posted by Lily on embroidery, family

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Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think I would be turning pixelated drawings of chibi manga characters into needlepoint patterns!  But here I am, finding the picture on google images so as to better interpret Mr. Pixelated Poland (from the manga Hetalia) here on my screen.  Whilst Julian and Abby sit in the next room practicing their poker with the train fare money bowl.

It started last week in Merimbula – Abby wanted to know how hard it would be to KNIT the picture of Poland into a iphone case.  KNIT!  Um .. no.  Dreadfully hard for this colourwork challenged knitting mama.  But needlepoint … yes, like what your Nan is stitching (Sam’s Christmas stocking) … not only very doable but doable for fourteen year olds with no previous experience.  And look closely at this wee feltie version of Poland nonchalantly leaning back against the computer screen!  Wow!  Abby’s attention to detail is just awesome and I love how she’s taken to embroidering her felties’ eyes now rather that using buttons.  My girl is an amazing stitcher.

Abby fiddled with the pixelation until she had a size that was small enough without losing too much detail.  But she couldn’t shrink it down to an iphone case so she’s making a pencil case instead.  With a zipper and the Polish flag on the back.

I know I’ve written before about how different Abby’s tastes and interests, upon initial observation, seem to mine and how sometimes I wonder where all this comes from.  Blimey!  Abby grew up in a home where the literary classics were the order of the day, folk and classical music was (is!) our regular companion, the gentle arts were pursed everyday, and we deliberately cultivated a rather old fashioned life, appreciating traditional skills and objects.  Now she’s often immersed in Japanese manga, anime and J-pop (a truly acquired taste, perhaps only suitable for teenagers).  Huh?!

However, as I look at my dear girl, head bent over her newly acquired needle and canvas, I am reminded that whilst the outside wrapping may be different, when we peek beneath beneath that surface, she’s one of us, through and through.  A needlepoint manga pencil case.  Oh the things we do :-)