And The Winner Is....

This is the piece that won technical competence and people's choice at the needlework exhibition.  I think it came out very very good framed.  People were also astonished that I would pay so much just for the materials for it - at least the cross stitchers who knew prices were.  The materials alone for this cost as much as a person's salary here for a month.

A Long Haul Done

After nearly ten years I have finally finished my Medieval Town Mandala.  It is currently framed and waiting for me to pick it up.  I feel like I have accomplished something major in getting it done.  It's been stitched on on three continents and made several trips across the Atlantic.  Now that it's done, I find I still like it very much.

Lagging

Two weeks in Krakow did not help this piece get done.  It's got a bit more than half of the beading to go, and I do feel the need to just finish it.

Beading Away

I had hoped to have more beading done.  Unfortunately, our rental apartment is not conducive to beading.  I've been trying.  I truly want to get this done.  At least the top part is about done!

It's Beading Time!

The cross stitches are all in and I've started beading away!  Yay!

On The Last

I am on the last corner of cross stitch.  After this it's beading and backstitch.  That means this is soooo close to being done I have to take it with me to Krakow so I can.

Almost Three

Almost all of the third corner is done.  I've not been stitching as much as I need to, so it's not complete.

Just Starting The Third

I am now officially on the third corner.  Go me!

Catty Corner

Evidently Andreas had a hard time fitting both areas I was working on this week into the photo.  This was his solution.  I have one corner complete and another well on its way.  I feel so good about making progress on this!

Bouqueting

I am so very close to finishing off this first corner.  It feels so good to get this almost done.

All Squared Up

I am done with squaring the mandala up!  It's time to fill in the corners and start in on the beading.

Nine Tenths

I am nine tenths of the way done with the border bars!  That means I am so much closer to being done.

On To The Fourth

I'm now working on the final corner, yay!  It's on the way to being truly done, though I think I will end up spending a couple of weeks beading when the time comes.

Two And A Half

Closer and closer I creep!  Two and a half corners done, one and a half to go.

Third Started

I now have a third corner started and a second one finished in this step.  I love the progress I'm making and looking forward to having this done before the end of September.  Go me!

Feeling Good

I feel so good about my progress on this project!  The second corner is almost done and the backstitching in the lower left progresses nicely. I also just like the look of this.  It makes me smile.

Cut Off

This has officially gotten too big for Andreas to take a photo of easily, so the bottom's cut off.  I still am doing some backstitching on the left, and I am pleased with the progress on the border. 

One Corner, Two Thirds

Now down to the side on the first corner.  It's coming along pretty well, and I like the look of it.  The middle left building is also getting backstitched.  Progress!

On The Border

I can't stop smiling about this piece because I'm officially working on the borders!  Yay!  The last building of the last side is stitched and now I just have borders to do.

So Dang Close

I have only one tower and part of a building to go to have -all- the buildings done on the mandala.  It's making me excited to be so close to finish!