This Santa Claus is only my third from scratch design because I had an idea in my head. My first two designs were of California poppies in an art nouveau style and the Golden Gate Bridge. Those pieces were both 6" x 6" and when I finished I realized how difficult and expensive framing can be. Those canvases are still waiting for me to sort them out.
When I started the Santa Claus I decided to create a 5"x7" piece to simplify framing. I forgot an important thing - overlap. 5"x7" mats have windows smaller than 5"x7" and my design was depending on a mat to define the edge of the card. I had to make a new plan! I will be cross stitching a border to define the playing card and the design can be framed in an 8"x10" without glass or a mat.
I am living and learning! Here are some photos...
This is the last photo before I finished filling in the hearts and letter "k" I left as open work when I started.
Ok - all the cross stitching is done on the original pattern. I need to experiment with back stitching then make the border defining the card edge.
