Super Butchie!

Happy Saturday, Chummies!

Here's one of the secret projects I've been working on recently. I finished up last night and entered my project in the challenge, now I can share, and you can vote! Heehee, only if you want to.

You guys remember my darling, little pal, Butch? You were all ever, so very sweet when he went over the rainbow bridge last year and I shared about our life with him, and saying goodbye. I'll never forget that kindness. Recently, I learned of an embroidery challenge on Craftster and thought this was as good a reason as any to do something fun to memorialize our doggy friend, hence the Altered Photo Needlework Challenge... and Super Butchie!

 Years ago, on a muggy summer evening, we were in our backyard goofing around with our dogs, Lola & Butch, and taking pictures. I was down on the grass at dog-level and they were playing around me, wrastlin' and such. I happened to get a shot of Butch that looked like he was launching himself into the air (in reality he was launching himself at Lola). Once I had uploaded the picture to my computer, I added a little cape with a big, yellow "B"  in MS Paint to amuse myself, and christened him Super Butchie! It's been in our family photos that way ever since. I have another one where he looks like a bucking rodeo beast that I added a little saddle and a tiny cowboy to, but that's another story.

Here's the original photo, and my stitched, altered photo.

Butch did in fact turn out to be a superhero. As you might recall, he fought a long, hard battle with cancer and he was a trooper right to the end. 

A bit of technical info about the project; I printed my photo on Photo-fabric, but the image didn't "stick". I think the printer I used was the wrong sort and the ink just did not adhere to the fabric. I was horrified when I rinsed it, per the instructions, and much the the image detail washed down the drain! After consulting with a friend, and a bit of brainstorming, I decided I'd use that ruined fabric anyway, fill in the image with color pencils, then add embroidery over the top to really alter the look of the original photo quite a bit. It really challenged my ideas of how this project would look in the end. I've taken Super-Butchie in a semi-comic book sort of direction. I still may add a few things before I'm done, but I dunno, I kind of like him it 'as-is', too.

Butch had the craziest fur, it went in every direction and was every known shade of brown, as well as black, silver, white and even some blonde. for this project I used 9 different colors of floss, and made lots of little crazy stitches to represent my fuzzy fella.

So, voting you ask? Why yes, you can, please & thank you!

Right here!

There are some fabulous entries in the challenge, I especially love this one, by Xperimentl, who makes, rad, rad stuffs. It's awesome, and I LOVE rainbows. 

I'm so glad this week is over and it's the weekend, this week seemed to drag on & on. Sean and I are thinking of scooting up the a Celtic Faire this weekend, woowoowoo, men in kilts! If I do I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.

What are you up to this weekend, anything fun? Do tell!

oxo,

Lisa

p.s.

Go vote!

♥