Sunday 30 January 2011

In memoriam-for my dad!

My dad died of cancer twelve years ago. He loved the sea and nature,handicrafts,cooking and making sweets.He taught me how to choose and eat the best of fish and seafood.If he was with us when I bought my summer house I know he would fall in love with it because it was his own dream to have a house by the sea. I know he would love to visit me there and go sea glassing with me.I know that he is with me when I go sea glassing!I miss him so much!
After he died I took part in a cross stitch round robin with a sea theme called Tropical Fish in his memory.
I stitched a fish on a light blue cloth and then sent it on to the next lady on the Round Robin.
If you don't know what a round robin is I quickly explain. You stitch on your piece and send it to the next person in your group who stitches on your piece the theme you have chosen and passes it to the next person in the group and so on. All members (usually nine) stitch on all of the other members' pieces.
This was my fourth Round Robin and it was started in April 1998 and finished in October 1998.
This Round Robin was organised by Joanne MacAulay in Australia who was a pen pal of mine at the time. In it participated Tina Chapple,Jilly Taylor,Berl Locke,Kim Bateman,Kathy Gould all from England and Nicky Clarke from Mallorca. Kim is my pen pal ever since and we have met once in England in 1999.
Anyway my plan was that after the Round Robin returns to me I would stitch some shells and seaweed on it and then frame it. But alas, life took on. The sea sampler was left in a drawer and only when I bought my summer house in 2005 I decided to take it out again and finish it. Again it took me too long a time. By now you must have understood I am a slow stitcher!

At first I decided to stitch a starfish and a shell. Then I added the coral and the central seaweed. Then I decided I wanted to make it look like the real bottom of the sea so I added the sand and little shells and even sea glass but still I wasn't satisfied. I decided I wanted more fish and then added the jelly fish. Finally I added the blue lines that are supposed to be the water waves and shadows of sea weed.
And at last I had it framed professionally. I wanted to put it in  a frame where I can add extra outside details like a shell or some sea glass. So my framer had to improvise. Unfortunately in his attempt he forgot that I wanted my stitched name and date to be in the picture,it should be on the right bottom corner but well he couldn't make that but it doesn't matter.
I am including lots of photos! I hope you like it.I want to thank all the ladies who helped me in this sampler in memory of my dad and apart from Kim who will see this soon I will try to communicate with the rest of the ladies as well. Maybe some of them will still be in the same address!
 Spot the stitched sea glass!

Here are also a couple of photos from my balcony plants. I admit I hadn't seen the spider web until I uploaded the photo,I love macro lens.
 I am also adding today some pages from Les Idees de Marianne French crossstitch magazine that Brigitte sent me. Aren't the cyclamens lovely?I am also partial to blue and white china.
 

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Ariadne, I met your father when I came to see you in Thessaloniki, it must have been in 1986/87, not sure of the year,long way back.I am sure he would have been proud of you!
I love your Tropical Fish frame, and everyone who loves the sea, must love this one!He would have loved that I am sure!

Ariadne said...

Yes,right you have met him!That's great!Yes I am sure he would have loved that frame.

Dream on the wave said...

I love your Tropical Fosh piece. And it makes a special memory to your dad. I have been thinking for a long time now about writing about my dad who past away totally unexpected almost 4 years ago now. I think I will do it. He has left me so many nice handmade things that are worth writing about.

Dream on the wave said...

Oh my.....that should be tropical fish piece of course

Ariadne said...

@bhermitte
I am glad you like it!

Ariadne said...

@bhermitte
I will have to look at my photo album to see when you were visiting there.

Petites xxx et Cie said...

Your round robin in memory of your dad is just gorgeous.
Take care,
Bisxxx

Ariadne said...

@http://www.blogger.com/profile/12305143701453287553
Thank you so much!

Ariadne said...

@http://www.blogger.com/profile/16475916827130092362
Thank you so much!

Margie Oomen said...

that cross stitch work is so spectacular. You are such a talented stitcher. I love the ledge with the sea glass. I don't think I have ever seen that shade of yellow. Your photographs are wonderful and I second the loving macro lens bit.

Ariadne said...

@http://www.blogger.com/profile/01459762796958425287
Thank you Margie,coming from you is such a compliment.Yellow sea glass is rare. This colour is my golden amber only one piece and I adore it.

Sonia / COZY MEMORIES said...

what an amazing cross-stitch work, Ariadne !! I used to cross-stitch a long time ago so I really know what it takes to do this all. Your dad is proud of you, what a heartfelt tribute xoxo

Ariadne said...

Thank you Sonia,since you know how to crossstitch you can understand the work involved here.

Jenny said...

Ariadne, that is a gorgeous piece! Thanks for sharing the history behind the sea landscape with us. To know the background behind your stitced work and how it slowly grew from idea to reality is really interesting. It reminds me that stitching is not about speed, but about the journey. Your piece is truly unique and very, very pretty! I love the framing too; what a great idea to have a place for your polished glass pieces!
I also see that you and I started our blogs at the same time! That is really neat - we are blog-sisters now ;-) Come by and say hi some day, if you get time!
Hugs from Jenny

Ariadne said...

a http://www.blogger.com/profile/06230891840459730672
Dear Jenny,
thank you for your comment on my blog post.
I will read your blog too.