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Monday 15 February 2016

Gifted Gorgeousness February Link-Up Post


Welcome to the Gifted Gorgeousness link-up post!  The link-up date will continue to be the 15th of each month but I will keep the linky open until the end of each month so you have plenty of time to join in.

The format remains EXACTLY the same as last year so I'm sure you are all aware of what can be included - gifts to and from you; charts, fabric or threads; shoe-horns welcome!

I have been such a busy bee (or Gizzy Gee if we really want to keep the GG theme!) this month.

First of all I completed CCN's Poinsettia Cottage (a giveaway prize from Gaynor):

 

I stitched a little bit of Scarlet Letter's Elizabeth Shephard (a gift from Nicola):


I finish-finished an older piece (the clay poinsettia was a gift from the designer - ooo, get her and her contacts in the business!):

Poinsettia Christmas by Acorn House Designs

A Happy Dance for The Goode Huswif's Book of Spells (gifted fabric):


Continuing progress on The Sampler House's Strawberry Sampler (a giveaway prize from Lee):


And a new start too - Nora Corbett's Alphabet Fairy S (a gift for my cousin stitched with gifted chart, fabric and threads from Alicia Crafty Princess):

32 count Oceanic Fantasia from Crafty Kitten

Oh yes, one more little thing, I nearly forgot!

Nora Corbett Alphabet Fairy C
Stitched on 32 count Oceanic Fantasia by Crafty Kitten
Using the Crescent Colours recommended

I made one or two minor changes.  I used DMC 356 to backstitch the skin (it's my preferred colour for the job).  I used DMC 208 for the swirls on the thing in her hand and stitched it over 1 using the chart CC.  I used DMC 500 for all the other backstitch just because it looked better than brown!  Brown bs for waves and a green dress?  I don't think so!






And of course, one major change!  I didn't stitch the square border or the filled in background.  None of the other fairies have a square border and by using a beautiful hand-dyed fabric like this you don't need to stitch the background either.  I extended the waves on the right and the top so they are more curved.  On the original they were cut flat by the border.


I love her and I'm sure my cousin's daughter will too.


And now over to you  - Here is the place for you to link up so we can see what Gifted Gorgeousness you have been stitching so far this year.  Please use your name or your blog name in the field NOT the words "February Update" so I can easily see who has linked up this month.
And link to the actual post, not just your blog.  It is easier if you copy and paste the link, rather than typing freehand.
Thank you.  I can amend links if you make a boo-boo though.

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Finally, we have a special Giveaway this month, sponsored by the lovely Gillie from Random Thoughts from Abroad (see, no sarky nicknames when she's giving us stuff!).  Last month she completed a gorgeous design by Jardin Prive:

Photo copied with Gillie's permission

All you have to do to be in with a chance to win this lovely chart is link-up for GG before the 29th of February and leave a comment saying "yes, please enter me in the draw" so it's nice and clear.  You could add who you would dedicate the design to, if you have a special S in your life too.  But not complusory!

If anyone feels the urge to sponsor a giveaway this year, please drop me an email.  Always happy to oblige even if I can't enter myself LOL.

38 comments:

jocondine said...

Hi! Early comment as I'm in holidays for 2 days. Hope I'll have some free hours to stitch and as you make a lot of progress. So much done and well done. Waouh! Fairy C is gorgeous, lovely and delicate. Great post, thanks to Gillie for the giveaway. "Yes, please enter me in the draw". Of course the new baby of the family is named Soline, only 1 month 1/2 old and becoming the star of my GG post. Hugs.

Preeti said...

You got wonderful stitching done with the gifted items. Love the 'C' and it looks gorgeous with all the extra touches of your own:)

Anonymous said...

beautiful stitching,
love the nora corbett one ♥♥♥

FlashinScissors said...

Lovely stitching Jo, I especially like Scarlet Letter's Elizabeth Shepherd - very striking!

Barbara xx

Clare-Aimetu said...

I just love the fairies Jo - beautiful work.

Mini said...

So many gorgoeus GG pieces you have stitched. I like that you haven't added border ot background to "C" piece as it would have taken away the attention from main piece.
Alas I don't love anybody with name starting S so much that I will stitch such a beautiful piece for him/her..lol.

Rachel said...

What a lot of Gifted Gorgeousness in February! It amazes me how many pieces you are working on which have been or will be gifts. I guess it's a positive side-effect of being so prolific within the blogging stitching community! Your C looks fantastic. No pressure, but I'm looking forward to seeing progress on the others now! :)

Julie said...

Your Nora Corbett finish is stunning, well done.
Thank to Gillie for the giveaway, good luck to all who enter for that lovely chart.

Sarah in Stitches said...

Beautiful stitching! Gorgeous finish too :D And I'd love to entered in the draw!

Vickie said...

Oh, I of course love the colors of the Strawberry Sampler.
You have yet another gift. It the recent giveaway win from me. I hope you receive it this week!

Suz said...

I'm still grateful for your non-background C! I have already ordered it so I can stitch it for niece #4 :)

Great job on all of your stitching!

Marie said...

Congratulations on the completion of Poinsettia House, Book of Spells (love that!) and Nora's "C". I have often looked at those alphabet patterns and thought about doing one. My son's GF is named Caroline…hmmm, but I am busy stitching Black Horse Inn (my GG) for her. :-) It is beautiful.
I am still amazed at how productive you are…Do you sleep? :_D

Tiffstitch said...

Great work on C, it's gorgeous! ;) Yes, please enter me in the draw! DD's first name starts with S and she's learning French, so that would be really cool. Nice work on the rest as well!

cheryl said...

What wonderful finishes! Love your beautiful fairy. "Yes, please enter me in the draw".

stitchersanon said...

Wonderful stitching: love them all xxxxx

Christine said...

Great stitching Jo, the alphabet fairy came out beautifully!

DJ said...

My goodness, Jo, you are working on some lovely projects!! And so many, you really are a Gizzy Gee! LOL I can't take my eyes off Elizabeth Shepherd...I just love quakers!! Your fairy is just gorgeous, she is one lucky little girl!! No need to enter me in your giveaway, as I have no S's in my life. Just an aside, I stitched on Gillie's piece, I was in her Round Robin group. I love the colors she chose. Thanks again for hosting this!

Katie said...

So many beautiful projects in your post! Great job. Just LOVE the C!!! Your changes are perfect. Congrats!!

No S's in my life so please don't enter me into the drawing. But I wish everyone lots of luck.

craftingpaws said...

So many wonderful projects, Jo and I absolutely adore the alphabet fairy; she is lovely!

Elfie said...

Your projects are so beautiful - I love your Nora Corbett fairies in particular. The colours are so pretty. Your giveaway chart is so lovely, but please don't enter me in the draw, as there are no special S's in my life.

Kaisievic said...

Oh Jo, such beautiful stitching and your C is amazing! Thanks to Gillie for the lovely giveaway prize, please enter me as my dear sister, Sharon, would be a worthy recipient of a stitched S sampler.

Linda said...

Gorgeous stitching as always Jo. You have so many beautiful projects and congrats on the finishes. I would love to be entered in the drawing. My last name starts with S.

Linda

Susan said...

Everything looks amazing (as usual). Congratulations on finishing C and Book of Spells. I like the changes you made on C and will keep 356 in mind when I have to do skin backstitching as it looks so much better.

Barb said...

So much lovely stitching. You make me want to drop everything and start The Book of Spells. How do you plan to show that design?

Anthea said...

Such beautiful work happening at your needle Jo - thanks for hosting GG, I've finally linked up!

Kerryp77 said...

Elizabeth shepherd is so striking. You've done lots of beautiful stitching this month.

Unknown said...

Did I mention before how I feel in love with your book of spells. It is wonderful. And how wonderful "C" looks finished. Thanks for sharing

Lili said...

Lovely stitching!
Beautiful start on fairy S. How pretty the other fairy, gorgeous colours.

#HeatherMakes said...

Gifted Gorgeousness post linked to ur blog :D Great stitching!

gominam said...

Wonderful progress on your pretty WIPs. Your finishes look great, good job! Letter C looks so beautiful with the changes you made, I'm sure she's going to love it! Love the color on your new start S:)

Bea said...

Fairy C is just lovely. Beautiful stitching on it all.

Annie said...

You have made so much progress! I love the C Fairy and the Book of Spells is so cool! You really have the turbo-charged needles!

Stitching Noni said...

Wow! What a feast for the eyes! I love "C".... she is a real beauty. And you are right... the beautiful fabric would be completely lost if you stitched the background! So many other beautiful finishes on show as well. :o)
The only person in my life who's name starts with S is my brother.... and he wouldn't appreciate a cross stitched piece!! However, I would still love to be entered into the draw because I am sure that I could find a reason someday to stitch it!! Thank you to Gillie for the draw prize :o)
Hugs xx

Leonore Winterer said...

Just linked up mine, hope it worked since I got an error message at first...what lovely progress on so many great pieces, and even some finishes this month! Your fairy looks gorgeous, congrats on completing that wonderful design :)
I'd love to be entered in your drawing, my best friend's name is Stephanie so I could stitch this for her ^_^

Justine said...

So much gorgeousness here Jo. Those Nora Corbett letters are just beautiful!
I don't know any special S people except for my brother-in-law and this would definitely not be to his taste! But thanks to Gillie for the giveaway.

rosey175 said...

Look at all the lovely gorgeousness! C turned out great. Brown water backstitching! Maybe the fairy was cleaning it up! My favorite is the Poinsettia Cottage though. I just love those color combos.

Please do not include me in the lovely draw! It's a beautiful chart but I have no S's in my life who would appreciate this! Maybe my Singer. Lol. No, better not. Thanks to Gillie for another great chart though!

Gillie said...

Thanks for letting me use your words, Jo. It was a lovely stitch to do, that Concern one, I've got a couple of other colour choices in mind.

Brigitte said...

Oh my, what a productive month your had. Your C fairy is so wonderful. A great GG post from you again.
I had the intention to join you but it wasn't to be. I just wasn't in the mood to sew the little bags that I stitched and that are for my grandson's advent calendar. Maybe next month.