I think I have finished this cloth – deciding against background stitching as the figure is stitched directly into the cloth she may well disappear if I add more. The cloth is hanging at the foot of my bed and I have been looking at it and looking at it for days and days. A procrastinator at heart I have been trying to make up my mind whether, in fact, this is truly finished. I feel that if I keep fiddling and adding bits here and there I will lose the essence of what I have already. To make this into a truly completed work it has yet to have a backing attached and the edges bound, which I will also do by hand. I have not done so already because of my lack of a final final decision. Life may be a spiral, my mind certainly follows that route over and over :).
I have added more stems and completed the stream at the base of the cloth – it is there that I am undecided about – should there be more?????
This would be it, in its raw state …. I am delighted to have managed to focus on this for the whole year …. already I have in mind where I am going next, creatively speaking.
Land of Dreaming 
Oh, Jill! This is such an incredible piece that speaks to me! It is truly amazing and I have zoomed in and out looking at the details. What you have achieved in the past year is a glorious sacred piece of art worthy to be haninging in a museum. I love it!
i am awestruck. the detail is exquisite and the whole work has grandeur. i hope you are able to share it with as many people as possible.
Hi Jill, it certainly is a fabulous piece of work. From a design point of view does the bright red/orange on the right hand side need to be echoed somewhere – in the top left corner maybe or as a red/orange stem that winds across the centre top and left top as an element that gives the design cohesion. (to me a red thread winding across the top left would work but only you can decide what it needs or doesn’t need). Maybe if you are considering new elements you could cut them out of paper, pin them to the design then look at that few days.
Just some thoughts…It’s a wonderful piece of work and any further embellishments are just icing on the already fabulous cake.
Beautiful work Jill. I agree with Suzanne that maybe the orange should be echoed somewhere as the fire draws the eye to that side. Maybe the serpents eyes? It really is amazing! Love the bowl/cauldron. Makes me want to thread up my machine 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely perfect in my book! If you are getting an itch that it is done, then it probably is. Trust your intuition.
I have enjoyed the visual art journey you’ve taken us on, Jill. Thank you so much for including us all. Your work has always inspired me to keep going with my own by-hand work. Yes, it is very difficult to know when to say “when”.
You will know when it is right.
steph
I think it is absolutely stunning. I am tempted to agree that the orange/red should be echoed somewhere too. Suzanne’s suggestion might be worth trying.
Hi Jill – I’ve been thinking about your work off and on all day. It struck me that if you do try echoing the orange maybe the colour tone would work well if it somewhere midway between the colour of the cauldron and the orange flame – once again – just a thought
This is just divine Jill and like others I have to say that it has been wonderful to follow the journey and see how it has all come together. I am in awe and wonder. The detail is extraordinary and it is so steeped in symbol, symbols that speak for so many of us here and for so many more. My heartiest congratulations.
what an honor to ride along with you on this journey – what a gift – beauty always makes the world a better place, and you have graced us all.
Kerry
Jill, I love it, love the symbolism, love the overall design – such a wonderful artwork and a fantastic achievement. Well done.
Wow, this is an amazing accomplishment! I, too, have enjoyed the journey and remember when you started and “thought” you saw a face emerging.
It’s a wonderful piece of art and I hope you find a public place to display it, at least for a while. It really should have a wide audience. Wish I could see it in person–bet the stitching is exquisite.
Your crow is fabulous and your story cloth is full
of spirit and stories.
Lovely!