Texan Joanna Lopianowski-Roberts wanted to recreate a famous work of art through embroidery. Not only that, but she wanted to craft the patterns herself without any help from a computer or embroidery software. What did she want to make? Oh, only the SISTINE CHAPEL CEILING.

After 628,296 stitches, 1,809 color combinations, 45 patterns and almost ten years (six longer than Michelangelo took to paint it), Lopianowski-Roberts has finally finished her masterpiece. Believe it or not, it gets more impressive: there are only 1/4, 3/4 and full cross stitches in the piece; no special stitches allowed.

You can find patterns for the entire project in Lopianowski-Roberts’ book, “In The Footsteps of Michelangelo”. And if you’d like some support while you create your own, there’s even a Yahoo Group for Stitchin Women inspired by this amazing project.