Gifted Gorgeousness October Link-Up Post

Welcome to the October Gifted Gorgeousness link-up.  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.

In the past month I have stitched quite a few gifted pieces and had one epic long-awaited finish!

Raven by Nora Corbett - the chart was a gift from Tiffany:

stitched on 32 count Nebula by Crafty Kitten

Autumn Mouse House by Just Nan - the chart was a Birthday Present:

stitched on 32 count Antique Ivory linen

Brew Ha Ha by Plum Street Sampler - the linen was a gift:

stitched over 1 on 32 count Platinum linen

Smiling Jack O'Lantern by JBW - chart was a gift:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

This is the one you've all been asking about and waiting for; the Donna Kooler Tinies!  I've been hiding these in plain sight of the recipient who never guessed they were for her.  Rewind time to a few months ago and the lovely Leonore announced that she was getting married in October and if anyone felt inclined to stitch a decoration she would be very grateful.  What a lovely idea I thought.  But only one decoration?  Oh no, we can do better than that.

Those of you who know me well, know how obsessed with a series I am.  If the design says "1 of a series of 4/6/12/196" then I am in and stitching it.  Witness my collection of 12 Days of Christmas designs!  One tradition I love is the German tradition of The Bride's Tree.  When a German couple get married, their first Christmas Tree should have a series of 12 ornaments each representing a different wish for the happy couple.  This was the obvious thing to stitch the Germanic Leonore and her handsome husband.

Brooke's Books do a stunning series but there was no way I could get them all stitched in the time frame.  So I hit on the idea of using the Donna Kooler 365 Tinies to make the series.  I found 11 of the designs in there and the 12th online.  So for the first time, here are all 12 of the Bride's Tree Ornaments:

Pine Cone - Eternity

Flower Basket - Good Wishes

Rabbit - Hope and Peace

Church - God's Guidance

Fruit Basket - Generosity

House - Protection

Santa - Giving and Sharing

Rose - Affection

Teapot - Hospitality

Fish - Christ's Blessing and Fertility

Heart - True Love

Bird in Nest - Joy and Happiness

I bought the little balsa wood frames from Wilkinsons in a set of 12 (perfect) and simply glued each piece of the 22 count hardanger to the back of the frame, then stuck a piece of white card to the back of the fabric and finally glued a piece of green felt to the frame to finish the backs nicely.

I remembered to sandwich the ribbon between the felt and the paper to make a hanging loop for each one!

Now it is your turn to show us your Gifted Gorgeousness for the month. Please use your name or your blog name in the field and NOT the words "October 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.

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Finally, it's nearly time for the spookiest Hop on the Blog - the annual Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop.  For this one, you send me an email or leave a comment saying you would like to take part.  A few days before the end of October I will send you an email with a letter of the alphabet.  On the 31st you must make a blog post featuring something spooky you have stitched (or crafted) and your letter.

I will list all the participants on my blog and we all hop around collecting the letters to form the spooky phrase - report back to my blog and leave a comment to win a prize!