A custom, handmade gift
You've possibly seen in my monthly wrap-up posts that sometimes I mention things about martial arts.
Wait, you do martial arts?
I do, yes!
The dojo that I attend has become a little bit of a second home too, since my youngest daughter has classes twice a week, too. So I'm currently going there 4 times a week..!
Because of that, for Christmas last year, I decided to stitch them a stitch people portrait. Because of course I did..!
![Kate, next to the completed cross-stitch hanging on the wall of the dojo she attends!](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-kate.jpg?v=1682452051)
Here's the finished piece!
![A photo of a framed, completed cross-stitch piece that depicts 5 people and 1 dog. The people are all in black martial arts uniform, two of them are in 'motion' in a way. The dog that is shown is a brown colour and is standing behind the man in the middle.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-finished-piece.jpg?v=1682451321)
Close-ups
Let's have a look at the six characters a bit closer:
![alt](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-close-up_dmw01.jpg?v=1682450699)
![alt](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-close-up_dmw02.jpg?v=1682450722)
![alt](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-close-up_dmw03.jpg?v=1682450741)
![alt](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-close-up_dmw04.jpg?v=1682450756)
![alt](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-close-up_dmw05.jpg?v=1682450773)
![alt](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-close-up_dmw06.jpg?v=1682450794)
What made you start martial arts?
When I was a teenager, I did taekwondo for about a year. I really enjoyed it overall, but there were a few things that caused me to stop participating (such as annoying little kids in my class that were disrespectful but allowed to continue, for example). However, I always wanted to keep doing it some 20+ years later.
A year ago today, I fixed that and made a positive change in my life for the better and took up martial arts again.
The place I go to do a few different types of martial arts (hence why I call it under the "umbrella" term) but mainly focus on taekwondo and self defense tactics. And I love it..! Some days I wish I didn't have class, but I am never upset I attended a class after it is done.
![The finished stitched piece on a slight angle, closer up.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/230523-piece.jpg?v=1682452273)
What do you think of this piece and how it turned out? Would you order a piece like this for your small business?