The Witchy Stitcher Cryptid Stitch-Along: Nessie

A cryptid that needs no introduction… The Loch Ness Monster, or as her friends call her, Nessie.  I don’t think she’s a monster at all.   Nessie is my FAVORITE cryptid other than Sasquatch.  In 2023, when the world wasn't as scary and I was a happier person (that will change, I know, but right now... I'm honestly barely holding it together some days), we went to Scotland for our wedding anniversary and we went to the Loch Ness Center, where we did a little tour narrated by David Tenant about the legends, history, and hoaxes of The Loch Ness Monster.  That was the trip of a lifetime, and it was so cool to see some of the history.  Sidenote:  Scotland, to me, is a faerie tale dream world and I didn’t wanted to leave.  I have never been anywhere so beautiful.

 

Nessie is said to inhabit Loch Ness, the biggest lake in Scotland, located in the Scottish Highlands.  She was first reported on August 22, 564.  She was reportedly seen in Drumnadrochit by a hotel manager in the 1930s, and that’s when all the fanfare happened.  There are groups in Scotland dedicated to finding her and proving she exists.  She is an animal with sleek, rubbery black skin, about 20 feet long.  She may be a very old Plesiosaurus.  I often wonder if there has been more than one of her over the years. 

That's What She Said

 Well!  It's been a minute but we are moved in and somewhat settled.  I think that it'll take a little while to get everything situated how we want.  But we already moved our great big TV in, of course we have our offices set up, and I have my craft stuff out, so we are set!

It's finally feeling like winter in Texas, and it's been so cozy stitching in front of the TV.  Here  is the first piece I've finished out here!  The pattern is by Jennyslittleartshop on Etsy.  

I have a feeling I will be getting A LOT of cross stitching done out here in the middle of the woods...

The Witchy Stitcher Cryptid Stitch-Along: Ahool

 Happy New Year!  We moved out to Coldspring this weekend.  My parents are so fucking amazing, I can't even tell you.  They were such a huge help in getting us loaded and moved, and partially unloaded.  I hate moving and do not want to do this again.  Well, I DO want to do it again because I want to move to CO, but ugghhh not looking forward to it.

We are in the house I grew up in, which is both very cozy and very weird.  Allen's office is in my old bedroom.  My office is in the laundry/computer room.  I am really looking forward to spending all the time with my parents and seeing my sister more often before we move 13 hours away to Colorado.  

Anyway, on with the cross stitch.  I finished this one last Thursday.  It's the last cross stitch I did in our house in Hutto, which makes me a little sad when I think about it, so I won't think about it.  This is my latest installment of The Witchy Stitcher's Cryptid Stitch-Along.  I must have bought this Stitch-Along two or three years ago.  I rarely keep up with them because I just may not be in the mood to stitch a specific thing when they come out.  I also have her Supernatural one that I will start on after I get through these.  I'm thinking I may do a few of them on one piece of Aida rather than do them all separately.  You're meant to do the entire Stitch-Along on one piece of Aida but... I don't like stitching the big frame because one stitch off and you're fucked and I cant' handle that.  LOL Anyway, here is the Ahool.  

The Ahool is "a flying cryptid, supposedly a giant bat, or by other accounts, a living pterosaur or flying primate.  Named for its distinctive call A-hool (other sources render it ahOOOooool), it is said to live in the deepest rainforests of Java. It is described as having a monkey/ape-like head with large dark eyes, large claws on its forearms (approximately the size of an infant), and a body covered in gray fur. Possibly the most intriguing and astounding feature is that it is said to have a wingspan of 3 m (10 ft). This is almost twice as long as the largest (known) bat in the world, the common flying fox."

Happy New Year!

 I'm back at work after my holiday break.  Happy New Year!  

This year, we didn't really do much, because we are packing our final things to move to Coldspring.  This decision has been extremely difficult for me.  I am deeply connected to our home in Hutto.  I have put so much magic and energy into this space and I feel very attached.  I have cried almost daily having to say goodbye, and honestly, sometimes I doubt our decision to do this.  But on the other hand, we feel like a move to a state that isn't so.... REPUBLICAN... is a good move.  I think we will be happy.  And we will also have seasons!  I am sick to death of wearing shorts on Christmas!

Anyway, here are my final stitches of 2024!

I found this pattern ages ago, I think on the now defunct Feeling Stitchy blog.  My dear friend Haylan has a book of people's art she's collected over the years.  I did a horrible self-portrait in it almost 20 years ago, and she asked me to do another page, so I stitched this up and added it!!  She absolutely loved it.

I am a huge Smiths fan and the end of last year was rough for me.  I stitched this one up in hopes of good times... for a change.  I got this pattern from Follow the White Bunny.

I am a huge fan of The Office, and I really need more cross stitch pieces from that show.  This is one I found online, but couldn't find it to purchase, so I just made it myself.  IYKYK...

And finally, this one.  I had no plans for it, and my friend Cristina asked me how much I'd sell it for.  Well, I normally wouldn't sell it and I'd have just sent it, but since we're moving... I gave her a good price and this is her picture of it after she got it.  It makes me sad, not only because it was one of the last cross stitches I did in Hutto, but Cristina passed away from brain cancer not long after she purchased this.  I had no idea she was sick- she had moved away but we still kept in touch.  She loved it, though, and hope someone worthy inherited it from her.  

Here's to a happy and prosperous 2025!