Swan Song

 The moment you realize you have entered back stitch Hades...

and emerge on the other side 24 hours later!

Stitched in 8 days in 28ct Thunderstorm (my favorite for spooky projects) Blackbird Singing by Tiny Modernist was not the most enjoyable stitch (everyone knows how I feel about backstitching) but I could not be happier with the results! 

Gentle Arts Black Crow, Creek bed, and Butternut Squash were used, as well as DMC Etoile (which I now try to sneak into every project) in C725.

One will stay in my home and as soon as it is fully finished the second will head to the Crones for her Crow room. The Maiden 

I Dared!

 Enter if You Dare by Cherished Stitches snuck into my rotation as a restart on August 19, 2021. While I was remiss on restarting, I can admit it has produced some amazing results already! 

Stitched on 28ct Cauldron in 3 days while rewatching iZombie, I used Cresent Colors Nighty Night for the boarder (subbed DMC 939 when I ran out), DMC etoile in 310 (because I now sneak it into everything and do not have a stash of silk lame, yet!) and mill hill beads 02104 as they are my favorite critter eyes. 

The original work will find itself to it's new owner shortly, as I had stitched a quarter of it before I restarted, my very own version of save the stitches aided by Lina's Stitch Life! 

The Maiden   

Raven Queen

 The first of my restarts has seen some significant progress, despite my indecisions on certain aspects of the pattern 

The coverage is quite nice on 28ct, but I will admit I am going through Soie d'Alger Noir black silk like it is water! 

After some test stitching, I decided to stitch her skin 2 over 2 and think I will stick with the original blues in the dress (I debated converting to a gold color palate).  While I lament starting her over on 28ct I cannot argue with the results! The Maiden 

Starting Again

After months of debate, and hours on the phone with the Crone, I have come to the very difficult decision to restart select projects from my 42 WIPs. Buying hand dyed fabric once is costly enough, but twice? Insanity!  

Fearing I would never return to my WIPs I started on 32ct, I drove to my LNS and purchased the last 3 28ct fat quarters in these colors (she has not received a fabric shipment since Covid began!).  I am excited to see my first three restarts come to life, and hope that 28ct will rejuvenate them the way it has my newly started projects! The Maiden

Slowly Taking Flight

 We have wings, and the realization that this is a full size Mirabilia and not a Nora Corbett Pixie! I tried to push through the 32ct thinking that a lighter fabric may be more forgiving, but it was no use. Body aches and headaches abounded. 

At the suggestion of the Crone, and not wanting to restart this project, I have decided to try the 1 strand a day method. I hope to have this project and my latest start completed by Halloween (now that I have stated this it most likely will not happen, hahaha)! 

Am I the only one obsessed with Valdani's Subtle Elegance? The Maiden 

Pop of Poppy

Finding my next focus project has been challenging with the majority of my 43 WIPs on 32ct presenting a physical road block to my stitching post accident. Reluctantly I restarted Poppy, and while I had no 28ct fabric in my stash (let's face it, I used to be a higher count snob) I thought a lighter belfast would suffice. 

While I secretly love her floating head, the change in fabric was not enough for me to find an easy enjoyment while stitching, so she will be put away for another day. The Maiden

Final Frida

I unfortunately angered the cross stitch Gods by taking a break from my Mermaid to stitch my first Maynia start from 2021, but it may be worth it to have a finish!  

Stitched on 28ct Cashel Linen in raw mini dots in 5 days, I completed this project on August 9, 2021.

I don't know if it was the fabric or my frame of mine but she was not the most enjoyable stitch. This will be the last in a series of Frida's I have stitched for the Crone, now all that is left is to finish and deliver them! The Maiden