures I had previously created with the beads along the edge causing a problem when framing so this time I also drew squares on the perforated paper to show me where the 5" x 5" square was. Plus, I knew I wanted to square my picture so I needed to know where to end my stitching or where to add additional columns and rows of stitching..
While the end results of this design were wonderful some things in the kit and in the instructions could be improved upon so I'd like to offer the following constructive suggestions:
The cross-stitch chart was in black and white as was the floss color code and symbol key. Both were easy to read and very clear. While I had no problem with the chart and keys I did have a problem with the way the DMC floss was presented. All of the floss was tied together in one big knot so you had to separate the floss pieces yourself, sort them, and try to interpret which color belonged to which floss # and symbol key on the color chart. If you only have a few colors to deal with this isn't a problem. However, if you have several different colors to choose from that are close in color then interpreting the chart can be tricky. You may assign the wrong color to the wrong symbol if the colors are too closely aligned.
As I have done with other cross-stitch kits I've completed I had to design my own thread color sorter and symbol key. I took a piece of thin cardboard and cut a 1" x 9" long rectangular piece out to use as a thread sorter. I then punched 14 holes in my cardboard strip in which to tie each of the different colors. Just above the hole I wrote the DMC floss # and just below the hole I added the respective cross-stitch symbol. I then inserted the floss threads that went with that # and symbol through the hole and tied them in a loose knot. This kit could be much improved if a thread sorter with respective #'s and symbols was provided.
The beads were contained within three small ziploc bags which was fine. However, when several different beads of similar color or size are included within the bags it can be very difficult to distinguish between the colors or between the petite and regular size beads. Labeling the ziploc bags as to which bead number they contained would enhance this kit and allow you to tie the bead # to the symbol number on the charts.
The pattern called for certain areas of the perforated paper to be left untouched as the background like the picture shown below:
However, I don't like seeing the different perforated sections in the background and opted instead to finish all of the background with an ecru DMC embroidery floss color sewn as a cross stitch using two strands of the floss. I had decided to square the edges of my picture and also decided to add two rows of the ecru floss around all the edges to make sure the perforated paper would not be visible once my cross stitch picture was framed in its' shadowbox.
I knew from measuring thre perforated papper that the leaf button in the top right hand corner would have to be moved down for the shadowbox I was putting my cross-stitch picture in.
Instead of mounting my picture on foam as I had done with my previous cross-stitch pictures I opted instead to mount my Autumn Wreath on cardboard.
My results with the totally finished background, square edges, and hard chipboard is shown below:
Despite the relatively small issues I had encountered with the kit I was happy with the way my Autumn Wreath shadowbox picture turned out.
It took me 40 hours to complete this picture including the framing. The additional length of time it took to fnish this cross-stitch picture versus others of similar size was due to using a cross-stitch for the ecru background versus using a half cross-stitch which takes less time. As always, my comments are meant to be constructive to enable future purchasers to benefit from my experience and to enhance their ability to create a wonderful little cross-stitch design.
![]()
David Ng of the HK-TF Facebook group has acquired Grand Scourge, the black recolor of Combiner Wars Voyager Optimus Prime! Based on an Energon-era model kit, Grand Scourge comes with faction stickers for the Decepticons, the Robots In Digsguise 2001 Decepticons (the inverted G2 Autobot symbol), and Unicron. On top of which, it has the greatsword that came with Combiner Hunters Arcee! Keep reading to see it all!
As happened earlier in the week, retailer ToyWiz has inadvertently announced another upcoming Robots In Disguise figure: Warrior Class Megatronus! Autobase Aichi has seemingly been able to confirm this with a picture of Warrior Megatronus from the RID app. ToyWiz is claiming a December ship date, so perhaps we'll get a first look at the figure in a few weeks at New York Comic-Con. Until then, keep reading to see what we have right now!
