September Stitch from Stash and Pie

 It's time for Pie!

Very strange not to see Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow on there.  But Fairy Idyll takes the place with a fortnight of stitching going from here:

to here:

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

After my fortnight on Fairy Idyll, I moved on to another Nora Corbett project - Taurus.  Determined to finish her this month with all her beautiful beads and sparkle:

stitched on 32 count Taurus Murano from Sparklies

The other projects were stitched on work days or days when I couldn't easily bead!

For my Evening Pie there was only one project, Noteworthy Needle Turn, Turn, Turn.

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

I have actually filled in those last dozen stitches but haven't taken another photo!

Now for Stitch from Stash.  I've done really well so far this year. buying very little other than essential supplies and my usual magazines.  But I knew I would be splashing out in September with my Birthday money!  I just didn't realise how much LOL

So, first of all I ordered the Just Nan Owlvira from the LNS in the next town to me.  We went to collect it and it had been delayed so I just got the Tiny Halloween Town chart I'd also ordered as well as a Sweetheart Tree small and some linen offcuts.

Then there was a sale on the Rainbow Hunt X Stitch shop on Etsy so I bought the Wonderland Bottle Collection.

Then I saw a Just Nan chart on eBay followed by a Mirabilia in a Stash Unload group.  

Then Living on the Rainbow had a sale for this adorable tiny Haunted House.

Then my Just Nan order came in so I got Owlvira's Frightful House, Autumn Mix (I have the others in this series already) and the Just Cross Stitch Christmas issue too.

Finally, my subscription to Cross Stitcher was due!  Luckily all of the above was exempt from SFS except for the JCS Christmas magazine so I've not blown the budget there after all.

September Smalls

        

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

Because I am focusing on my BAPs again, I won't have so many smalls this year but I do have a couple of series with small components so I will share them this month.

The first is the Blackwork Tarot by Circle Cross.  I have finished Leo, and have got a good way with Virgo:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Virgo

Turn, Turn, Turn by Noteworthy Needle has been my evening project every day this month:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen

Finally, you might see some actual smalls next month as it's Dark October and I still haven't decided what to stitch in the evenings!  Possibly the Mani di Donna Sewing Basket or maybe some Just Nan smalls.

A Happy Dance was Predicted in the Stars

I'm Happy Dancing!  This is the second of the Zodiac Girls designs from Nora Corbett that I have stitched.  She is Taurus, of course:

Here's the full design:

Stitched on 32 count Murano called....Taurus!

When I saw that Sparklies did a range of fabrics named after the Zodiac signs I knew they would be perfect for this series.

There were some Waterlilies charted for this design, but I substituted DMC for the ones in the centre of her dress.  3 different colours in the 501-503 range instead of one variegated.

Nora made a little error on the chart and put the sigil for Aries, but it was simple to change it to Taurus

The other Waterlilies was the teal to each side of her.  I used a Classic Colourworks thread called Bejewelled instead.

The swirls around the pale green beads were charted for Waterlilies and I used DMC 503 for them all.

Finally, here's a photo of her sister Virgo who was completed last year.  Capricorn will be next to complete the Earth Trio.

September WIPocalypse Seasonal Stitching

            

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "23 in '23" for this year.  This month I stitched on 4 of my WIPs.

6. Mirabilia Fairy Idyll

11. Nora Corbett Taurus

13. Mani di Donna Halloween Stitching Basket

18. Circle Cross Blackwork Tarot

Leo - finished

Virgo

The full list can be seen here - WIPocalypse and "23 in '23"

Finally, Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too:

September - Are you a seasonal stitcher?  If so, which seasons do you find yourself more productive or less productive?

Any season is stitching season!  In the summer it can be too hot to go out much.  The depths of winter are good too for the same reason.  My least productive days are obviously days when I work a full day but even then I get some time at bath-time in the evening.

In fact, whatever the season, this is my motto:

"I count not my day complete 'till needle, thread and fabric meet"

From Nature to My Needle by The Blue Flower

September IHSW

  

IHSW or International Hermit and Stitch Weekend always starts on the third Friday of the month.  It's a chance to lock yourself away and focus on your stitching for the weekend.  You can take part on your blog or via the Facebook page - IHSW on Facebook.

My first project was Fairy Idyll from Mirabilia:

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

 Then I got a little bit done on the Zodiac signs from Circle Cross, finishing Leo:

and a small start on Virgo:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Taurus from Nora Corbett was the next project:

stitched on 32 count Murano in Taurus from Sparklies

There are a couple of missing stitches around her face and then it's on to beading!

In the evenings I have been working on Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle this month.   I have reached the right hand side where those brown stitches are.  

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

Finally, the next IHSW will be 20th - 22nd October so make sure you note the date in your diary or come and join us in the Facebook Group - IHSW on Facebook. If you don't do Facebook then you can check in here by leaving a comment on my post.

September TUSAL and Stitching Library

         

It's TUSAL time!  

Here is my TUSAL jar with my current project, Fairy Idyll by Mirabilia:

She will get one more day this weekend and then go away until November.  Dark October is for spooky stitching.

What's on my Shelf?

This is a feature I'm going to include on my TUSAL post until I run out of books! I started a Page on my Happy Dance blog for my Stitching Library and realised what a huge task it was so decided to break it down to one book per month. For the next four years...

Title: Exquisite Miniatures

Author: Brenda Keyes

Publisher: David & Charles
ISBN: 9780715304358

I thought this book fitted in well with the "Small" theme for The People's Choice this month.

There's a wide variety of styles from traditional sampler motifs

to prim little houses

silhouettes

and blackwork

I love the way she accentuates the small size by using a chunky frame.

Back cover

I haven't stitched anything from this book yet but there's lots of information from the very knowledgeable Brenda Keyes, as you would expect and some great photos too.

I particularly like the square frame turned into a diamond on the back cover.

Finally, it's IHSW this weekend so I'm hoping to get a few projects worked on to share with you on Monday.

Gifted Gorgeousness September Link-up Post

        

Welcome to the September Gifted Gorgeousness link-up. The link-up date continues 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.

At the end of August I was working on my Chatelaine Gardens of London, mostly the border but I did get a guardman's hut stitched too:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds linen from Crafty Kitten

Then for September, my focus has been Fairy Idyll from Mirabilia.  I am so in love with this project!  I'm stitching her for 14 days this month.

  

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

I am continuing with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket.  The plan for this one is to stitch it on the 13th of every month.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

I made some more progress on the Elements from Circle Cross' Tarot design and continued with the third Zodiac sign - Leo:  

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Little Snapdragon was my evening project until I finished it:

stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

Since then. Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle has been my evening project again:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

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 "September 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.

*

*

Finally, it's International Hermit & Stitch Weekend this weekend.  I'll be working on Fairy Idyll for one day and then returning to Taurus on Sunday.  September really is a Nora Corbett sort of month!