"I was inspired by the artwork of Lithuanian artist Severija Incirauskaite-Kriauneviciene. I designed the pattern, my plumber's father drilled the holes, and I stitched it. I have seen some cross stitch in your pictures so I figured you might like this. I hung it on my kitchen wall."
EGG-CELLENT.
And in the words of one Flynn Rider:
Amazing work, Jennifer, and thanks for sharing the inspiration! Now, is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking??
(Nope, not telling; I want to see your ideas, first. Share your plans for cross-stitched world domination and monkey tutus in the comments!)
I'm thinking, that's perfectly good cast iron skillet, ruined!
ReplyDeleteSo, um...probably not. Very pretty, but I prefer my picture frames with most used/loved recipes hanging in my kitchen
Noooooo! (cast iron collector too)
DeleteYeah, it looks really cute but I have to cringe at drilling holes in an old cast iron skillet. At least use a new, crappy one!
DeleteSpoilsports! :p Speaking for all us non-cooks, I think it's a brilliant way of displaying something you wouldn't use otherwise, especially if it's been in the family and has sentimental value - or if it's so old it's beyond repair.
DeleteGood cast iron CAN be repaired ! Save today's "Made in China" stuff for these projects. Even a cast iron skillet with a crack or the handle broken off can be fixed.
DeleteAgreed! Don't use grandma's old cast iron for this. If it's so sentimental that you want to keep it, either learn to cook with it or save it for your kids/grandkids that might want to cook with it.
DeleteOr make some cute felt food to display in it without ruining a beautiful old pan that could easily be restored and used.
DeleteSorry, fully with the spoilsports who are joining in the "Nooooo! Don't wreck a good cast-iron pan!" :P
DeleteMy husband feels that way about steampunkers ripping apart old watches... *duck*
I will never understand this attitude. unless the book is rare or a 1st edition or something, why not use it for crafts? Like people that wail and cry over someone using a copy of HP & the half blood prince to purpose--there were literally millions of copies of that book printed.
Deleteit isn't your pan, who are you to say what this person does with their own stuff?
I agree with you, Meg! Such a shame!
Delete@miss posslie:
DeleteThe reason people are freaking out a bit about using an old cast iron skillet for this is because the quality found in old cast iron skillets is hard to come by these days! And the older and more used a skillet is the more "seasoned" it is and the better it cooks actually, which actually makes it more valuable (and more useful). So to take something like that and destroy it so that it can never be used again is a bit... horrendous... to many. Taking a newer pan that hasn't got the same quality or seasoning to it and using that wouldn't cause nearly the same reaction.
I absolutely love this! *wheels spinning*
ReplyDeleteThe thought of my cross stitch needle scraping against metal gives me the heebie geebies.
ReplyDeleteOmg, yes. I love the way this looks, but the thought of that scraping makes me cringe *shudder*
DeleteI was thinking "Why does she know her plumber so well that his father drilled the holes?"
ReplyDeleteI am so happy I'm not the only one thinking that! :)
DeleteMe too!!
DeleteRight there with you!
DeleteEver since Tangled came out... I've wanted a stuffed frying pan, that for an added bonus made a good CLANG when thunked against a skull...
ReplyDeleteNoooo! Save the cast iron! I know it's beautiful and very cool but AUUUUGGGGHHHHH (Charlie Brown style)
ReplyDeleteIt needs bacon. :-)
ReplyDeleteI knew someone had to have said it before me. Seriously. I love eggs, but to skip the bacon? For shame!
DeleteOK, Brain, but where are we going to find rubber pants in our size?
ReplyDeleteI've got to join the chorus of weeping at the destruction of such a beautiful piece of cookware. The project is fantastic though. I would buy a new cast iron skillet to do it with, not a lovely old one!
ReplyDeleteI went to the inspiration site... the shovel! OH MY GOODNESS!! THE SHOVEL!!! So beautiful!! (And I may be in the cringing group as far as the cast iron. I grew up watching my mother and grandmothers cook in such skillets. I don't think I could bring myself to drill holes in something like that...)
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought it was Perler Beads, but I agree. Use a new one, rather than destroy an old seasoned one.But I do like the idea of adding plastic or fake food to a pan for wall art.
ReplyDeleteSeems like the sort of thing you could use some metal wire "string" for. Way more work, but go full on and make completely metal cross stitch stuff.
ReplyDelete"Completely metal cross stitch" sounds so hardcore lol
DeleteYou could also use plastic canvas for cross stitching and attach it to the inside of the skillet with non-permanent double-sided tape. This would save the cast iron (that poor, poor pan!) and give you the added bonus of being able to change out whatever "food" you display inside when you get sick of looking at fake eggs.
ReplyDeleteThat is just what I was thinking and would have done had it been my pan, but it wasn't so who am I to judge!
DeleteI never expected the outcry about destroying a cast iron pan--such strong feelings on this point. I think it's kind of a cool idea, though not really my style as far as decorating goes. It sounds like you had better be careful with future cast iron projects though Jen--you could get some major backlash from the cast iron community. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWho knew, right? ;)
DeleteOMG - I could hear the thousands of cast iron enthusiasts around the world scream in pain when I saw this. A major disturbance in 'the force', indeed!
ReplyDeletePlease do not destroy such a treasured item just because you don't want to use it for it's intended purpose - there are many who would happily love and care for it. It's like cutting up your grandmother's wedding gown to make paint smocks. Useful and cute, but the heirloom value is destroyed.
It's an adorable craft - just use one of the questionable new, cheap pans to do it!
I kind of need to agree with those who are complaining about the cast iron being destroyed. I didn't at first, but as soon as someone mentioned it, I found myself nodding in agreement. I feel the same way when books or musical instruments are destroyed for craft projects.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as a violinist with a couple of degrees in music, I'm fine with musical instruments being repurposed as crafts. That is, unless a fine instrument is accidentally used, which I doubt happens often. There are a lot of instruments out there that would do better as firewood than as an instrument quite frankly (I've had many a student with a violin so bad I was tempted to accidentally smash it into the wall--ultimately I valued my paycheck more than the pleasure that would have brought), so why not make them worthwhile some other way?
DeleteWow, it's not your cast iron. How do you know it's one that was used in her family; it may not be an heirloom. Not my kind of art or project but I thought it was cute.
ReplyDeleteI'm kinda surprised at all the complainers here. The creator didn't say this was a sentimental item, and it's not like there's a cast iron shortage. Have you guys been to an antique shop lately? There's tons of orphan cast iron skillets! This cast iron will now be looked at and adored for years and years. I think it's a great, fun idea! Maybe it needs some bacon? There's still room! :D
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a really cool idea. I'd love to have something like that in my kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI think it's pretty cute...if I had a big kitchen I might hang something like this up (but I agree: add some bacon;-)
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, you can get a crummy cast iron skillet at the thrift store. You wouldn't have to use your antique from 19-ought-6. I too am a lover of the seasoned cast iron, but I also love art. And while I certainly think everyone is entitled to their opinion, mine is that it's beautiful! Drill those bad boys up if you have one going to waste and plan on showcasing it for a lifetime!
ReplyDeleteConsidering some of the cast iron abuse I've seen (my mother-in-law insists on soaking hers in soapy water), I'm totally OK with this creative use! Very original!
ReplyDeletetotally cool! love this idea!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is brilliant. But how to hang it? I'm an apartment-dweller. My favorite is peg-boards, and this would totally fit the bill there, but what other options are there? Wouldn't you need a fairly substantial anchor to keep the thing on the wall?
ReplyDeleteNot only is this brilliant and do I want to try it... But there is some extreme hilarity in this. I just so happened to be watching Tangled and that scene had just finished. Literally.
ReplyDeleteI admire the 'mixed media' aspect of this piece. I never would've imagined pairing metal with as soft a medium as cross stitch? But having seen it, I like it, and also see a host of possibilities opening up, particularly in the steampunk genre. Happy dreaming.
ReplyDelete(Btw, I've already gifted you a cross-stitch 1Up, but evidently was 'behind the times' as none of it was metal, lol. Next time I'll know. :) )
I'm the one who did the cross stiched skillet. I thought I should give everyone a bit of an update. The skillet was my grandmother's. She got it from a garage sale and then gave it to me when I was starting out. I ruined it by not ever using cast iron or a dishwasher before. It was not a sentimental piece. It was not that old. I wanted to turn it into something we both would (have) appreciated. I do understand the "oh no" factor though. Seeing it on my wall (attached to a strong nail by wire) allows me to think I her more often than I did when I used it. I will be honest here that it was a complicated relationship at best. Her other relatives were very interested and supportive of this project. No bacon because I wanted to keep the design simple. I mentioned my plumber's father because I broke a drill bit trying to make the holes so this was a project for someone with better tools. The plumber came over to give me an estimate for a new hot water heater and saw my project on the dining room table. He was curious. He mentioned his father was a retired machinist who would relish the challenge. I am happy to say I meet a lovely couple in the process of completing this project.
ReplyDeletegood for you. it was your to do with what you wanted.
Deletepersonally, i think it is brilliant and beautiful. i never understand people who don't use the good china because it was their grandparents' china...and the grandparents never used it either. life is too short to not enjoy it. your project is fantastic and creative. it makes you happy to see it and if you left the skillet in a drawer you never would think of it our see it.
i am quite happy for you. it would bring me great joy to have such a piece on the wall in my kitchen. now i just need to find someone like the machinist with the tools to help!
:)
GOOD FOR YOU!!! WE SHOULD ALL BE THAT CREATIVE.
ReplyDeleteCreative idea and fantastic use of a piece that will bring you lots of joy as you look at it every day. I bet people would buy them if you market them! I would go for hash browns in mine :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, i am impressed by this.Thanks for sharing ideas and waiting for other blogs from you as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteI am among the concerned cast iron lovers, but this is cute. The issue is that they don't exactly make new cast iron cookware anymore, so what is left is all there is. Cast Iron is naturally anti-stick, so no need for tephlon which gets into your food and poisons you, if things are sticking it just means it isn't done yet - once it cooks through it slides out. Cast Iron also gives you a more even cooking surface which is hard to come by with less than top quality copper pans. Cast Iron also adds traces of iron to your food as it cooks it so you get more iron in your diet (good for those of us with anemia). This is a cute art project made with a $50-80 (depending on location) pan when you can go to the dollar store and get a frying pan that works for $1.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only person with a guess for what Jen was inspired to make? I know when I saw the pattern of holes, I thought it was going to be a picture from Tangled myself. I was thinking Rapunzel. And we all know that Jen likes Tangled. So my guess is a Tangled inspired piece.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen,
ReplyDeleteI just came across these and after I sqee-ed about how cute they were I remembered your frying pan...so I'm just gonna leave this here...http://www.designsponge.com/2011/04/sewing-101-embroidered-eggs.html