Je Suis une Fille Formidable - finished

This large project is finally finished, though I've now revised the pattern to be more visually pleasing (switching the order of the designs below the the main border).

In fact it's SO finished that the pattern is now for sale in my Etsy shop.

Now I think I'll finally have to start the large G from my book Celtic Cross-Stitch. I did a B for my nephew Benjamin (finished about a year ago), and the G is for my niece Geneva.

The book The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander, has helped me focus on finishing this piece.

second border

Here's Une Fille Formidable with the second border added. I've put it aside for a bit because of having a long book to read (no audio edition of it) and I've been working on the chintz napkin again (that will be my next post).

The weather has been freaking ridiculous lately. I've had to turn on the air conditioning every day for the last week. I've fought it as much as possible, but my pain is so much worse when I'm hot. I'm happy to sacrifice book and cross-stitch supply money in exchange for not being completely uncomfortable and extra-achey.

Saying that, I did spend more than usual on a book recently. It's the WPA guide to West Virginia and I can't wait to get it! I think the Works Progress Administration is one of the most amazing things our country has ever done. I wish they'd bring some of those programs back. Some of the state guides were written by people who became very famous authors, but mostly I just want to read about West Virginia circa 1940.

First stage complete!

After starting this project I realized that I haven't stitched on 14 ct. Aida in forever. My stitches seem huge, clunky, and messy, and I groan over how much thread it's using. Thread is cheap, I know, but I am hardwired for thrift.

The three projects I completed just before this one were one 22 ct. Aida, and the still-in-progress chintz napkin is on an even smaller scale. 

Otherwise there are the usual annoyances of working with black Aida (which makes the stitching messier anyway). I adore the way it looks, but it's difficult to stitch on and very difficult to photograph well. It never takes long for me to regret starting a project on it, but c'est la vie.

I still have three designs to add to the top and the bottom. After the first of those is done I might go back to the chintz napkin for a while, since I've neglected it.

New project!

Here's the first look at my new project. It's on black Aida so of course it's really difficult to get a decent picture of it.

When it's finished it will be almost completely square, so that gives you an idea of how many more border designs will be above and below the main border. I'm pretty sure I'll be using successive lighter shades of purple for the borders. We'll see though.

It feels like there's SO much work to do, and never enough time or energy.