The house was never empty-only misunderstood. Its windows glowed softly at dusk, not with menace, but with patience. Candlelight moved from room to room like a heartbeat, steady and deliberate, as if the house itself were breathing. Those who hurried past said it was cursed. Those who lingered knew better. She lived there alone, by choice.
The creatures around her are not threats. They are companions. Birds to carry thoughts skyward. Hounds to guard the threshold between what is allowed and what is true. Even the spider, patient and clever, reminds us that creation often begins with a single thread.
Pattern stitched on 36 count Affogatto with DMC floss. The stitch count is 280 x 231 and the finished size is 16" x 13".