Gloria by Patricia Andrle and my progress and thoughts so far!

So my best friend forever and I Skyped today and I took some photos of my Gloria progress. Just a reminder about this piece, I started "Gloria" designed by Patricia Andrle on November 27, 2021. This chart can be found in the Cross Stitch and Country Craft magazine issue November/December 1995.  I was Skyping with my bestie Leslie when I started it.  I am using the called for colors of DMC floss and Kreinik metallics on 28 count Lugana fabric in Opalescent White.  This is a stunning design and we both agree Patricia Andrle is one of both of our FAVORITE designers of all time.

This is the beginning of the wording.  This image does a fairly good job of showing how the metallic blending filament is stunning in EVERY stitch.  It is not in the backstitching.  You can see how the opalessence fabric adds to the overall effect of majestic medieval feel of this design.

The border motifs and these motifs to the right of the "O" remind me of crown jewel gems.  The backstitching just defines them.  The grey crystal type shape of the corners in the far right motif have no backstitching however that just adds to the ethereal feel of ice crystals.  I love it.

Here is even a closer image of these motifs.  I have 3 more to stitch in this row before I get to the right border.  If you look at the gold motif on the left the inner red looks like it deepens to a deep, deep garnet when in fact the back stitching gives it that illusion.  Actually the center is a black +, it is stunning.

The above is a photo of the photo in the actual magazine just as a reminder of the entire design finished. It absolutely does not do justice to the real beauty of the design.

I have stitched on it every day since I started.  I did miss 2 days, December 25th and 26th.  I have managed to obtain my daily stitching goal of one complete motif size area of stitching each day I stitch.  The going is made slow by the Kreinik and I have fought with that blending filament several days.  I am thrilled with my progress and how stunning the design is and have enjoyed every minute I have worked on it.