This Is The Last Straw

You know I detest bagpipes.  The place has now become something between a menagerie and a madhouse and a man from the Council has just declared it unfit for human habitation.  At least Mummy was spared this last outrage; they took her away this afternoon in an ambulance.
I hope you're satisfied.

12 Days of Christmas (Correspondence) - John Julius Norwich

Things are not improving between Emily and her "true love".  Joan Elliott's Piper has wisely taken the decision to play his pipes on the shores of a loch near a castle rather than a suburban house full of birds and dancing people!

Here is where I was last month:

And here is how the whole piece looked on completion of the Piper block:

I'm actually a good way through the final block as I wanted a headstart so I can finish the beading in December.

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Stitching Lotus

This year I will be showing my Hallowe'en and Christmas SAL partworks and any other Smalls I may stitch.

You've already seen the Christmas block above, so it's time for Hallowe'en.  The theme for November is Candy Corns or Food.  I am not sure you would want to eat from the menu in this piece!  Fillet of snake anyone?

This design is called Witches by Oberlin Samplers.  The fabric is actually a lime green Murano but it's difficult to photograph, think DMC 3345 for colour.  The original design had some random spooky phrases round the edge but as I had already stitched the Hallowe'en Happiness with various spooky phrases I decided to change this to reflect a speech from my favourite Shakespeare play - the Scottish one!  I also changed the words to the right which said Ghosts and Goblins to "brew a spell".  There were no ghosts or goblins in the design!  I added a bat charm to fill the space.  I already have a frame, I just need the mount board and it will be done.

Another spooky finish from Dark October was Shepherd's Bush Spooky Night:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

My Zodiac SAL had a second sign added, this is Scorpio by Donna Kooler:

stitched on 32 count Millenium Blue linen

I am continuing to stitch 30-a-day on a Just Nan freebie and here is the latest finish:

Have a Heart - stitched on 32 count white evenweave

Rather a good Small Month!

Finally, I have all the names for the Advent Calendar Blog Hop and will be sending out dates and instructions on Sunday.  Milly left a comment on my TUSAL post saying she would like to join us but left no contact details.  If you are reading this, Milly, you are no-reply, have no email in your profile and no blog details either.  If you contact me by email before Sunday I can still include you, but I need a blog and an email address to do so.  Thank you!