Another Tail to Tell

 The great mermaid summer of 2021 continues as the rains pour down in my city with this focus mermaid seeing an impressive amount of progress! 

I have finally hit the bottom and am itching for a finish... The Maiden

Enchanted Employment

 

This project has been more labor than love, first purchased when I was unemployed (I think by the Crone) and exclusively worked on during these periods. As the realities of covid sank in I found myself in an extended period of unemployment during 2021 and knew it was time to finish her. 

Now that she is done I LOVE the result, and do not think it is a coincidence that on the very day the last bead was placed I received an amazing job offer! 

The beading on this was boarderline obscene, row upon row of beads were placed and I even cut a few strands out! 

The backstitching on this gave me such trouble, so much in fact I began the beading before all of it was in place (and even referenced a few you tube videos thinking it must have been my technique)! The hardest was the lips, try as I might I could not get them to look right. I added 2 petite point stitches in a fuchsia color and the desired result was achieved! 

It was impossible to capture her true resplendence, in person each bead catches the light and puts on quite the show! The Maiden

Friday the 13th Crossabration!

So this year's International Cross Stitch Day falls on Friday August the 13th, 2021.  You heard me, Friday the 13th!!! 

Plans are forming with the Crone and Nessa to make this the best one yet, and I had an idea for a new start just this morning. I plan to stitch the Herbal Grimoire by Samplers and Stories and turn it into an actual display book!

Style 24 Designs on Etsy had the perfect pages, and here are some of my favorites. Oddly enough I purchased 24 pages before stopping myself, maybe it's a sign?! Hahahaha, no impulse control.

Cranberry is a must, a medicinal plant both the crone and I unfortunately are in great need of suddenly! 

My scrapbooking skills have come much further since they have graced this blog so I am excited to see what I can do with this project! 

The Maiden 

Post production note: The Crone is joining me with poisonous plant embroidery! After an amazing embroidery gift this Christmas I tried my hand at this art and was presently surprised this week. Inspired by her addition to the book, I think the cover of my own will be embroidered. 

Raindrops fall and Sparkle is all I See

 One full skein of DMC C310 down, one to go! 

The next day I finished the first spool of Kreinik combined with the Etoile there was sparkle everywhere! 

The Rain came down in sheets, 

and flooded the streets

Which meant Mermaid stitching for this girl! The Maiden

Rainy Days and Mermaids Abound

An early monsoon season in my City means day after day of Rainy Day Stitching! Before the last stitch was even in Lilith I knew I wanted to tackle Aphrodite next (Lilith had less than 30 stitches of kreinik and this mermaid has spools and spools of them!). 

Starting point after 2 days of stitching post accident (abandoned due to physical constraints). 

I find that I often lose interest after getting mired down in the skin, so I have started skipping ahead, saving the majority of the skin for last and tackling the backstitching at the same time. This worked wonders for my motivation on Lilith! When all you have left is skin how can you not finish? 

Time for my first q-snap move! 

Does anyone else see the egg laying, face adhering creature from Alien?!? 

When kreinik is the only life you know. 

The Maiden

Lilith of the Undead

Mere hours ago the last beads were placed on my first Mirabilia finish since 2018! Often referred to as the mermaid that swims between the land of the living and the dead I knew she had to be mine the moment the Crone secured her for herself! 

Stitched in 30 days on 28ct Valor and pushed forward by an early monsoon season (Rainy days mean mermaid stitching). 

The beading was more intensive than I originally thought and "helped" along by my 2 year old niece who liked to grab beads and place them in the hair, after which she would jump up and down screaming "bead mermaid!" 

After beading 75% of Enchanted Mermaid I have adjusted my technique a bit, securing the thread with a small knot on the back of the stitch before big jumps and after treasures. I also like to secure the initial bead with a petite point stitch. 

I did omit a significant amount of beads from the hair, as it seemed cluttered and stitched with 3 strands of DMC in 3371 to achieve the perfect coverage. 

The Maiden 

A Peak Under the Waves

Well much to my dismay and for the first time in my stitchy history I now have 2 projects in the beading phase. The sliver lining? My new bead trays have increased my speed significantly and keep tiny paws out! How did I bead before these?! 

While I strive to make all my photos unique and flawless that is not the reality of my workspace! Here is a glimpse behind the scenes where bead trays are labeled and threads are carried. 

The Maiden