My first Biscornu - in cross stitch!

Years ago, I was a cross stitcher. I have Christmas stockings that I made which are used yearly.  Then life got busier and I moved away from needlework. When I came back to it, I did surface embroidery, including goldwork and canvas work. I didn't attempt any cross stitch and now I know why.I can't count. I spend more time counting than stitching on this project and I simply don't have the patience for it any more. Nor do I have the eyes or the concentration! My admiration for those of you who can cross stitch is enormous. I love the pretty orderliness of a beautifully cross stitched piece. I love samplers - especially ones designed by Amy Mitten - that use different counted techniques. Sadly, I think they are not, nor will they ever be, something I can accomplish without a great deal of frustration.For the past two weeks I've been working on my first Biscornu for an exchange my EGA chapter is having with a chapter in New Zealand. I signed up thinking "I can do this much cross stitch. It isn't much. How difficult can it be?"It was difficult, confusing and frustrating in turns. I got lost, counted wrong, pulled stitches out, put them back and pulled them out again.However, I persevered and finally finished the front and back today. You cannot imagine how relieved and happy I feel. Firstly, it's finished! Secondly, I did it! There are some mistakes where the threads aren't perfectly taut but I can fix that with a few gentle tugs at the back.The pattern is from Etsy. You can find it here.   The design is charming and I chose it because I knew I would keep stitching to see it finished. All of the designs from Rainburst Embroidery are pretty and I wish I could whip them all up in a few days. Not weeks.Having received no "training" in cross stitch, I know there must be tips and tricks to learn to make a piece that's perfect and cleanly stitched. Some of the members of my EGA chapter do amazing work and I admire them all the more now that I've cross stitched my own biscornu!Next, I need to assemble it and find a darling button for the top. Then I'll bring it along to my meeting where it will be boxed up with all the others and sent off to New Zealand. I hope the recipient is happy with it and I can't wait to see the one that will be sent to me! I only hope whomever stitched it had a less frustrating time than I did!