Cross stitch update: Plum Street Samplers, The City Stitcher, Reflets de Soie

It’s been a while since I’ve shared needlework progress, so here are my main WIPs and a new cross stitch start (plus shop notes for the end of June).

I was working on Paradise Lost by Plum Street Samplers and finally made it all the way across to the blackwork letters (which are very pretty), though I have a good ways to go. The Tree of Knowledge in the center is still a favorite.

I wanted a fresh start, so I narrowed my next project down to two options, then realized they both also featured Adam and Eve. I ended up picking ‘Adam and Eve Sampler’ by The City Stitcher--isn’t this Eve great? I’m crazy about her.

The third is ‘O Marie’ by Reflets de Soie. I made a few updates to Mary’s face and worked the first stitches to start the border. There’s a lot of white on white, especially in Mary’s dress, so I have to keep jumping around to give my eyes a break. All three are on 40ct. linen with DMC cotton (‘O Marie’ is silk).

I never set out to buy religious patterns, but they always end up calling to me. I was thinking this morning that since I’m always multitasking during the day, especially with kids, I don’t give myself much opportunity for reflection or prayer, so cross stitch becomes a meditative practice (with the bonus of ending up with a piece of textile art).

My next folk Mary statuette release will be this Monday, June 29th at 2 PM ET. I just listed a few copies of Riverbank Saints in my shop this afternoon and should have a handful more for Monday. For this release, 100% of profits from all items listed “in offering” will be sent to @the.auto.body.shop, a Pittsburgh-based mobile resource supporting bodily autonomy and community care.

Since I know not everyone checks in here often, I’ll have my upcoming release dates posted under my shop link on my website’s landing page going forward.

Altar bouquets: yarrow, mugwort, St. John’s wort