Here's my May pie:
A blog trying to focus on all the nice things in life, those moments when everything turns out right. Finding the perfect fabric for that chart you love, the ideal sampler quote, just the right picture in all the 1000s of magazines you own. Meeting people who share your interests and obsessions and totally understand why you NEED that chart when you already have enough to last until you're 104
Friday 31 May 2024
May Stitch from Stash and Pie
May Smalls
For my Smalls stitching this year, I have chosen 12 smaller designs and numbered them for my WIPGO Board. Each month one Small will be stitched in the evening timeslot and hopefully finished within the month.
Or rather, that is the plan for every month except May! Each May since 2018 I have attempted my Just Nan-athon where I stitch a different Just Nan small each evening. If I finished one the previous year I start a new one but this year I decided not to do that and just continue stitching the current one for 2 or 3 days. So there is a total of 26 designs this year.
Here is the collage of them all:
Thursday 30 May 2024
Happy Dance for Claire
My WIPGO focus for May has been Claire from Nora Corbett, part of the Bewitching Pixies series. I started her on the 1st May and finished her on 30th May, having stitched for a total of 20 days.
I stitched her on a piece of 28 count evenweave from a needlework shop that came without a label, so no idea of the dyer or the colour. I do have enough to stitch the companion piece, Evanora next year.
Beads used -
02014 - as charted
00283 - as charted
00206 - replace some of the above
18822 - sub for 18002
I did have the charted Kreinik but not a whole spool so I decided to couch the long lengths instead of stitching them. This works better for smooth lines anyway although it is fiddly working with two needles it is worth taking the time.
Sunday 26 May 2024
May WIPocalypse WIPs or UFOs?
Finally, Measi always gives us a topic to discuss:
For me, a WIP is a project that I will stitch on at least once a year during my Longest Day Marathon even if I don't pick it up at any other time. A UFO is a project I have got tired of and no longer want on my list. I might stitch it one day, I might not. I don't often UFO projects these days as I am more careful about what I choose to stitch. One recent UFO was the tiny Halloween Village started for Naughty November 2020. I just lost interest in finding tiny houses but may pick it up again in the future.
Monday 20 May 2024
May 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.
This year I am trying something different for IHSW - an A-Z Challenge! These usually take place in April and people stitch one letter every day except Sunday. I don't want to swap projects daily so thought I could do 2 or 3 letters per IHSW instead.
May is I and J.
My only I project is Fairy Idyll so it was lovely to get her out again, I didn't get much done but every stitch counts!
J was perfect for May as this is the month I do my annual Just Nan-athon. Back in 2018 I started 31 small Just Nans and have stitched each one on the day date until they are finished. Then I start a new one! This year I decided not to start any new ones but to keep stitching the previous one if there was a blank day.
Here are the latest Just Nans:
Finally the next IHSW will be 21st - 23rd June 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.
Wednesday 15 May 2024
Gifted Gorgeousness May Link-up Post
Welcome to the May 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.
My focus piece this month does not have a gifted component at all, so I can't show that. Some of the Just Nans were gifts so here are the latest ones:
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Friday 10 May 2024
Finally Fully Finishing Fun for May
Finally, the Just Nan-athon continues. Here are Days 7, 8, and 9:
Tuesday 7 May 2024
May TUSAL
It's TUSAL time!
Here is my TUSAL jar with my current projects:Sunday 5 May 2024
May Plans
At the start of the year I made a list of 24 projects I want to stitch this year for my "24 in '24". The order I stitch them in is going to be determined by the WIPGO Board. Jessie-Marie calls two numbers each month and those will be the two projects I stitch that month. One small and one medium.
In April, the numbers were 18 and 21. These related to the Quiet Hour Sampler by La Broderie and A Partridge in a Pear Tree from Cottage Garden Samplings.
I bought this offcut piece of evenweave from a needlework shop, it wasn't labelled with a colour or dyer. It's just big enough to fit Claire and her sister Evanora on.