November Stitch from Stash and Pie

 It's time for Pie!

My plan for November was to stitch my Chatelaine, Gardens of London, for as many days as possible.  It's a large, complex design that I really need to sit down and focus on for an extended period of time.

It went from here:

to here:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Belfast from Crafty Kitten

I managed to complete both the telephone boxes and the two guardsmen.  I just need to finish the metallics on both boxes.

When I wasn't able to work on my Chatelaine, I focused on a new start.  The Tree of Life from Steady Thread.

stitched on 28 count Cashel linen in Meadow Mist from Silkweaver

I was really pleased to get the branches of the tree completed as it means I can start adding the daily leaves from 1st January.  

This was also my evening project throughout November:

The other four days were my Zodiac signs from the Circle Cross Art Nouveau Tarot.

I completed Scorpio and Sagittarius this month:

And made a very small start on the border for Capricorn.

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

I'm actually ahead of target on this one which is a good place to be.  Especially as she keeps on releasing new designs I really want to stitch!

Stitch from Stash - after the excitement of my Birthday month, I am back to zero!

Finally, the Advent Calendar Blog Hop starts tomorrow.  The post will go up early so you can see all the doors and I'll update it each day as the participant posts on their blog.

November WIPGO

 

Making great progress on my WIPGO board this year.  I've completed the two November calls and Number 12 which will be the December call so that just leaves me two numbers for December!

Finally, the Advent Calendar Blog Hop starts tomorrow, the countdown starts there!

November WIPocalypse Ornament Finishing

          

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 only stitched on 2 of my WIPs.

3. Chatelaine Gardens of London

So much detail in those little guardsmen!

18. Circle Cross Blackwork Tarot

Sagittarius

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

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

November – What is your favourite way to finish ornaments and/or smalls?

You mean apart from "popping them in a folder to be finished later"?  I call this The Ron Method.  Because they will be finished Later Ron hahaha.

A lot of my Smalls have been scrapbooked as I simply don't have space for loads of smalls everywhere.  I do try finish my Christmas Ornaments and have a lovely garland I put up each year with some of my ornaments and some gifted by my lovely friends.

Here's a couple of photos from last Christmas:

Mostly simple pillows.  Although I do like a 3D finish and here's my festive bookshop from Living on the Rainbow:

November 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 only one I stitched this month is the Blackwork Tarot by Circle Cross.  I have finished Scorpio:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

and started Sagittarius:

Sagittarius is the start of the bottom row.  Once I stitch these four I go back to row 2 and fill in Aries ad Taurus to finish.  My plan is to stitch each one in the relevant month, give or take a week or two!

I should have a couple more smalls for next month.  The plan is to stitch some of the festive Just Nan Smalls I started during my Just Nan-athons and attempt to finish them!  This worked well in Dark October so should be fun for December too.

Finally, last call for the Advent Calendar.  I have four spaces still empty so if no-one volunteers, I'll be doing them myself!  If you're not sure what is involved have a look back at last year's Hop:

2022 Advent Calendar

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

 

November 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 main project was my Chatelaine, Gardens of London.  I'm stitching this as often as I can throughout the entire month as it's not very portable!

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Belfast from Crafty Kitten

I managed a little bit of Sagittarius from Circle Cross too, you can see her arm pulling back her bowstring just appearing:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

In the evenings and during the days when I can't stitch my Chatelaine, I've been working away on my Tree of Life from Steady Thread.  The tree itself is quite complicated but the border is very simple and once that is in place it's easier to see if the tree itself has gone wrong.

stitched on 28 count Cashel linen in Meadow Mist from Silkweaver

Finally, the next IHSW will be 15th - 17th December 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.

Gifted Gorgeousness November Link-up Post

          

Welcome to the November 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.

For October, my focus was my spooky conversion of CCN's Main Street which was a lovely Halloween finish:

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate Murano from Sparklies

I continued with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket and FFO'd that in time for Halloween.  

So far this month my focus has been my Chatelaine Gardens of London.  This was a gift for a Big Zero Birthday.  This month I've been stitching the iconic phone boxes.

I also had a new start which was a prize I won, stitched on gifted fabric.  This is Tree of Life from Steady Thread and will be a Temperature SAL for 2024

I made some more progress on the Zodiac Signs from Circle Cross' Tarot design.  I finished Libra and Scorpio then started on Sagittarius: 

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

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 "November 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 time to sign up for the biggest Blog Hop of the year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's:

2022 Advent Calendar

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

November TUSAL

 

It's TUSAL time!  

Here is my TUSAL jar with two of my current projects:

At the back we have my Chatelaine Gardens of London:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds linen from Crafty Kitten

I'm working on the two phone boxes at the moment.  I want to get them finished and maybe one of the guardsmen this month.

It's quite tricky finding time for this as it's not something you can easily pick up and put down!

So my other project has been a new start from Steady Thread.  This will be a blackwork Temperature Tree for 2024.  I figured that stitching all the border and the tree trunk would make it easier to keep up next year.

stitched on 28 count Cashel linen in Meadow Mist from Silkweavers

Not the easiest fabric to stitch blackwork on but it's a pretty pale grey-green in exactly the right size and count.

Finally, it's time to sign up for the biggest Blog Hop of the year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's:

2022 Advent Calendar

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

Finally Fully Finishing Fun for November

       

Hosted by Rachel the Ten Hour Stitcher

This SAL is designed to motivate us all to do something with that box of Finished pieces instead of just storing them under the bed.  We will all be linking up on Rachel's blog on or after the 10th of each month (10 Hour Stitcher - 10th of the month).

I actually have a couple of things to show you this month!  The first one has been my Dark 13th project all year and my evening stitching for Dark October.

Here it is, all stitched up and ready to go (except for one little tombstone I noticed after taking the photo):

stitched on 32 count grey linen

Here it is fully finished.  I mounted each of the four pieces on card, along with a rectangle for the base.  Then I whip stitched each piece to the base.  After that I whip stitched the side together.  I got two pieces of thick card cut to size with two flaps and fixed it to the centre of each side using double sided tape. 

Then I got a large piece of brown spotty fabric, stuck it to the cente pieces, tucking it between them at the top.  Then I used double sided tape to stick the fabric to the base of the basket and to the sides.

The wooden handle came with the kit.  I used glue to fit that into the central groove between the two pieces of fabric covered card in the middle.  It's for decoration not for practical carrying purposes!

This is a different method to the one described in the kit which advises you to make an inner basket with fabric covered pieces and use trim to cover the edges.

I like my method and it's part of my Halloween display now.  I need some more pumpkins to put into it!

Here's the second finish, a lot simpler as it came with the Whimzi frame!  This was a gift from June Butterfly and I was really pleased to get it finished and on display in time for Halloween.

Just Nan  -  Horrified!

Finally, it's time to sign up for the biggest Blog Hop of the year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's:

2022 Advent Calendar

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

The People Chose Circles

   

This SAL is all about what you want to see on the blog.  I asked for suggestions for themes from followers of my blog and then put them up to the members of the IHSW Group on FB to vote for their choice.  We are currently working our way through the choices.  This is what was chosen:

November - Circles

December - Chocolate

January - Your Designer of the Year

Circles are quite difficult to recreate in cross stitch as they tend to come out a little angular!  But it can be done and one of the most well-know designs is probably Cirque de Cercles by Ink Circles:

At one time, this was considered a real Rite of Passage for stitchers, in the same way Teresa Wentzler's The Castle was.  Were you even a serious stitcher if you hadn't stitched at least one of these designs?

I haven't stitched a lot of designs with circles but I do have this cute little Ivy Circle which was a cover kit from many years ago:

On a similar theme, but much larger I have Joan Elliott's Green Goddess:

When you're talking about circles, there is one very important number to think about - Pi

Pi Day can be celebrated on 14th March in the US (3.14) or on 22nd July (22/7) in the rest of the world and this lovely freebie from Tor Rhuann is perfect for the day.

Now it's over to you. All you have to do is make a post on the theme of Circles, mention The People's Choice SAL (you can copy the picture I used at the top of this post and in my side bar) and my blog.  Please link up using the URL of the actual blog post, not the home page of your blog. I look forward to seeing what you all post.

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Finally, it's time to sign up for the biggest Blog Hop of the year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's:

2022 Advent Calendar

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.