This SAL is all about what you want to see on the blog. I asked for suggestions for themes from followers of my blog and then put them up to the members of the IHSW Group on FB to vote for their choice. We are currently working our way through the choices. This is what was chosen:
Serendipitous Stitching
A blog trying to focus on all the nice things in life, those moments when everything turns out right. Finding the perfect fabric for that chart you love, the ideal sampler quote, just the right picture in all the 1000s of magazines you own. Meeting people who share your interests and obsessions and totally understand why you NEED that chart when you already have enough to last until you're 104
Saturday, 4 February 2023
The People Chose A Way With Words
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
January Stitch from Stash and Pie
Regular followers will know I produce a delicious home-made pie to illustrate my focus projects for the month. I don't record minutes or stitches so this gives an approximate idea of how much time each WIP got.
Block 7 - 13 days
I have the magazine with the next one already so I will start that tonight.
The mag sub is annoying, I started my subscription last April. So why take the renewal payment in January, 3 months early? Greedy.
Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day. Just email me if you want to be involved.
Sunday, 29 January 2023
January WIPocalypse Retreats
Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World. Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "23 in '23" for this year. This month I stitched on 7 of them.
January - If you have been to retreats, what are your must-bring items and supplies?
A Suffolk Puff is not a pastry, but a circle of fabric made into a little puffy item which was stuffed with sheep's wool and used for a variety of purposes. There is a lovely quilt made from them in our local museum. You can imagine how warm and cosy that would be on a cold Suffolk night.
There is more information here:
The Unbroken Thread
A heart-shaped Suffolk Puff, a collaged pocket with small puffs and embroidered lace and a pomegranate pincushion puff with mini puff on top.
Friday, 27 January 2023
January Smalls
The Ornament/Smalls SAL is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this year! Started by Stitching Lotus back in 2013 and continued by our current hostess Mary's Thread in 2019 this is the SAL for the last Friday in each month where we show our ornaments or smaller stitches.
Because I am focusing on my BAPs again, I won't have so many smalls this year but I do have a couple of series with small components so I will share them this month.
The first is the Blackwork Tarot by Circle Cross. I loved her Art Nouveau style Tarot cards when I first saw them so when I saw she would be releasing the Zodiac Signs later this year AND there was a sale on, I jumped at the chance. My plan is to stitch the four Elements across the top of the fabric with the appropriate Zodiac Signs under each one. Earth is first, so Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn will go under her in due course:
In the end, I decided to add one red for the very hottest days and a lime yellow/green in the middle. That way I can have a colour change every 4 degrees. And those cold days went lilac instead of blue. I felt this more accurately represented the weather we actually had last week.
There's a lot of backstitch in these designs, there is a row of railings along the bottom! I decided not to stitch the names of the houses.
Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.
Send me the email by 10th February.
When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February. Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading
Does that make sense to everyone? I hope so!
If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply". I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.
Monday, 23 January 2023
January IHSW
IHSW or International Hermit and Stitch Weekend always starts on the third Friday of the month. It's a chance to lock yourself away and focus on your stitching for the weekend. You can take part on your blog or via the Facebook page - IHSW on Facebook.
I worked on Friday but took my Amanda Butler Harrogate House with me, so with evening stitching it now looks like this:
Finally the next IHSW will be 17th - 19th February so make sure you note the date in your diary or come and join us in the Facebook Group - IHSW on Facebook. If you don't do Facebook then you can check in here by leaving a comment on my post.
Saturday, 21 January 2023
January TUSAL and Stitching Library
Here is my TUSAL jar with my current project:
This is a feature I'm going to include on my TUSAL post until I run out of books! I started a Page on my Happy Dance blog for my Stitching Library and realised what a huge task it was so decided to break it down to one book per month. For the next four years...
Title: Cross Stitch Angels
ISBN: 9780715316481
Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.
Send me the email by 10th February.
When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February. Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading
Does that make sense to everyone? I hope so!
If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply". I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.