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Friday 15 January 2016

Gifted Gorgeousness January Link-Up Post


Welcome to the first Gifted Gorgeousness link-up of the year!  The link-up date will continue to be the 15th of each month but I will keep the linky open until the end of each month so you have plenty of time to join in.

The format remains EXACTLY the same as last year, if it ain't broke then don't fix it!  The "rules" are on the Sign Up Page but basically anything you have which was a gift from someone or is going to be a gift for someone is eligible.  Some shoehorners also included free charts which are a gift from the designer!

Most of the participants are cross stitchers but we did have quilters, knitters and crocheters joining in last year so other crafts are quite welcome to link up too.

In 2015 we had 66 people sign-up but unfortunately 11 of them didn't actually manage a single post!
The remaining 55 people made 350 posts between them, an average of 6 posts each.
The year started off with over 40 posts a month but slowed down to 20 by December, an average of 29 posts per month.
There were 7 people who linked up every single month.
Some people were usually among the first to link-up and Gillie was usually tail-end Charlie!

I used the random number generator to pick a number between 1 and 350 then worked out who that was from the spreadsheet.  The names were listed in the order people signed up on the original sign-up page and you got one entry for every post you linked-up in 2015.
Then I used the random number generator to pick a number between 1 and 7 so everyone with a full house got the chance to win the second prize.

The two winners are:

(for her April post)

and

(for posting every month)

Congratulations to your both.  Gwen donated a Big Box of Charts last year so I will be sorting them into two piles and posting them out very soon.

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So what have I been stitching this last month for GG?

The focus for this week has been the letter C from Nora Corbett for my Godmother's Grand-daughter (my God-Niece?) who is also my Second Cousin Once Removed because my Godmother is my Mum's First Cousin.  Is that clear or would you like a family tree drawn?  Let's just say a 5 year old girl!

stitched on 32 count Oceanic Fantasia from Crafty Kitten


I bought the chart and the fabric with the voucher Alicia the Crafty Princess sent me for my Birthday so that's double GG points for this one.

Prior to that was Just Nan Counting Bats, a gift from the lovely Mel along with the threads:


Before that was CCN's Poinsettia Place, a giveaway prize from Gaynor:

(the dark line is because the fabric was folded under when I scanned it, it's not a mark)


And right at the beginning of the GG month, I completed this gift from Linda - Sunflowers and Acorns by Beehive Needleworks:

stitched on 35 count linen

And now over to you  - Here is the place for you to link up so we can see what Gifted Gorgeousness you have been stitching so far this year.  Please use your name or your blog name in the field NOT the words "January Update" so I can easily see who has linked up this month.
And link to the actual post, not just your blog.  It is easier if you copy and paste the link, rather than typing freehand.
Thank you.  I can amend links if you make a boo-boo though.



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Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop
 
It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart. Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.   It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

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
 Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 
There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself  in their comments as their
Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

Does that make sense to everyone?  I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post, 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.  








39 comments:

Clare-Aimetu said...

You are so lovely to the blog world doing Gifted Gorgeousness and the Blog Hops - thank you Jo x

I'm having a break from big gifts this year but I'm sure there will be a few little bits over the year so I'd love to join especially as the posting window is a little longer this time :-)

I'd love to join Secret Stitching Sweetheart too so am off to send you an email :-)

Heather said...

Congrats to the winners! That's awesome! I'll link up tomorrow lol it just turned to the 15th and I'm hoping to get a page finish before I post :). I'm happy I managed to post every month last year and I hope to do it again!

Rachel said...

Although I don't participate, I do enjoy looking at GG updates. So many stitchers are generous to each other. Interesting statistics too about how postings tail off throughout the year. Unfortunately, I expect that's the same for most sign-ups. :)

Kerryp77 said...

Morning Jo, lots of lovely stitching there. My kids go to school with 2nd cousins once removed. It's very confusing for them as they know them better than their cousins. I love the sunflowers design.
I've linked up although my post says 11th Jan, I think it's because I started the draft then. Hoping to be better at linking up this year! Famous last words and all that! Happy stitching.

gracie said...

Yes count me in!

Vickie said...

Your gift for Linda is really pretty.
Count me in for Secret Stitching Sweetheart.

Lili said...

Beautiful pieces, Jo!!
Hugs,
Lili

Christine said...

Congratulations to the two winners.
Great start on the Nora Corbett letter

cheryl said...

Congratulations to Sarah and DJ! How wonderful!
I am finally on time with my GG post! I think I only missed 1 month last year ... this time around I will shoot for all 12.
Your projects are looking lovely. I love the colors in "Sunflowers and Acorns". Sweet finish.

stitchersanon said...

Not only have I remembered the 15th but I also remembered to stitch something for it! Thank you. My disappointment at not managing every month last year has actually made me start to have weekends off. And it's have been wonderful. Lovely to stitch some of the amazing gifts I've received over the years. And I LOVE your projects. Great to be stitching just for fun again!

Katie said...

Congrats to the winners. I have finally joined in the GG this year. I look forward to meeting some new people. I will email you my picture for the Blog Hop. I just love participating in those!! Thanks for hosting.

Julie said...

Congratulations to the winners.
My first GG post completed
Your letter looks superb

Kaisievic said...

Congratulations to the winners but a big thank you to you, Jo, for organising such a wonderful SAL for us to have fun with each month. Love your GG stitching this month, hugs, Kaye

Emma/Itzy said...

Lovely stitching so far! I've also linked up my GG (yay!) I will have a think about the Valentines Hop, not sure if I have anything I could fit in to the theme but will have think about it :)

Linda said...

Lovely stitching as always Jo. Congrats to the winners.

Linda

craftingpaws said...

Absolutely love this SAL, thanks so much for running it Jo!
You've done some fantastic stitching. I really, really like the counting bats piece.

DJ said...

I always enjoy visiting your blog and checking out your stitching. It's always so nicely done and such fun patterns. The letter C is going to look so pretty on that fabric, and I'm sure she will treasure it always! Imagine my surprise when I found out I had won a prize. If you could see the smile on my face!! I'm so excited!! Thank you so much for your generosity!! Thank you, again, for hosting the GG SAL, it helped me focus so much last year and I was able to accomplish so much! I'm hoping this year will be the same!

Tiffstitch said...

My first time! I think I did it probably and I'll check my stitching to see what might be Valentine's oriented.

Minnie said...

Congrats to the winners. I linked up my post and I made a boo boo on the first try please delete. It won't happen again, I hope. Thank you!

Gillie said...

Ahem! Love from TEC x

rosey175 said...

Yay, 'grats to the two winners~ More gifts for them to talk about! :D I really like the colors of CCN's Poinsettia Place. My sleep addled brain seemed to be confused that your WIPfloss was an elephant motif. (???? No, I don't know either.)

Barb said...

Lots of beautiful stitching!

jocondine said...

Happy new GG year to all the GG bloggers! Nice program for the beginning of this year. xxx

Susan said...

Very pretty finish and I love the fabric C is stitched on. I do need to remember her fabric when I am looking for hand-dyes again.

Stitching Noni said...

Great post! Love those stats... be great to beat them this year.... :o)
Lovely stitching on show :o)
I have linked up my first GG post... looking forward to 2016!
Hugs xx
PS: I accidently linked my post up on the sign up page... are you able to delete that entry (#38) as I have already signed up on that list earlier.... sorry and thank you (too many web pages open!)

gominam said...

Great designs, love the fabric on Nora Corbett. Congrats on the lovely finish. The Valentine hop sounds a lot of fun, wish I could finish my wips and find a design right away...

Debbie said...

The Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop sounds like fun. Count me in.

#HeatherMakes said...

Congratulations to the winners :D I have my first GG post up :D I will have a look though my photos at Valentine stitches created! I would love to join the Sweatheart Blog hop!

Sarah in Stitches said...

Oh my goodness, I can't believe I won! Happy dance! :D Beautiful stitching as always, Jo. I've linked up!

Elfie said...

I'm glad to eb back for a new year of GG eporting. You have an interesting selection of charts - it should be happy stitching all year!

Elfie said...

Sorry about the typos in my response. That will teach me to read before posting!

Brigitte said...

Interesting to read all the statistics about last year's GG. From what I read there it was a very successful challenge. I didn't join each month but at least some of them :) Congratulations to the winners of the prizes.
And you started the first month of this year's challenge very successfully, Jo. Great stitching.

Leonore Winterer said...

Congtrats to the winners - I loved reading the statistics about last year's GG, and of course I'm in again this year. Post will be up hopefully later this week.
Great projects you've been working on as well :)

Leonore Winterer said...

...and it's up :)

lynda said...

Well...I finally got my post up! Congratulations to lat year's winners. There was so much lovely stitching to see! Thanks, Jo!

jocondine said...

Back for adding I won't miss the SecretSSBH of course. I'll write you soon. xxx

Astrids dragon said...

Never got my act together for GG, but you're on a roll! Yeah, DJ!

Please count me in for the Sweetheart Hop.

Justine said...

Made it just in time! You've got some lovely Gifted things on the go this year.

Mini said...

Great first GG post for 2016. I loved the stats for 2015. Congrats to the winner.
I was away for vacation so couldn't link up for Jan. I have few things to show for February. Thanks for checking on me.