Gifted Gorgeousness January Link-Up Post

Welcome to the first Gifted Gorgeousness link-up of 2017!  The link-up date will continue to be the 15th and I will keep the link-up open until the end of each month so you have plenty of time if you are late posting.

The format remains exactly the same, there is a list of rules on the main sign-up page if you want to check what is required but basically anything connected to the word "gift" is allowed, whether it was a gift TO you or is a gift FROM you.

Last year we had 47 people sign up for the SAL, a couple didn't link up at all but six people linked up every single month!  I used the random number generator to choose a winner from those six and 

Leonore from Needle, Pen and Sword

is my first winner!  Congratulations Leonore, I will be choosing something nice and sending it to you.

Then I looked at all the entries, 277 in total and the random number generator chose entry 157 which was the June post for

DJ from Tickled Pink in Stitches

who will also be getting something nice from me in due course.

Since the last GG post in December I have pretty much been a OAAT stitcher on Joan Elliott's 12 Days of Christmas; first for the 12 Days SAL and then for the Christmas Ornie Blog.  Here is where I am at the moment on this design:

I have been focusing on the Partridge since the 5th January and it's nearly done.  In the evenings I have been slogging away on the boring inner border which is now complete.  I have to do an entire outer border and stitch both side of the borders in metallic so maybe I will start them next.

This is a wonderful project now I have got a decent enlarged copy of the chart.  The threads provided are not the same as the ones on the cover picture.  The greens are very different but it's looking fine, a little brighter in fact.  The kit was a gift from my MIL a few years back which is why it counts for GG.

I did take a short break to stitch for the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL, this chart was a gift from Barb:

Witches by Oberlin Samplers

I did receive some Gorgeous Gifts just before Christmas.  Our dear French Friend Jocondine sent me a wonderful parcel which I opened on Christmas Day.

A jingly bell Noel which I hung in the fireplace, next to my tree chimes

This wonderful card with a tree made of little tiny cards or books

Some with cross stitched covers!

Each little book is only an inch or so tall!

Thank you Jocondine, I treasure your hand-made gifts.

And now it's over to you.  This is where you link up your post for this month.  Please use your name or your blog name in the field and 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.  

If the linky doesn't work for you, Alicia, then please leave a comment and I will add the link.

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Finally, Miss Pea left a comment asking a question about the Dark Alphabet.  But you are a "no-reply" person Miss Pea!  I have left a comment on one of your old blogs so hopefully you will see that.  If anyone has a question about anything, it's sensible to leave a contact email with your question so I can respond.  If anyone else is interested in the Dark Alphabet then I suggest they contact Julie or Becky via the Note of Friendship blog.  Their email addresses are there under their names.