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Monday 15 July 2013

Theme-a-licious July Update


Theme-a-licious is hosted by Heather of It's Geek to Me



Each month Heather thinks up a theme for us to stitch to, or in my case, a theme to somehow shoe-horn my existing stitching into, no matter how tenuous the link!

This is the theme for July:

Jubilee July


It's time to celebrate! What are you celebrating this year? Stitch on your holiday-related projects, OR find some WIPs you know you'll never finish and set them free . 

It's nearly the end of term here in England so both boys will be moving on.  The Large Boy has been taught by his current duo before so they both have samplers already (see these posts).  They will be getting a book each instead.  The Smal Boy is leaving his Playgroup to start School, four days a week at the Special School he already attends and one day at his Big Brother's School.  I have bought books for all the Playgroup Workers but his Keyworker deserves a stitched present too.  Quite frankly, they all deserve a bottle of wine and some valium as well but she's getting something stitched!

The Small Boy loves numbers and counting rhymes, in fact you can track him round the Hall by the sound of his Keyworker's voice reciting 1,2,3,4 as she goes!  I found this beautifully illustrated children's Nursery Rhyme book and knew I'd found the inspiration for the stitched present.  Here is the illustration that inspired me:


And here is the stitched version:


I just sketched her onto graph paper then backstitched onto 28count linen.  I added some little beads for the cherries and now I have to frame her.

That's it for themed stitching so far this month!

Finally, a mini-giveaway.  I received my 4000th comment recently, wow!  Yes they are all from real people, I don't get spam and I don't comment on my own blog in reply to comments, I do them by email.  So 4000 comments is amazing.  Predictably the Giveaway posts attract the most comments (60 on the Easter Treasure Hunt and 44 on my Blogaversary) but this post had 33 comments simply because I asked for your advice.   Hint to new bloggers; people love to give their opinion on stitching decisions.  Unfortunately, if there are three options votes will be split over them plus someone will throw in a fourth option so you're not really any better off but at least you have comments LOL.

Anyway I have this lovely John Clayton chart to send to a friend.  It is the cover gift from World of Cross Stitching magazine this month, although it is not my style I'm sure someone will love her.  All you need to do is leave a comment saying why you'd like to receive her and I will choose one person on the 22nd July.

Finished size - 5x5 inches on 28 count over 2 (or 14 aida)






11 comments:

Vickie said...

Hi Jo! I want to pass on the gift, she is elegant indeed though. =)
I wanted to tell you how fabulous your Mary is! What a fantastic job you have done. I am so glad she will be framed.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Jo what a lovely thing you stitched up and came up with! Please don't enter me in your giveaway... I wouldn't stitch it and I would prefer it goes to someone who would love it!

Julie said...

Such a beautiful gift, I bet she'll cry!
Nice giveaway, good luck to all who enter, but please don't include me Jo, I have a list longer then the M1 motorway of stuff to stitch.... And it includes the Best in Show alphabet that you sent me earlier in the year, got to be done before September!!!

The Crafty Princess said...

Hey Stunner

I just wanted to say hi and be 4004th comment...wahoo!

I won't enter the giveaway as I'll never get around to stitching her and it's too pretty to be neglected.

Love your version of Mary too. You're very clever!
Alicia xo

Christine said...

That is lovely Jo. I remember chanting that one in the yard whilst playing elastics, only we used to say 2,4,6,8 Mary's at the cottage GATE

I'll pass on the giveaway thanks, it would only languish here unstitched, better it goes to someone who'd use it

Giovanna said...

I hate to be the 6th in a row to say "thanks, but no thanks", but it really isn't my genre, and I would also rather see it go to someone who loves it :-) Congratulations on the 4000 comments, and well done on the stitching, it's lovely.

Anna van Schurman said...

Four thousand. Wow! Yay for you!

SoCal Debbie said...

Jo, you're so talented to make that embroidery design yourself! I've never heard that nursery rhyme.

Congrats on so many comments! I'll be the first to say that I think the chart is pretty and I WOULD stitch her, so please enter my name!

Karoline said...

Lovely stitched piece for your DS's keyworker

Anne said...

Love the impromptu backstitch piece you made! Your son's keyworker will love her. Congrats on 4000 comments! I can't say I have that many as I don't post all that much...so little time. I remember I was your 2000th comment winner last time :D Still have that little pillow displayed and love it as it reminds me of you :D

LKICT said...

Love the purple plume on her hat! Your counting Mary is wonderful. What a great idea for creating a stitched piece that has such a special meaning. There's an artist around here who does work like this and I love it when she has a gallery show. I'm glad I found your blog!