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Sunday 12 March 2017

My Darling Edward,

You do think of the most original presents; whoever thought of sending anybody three French hens?  Do they really come all the way from France?  It's a pity that we have no chicken coops, but I expect we'll find some.  Thank you, anyway, they're heaven.
Your loving Emily

12 Days of Christmas (Correspondence) - John Julius Norwich

I have finished the lettering on the 3rd block of Joan Elliott's 12 Days of Christmas:


I also stitched for another day on the top left angel:


Here is the whole piece so far:


You can see that I have started the long red outer border.  Once that is completed there is a row of metallic on either side of it.  All the way round the outside!

Once I finished all the SALs for the month I turned to my focus piece.  A new start with a deadline.  Remember the Nora Corbett Letter Fairies I stitched last year for my cousins' children?  Well, my younger cousin had another baby on New Year's Eve so we need another initial!


I took that photo to ask for advice on the Mira board.  The outline of the M is Crescent Colours Smoke and the variegated fill-in colour is Dark Fennel.  The charted colour for the rest of the fill-in is Lettuce Leaf, which you can see on the left.

You can see that looks nothing like the cover photo and doesn't go at all with the dress either.

So I used a blend of 927 and 928 DMC, which looks lovely in real life.  The colours are not coming out true at all tonight.


Honestly, the fabric looks grey there!  It is really green, Sunlit Heath from Crafty Kitten.

These stitch up so quickly, especially when you park yourself down and focus for three days!  I did do some FFO'ing this afternoon but I can't show you yet as it's a gift.  I also figured out my solution to Kerry's Theme-tas-stitch for March so you'll see that on the 21st.

We had our second interview of the Blogger of the Week blog.  Pop over there to read more about the lovely blogger featured this week and make sure you visit her personal blog too.


🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇


Finally, we are approaching the Easter Holidays which means only one things - Chocolate Eggs!  
NO - Easter Blog Hops!  As usual I will be hosting an Easter Blog Hop with a Treasure Hunt for the Mystery Phrase.  Provide your own eggs!  If you would like to take part this year, just leave a comment here.  The week before Easter I will send you a letter of the alphabet which will form part of the mystery phrase.  On Good Friday you will post that letter along with a photo of something seasonal that you have stitched (could be Easter or Spring or just something cheerful and sunny or floral).  We all hop around like little bunnies to find the Mystery Phrase!

Here's a link to last year's hop so you can see how it all works - Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2016



38 comments:

Clare-Aimetu said...

As always great stitching Jo. I'd love to take part in this year's Easter Blog Hop

Vickie said...

Oh my this Nora Corbett Letter Fairy is going to be awesome! I want to take part int the Easter Blog Hop please!

Linda said...

Great progress Jo. Love your new start.

Linda

Gillie said...

Looked it up......three French Hens, Faith Hope and Love, a Christian code for the Catholics not able to openly practise their faith. You're welcome!

deb said...

Loving each block of the 12 Days sampler - as with days one and two, the french hens are adorable without being too cutesy. The M fairy is so pretty - had never seen any of those before. Glad you found a color combination that worked!

Mini said...

The Christmas piece is coming along nicely. You have stitched quite a lot on the Initial M.

Justine said...

Your fairy is so pretty! Glad you got the floss sorted out. I'm just about to tackle a long border, perhaps we should do a Border SAL?!

gracie said...

I would love to look for Easter eggs again.

Mii Stitch said...

Lovely progress on the Christmas piece.
Great new start with the fairy too & glad you've sorted the new threads too.

diamondc said...

Hi Jo: I love the Alphabet Fairies, they are lovely, you have made progress on your Twelve Days.
I love seeing what you are up to.

Blessings
Catherine

Ariadne said...

I'd love to take part in the Easter Bloghop so count me in!Thanks!AriadnefromGreece!

Julie said...

Another pretty letter you are giving away.

Beth in IL said...

Love all your stitching projects. Can I join the Blog Hop?

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Those French hens are very pretty. I love the detail.

Katie said...

Congrats on finishing up the 3rd block. Just love watching your progress. The border even though it's boring adds a lot to the piece. Good luck getting it done.Beautiful color choice for the M.

Daniela Bencúrová said...

French hens love! Are beautiful!
Hugs!

Bekah said...

The 12 days of Christmas looks wonderful, The red boarder really brings the pieces together. Thanks again for hosting Blogger of the week, it is really fun to meet new bloggers.

Kerryp77 said...

Lovely start on the M Jo, that colour is quite different, but glad you've found a fix. 3 French hens has so much detail. Curious to hear what your theme-Tas-Stitch plan is...because who is to say what madness actually is...

Rachel said...

The 12 days of Christmas is truly awesome, it'll be so beautiful when it's completed! Love watching the progress!

Preeti said...

Congrats on the block finish !! The letter M is looking very pretty.

Christine said...

Great start on the M fairy and 12 days is looking wonderful

Annie said...

You are such a dedicated stitcher and organizer of stitchy events and activities. So amazing.

Love your pieces. I've never seen that particular 12 days pattern. Looks like great fun to stitch with that detail.

Sheryl said...

I like the Three French hens piece, really pretty colouring, lots of back stitch detail and nice lettering. I´d like to take part in your Easter blog hop again this year,

Susan said...

Twelve Days just looks more beautiful every time I see it. I am definitely adding this one to the wish list - more correctly moving it up the list. Congratulations on the new baby. I've heard of dye lot changes, but that is much more than a simple change! I like your solution. Looking forward to seeing your progress on it.

Stitching Noni said...

12 Days is looking amazing and I love your "M".
Would love to join in with the Easter Blog Hop again this ;o)
Hugs x

Sarah in Stitches said...

Beautiful stitching! 12 Days is really coming along :D

Lili said...

Great progress on "12 days of Christmas". Lovely start on "M" fairy!
Hugs!

Karen said...

New Blogger but 'seasoned stitcher' here! Love the 12 Days, another to go on the 'To do' List! Just found your blog - so much to look at and enjoy.Hope you will pop over to say Hi. x

Leonore Winterer said...

I'm not sure I'd be as thrilled as Emily when someone just randomly sent me three chickens...but I wouldn't say no to such lovely stitched birds!
Great start on another mermaid letter, those always turn out so pretty. Great job replacing that colour, I think it will look much better this way.

Tiffstitch said...

Great choice on the colour change for M, so weird how it doesn't appear to match, although I've noticed some dye lots are strikingly different with those threads. Love the hens too!

DJ said...

I would love to participate in your Easter Blog Hop! Thank you for all you do! I love your stitching too...it's funny how different light will give the picture a totally different look! Glad you were able to find floss that worked for you...and your 12 days is coming along nicely!

geeky Heather said...

I would love to participate in the Easter blog hop! I even picked out something I think I can actually finish by that time. ;)

Kaisievic said...

Your three French Hens are just lovely, Jo and the M will look fantastic when it is finished, I am sure. Yes, please count me in for the Easter blog hop, hugs, Kaye

Brigitte said...

Your Twelve Days project is coming along great. And you are as organized on it as on your other projects. I wish I was only half as organized as you are :)

Astrids dragon said...

Oooh, I love the M! I think the colours look great.

Melinda Forbes said...

Please Please Please add me to the Easter blog. Thanks Jo. Love your French hens

Southpaw Stitcher said...

Love your Twelve Days piece, although I'm not too fond of the song. Please sign me up for this year's Easter Blog Hop!

Vickie said...

I love your stitching!! The Nora thread choices looks great. I don't know If I have any stitched easter pieces but I can think of something!! I would love to join the blog hop if there is still room.