Guardian Spirit: Week 4

You know how sometimes you're working on a project, and you genuinely feel like you're not making any progress? That's how I've felt this week with Guardian Spirit, but after sifting through my pictures, I've realized that it's actually coming along quite nicely! So, here is Guardian Spirit, one month in:

We have some background, progress on the neck, backstitching and some more of the second feather! So, all in all, pretty good. I'm enjoying this project a lot, and it's making me want to take on other large projects in the future. 

Also, I have just finished reading The Giver of Stars by Jojo Mojes and oh, my goodness. What a book!

It was nominated for Best Historical Fiction in the 2019 Goodreads Awards, and I really thought it would win. Alas, it didn't, but it swept me away. It's set in 1930s Appalachia, where an English woman moves after impulsively marrying an American man from there. The marriage doesn't really go well, but she finds a sense of purpose in being one of the librarians of the "pony library" that's just opened in her town: she rides her horse up the mountains and delivers books to the people who live there. That's the premise of the book, but of course the story offers so much more: strong friendships among women, a glimpse into post-depression rural America, the grit and strength of mountain people, and the ways in which we keep going in life in spite of difficulties, all against the background of coal mines and gorgeous mountains. 

Anyway. That long paragraph just to say: go and read this book if you haven't already! (And if you have, do leave your opinions below!)

I hope you're all doing well and are enjoying your week so far, until next time, happy stitching :)

Just Married by Vervaco

It's a special entry today! I'm very happy and proud to showcase my mom's latest work, a piece called "Just Married" by Vervaco:

Isn't it lovely? Just look at that.

She worked on this piece for about a month, and really enjoyed it. She says that she is always drawn to pieces of this style and colors, and wants to frame it next to her beautiful dolphins she got from Greece:

Personally I think it's a very sweet and romantic piece, somewhat nostalgic. And once framed it will look stunning, especially next to those sweet little dolphins!

I think it's great that she got back into cross stitching and to share this with her, it's a great little hobby to have together!

What are you all stitching right now? I hope you have something crafty to keep you happy and busy. Until next time, happy stitching :D

Guardian Spirit: Week 3

Well, good evening everyone! How are you all doing? I wanted to show you my progress on Guardian Spirit this week, because lo and behold, we have a face!

I know, right?! She's looking amazing,if I do say so myself. I'm loving the gloss in her hair, earring, lips and cheeks, it's so lifelike. Speaking of which, there's also a whole complete feather, and an earring! I can't wait to backstitch them to give them extra pop.

Stitching the face was... interesting, to say the least. I was so close to the project that I couldn't see the whole picture and I kept thinking it was going to be a disaster. And there were times when she looked, well... absolutely terrifying:

I showed the above picture to my husband as he was passing by one afternoon and his eyebrows shot all the way to his hairline. Thankfully, however, she turned into this beauty:

So I am very pleased!

Today is a holiday here in Spain, so we made the best of it and drove over to the national park nearby to go on a hike. We chose a trail that goes along the mountainside, with the sparkling blue Mediterranean sea just to your right. 

The trail finishes off in a small cove that's perfect to sit in and have a picnic. We even got to feed some curious sparrows that wanted to share our meal. The weather was beautiful, a real spring day in the middle of winter. All in all a great day. Picture time:

How is your week going so far? I hope you're enjoying it and have some crafty project or other between your hands! Until next time, happy stitching :)

Guardian Spirit and Needle Minders

Hello everyone! I've finished week 2 of Guardian Spirit and wanted to show you all where it's at:

Now, it might not look like a lot of progress, but as my very Irish and poetic husband put it: "that is one big head!" And it really is! So. Many. Stitches. But that's ok, because I'm loving it.

In fact, this is one of the most fun (funnest? Most fun? I may be an English teacher, but this one always floors me) projects I've ever done, and one of the reasons I love it is that it's so diverse. Like, I'll pick it up and think, "What am I in the mood for? Stitching the frame? A feather? A half-stitched sky? A big old head?". There's so much possibility it's impossible to get bored! It's awesome.

Needle Minders

In the cross stitch supplies side of news: I have new needle minders! 

Story time: one of my best friends, who used to be my colleague and also happens to be a chronic illness spoonie, and with whom I've spent a lot of evenings complaining about Life in General and also binge watching Netflix, just came back from the States. She was there visiting a friend of hers, and that girl was nice enough to let me ship some needle minders to her house (thank you, Rachel!) So my friend brought them back with her, because she is amazing. 

And you guys, just look at these:

Aren't they the cutest thing ever??? I'd had these in my Etsy wish list for a very long time, and I'm so happy to actually own them! One of the cat minders is for my mom, though we don't know who will keep which yet.

And there's also this hobbit door, with an adorable fairy that the seller sent for free:

What can I say? I'm in love. 

Disney

Also, in case the needle minders weren't already wonderful, my friend went ahead and spoiled me with not one, but two Disney dolls!

Ariel because The Little Mermaid was the first Disney movie I owned and binge-watched as a child, and Rapunzel because it's probably my favorite of the modern Disney movies, apart from Frozen of course. 

And with that rambling post (are you still there?) I'll leave you with hopes that you've had a great weekend, and enjoyed your stitching :)