"A Star Is Born"

It's approaching 1:15 A.M. on July 3, and what a week it's been! Let's just say it was the perfect storm of work-related, home-related stuff -- which resulted in stitching being pushed back further into the wee hours. A few hours of stitching ahead of me tonight, but I thought I'd post quickly once more before Saturday, July 4. I can't believe that this sampler is almost finished!

I chose this star design, with the five-fold symmetry, for part of the border. There are fifty stars in the sampler -- one for each state, to represent the contemporary configuration of stars on the flag. Up close, the star pattern is not perfectly symmetrical, but when seen from a distance, as is the case with cross stitch "pixels", it appears to have five-point symmetry - reminiscent of stars on the American flag.

It is said that Betsy Ross's superior sewing skills were demonstrated by her ability to cut and stitch a perfect five-point star -- one of the most difficult shapes to craft. She was a real pro!

Today a friend emailed me, asking if July 4 marks the end of this blog. No, no, not at all . . I've only just begun! After July 4, I'll start preparing the sampler for framing. And with a piece this size -- stitch count is 355w x 382h -- the prep time will be significant.

But first things first . . I'm nervous and excited about July 4. It's been a long and exhilirating process -- by far, the largest stitching project I've ever designed or stitched. I'm so grateful that we've travelled this road together -- thank you for helping me on this journey . . . See you in a few hours . . . ciao.