December Smalls Post and Review of the Year

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Heather from Stitching Lotus

This year I set myself two monthly challenges:

1. The Primitive Hare Hallowe'en Cubes SAL

2. The Hallowe'en Ornie SAL themed blog.
and then added a third one from August:
3. The Christmas Ornie SAL themed blog


I did really well with the Primitive Hare Cubes, stitching one per month and finishing in plenty of time for Hallowe'en.  But not the actual finishing-finishing into cubes!  That will come next year when I have sourced some cubes.  My question is now Foam or Polystyrene blocks?  Which are better in your opinion?

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen.

I also did well with the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog.  There is somewhat more pressure on the organiser to contribute each month!  This year there was a little more shoe-horning than usual to make each month fit with what I was already stitching.

Top Row

Prairie Moon, SF Vailly, Just Nan, Primitive Hare

Middle Row

Just Nan, Blue Ribbon Designs, Knotted Tree, Just Nan

Bottom Row

Witchy Stitches, Just Nan, Blue Ribbon Designs time two

For more details, see the original blog posts on the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog

And onto the Christmas Blog, oh dear, a good start which petered out in the last months.  I managed a grand total of TWO.

Knotted Tree NeedleArt

Blue Ribbon Designs

But never fear, I have a cunning plan for next year!  Which I won't reveal until I have posted the January choice.

For next year's Smalls SAL I will obviously be continuing with the Hallowe'en and Christmas Ornies.  I also have another set of Primitive Hare Cubes in my stash.  In my previous post I listed my "16 in '16" projects which are mainly all WIPs.  But we all know how much we need a new start sometimes so I also put together a list entitled "Sixteen Series in Sixteen". 

I am slightly addicted to series of designs (come on, I know I'm not the only one from reading your blogs!).  So here is a list from which I can pick and choose a design any time I feel the need for a new start while still being part of a larger WIP, ie the full series.  Clever, eh?

1. Primitive Hare Christmas Cubes
2. Joan Elliott Diary Designs (3 stitched so far)
3. With Thy Needle Wordplay (2 stitched so far)
4. Brooke's Books Cakes (2 stitched so far)
5. Brooke's Books Witches (1 stitched so far)
6. Brooke's Books Alphabet (A-E stitched so far)
7. Satsuma Street Cities (2 stitched so far)
8. L*K Season Snippets (2 stitched so far)
9. Just Nan Seasonal Typography (2 stitched so far)
10. Drawn Thread Spot of Seasons
11. Shepherd's Bush Herbs (5 stitched so far)
12. Madame Chantilly Towns (1 stitched so far)
13. Blue Ribbon Designs Winter Forest designs (2 stitched so far)
14. Plum Street Samplers 12 Days of Christmas (10 stitched so far)
15. Nora Corbett Alphabet Fairies (1 started)
16. Teresa Wentzler Byzantine Ornaments

That last one was added when I saw Heather's post on Stitching Lotus where she said she's thinking of doing one a month for the Smalls SAL.  I thought maybe I could do half a one each month so they last the year!

A kind of rotation is emerging as I think about this:

First Friday - start Hallowe'en choice

Second Friday - start Christmas choice

Third Friday - Elizabeth Shephard for IHSW (if it's still going)

Fourth Friday - Brooke's Books' Alphabet in time for the Alphabet Club post.

Inbetween I can stitch on whichever WIP is calling my name! 

 

Evening stitching will be to complete The Plum Street 12 Days of Christmas, then finish Book of Spells and move onto Ink Circles Ghosts Mandala.  Which I have realised isn't on either list.  Good start!

Finally, Gifted Gorgeousness will be continuing into 2016 and for as long as I have gifted projects and a blog to chat about them.  Sign up on the main page and get ready for the first link-up on 15th January 2016.  There's also still time to link-up on the December post (open until the 31st).