Today – 5th November 2008 -  is an important day in history.

In the USA, Democratic Senator Barack Obama has been elected the first black president of the United States, prompting celebrations across the country.  The president-elect told a jubilant crowd at a victory rally in Chicago. “It’s been a long time coming, but tonight… change has come to America.” This election has created great enthusiasm worldwide, and we hope that the new presidency will bring the promised changes for goodness.

Meanwhile, here in the UK, tonight is celebrated as being Guy Fawkes’ Night, when effigies of Guy Fawkes are still burnt on bonfires throughout Britain. It was on this day in 1605 that news broke out about the Gunpowder Plot. A number of conspirators, under the leadership of Guy Fawkes, had tunnelled below the House of Lords, with 38 barrels of gunpowder, with the intention of blowing up Parliament. Fawkes was duly executed.

So – what has this to do with Cross Stitch? It occurs to me that many people will be stitching a picture of Barack Obama in celebration of his victory. It seems that there is a great attraction to stitching pictures of our personal heroes. Many British cross stitch magazines provide cross stitch charts of pop singers, sportspeople and actors with every issue.

Who is your hero?

A stitching friend of mine has cross stitched a picture of David Beckham, UK football legend, and it has pride of place in her lounge. The problem of this is that Beckham’s image has never remained the same. In her picture, David is shown with a pony tail of hair on the top of his head. He has always changed his appearance regularly – and nowadays, he goes for the shaven look, and my friend’s picture does not look at all familiar as the David Beckham we know and love today.

Perhaps one way of capturing a picture of someone we admire and love is to take a special day in their own history. What springs to my mind is a wedding day of dear friends and relatives. No matter how many times hairstyles and fashions are changed, the day will always be immortalised as the same wonderful occasion. Perhaps you have thought of stitching a wedding picture, or recreated a picture of a loved relative or favourite pet at some important moment. If you decide to do that, then you are bound to bring pleasure to those who share your memories or who are interested in knowing about their relatives or important animals.

Here is a picture taken at  my parents’ wedding, soon after World War Two:

If you have a special photograph of a time that has great significance to you, then you can have the picture made into a cross stitch pattern (chart) if you are unable to do that yourself. There are a number of companies who will do this for a price. Members of the Patterns Patch club may have a chart made up for them for no cost. So – who are your personal heroes in your life? And would you like to immortalise them in stitches? Do share with us your stories.

Happy Stitching!

Iona

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