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Friday 24 November 2017

This Is The Last Straw

You know I detest bagpipes.  The place has now become something between a menagerie and a madhouse and a man from the Council has just declared it unfit for human habitation.  At least Mummy was spared this last outrage; they took her away this afternoon in an ambulance.
I hope you're satisfied.

12 Days of Christmas (Correspondence) - John Julius Norwich


Things are not improving between Emily and her "true love".  Joan Elliott's Piper has wisely taken the decision to play his pipes on the shores of a loch near a castle rather than a suburban house full of birds and dancing people!


Here is where I was last month:


And here is how the whole piece looked on completion of the Piper block:


I'm actually a good way through the final block as I wanted a headstart so I can finish the beading in December.

Stitching Lotus Ornament SAL

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Stitching Lotus

This year I will be showing my Hallowe'en and Christmas SAL partworks and any other Smalls I may stitch.

You've already seen the Christmas block above, so it's time for Hallowe'en.  The theme for November is Candy Corns or Food.  I am not sure you would want to eat from the menu in this piece!  Fillet of snake anyone?


This design is called Witches by Oberlin Samplers.  The fabric is actually a lime green Murano but it's difficult to photograph, think DMC 3345 for colour.  The original design had some random spooky phrases round the edge but as I had already stitched the Hallowe'en Happiness with various spooky phrases I decided to change this to reflect a speech from my favourite Shakespeare play - the Scottish one!  I also changed the words to the right which said Ghosts and Goblins to "brew a spell".  There were no ghosts or goblins in the design!  I added a bat charm to fill the space.  I already have a frame, I just need the mount board and it will be done.

Another spooky finish from Dark October was Shepherd's Bush Spooky Night:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

My Zodiac SAL had a second sign added, this is Scorpio by Donna Kooler:

stitched on 32 count Millenium Blue linen

I am continuing to stitch 30-a-day on a Just Nan freebie and here is the latest finish:

Have a Heart - stitched on 32 count white evenweave

Rather a good Small Month!


Finally, I have all the names for the Advent Calendar Blog Hop and will be sending out dates and instructions on Sunday.  Milly left a comment on my TUSAL post saying she would like to join us but left no contact details.  If you are reading this, Milly, you are no-reply, have no email in your profile and no blog details either.  If you contact me by email before Sunday I can still include you, but I need a blog and an email address to do so.  Thank you!




20 comments:

A Patchwork of Crafts said...

I have been enjoying the 12 days of Christmas. You inspired me to get out a pattern on that theme I have, look at it and remember why I have not started it yet, lots of tweeding, blending filament and beads. Not sure I am up to two tweeded patterns at the same time, perhaps next year!

Kate said...

This is the nicest 12 Days of Christmas that I've seen and certainly the first time I've ever seen a Scot with bagpipes as the 'pipers piping' - I love it .... must be the Scottish blood in me. I think I have to try to find this chart. All your pieces are quite lovely.

Katie said...

Wow lots of stitching indeed. Great job! I love your new Halloween finish.

Vickie said...

Your 12 Days is going to be so spectacular!!
Have a Heart is wonderful.

Preeti said...

Beautiful stitching ! The Halloween pieces are cute.

Leonore Winterer said...

Oh the poor, poor Emily...in my head, Edward has long sent out all those presents (and is waiting for postal servicec, or whoever would deliver eleven pipers nowadays, to deliver them) and is getting more and more horrified as he receives the notes of how not-well his presents are received!
Great small stitching again, your alterations on 'Witches' fit the design very nicely.

Ewa said...

Love your switch up of the Halloween sampler! Very fitting.

Elfie said...

Wow - the Twelve Days is looking amazing. It might just find itself on my stitcbing 'to do' list.

Barb said...

12 Days is just magnificent!!! Almost finished! Witches looks great too and I do love your changes!

Christine said...

Nearly there with 12 days!
I think it's probably OK to type the name of the Scottish play in a blog...

Pamela said...

I agree, you've had rather a good month!

gracie said...

Your stitching is wonderful.

Renee said...

These are all fabulous! I LOVE your 12 Days of Christmas. Beautiful work!

Sheryl said...

Beautiful work on the 12 Days piece and I like the Witches pattern, especially the wonderful appropriate fabric and the changed words.

Julie said...

Had a great catch up read Jo. Memories is a stunning finish, I think I have that chart too. 12 Days is fabulous, I've so enjoyed watching that grow this year.

Mary said...

I think all of your finishes are spectacular but I especially love the Twelve Days of Christmas.

rosey175 said...

What a great month and 12 days is great. I think my favorite has been the exasperated epilogue haha. And this particular version of the 12 Days is really turning into an awesome stitch.

Brigitte said...

Really a good smalls month, Jo. 12 Days looks so great and there is only one case left. All the borders and header are already finished, very impressive. And a nice variety of other smalls. Great stitching month again.

Stitching Noni said...

What a great month of smalls! 12 Days continues to make me smile every time I see it!

The Crafty Princess said...

I love that you used the Scottish play spell instead. It looks great and I heard myself putting on my spell casting voice to read the words LOL! Love it.
An awesome small month for you stunner
xo Alicia