August Stitch from Stash and Pie

 It's time for pie!

As you can see I spent most of the month completing the Joan Elliott Faces SAL, this has been a WIP for 10 years now so I was very excited to finally finish it this month!

Another finish I was very excited by was the third in the Nora Corbett Zodiac Girls series, this is Capricorn:

This meant I was in a good place to start September's WIPGO choice early.  This is a TraLaLa design called Coeur de Sorciere (Witch's Heart).  I forgot to take a photo though, so here's the cover picture:

I also keep a pie for my evening stitching.  This month it was split between The Hare Moon from Circle Cross and the three Halloween Trifles.  Four more finishes!

Finally, Stitch from Stash.

I just had to get the latest Just Nan sampler release.  Firstly because it's the first sampler she has designed in ten years so it's great to see her go back to the format I first fell in love with.  Secondly, it's Limited Edition because of the embellishment packs.  Once they sell out you won't be able to get it again.  It will have to be a Birthday present though.

Happy Dance Duo

Not one but two big finishes this month!!

First up is the Joan Elliott Faces SAL started in 2014.  Joan released a block each month featuring an adapted face from one of her existing designs.

I decided to stitch the skin on the first face over one and was really pleased with how she turned out.

The second block was charted as a rather chonky cat which I wasn't fan of so I left that block blank.

I did complete the centre with some lovely over one butterflies from another of Joan's fairies

I eventually stitched this lovely owl:

When the third block was released I just stalled on the skin as there was so much of it!

I finally completed her in 2020 and  decided to focus on just one or two blocks per year and work through them all in time.

The owl and the dragon were completed in 2021

The unicorn and the beading on the centre block were 2022

This pair were completed in 2023

And the final two blocks in 2024, just in time for it's 10th Birthday!

The second big finish is Nora Corbett's Capricorn, started and completed this year.  The beading did take a while, she is the most heavily beaded out of the Zodiac Girls plus it's difficult in the Summer holidays to find time to sit and bead, I need to spread everything out on the table to do it properly.

stitched on 32 count Murano in Capricorn from Sparklies

Look at all the beads!

Finally, I hope to get these two framed and on the wall as soon as possible.  I'll do Faces myself but my framer will be in charge of Capricorn.

August WIPocalypse Groups and Guilds

           

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 "24 in '24" for this year. This month I stitched on 4 of them and had two finishes.

2. Shepherd's Bush Halloween Trifles

13. Joan Elliott Faces SAL

19. Nora Corbett Capricorn

24. Cottage Garden Samplings Halloween Sampler

Finally, Measi always gives us a topic to discuss:

August – Do you belong to any stitching groups or guilds (either in person or virtual)?

"Guilds" always reminds me of Terry Pratchett and his Discworld with the Thieves Guild, the Assassins Guild, Beggars Guild etc.  Other than in Fantasy Literature and Medieval craftsmen it's not something I have ever considered.

Groups, are another matter!!  The advent of Facebook has been incredible for groups and I don't want to have to count how many I belong to.  I am a big fan of "single designer or theme" groups rather than general stitching groups. I love the Mirabilia groups and belong to many of those.  They often set up spin-off groups for a group such as The Bewitching Pixies or the Zodiac Girls.  I also love the Halloween Stitching Group as that is a nice pure Spooky Stitching group.

I do admin a couple of groups - IHSW being the main one.  I also run the Just Cross Stitch Ornament SAL.  Both of those I took the reins when the founder wanted to take a break from admin.  I also help out with the Stitchonomy group and a Lavender & Lace group too.

I'm only in 2 challenge groups - Stitch from Stash which I adore and WIP Warriors (used to be No New Starts).  I do the "24 in '24" for that one.

And, of course, the WIPocalypse group!!

August Smalls

       

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Rachel

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.  

Last month I was stitching The Hare Moon for Taurus from Circle Cross as I completed the WIPGO choice early.  Here is the finished Moon Maiden:

stitched on 28 count Robin's Egg evenweave from Silkweavers

This month's choice was a trio of spooky designs from Shepherd's Bush called Halloween Trifles.  I have finished two of them and have started the third.

Boo

Eek

Halloween

all stitched on 32 count Tigerlily Murano from Sparklies

The chart suggests some JABCO buttons to fill the gaps but I will use some charms I have in my stash.

Finally, if you are in the UK, take a trip to The Works.  They have all their Halloween stuff in now and there are some great products for spooky finishing.

August 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.  

August was P and Q but I totally forgot to swap out my projects so I think I'd better do them next weekend instead.

What I did work on was my Joan Elliott Faces SAL and made some lovely progress on the final face including starting her over one skin!

stitched on 28 count Snapdragon Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten

My evening project are the Halloween Trifles from Shepherd's Bush.  I have finished the first one and started the second.

stitched on 32 count Tigerlily Murano from Sparklies

 

Next month will be R and S.  I don't have an R project at the moment but S is covered by a number of projects so I will be spoiled for choice!

Finally the next IHSW will be 20th - 22nd September 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 August Link-up Post

       

Welcome to the August 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 evening piece started in last month became a finish, stitched on gifted fabric and will be a gift for a friend too:

Circle Cross - Hare Moon for Taurus

stitched on 28 count opalescent Robin's Egg evenweave from Silkweaver

This month, my evening piece was a chart I gave to a friend as a Birthday present and then she gave it back to me to stitch!  I'm using the offcut of Sparklies' Tigerlily Murano for these.

Shepherd's Bush - Halloween Trifles

stitched on 32 count Tigerlily Murano from Sparklies

My focus piece for this month is Joan Elliott's Faces SAL, stitched on gifted fabric:

stitched on 28 count Snapdragon Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten

Steady Thread - Tree of Life Temperature SAL

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stitched on 28 count Meadow Mist linen from Silkweavers

I record the temperature each day and then stitch the leaves on the Sunday morning.

A little bit behind because of how busy it's been

My Dark 13 design is stitched on gifted fabric, a beautiful 40 count linen called Witch's Brew from Zweigart.  My plan is to stitch one letter per month until we reach October and then complete it during Dark October.

stitched on 40 count linen called Witch's Brew from Zweigart

Finally, 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 "August 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 Fully Finishing Fun for August

 

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).

Unfortunately, nothing got FFO'd this last month!  Sorry Rachel, I promise there will be stuff for September!

So here's my progress on the current WIPs.

Capricorn by Nora Corbett is having a LOT of beads added to her:

stitched on 32 count Capricorn Murano from Sparklies

Great progress on the final block for the Joan Elliott Faces SAL:

stitched on 28 count Snapdragon Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten

Finally, I am trying to keep up with my Temperature SAL.  But not succeeding!  I do log the daily temperatures and it won't take long to catch up.

Blackwork Tree of Life from Steady Thread

stitched on 28 count Meadow Mist linen from Silkweavers