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Sunday 8 April 2018

Give Me a Blog Until it is 7

And I will show you the stitching!

Apologies to Aristotle.


Happy 7th Blogaversary to me!

I have no idea why I only have one of a pair of bunches, I assume the other one was hidden behind my head.  Love the 1970s wallpaper though.

By the time I had my 7th Birthday I had acquired a little brother (you can just see him at the edge of the photo) and moved house, yet again!  We did stay in that house for 8 years though to make up for the numerous moves before then.  I was at the same Primary School and in Mrs Blake's class.  It was this year that I experienced my first loss - Jeremy the Gerbil passed away while I was at school one day.  I was devastated and Grandad promised to make a headstone for him.  Mum expected a little wooden cross made in his shed.  Not a foot high piece of marble with his name carved in it!   Grandad was a stonemason by trade, she should have realised.

Here are my blog stats:
*
7 years
757 posts
625 followers
16,012 comments
831,532 pageviews
WOW

I'd also like to wish my Blog-Twins Susan and Calamity Jr a very Happy Birthday too!

Last year I was working on my Christmas and Hallowe'en pieces and the same goes for this year although they are different designs.  I have also done some fully finishing this afternoon, trying to get back into that habit, and got some progress on both Diamond Bouquet and my Alice SAL which I took with me to visit my Godmother.  It's amazing how much stitching you can get done on two 3 hour train journeys.

Here is Jardin Prive's Happy Hallowe'en Night:

stitched on 32 count Cognac linen

And this is my Christmas progress on Just Nan's 12 Days of Christmas:

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen


Amazing progress on Alice by Mrs Peggotty.  I need to complete two pages per month to finish this by the end of the year.  The piece is 7 pages tall by 3.5 pages wide.  I have stitched nearly all of the right 7 pages:

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

It's so nice to reach the flamingo.  Stitching the neck is really easy and very quick too.

This afternoon I did some narrow bands on my Diamond Bouquet by Just Nan:

stitched on 28 count lilac evenweave

Because they were speciality stitches they were very quick and that left me time to do some FFO'ing.  Yay!  Sunday afternoon used to be the time for that and it's a good habit to get back into.

Here is Just Nan's Painted Lady which I completed back in February.  I have mounted it on patterned card and then on a page from an old Monet calendar.  Monet's paintings make great backdrops for floral designs.  I would recommend going into a certain chain of bookshops at the end of January and buying up their calendars for 75% off.


Close-up of the finished piece:



It's been a good year on the blog again.  The Blog Hops continue to be popular and attract new participants.  The Gifted Gorgeousness SAL posts are the most viewed on the blog.  I guess people come back to link up and see who else has joined in.  The Blogger of the Week was new last year and continues to grow with 55 different bloggers featured so far.  I'm taking part in all the old blogging favourites such as WIPocalyse, the TUSAL, the Smalls SAL and the invigorated IHSW as well as the newer FB based Stitch Maynia.  I will be starting 31 Just Nan smalls one per day throughout May if anyone wants to join the Just Nan-a-thon do let me know.  Any Just Nan project you like.  If I have it I will start that one too.

Finally, no competition this year but just for fun - what has been your best blogging or stitching moment of the last 12 months?  Leave a comment below!














42 comments:

Justine said...

Happy 7th Blogaversary Jo! You are so good at keeping your blog up to date and organising all your SALs and Blog Hops.
My best blogging moment of the last 12 months was finding out that my blog had been included in Lord Libidan's Top 25 blogs - recognition indeed! I also really enjoyed Stitching Friends Forever's 1st birthday party.

Ariadne said...

Happy blogoversary!Please do continue to inspire us with your stitching and by organizing all the challenges and blog hops! I think my best accomplishment the last 12 months in stitching is my Flower Alphabet Fabric Book. As for blogging what I accomplished is not to blog much anymore unfortunately!Hugs.AriadnefromGreece!

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Happy Blogaversary! Your projects are wonderful. Love the blog hops, and all the other fun things on your site, too. Looking forward to many, many more years of reading your blog. :)

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

Happy Blogversary Jo.I enjoyed your anniversary blog post,so much lovely stitching as always.
My best stitching moment of the year was making the decision to re start Little Moreton Hall,it gave me the enthusiasm to stitch it again.

Vickie said...

Happy 7th Jo! Thanks for all that you do for all of us!

AnaCristina said...

Oh Jo! So cute picture! Happy blogversary!

Pamela said...

Happy blog anniversary!

Rhona said...

Amazing stats, Jo! Happy blogaversary. Not sure what my best blogging or stitching moment is....perhaps it's that I keep doing it?!!! :)

Stitching Noni said...

Happy Blogaversary!! I think your 7yr old self was a cutie... and maybe your ponytail was a side ponytail rather than 2 bunches :)
Your 2 WIPs look great.
Thank you for all that you do to encourage us to stitch and blog, blog and stitch :)
My best stitching moment over the last 12 months was finishing last year's Halloween and Christmas pieces!! :)
Hugs x

Susan said...

Happy blogaversary. Just keeping up with my blog has been my biggest blogging moment for the last year. LOVE the finish for "Painted Lady". I found that one in my to-do box when I was searching for my next small.

Mia said...

Happy 7th Blogaversy, Jo. I love your photo when you were 7 years old.
I think the best post on my blog is my messenger bag (https://craftartista.blogspot.gr/2017/05/messenger-bag.html) and it was so difficult to sew it. Kisses, my friend. Keep inspiring and organising us.

Barb said...

What a cute little girl! I always enjoy your posts so congratulations and keep it up. I think my best stitching moment will come soon as I am designing my own middle block for Early Americans by LHN. It's much harder than I thought. I have a new respect for all the wonderful chart designers!!

Kay said...

Happy blogaversary. I think my best stitching moment in the last 12 months was when I finally finished Nora Corbett's The Christmas Elf, it had only taken me 9 years to do. x

Preeti said...

Happy Blogaversary to you! Wish you many more creative milestones ahead.
Your stitching pieces are looking great!

D1-D2 said...

Happy blogaversary Jo :)

butterfly said...

Congrats Jo,
Happy Blogaversary , thank you for all you do.
Love the picture so cute .
Enjoy your week hugs and kisses .

Julie said...

Happy anniversary Jo.
Just visiting and keeping up with everyone and what they are doing had been important to me this part year. Some days it's lifted my spirits more than people know to read their words.

Tiffstitch said...

Happy 7th blogoversary! I think my favourite moment over the last year is finishing Ink Circles Reflections of Canada last June. I am kind of excited about returning to knitting recently too though.

Bethan said...

Happy 7th blogiversary! I immensely enjoy reading and following your blog! I think my favourite moment has to be finishing my Beauty and the Beast cross-stitch finally! x

Kaisievic said...

Happy 7th Blogaversary, dear, darling Jo. I always love reading your posts. My favourite moment most recently was coming up with the idea of my New Start Sundays SAL blog - I am finding that it is really helping me keep up with my SAL stitching. It hasn't had much traction with other stitchers/bloggers yet but I don't mind, it is helping me a lot!

Aurelia Eglantine said...

Happy Blogiversary Jo! Here's to 7 awesome years, and best wishes for many more! Unfortunately, I haven't been stitching much lately but I really enjoyed hopping along with your Easter blog hop :)

Katie said...

Happy Blogiversary. I'm so thankful I found your wonderful blog. I enjoy it every post and I love being able to call you a friend now. My favorite blog moment....Hmm you know what I love each comment and each post from the people on my blog reader. I never know what will be next. I just love seeing all the amazing projects. Even though sometimes I end up spending money because of it haha.

Beth in IL said...

Happy blogiversary! My favorite blogging moment was my 1000 post, not that long ago. Happy stitching!

Mini said...

Happy Blog anniversary Jo. You are queen of cross stitch blog land. I'm amazed how you manage to post so regularly , never miss a SAL date . You have raised the bar of SAL hosting so much so that I don't like SAL host who can't keep up with dates..ha ha. Wishing you many successful years ahead and thank you for making blogging so interesting.

diamondc said...

Jo: Happy Blogaversary, wow is right with all the posts and views, you have lots of followers.
I love the Jardin Prive Halloween, such a sweet design, your Just nan Twelve Days is beautiful, Great progress on Alice I am looking forward to seeing the Flamingo.
I love Diamond Bouquet I have stitched this twice and want to do another for a gift.
I like how you mounted Painted Lady very creative idea, I shall look at the closeout of the calandars.

Blessings
Catherine

Catherine - Hillview Embroidery said...

Happy Blogversary! What a great achievement. Here's to the next seven years!
I think my biggest stitching achievement in the past twelve months has been my RSN pieces. Despite their flaws, I am happy with them!

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Happy 7th blogoversary. I'm glad I found your blog as I enjoy reading it and taking part in your blog hops..

#HeatherMakes said...

Happy Blogversary to you! Fantastic blog too 😊

OhSewCrafty said...

Happy Blogaversary! 12 Days is so bright and cheerful, lovely stitch. Your Monet mount definitely complements the piece, beautiful finish.

deb said...

Wow - seven years! Happy Blogversary!! I'm so glad you do blog as I always enjoy your posts. :)

Brigitte said...

Congratulations on seven years of blogging. Jo. I love your blogaversary post, very interesting to read all the details. Your blog hops are legend, and it's also amazing to see in how many SALs you participate regularly.
Nice progress on the projects you show. And what a great combination of the Monet flowers and your JN piece.
I could have had a great blog moment back in March if I hadn't forgotten about my tenth blogaversary :(

Leonore Winterer said...

Wow, 7 years already...congratulations! I hope you will stay with us for a lot longer. Your current project at least looks as lovely as always, I can see how Alice is even more fun since you reached the Flamingo!
I enjoy every moment I am stitching, so it's hard to pick a favourite...for blogging, it's everytime someone I've been following and fangirling over stops by and leaves a comment!

Meg said...

Hi, Jo! I'm new to your blog. Found you through Stitching Friends Forever. Happy blogging anniversary. Seven years is amazing! In response to your question, my biggest blogging accomplishment of the past year was starting a blog! haha... livetostitch.blogspot.com. I hope you'll come by for a visit. My biggest stitching accomplishment has been designing my own patterns (I share them on my blog). It's something I never thought I could do, but I love it. Have two new designs in the works as I write this. Have a great weekend!

Linda said...

Happy Blogaversary Jo. Lovely stitching and Alice looks great. Avrora has a stained glass Alice.

Linda

Christine said...

Happy Blogoversary!

FlashinScissors said...

Happy Blogaversary, Jo! I can’t choose a “best moment”! I’ve enjoyed lots of stitchy projects this year, and had such fun joining in with your blog hops. It’s a lovely way to see what other stitchy friends are making, and especially to meet so many “new to me” bloggers! Well done bringing us all together!
Thank you, Jo!
Hugs,
Barbara xx

rosey175 said...

Congrats on your 7th birthday! Gosh, that's, like, 49 in cat years. Obviously that means 50 new starts, if you please (one to grow on)! I imagine that flamingo neck just sails along.

I dunno what would be my biggest accomplishment. Probably finishing FF III!

Carol said...

Congratulations, Jo, on your blog's 7th birthday! You do so much for the blogging community--not sure how you get everything done (and work, and be a mom, etc!!).

I had to laugh as I always am amazed at what you learn from stitching blogs. Never in my life have I heard the term "pair of bunches" so I had to Google it :) And, low and behold--it is what we call "pigtails!" Too funny! Love that sweet photo of you... Here's to many more happy years of cross stitching and blogging!

Clare-Aimetu said...

Congratulations on 7 years of great blogging - wishing you many many more

Daffycat said...

Oh, I’m so behind my reader! Hope your blogoversary was a happy one! Congratulations!

Rachel said...

Very belated Happy 7th Blogoversary Jo! Your blog and commitment to various and numerous SALs is a indication of how much can be achieved when you really set your mind on something.
My best blogging moment has to be the decision to keep mine going when I was so close to deleting the whole thing. It's amazing what difference a couple of encouraging comments can make. :)

The Crafty Princess said...

Happy 7th Blogaversary Stunner! Great stats too! I love the Monet backdrop and thanks for the tip of buying up calendars on the cheap in January. Maybe I should stitch on a train too so I can get more progress on my wips. Great progress on all your work, especially on Alice. It's really starting to take shape. xo Alicia