Having really gotten back into cross stitch, when Polar Lights came around again last winter, I felt ready to take on designing something for a bigger project. It took some time to decide if I wanted to do something more generic, or something that tied into the piece I would write. Well, I decided to go with a tie-in.

I awake to the sun peeking over the sea, casting a golden glow over the grass around my resting spot. Standing up, I ruffle my feathers and stretch my wings to shake the slight chill that settled in overnight. The mornings here are peaceful, but are getting later and later each day. It’s time to fly north once more.

It is in the dim light of the midnight sun that you rise for your daily meal. You swim up with the rest of your brethren, one of millions looking to feast in the waters above. You filter the water near the surface, eating until you’re full and green, your translucent body showing the signs of a breakfast well eaten. When you finish, you sink down to let others come through to the buffet.

The sun shines down on the partially snow-covered tundra, the days becoming longer and warmer. Snow melt can be heard trickling down through the rocky landscape towards the river. It’s also the first time in eight months that Sik, an arctic ground squirrel, peeks his head outside of his burrow.

When most people think of Antarctica, they probably think of one of a few things: penguins; snow and cold climates; or the South Pole. Not everyone realizes that Antarctica is actually the world’s largest desert, with an area equalling the Sahara, Australian, and Arabian Deserts combined. In fact, it is home to some of the driest places on the planet. In addition to the cold and harsh environment, there’s little that wants to live there. That doesn’t stop life from looking to flourish on our coldest continent.

The first thing you ought to do is make sure you have all the materials you will need and know how to use them. The best way to do this is read the entire guide *first* and *then* collect them.