October Just Nan SAL and Theme-a-licious Update

Just Nan SAL is hosted by Zeb of Keep Calm and Cross Stitch

Unfortunately Zeb is no longer updating the SAL on her blog but that's no reason to stop stitching and posting!  So here is my monthly update.

I had a last minute Nan start this month, Haunted Pumpkins Tree which was a Birthday gift from Mouse and the fabric came from Shebafudge.  Here is my latest progress photo:

Stitched on Chocolate Orange from Crafty Kitten

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!

Oft-Overlooked October

Find a new-to-you designer and start a new project this month! Or maybe two...or three...

This was actually an adaptation of my idea of Newbie November (I won a prize for it!!) but changed to alliterate with October!  In some ways it was quite difficult to find an actual new designer to me because I do stitch designs from alot of different people.  But luckily enough I had purchased a chart by Madame Chantilly to stitch for my cousin's new baby boy.  They have a nautical themed nursery so this perfect:

 

Stitched on Kynance by Sparklies

I started this one in August.  This was a Mystery SAL in four parts which are all released now from Frosted Pumpkins:

Stitched on Moondust by Crafty Kitten

My final piece for this month's Theme-a-licious isn't an actual new-to-me designer but she does fit into the "Oft-Overlooked" category.  Val's Stuff features regularly in the JCS magazine ornie specials but she does not seem to be a well-known or much talked about designer.  Anyway, I stitched her Tricks or Treats from JCS Sep/Oct 2010 Hallowe'en Ornie feature:

Stitched on 32 count twilight blue linen

The chart calls for three candycorn buttons which I didn't have and which are almost impossible to find in England, we just don't have them.  So I just did some little over one stitched versions.  To my eyes they look like traffic cones!  But maybe Americans don't have them?

Next month we have No Xs November so I shall have to see how I manage with that.  I didn't do very well last year!

Finally, the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop started yesterday.  One blogger has been in touch to apologise for not being able to post due to real life getting in the way of blogging!  But you should be able to guess the phrase without the one letter.  Unless you are the person who guessed 

AVOCADOS AND PURPLE DEER 

Because that is not correct!!  You have until 7th November to join in.

ps there is an amazing firework display going on outside my window as I type.  Not sure why because it is still 4 days until the 5th November!  I really don't hold with early fireworks.  Save them for the big day, we will be.

Oooooo, massive Chrysanthemum just gone off!!