Zodiac SAL - Taurus

Welcome to the  Zodiac SAL.  I will be posting on the first Saturday of each month with information about that month's sign and a linky for anyone who wants to join in.  The linky will stay open until the end of the month.

Last month we had three people link up with me, please do visit them now if you missed their posts before:

Jocondine
Tiffstitch
Leonore

Taurus, the Bull, is an Earth sign ruled by Venus and covers those born between 20th April and 21st May.

Taurus constellation by June Bug & Darlin'

The Bull represents a strong-willed character with great perseverance and determination.  In India Taurus is known by its Sanskrit name Vṛṣabha, which is occasionally given as a name for Shiva and his vehicle Nandi as well as the first of twenty-four Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha.  In Egypt, Taurus was seen as the cow goddess Hathor.  Hathor was the goddess of beauty, love, and happiness, and she represented all of the riches seen in cattle as the providers of nourishment.  Roman astrologers considered Taurus ruled by Venus, the goddess of beauty, and Earth, the goddess of the earth and nature.

Source: Wikipedia - Taurus (Astrology)

Taurus by Josephine Wall for HAED

Taurus People: What They’re LikeTaurus people can be grounding, bringing a sense of ease and contentment.  Unless, that is, they’re worked up about something.  Then steam pours out of their ears.  You’ll see them pacing, muttering the same thing over and over, clenching their fists and looking like Bulls ready to charge!  But when they’re content and in the groove, there’s no happier sign than Taurus.  Lovers of the arts, you can find them composing photos, blissing out to music, losing themselves on the dance floor or preparing a feast fit for royalty.  This affectionate, comfort-loving sign can indulge in hours of deep lounging or sensual boudoir play.  As earth signs, they may love to go on walks, bike rides and hikes. Disclaimer: other Bulls think “communing with nature” means gazing at the French Riviera from the Hotel du Cap veranda, chilled rose in hand.  Never go cheap on a Taurus, because these epicureans love the finer things.  That said, they can be very down-to-earth and work hard to pay for their indulgences. (You might need to light a fire under their asses to get them going.  Once in motion though, there’s no stopping this charging Bull!)  Sure they can be materialistic, but really they just want tasteful creature comforts that last the test of time.  And, if you’re lucky enough, they’ll share the finer things in life with you, too.

Source: Astrostyle - Taurus

Taurus by Illustrated Ink for Gecko Rouge

Famous & Celebrity Taurus People:
Adele, Al Pacino, David Beckham, Stevie Wonder, Donatella Versace, Cher, Robert Pattinson, Chris Brown, Channing Tatum, The Rock, Gigi Hadid, Queen Elizabeth II, Sam Smith, Megan Fox, Meek Mill, George Clooney, Lena Dunham, Tina Fey, Christian Lacroix, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Valentino Garavani, William Shakespeare, Harper Lee, James Monroe, James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant, Harry S. Truman

This is a wonderful design from Bothy Threads showing some of Shakespeare's best loved plays:

William Shakespeare by Bothy Threads

I also added some lines from "The Scottish Play" to the edge of this design by Oberlin Samplers:

The Witches by Oberlin Samplers

For the stitching part of the SAL I have chosen a series of designs from the Donna Kooler book 365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs. I am stitching them all on one piece of 32 count Millenium Blue fabric. Here is Taurus:

Here is the whole piece so far:

Now I have Taurus in place I can see that Aries was stitched in exactly the right place!

I am also stitching the Satsuma Street Zodiac and this month I picked up Libra which is my current WIP:

stitched on 28 count black evenweave

I have got quite a lot done.  I stitched all the right hand bird and it's cup as well as finishing off the base of the scales.  There is a rose vine wrapped around the scales so that will be the next part.  After I fill in his beak!  And the missing area which is a colour I need to order.

My brother is a Taurus but I have never stitched anything for him.  Sorry!  However my husband's niece is also a Taurus and I made these sugar skull designs for her when she got married:

Senor and Senorita Sugar Skull by Brooke's Books

This is the place for you to link up if you want to join in, please link to the actual blog post, not your blog homepage and include your name so we can see who has joined in.

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Finally, there's a new blogger in town.  I have persuaded and enabled my friend Sarah to start a blog!  You can find her here - The Hermit Crafter
I have to be nice to her, she knows me in real life and could tell you all my secrets.  So please visit her and say nice things to her!