I honestly couldn't get better pictures of this

Copying is the sincerest form of flattery.  Please believe me! 

In late 2011 I found steotch's shop on Etsy; more specifically, this pattern she made.  I had to have it, but she wasn't selling the finished work or the pattern.  So I decided to make it myself:

(Now you understand the title)

I hadn't actually cross-stiched since I was in elementary school, and that was just a bookmark.  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed doing it.

I tried making another, using the Boromir meme ("one does not simply..."), but the coloring was off and I couldn't get it to look right.  I still wanted something Lord of the Rings themed, so I went with a pattern I bought from this place.

 

(The glass reflects everything, so my normal picture-taking methods are useless!)

I used two strands of white and one of metallic jewel tone to give it a nice sheen.  I promise it looks much better IRL!

I also framed both of them myself, but realized after the fact that I should have probably taken the glass out of the frame.  The mounting board was thicker than I had expected, and I left more extra fabric than I probably should have.  I really had to pack it in there, and sealed it off with this really thick acid-free adherent stuff (I don't know what it's called).  I don't think it's coming off now, but re-framing would probably involve a new frame, so....this should be good for the next few years.

So yeah, I've been wanting to share that for a while, but couldn't get decent pictures of them.  Still don't have decent pictures, but I gave up on trying.