Birds of Paradise
Among all the cross stitches which I made so far, this one was more challenging as I need to do lots of back stitches. However as I like challenges, I enjoyed while I was doing it. Next to gardening, doing cross stitches was one of my best hobbies. Though I have done some pencil sketching in my schools days, I never developed that art. My interest in learning flute ended once the teacher who taught me suddenly passed away (others joked that on seeing my learning, he thought better to leave this earth than to teach me). I learnt Cross stitching from my mother when I was 8 years old. Apart from cross stitching I have done so many other netting and basket making with plastic wires. However after I become the bhakta of the Lord, when I met one couple at Varanasi, seeing the embroidery work she was doing, I resumed my work. Then it continues past more than 20 years.
For me creativity is God’s gift to humanity. When I do the count cross stitch work, the way it begins to unfold slowly on the fabric gives much energy and concentration. I also doing printed cross stitch works. In fact I do two cross stitches work simultaneously—count cross stitch in the day time when I watch TV news and printed cross stitch when watch some TV program in the night. I do the same pattern several times if I like that particular pattern. Most of the time I never keep the cross stitches with me and always find satisfaction only when I give to others.
This one I started on January 1st 2018 and completed on September 28th (while I am doing other printed pattern in the night). After the completion, my mother refuses to give this to anyone and commanded me to frame it and keep in our house. So in order to oblige her I framed it and at present with us. But soon it too will be given to someone else.
30-09-2018