This looks it would be a dynamite picture when completed! I am very impressed with the Mystic Stitch pattern that I am working on. If cost is an issue, you don't have to purchase all of the floss at one time. Order enough to get you started in an area and then order more later on, especially where it calls for multiple skeins of a color. Since it will be stitched solid, you don't have to spend extra money on one of the nicer fabrics since it won't show. Aida works just fine, unless you just prefer to work on one of the other fabrics. It is a big project, so it should keep you stitching for quite some time. Hope you decide to do it!