Preparing for Gifted Gorgeousness

I have decided to host my first ever year-long SAL - the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL.  This is a nice open SAL, not too many rules.  There is a special page here for you to sign up on (if the Mr Linky works!) and link to on your own blogs if you like.

Basically we will post once a month, on the 15th of the month, because it is 2015 next year and there are enough SALs which post at the end already!  You can join in every month or just drop in when you want.  There will be a linky post here every 15th for you to check-in.  Here is a short list of things which you may consider including in your Gifted Gorgeousness post:

• Any chart/kit which was given to you
• Any chart/kit which you won in a giveaway
• Any chart/kit which you bought using a voucher given to you/won by you
• Anything stitched on fabric received in the above ways
• Anything stitched with floss received in the above ways
• Anything embellished or finished with items received in the above ways
• Anything which is intended as a gift or prize for another person
• Anything else you can somehow shoehorn with word "gift" into!

an image you can use on your blog

I have been working on something this week that fits into the category so I thought it would be a good idea to introduce the SAL and show some of my choices for next year.

The piece I have been stitching is an Acorn House Design from JCS Christmas Ornie Special 2013.  In the magazine the finished piece is decorated with a lovely clay poinsettia.  Susan the designer sent one of these to Sharon Shebafudge and one to me to thank us for the skill and enthusiasm with which we tackled her Drac-in-a-Box!  How lovely is that?

I'm stitching it on 28count white evenweave with silver sparkles in it.  So it is coming up rather large for an ornie.  I may make a cube finish instead.  The red thread is a Weeks Dye Works which I won in a giveaway so this designs fits two categories!  The thread is an overdyed so there is a little variation in the shades, you can just see this in the photo.

Here are my collages for next year:

1. JBW – Rocking Horse
2. Teresa Wenztler – You were Hatched
3. Kingfisher for school
4. Dragon of the Winter Moon from Riona
5. Joan Elliott – Believe for school
6. Primitive Hare – Hallowe’en Blocks (Christmas present)
7. Nutmeg Cottage from Susan

1. L*K Friends from Sarah-Beth
2. L*K Autumn from Cherise
3. Beehive Needleworks Sunflowers & Acorns from Linda
4. January Wordplay from Shirlee
5. Brooke’s Books Witch (Birthday money)
6. Nora Corbett Snowy Cottage from Nataly
7. Custom Crafts Snapdragon from Lesley
8. CCN Poinsettia Cottage from Stitcher Anon

1. Marley was Dead from Stitcher Anon
2. Strawberry Sampler from Lee
3. Book of Spells from Carin
4. Shepherds Bush She Tends from Kati
5. Poinsettia from Susan Acorn House Designs (this will be replaced by something else, probably the Satsuma Street design I got for my Birthday!)
6. Nora Corbett J from Justine
7. Sweetheart Tree Tudor Rose from Vickie
8. Shepherds Bush – Mini Samplers from Laura and Heather

When I add these to my 7 WIPS I get a grand total of 31 designs, one for every day in January.  Perfect for the DUCJC 2015 as organised by Linda Stitchin' with my Furbabies.

Finally, the Advent Calendar is going so well.  It's been lovely seeing all your stitching and reading all your stories about your favourite present.  I was relieved to discover that Susan's Dad did not hide her favourite present in the same place as Katie's!  Susan got a sister, while Katie got a puppy which was hidden in a cupboard!