The Joyeous and Jubilant Alphabet Jamboree

It's the first Saturday of the month so it's time for detention!

"They only met online, but it changed their lives forever"

I think most of you know the lovely enigmatic Chiara who blogs at The Grey Tail?  We were chatting via email a while back and between us came up with the idea of an A-Z language challenge.  We batted some ideas around and are calling it the The Alphabet Club.  Chiara has the full details on that link but basically she will post a link-up post on the first Saturday of each month (Saturday being detention day in the film) reminding us of the month's letter and we will all link up with themed things, from stitching to designers and local customs.

J is for Jack-in-the-Box  from A Dark Alphabet designed by Julie and Becky's Note of Friendship blog.

Here's what Becky said about this block at the time:

"Depending on the country, the story varies a bit in it's telling, but most involve a devil! In French the jack-in-the-box is called a "diable en boîte", which means "boxed devil".  One of the first jack-in-the-boxes was pictured holding a boot with a devil in it. Some believe that the name "Jack" was a reference to the devil, referred to as a jack - is this also where we get Jack-o-lantern?"

J is for Japanese Embroidery as shown in the Brooke's Book's Stitcher's Alphabet piece I am stitching for the Alphabet Club SAL:

stitched on 28 count afghan 

I found this lovely quote on a website dedicated to Japanese Embroidery:

"The embroidery not only reflects the state of the inner heart, but it also reveals the embroiderer’s lifestyle in the way he or she selects colors and uses the various techniques. There is no way that a vague and superficial life will create work that will touch people’s hearts."

If you think about our stitching, the pieces which are a journey or have a personal meaning are the most interesting ones to blog about and which attract the most comments.  Both of my first two pictures have a story behind them which elevate them to something more than simply attractive decorations.  One was a gift for a friend, as part of a group project for her church and the other was a gift from a friend, a connection across the ocean.  A friend who could do with some prayers right now, so say a quick one for Shirlee please.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed her new house works out, which is making stitching difficult!

Here are two Joyful pieces:

Joy from Jeanette Douglas

from JCS Christmas Ornie Special 2010

Joyous Noel by Elizabeth Designs

Just Cross Stitch magazine is one which will be very familiar to my American followers and probably most of my RoW ones too.  (RoW = Rest of World, an insurance expression for a country which did not fit into one of the main categories!).  According to my Happy Dance Blog I have stitched 21 different designs from JCS;  14 Hallowe'en and 7 Christmas themed designs.

Designers beginning with J is such an easy one - two of my favourites; Just Nan and Joan Elliott.

Here are the three Typography designs from Just Nan that I have completed, only Summer to complete the set:

And here are four of Joan Elliot's monthly designs from the Year of Magical Stitching charts:

only another eight to do!

Both those series are part of my WIPocalypse 16 series in '16 list.  I also have Jannlynn's Gathering Honey on my list.  Last seen here:

Day 20 of the DUCJC 2015

And a completed J is for Joanne from Nora Corbett:

Another favourite J designer is JBW, I stitched a Year of Kitties in 2013 and here are January, June and July:

And now on to my Blog Roll.  Several of my favourite bloggers begin with J:

Jeremiah's Mom

(and the Lighthouse-Loving Jeremiah's Grandmom too)

Jocondine

(our wonderful artistic French friend)

Julie's Stitchy Knitter Journal

Justine's Cross Stitch

My Journey

(the ever-cheerful Jacquie)

Just Stitching Along (with Krista)

**********************************

Finally, one more J which is me!  I will be celebrating the Years of Jo's Life in September with a special blog hop.  I am hoping to get one blogger for each year of my life.  Which is a lot!  So if you'd like to take part just leave a comment or email me.  I will allocate each participant a year and a life event which they will blog about plus show a photo of something stitched they think will appeal to me.  I have such varied tastes, that shouldn't be too difficult!