Since completing my Celestial Gathering cross stitch I’ve started a new cross stitching project, this time one of a Parisian flower shop. 
It’s a refreshing change to stitch on a white canvas again (Celestial Gathering was on a dark navy one). I started working on the bottom half of the piece first. The bottom half is comprised of the storefront as well as some miscellaneous decorations around the store. You can see the blue framework of the store, and I’ve already filled in the top four windows as well as the store sign at the top. The open front door is also visible, and I’m slowly working my way through filling out the longer bottom four windows.
It’s coming along quite nicely, although I’ll be taking a break from cross stitching soon – it is rather strenuous on the eyes!
After some “sneak peaks” here, here, and here, I am proud to announce that my Celestial Gathering by cross stitch project is finally complete.
The sun, moon, planet, stars, and borders were all done in a cross stitch, while the constellations, galaxy, and other background detailing were done in a half cross stitch. Outlining was done in a backstitch, and the little dotted stars were done with French knots.
Not to toot my own horn or anything, but damn, this looks amazing.
In March and May’s Every Hour on the Hour posts, there has been a photo of my current cross stitching project. I’m working on a piece called “Celestial Gathering” on a dark navy blue canvas that measures 14 x 11 inches. 
I started off stitching the right side of the canvas, as the chart and key for the pattern was split up into two sheets. I finished stitching the moon in March, and stitched the constellations nearby the moon (Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Cancer). Then I added a galaxy, stars, lots of cloud-like stuff, and a planet. All of that was pretty much finished last month, and then I started stitching the sun.
Man, stitching this sun is not as easy as I thought it was going to be. There are so many shades of yellows, golds, oranges, and browns, and the rays of the sun extend so far out from the sun’s center that I’m hoping there will still be space left on the canvas for the rest of the celestial gathering! It’s coming together quite nicely though; the sun’s face can be distinguished and the rays are starting to look quite pronounced!
