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Some of you already know the story behind Cat in a Window from this thread. It is even more poignant now. I started it around 19th January and a few days later, the day before Mum's birthday, Mum's sister lost a long battle with illness. My aunt had a cat called Holly and arranged that after her passing, Holly would be cared for by a cat charity until they could find her a new home. (The charity have promised to select the new home very carefully and check up on Holly after a month or so and take her back to the charity if they're not happy with how she's getting on.) I suggested to Mum that we name this cat Holly after my aunt's beloved pet and Mum had had the same idea. This is how Holly will eventually look:




And here is how far I've got:



I'm stitching this 2 over 1 on 22ct antique white hardanger.

Thanks for looking.

There is going to be an almost unbearable weight of emotion on this once done. I do hope it turns out as well as possible.

Good start & a very poignant story.

Regards,

Richard.

Lovely, lovely start!!! This work of art is surly a work of love! I hope we will see lots of updates!

Carole

I am sorry for your loss and love the story behind Holly , you have made a beautiful start

Great start and great idea to name it for her cat.

This is beautiful and will be a lasting tribute!!!!!!

What a neat idea to name this cat after your aunt's beloved pet - a double remembrance. You have made a wonderful start on it too and I am looking forward to seeing the next update.

This will be such a special project for you - each still will be a remembrance. And you've made a beautiful start on it. I'm looking forward to seeing this one grow.

It's going to be beautiful and poignant. Look forward to more progress xxx

Niki xxx

Beautiful start on this very special project!

Wonderful start.

That's a beautiful project, and one with a lot of meaning for you now. Great start on it

Thank you for your lovely comments, everyone.

There's a little twist to the story. My aunt's funeral was on Thursday. As we filed out of the church after the service, waiting for us outside was a gorgeous black and white cat sitting on the wall right opposite the church door. As we followed the coffin down the path, the cat trotted along the wall alongside us as if making her own little tribute. Everyone noticed that cat and she was a talking point for the rest of the day.

They know and they mourn in their own feline way. I think there is no doubt that Holly was showing how much she loved and will miss your aunt. That is a very touching story.

Carole

It's taken me a while to finish the first couple of pages on this as I developed the beginnings of RSI/carpal tunnel at the base of my thumbs a few weeks ago and had to take a break from stitching. Fortunately, slow progress is still progress so here's page 2. I'm really pleased with the detail! Page 3 is mostly background with the tips of the ears at the bottom and the background runs into page 4, so I'll probably treat pages 3 and 4 as one page. One thing that concerns me, though, is I think there is a charting error on page 4. If you look at the full design at the beginning of this thread, just behind the tulip on the right-hand side (sort of diagonally between the flower and the curtain) is a strange block of grey. I've compared it with online versions of the painting and I think that block of grey isn't supposed to be there. When I get to that bit I'll just use the colours that are used for the rest of the background and cross my fingers that I don't mess it up! Anyway, picture time ...

Love the geranium!

I see what you mean about the grey bit by the tulip (perhaps even another bit by its leaf) - yes, it would probably look better in the "general" background colour. Is the background very "spotty"? What i mean is, a background that looks just, well, dark, can have all sorts of unexpected colours in it. The more there is of that, the more difficult it would be to re-do that grey bit of background in the same way.

Beautiful update!! Hope that the carpal tunnel isn't causing you a lot of pain. And slow going is still progress and you are doing a wonderful job! I also looked at some of the online pictures of the original painting and think that the gray doesn't belong there. Have you contacted Golden Kite to ask them about it. Perhaps it is something that they have fixed and can send you a corrected page. I'm sure they would want to know. Mabel's point is a good one about being careful when you get to extending the rest of the background to make sure it matches. Hopefully it isn't a lot of colors together.

Looking forward to your updates.

Carole

That bit of grey is someone trying to put a reflection of light onto the glass - which is not really needed. Hope you can sort it out.
Do just take your time recovering from the hand problems, because if you push yourself too soon it will return I know that oh so well.

Its a great update though and you are making good progress on this gorgeous and oh so special one.

Picking up crochet again has reactivated my RSI which I had years ago due to work.

That grey spot does look weird. Good luck replacing it.

I love the story behind this piece. Hopefully, you can take care of your wrist and the carpal tunnel. I've had it start on me a couple of times in the past. It's hard for me to take a rest from stitching, but usually it clears up after a week or so and I can start stitching again. I have learned the importance of resting and stretching my hands and fingers when I am stitching.