Getting closer to the stars

I spent some time working on Stargazer recently. I didn't realize there would be so many beads on her dress too! I'm wondering if I could add them as I go, but I stitch with a hoop, as your expert eyes can probably see on this photo below, so I am not sure if that is a good idea. Also, I have decided to do her skin over one for a more sophisticated look. I really love it so far! I hope to do more on her during the holidays. Who knows, if I really get down to it, I may even finish her this year... although, knowing me, it is highly unlikely.

2013: The Year of the Frog, apparently

So, as we have previously promised to each other on a drunken night of cross stitch admiring, on the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, some friends and I have all started to stitch a new Mirabilia project, as we agreed. And although I have only been working on it for three days, I already had to frog at least five times, which is annoying, but it will not put me off! I am stitching Stargazer on Stephanie's beautiful opal fabric called Midnight Tryst and this scan was taken after the first day. I promise to finish this one before the year ends.