The Smalls SAL is hosted by Heather from Stitching Lotus
This year I am going to have two monthly challenges:
1. The Primitive Hare Hallowe'en Cubes SAL
2. The Hallowe'en Ornie SAL themed blog.
and a third one added from August:
3. The Christmas Ornie SAL themed blog
I have only one letter left to do in the Cubes but I have left that until next month because I really need to finish the exchange piece first. So here are my two ornies for the two blogs:
and a third one added from August:
3. The Christmas Ornie SAL themed blog
I have only one letter left to do in the Cubes but I have left that until next month because I really need to finish the exchange piece first. So here are my two ornies for the two blogs:
Witchy Brew by Witchy Stitches
stitched over one on 28count light beige evenweave
Roaming Reindeer by BRD
From JCS Christmas Special 2012
stitched on 32 count Twilight Blue linen.
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The idea of this Blog Hop is to choose a different designer each month and do a post focusing on a piece of their work you have stitched on during the month. The hosts of D.E.S.I.G.N ask us to answer a few questions on our chosen designer.
1. What designer are you talking about this month?
I am doing something completely different this month. Rather than choose one designer I have chosen one publication which feautures many designers. The Just Cross Stitch Annual Christmas Ornament Special. I first heard about this publication when I was new to blogging and discovered the American way of doing things! I loved the idea of an entire magazine dedicated to Christmas and to Hallowe'en too. I now have 2012-2015 as paper copies and all the previous ones on the CDs they do.
I love reading the reviews of the magazine and seeing everyone's top choices too. I chose ten this year (and forgot to include the tenth which is the lovely Brooke's Book's Angel, added by edit). So here are my top nine:
I am doing something completely different this month. Rather than choose one designer I have chosen one publication which feautures many designers. The Just Cross Stitch Annual Christmas Ornament Special. I first heard about this publication when I was new to blogging and discovered the American way of doing things! I loved the idea of an entire magazine dedicated to Christmas and to Hallowe'en too. I now have 2012-2015 as paper copies and all the previous ones on the CDs they do.
I love reading the reviews of the magazine and seeing everyone's top choices too. I chose ten this year (and forgot to include the tenth which is the lovely Brooke's Book's Angel, added by edit). So here are my top nine:
Top Row - Dragon Dreams, Blue Ribbon Designs, SamSarah Designs
Middle Row - Fern Ridge Collections, From the Heart, Ink Circles
Bottom Row - The Little Stitcher, Patricia Ann Designs, Elizabeth's Needlework
2. Have you stitched a project from this publication before?
Yes, the magazines are an amazing source of designs and a great way to discover new designers. The first year I knew hardly any of their names but now I can look at the pictures and identify most of the designers by sight.
3. Would you buy/stitch a design from this publication again? Why/Why not?
Yes, I have a subscription! I'm going to be taking part in Kaye's Christmas Ornie Blog all next year which is a great opportunity to stitch some of the wonderful designs from the magazines.
4. What made you choose these particular designs for your Top Ten ?
Every year I go through the magazine and write my favourites on a piece of paper which I leave in the front of the magazine to refer to later. Then I think "oh yes, I still love that one" or "what was I thinking that year?"
This year's choices were made because:
1 - I love dragons
2 - I love BRD's serieses
3 - This will make a great gift for someone I know
4 - I like the effect of the satin stitch
5 - I love an alphabet and I like the quirky lopsided look to this one
6 - Big fan of Ink Circles. Not such a big fan of tangled up lights!
7 - Love the Little Stitcher's designs
8 and 9 - Two nice abstract ornies which I think will look lovely stitched in the same colours on a high count fabric. Maybe add some beads.
10 - Brooke's Book's Angel (see below). I will probably never stitch this but it's gorgeous and so different. I love it!
I have to be honest, I felt there was a lot of repetition this year. A series is nice (see number 2) but mamy of the designs had a feeling of deja-vu about them. The Ink Circles one is fun but was there a similar one in a previous year?
I also think there was a problem with the printing this year. Everything looks very washed out. Look at the SamSarah design. Surely that will be more vibrant in real life? It made choosing the designs quite difficult, I looked at the charts and descriptions more than usual.
So what were your favourites this year? If you've done a review leave a link in the comments so we can all pop over and read it.
Every year I go through the magazine and write my favourites on a piece of paper which I leave in the front of the magazine to refer to later. Then I think "oh yes, I still love that one" or "what was I thinking that year?"
This year's choices were made because:
1 - I love dragons
2 - I love BRD's serieses
3 - This will make a great gift for someone I know
4 - I like the effect of the satin stitch
5 - I love an alphabet and I like the quirky lopsided look to this one
6 - Big fan of Ink Circles. Not such a big fan of tangled up lights!
7 - Love the Little Stitcher's designs
8 and 9 - Two nice abstract ornies which I think will look lovely stitched in the same colours on a high count fabric. Maybe add some beads.
10 - Brooke's Book's Angel (see below). I will probably never stitch this but it's gorgeous and so different. I love it!
5. Did you notice anything that distinguished this issue from others?
I also think there was a problem with the printing this year. Everything looks very washed out. Look at the SamSarah design. Surely that will be more vibrant in real life? It made choosing the designs quite difficult, I looked at the charts and descriptions more than usual.
So what were your favourites this year? If you've done a review leave a link in the comments so we can all pop over and read it.
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Finally, a pie chart for September, a complete reverse of last month. With fewer projects and more time spent on each one.
12 comments:
Very cute :)
I too, just love to look through the JCS Ornament Issue. So many are very inspiring. Like Brooke's angel. I may never stitch it, but she is AWESOME!!
Nice choices! I love these special magazines too.
I've heard you mention that mag before and love seeing the designs you do from it. I might have to seek it out for next year. You've stitched some beautifulmpirces
Roaming Reindeer is so pretty. Great choices, they are different from each other but all lovely ornies.
I wasn't sure about the ornie ed this year, like you I felt it was a bit samey. There are probably no more than half a dozen that I would stitch, two of which are in your list too (Blue Ribbon and Patricia Ann). I can't remember off hand what the others were because I've not got the mag in front of me
Congrats on the cute finish!! Lovely choices!
Lovely stitching! I know what you mean, I've noticed even online that there is a lot of repetition in designs lately. Can they not think of original designs anymore? It's really strange.
Great post, what a lovely way to interpret the DESIGN SAL! I love those ornament issues as well, although I have only bought some old issues yet, one of my favourite ONS often has those on sale for like 2€ each. So I don't know the current issue yet, but I love some of your favourites, especially #8!
Waiting for my copy of the JCS to arrive but I have heard quite a few negative comments about it.
Great post! Haven't actually seen the Christmas edition yet (probably be next Christmas before it gets to Aust!! - still waiting for the Halloween one to arrive in the Newsagent!)
Great idea to use the mag for the Christmas SAL blog.... :o)
I love the BB Angel - she is beautiful.
Hugs xx
A nice idea to present the JCS Ornament issues this time. Although I rarely ever stitch Christmas ornaments, just the occasional one as a gift, I love leafing through these ornament issues and choose the ones that I love. Not to stitch them but just for fun.
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