While waiting for supplies to do a golden ankh, I started a new project, a winged scarab on 20 grid aida (as small as I'll ever go). I had a difficult time limning it.
All wrong chart, I had to make the horizonal wider on canvas to match the look. Was mistake to use standard grid paper and not grid paper meant for needlework? The perfectly square chart doesn't match the slightly longer in the vertical canvas and I made a lot of errors, but so far, so good. I'm doing each side at the same time to count together, as drawing is so bad....
Winged scarab progress! It will be in front of a golden sun with purply-pinky sunrise sky....
This is on 20 grid canvas, two threads to the stitch instead of 3 threads for the 18 grid.
All done!...
Pendant is one I had made in polished brass, via Shapeways.
True confession: yes, it has a slight bulge in the center. The hoop, which had enclosed the sun and scarab, REALLY stretched the canvas. If I had had any idea how big the design would be, I would have gone with the ten inch hoop. Also, the top is faced, as it was too short otherwise. I still like it, even though it's bulgy.
I was trying to suggest moon cycles in the border, 12 moons, as some years have 12 full moons.
And yes, the second photo has been edited to hide most of the bulge, in order that the design show better. The first photo is as is, except for lighting adjustments.