Houdini x-stitch -- Tada!

[SFLAG]

I kinda doubt Houdini ever announced "tada!" at the completion of an illusion. But I like to. Sometimes randomly.

Here's my little tribute both to Houdini and to Teller, of Penn & Teller, for whom I made this piece.

Starting with a recognizable but relatively simple portrait of Houdini, I decided to go with six shades of grey plus white, which brought me to 7 colors. I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to find six discrete greys, but that seemed to me to be enough differentiation without going totally overboard.


Harry Before and After

I spent a good hour or more combing through embroidery floss bins, hunting for six cool/neutral greys that looked like they belonged together. Then grabbed a roll of the finest resolution cross-stitch fabric I could find, which turned out to be 28-count.

For a frame, I had an idea that I might be able to use one side of a pair of handcuffs. Without actually having the cuffs on hand, I took some guesses about average wrist size ranges, did the math and decided on a 2.5" across portrait. Little.


Houdini Close-Up

When I was about half way finished, I was at TJ Maxx doing random shopping, and in their home décor department stumbled across The. Perfect. Frame. I was so excited, I snatched it up without even registering how much it cost. Of course, this was TJ Maxx, so it turned out to be about $3. The little red frame was not only the perfect size, but look! Rope/knot detail!


Houdini Frame Detail

So that's it, the finished project. What I thought would take me about 2 weeks wound up taking closer to 6. When I think about how much time I put into it, I keep coming up with 80 hours, which just sounds impossible. A couple of friends who have seen it in person have said they'd have a hard time giving it up, and suggested maybe I should just keep it. It's a tempting thought, but I couldn't do that. As is always the case when I make things for people, I can't keep it because it was never mine to begin with.

However, I do still have this big ol'roll of 28-ct fabric... Maybe Poe next.


Tada!

As usual, there is a slightly more blahblahblah version of this project on my blog.

Thanks for looking!

[Knickertwist]

Fan-flipping-tastic!

It's really wonderful. I heart Houdini.

[toeknee]

This rocks! the frrame is perfect, I'm sure Penn will love it. Are you planning on giving it in person?

[craftylittlemonkey]

son of a pup, this is just one of The. Most. Amazing. Things. EVER! i still want to figure out how to make pictures into cross stitch patterns but even if i finally do i'm not giving 80 hours to a project like this, wow, ambitious! totally worth it in the end though, just amazing. i'm blown away.
oh, and *This Rocks*. obviously.

[Pixsydust]

You did a wonderful job!  Did you use a program like PC Stitch for the pattern or just wing it? 

[Auri]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats awesome!

Whats the message down the sides??? can see there is something there but cant see what!

Again.... WOW

Auri

[whateverjames]

You don't need me to tell you how awesome this is. Honestly, with a piece like this, you dont need anyone to!

That said: THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the frame, oh my, the frame. The frame is very cool on its own. The story of finding a neat frame for a project is a cool story. But to find that frame for that piece is just to much!

You mentioned that you made the piece for Teller. Are you a fan and sending it to him or did he commission the piece? It sounds like there may be another neat story there somewhere (especially if you can get a pic of him with the finished art).

[RhymeswOrange]

Amazing!  I admire your patience for such a complex project.

[seraphim]

This turned out really incredible. I love how things will sometimes fall into place when you are working on a neat project. All of your hard work was worth it, because the piece ended up being gorgeous!

[wherethewild]

this is really fantastically done! And that you just eyeballed the shades in rummage bins to get them right - wow. You have an eye I envy.