Plants of the Underworld

 Another October goal is done and dusted!

For the spooky season I wanted to work on the Skeleton Man and was surprised to discover the plants in his hand had connections to the underworld! Hemlock was used in ancient Greece to execute prisoners, bleeding hearts are said to have first grown after a prince committed suicide over an unrequited love, and Henbane (or stinking Nightshade) was said to sit on the head as a crown of those that wandered Hades realm.  

The Crone has inspired me to pull this project out several times this year as it is part of her version of Myestoon Manor, a game that she redesigned based off of the Wizard of Oz. 

The Maiden

Getting more Familiar

Halloween stitching has returned!  

Many moons ago it began with this moth, which sat half completed for years...

I drudged this project out as part of my 26 WIPs in 2026 and immediately got to stitching, with Red Riding hood playing in the background.

The goat was definitely a creepy stitch, and while I considered leaving it out I eventually caved (it is my astrological sign after all!).

This snake held my heart, and was the last familiar I stitched this season (possibly). 

I have plans to stitch each individually, finishing in a book or possibly framing individually in a bell pull fashion (I am envisioning dramatic black frames connected by velvet ribbons!).

I have been considerably overwhelmed by my 50 some odd WIPs and feel like I am stitching in circles. Many projects see progress but are no where near a finish. I have 1 new start planned for Halloween, and am finishing rotations on Greenhouse of Oddities and Sleepy Hallow. Once October comes to a close I will need to re-evaluate the direction of my stitching. 

The Maiden

Mirabilia Madness

 The newer the phone, the worse the photos! 

This has seen quite a few rotations since it last hit the blog, but unfortunately does not see the light of day often.  While there are several new Mirabilia's I have kitted and awaiting a start, I would like to get some off my WIP list first:

~ Venetian

~Persephone

~Mother's Arms

~Roses of Provence

~Ophelia

August Fairy, Pretty to Think So, Andromeda, Aires and the Sea Merchant's Wife are awaiting the dreaded B's: beading and backstitch. 

Raven Queen and Ella and the Frog Princess may become UFO's as time passes, I just have not had the heart to retire them just yet...

The Maiden 

Am I a monogamous stitcher?

 

Note quite, but this is as close as I will ever come! 

Chipping away at her dress and thought I would snap a quick photo between snap frame moves (I try to distract myself with other stitches, but I just keep coming back- and ignoring my life!)

I wrote in a journal over a year ago what my ideal life would look like, lazy mornings with no alarms, homemade hot cocoa and a stitch in hand...

I have been blessed to live this life in 2026!  The Maiden

Fall Bash

 

The temperature drops 2 degrees and I immediately switch into Fall mode! 

Jack's Bash has seen much progress since it's time on this blog, and since it is the only fall project I have in my WIPs it was back on the snaps (below is my starting point, I am still in love with the boarder). 

And here is where I got to! I often get stuck when it comes time to converting major components of a stitch, but I think I have this one almost figured out! 

The maiden

Cross Stitch Forgotten

 I don't even know where to begin, with the exception of forgetting World Cross Stitch Day. This was beyond depressing for me, as every year I turn this day into an event. I take off work, eat great food, drink Starbucks, and plan new starts and stitch alongs. I spend some time in the Hallow (Hawk Run Hallow) and generally celebrate this art we love. But this year, distracted by life, I forgot.

I came to the blog to see past years, look for inspiration in my stitching (for I will plan to celebrate belatedly tomorrow) and became nostalgic for simpler times.  Each post brought forth emotions and events I had long forgotten, so I will begin again and try to recapure some of what has been lost. 

Mirabilia May set off a chain reaction for me, the past few months I have focused on my oldest and newest Mirabilia's. Persephone was restarted for the 3rd time and I finally found the fabric for her!

Venetian has been relegated to a strand a day and I am actually seeing significant progress, even reaching the bottom!

Roses of Provence is another oldie, so she got a few stitches earlier in the year. I have decided to pick 1 Mira a year as a focus, assign a stitch count per month and hopefully see some finishes! 

Pretty to think so awaits beading...

I hated every stitch of this dragon. Every. Last. One. The color conversion I had to do to get the wings to match the model stitch alone was obscene. Awaits beads.  

I swear she has a head! Hahaha, awaiting beading. 

The first twin has emerged in this massive project.

I started Undine, but hate my fabric so she waits patiently (I am also in no hurry to restart, this is the most complicated Mira I have attempted!). 

Here is hoping for future patterns, posts, and progress!

The Maiden

2025 Monthly Goals

 

The Maiden