Spoiler Alert for FFO Gallery

I wouldn't usually show an FFO before Rachel's FFO Gallery but I just can't wait with this one!

As a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people I purchased some PDF charts from various Etsy shops earlier this year.  THis particular design went straight to the top of the stitching list -  

Living on the Rainbow

The instructions are incredibly clear and seem easy to follow but there is quite a lot of sewing together bits of felt for the roof so I decided to change it up a little and make a rectangular shop instead.

Here are the pieces all stitched and ready to cut out:

The bookshop where I work is number 98 

The garlands are beads rather than French Knots

I added the brick details down each side to make the corners more decorative

stitched on 28 count Tan evenweave

What's your favourite detail?

I also made a base piece out of the same fabric, just backstitched a rectangle the right size.  I used thick card and double-sided tape to mount each piece, then whip-stitched the fours sides together.  Then I whip stitched the base to the building:

I am really pleased with my roof fabric.  My friend gave me some sparkly white leatherette she uses for making hairbows.  I mounted it on card cut to fit the roof area and then whip stitched it to the building using white sewing thread.  Usually I use DMC cotton in a matching shade to the fabric or stitching but sewing thread is sturdier, especially if you are pulling something taut.

Here is the finished piece:

I used clean old socks to stuff it.  Children's socks are perfect for these projects.

My focus piece for the second half of the month has been my Chatelaine Gardens of London.  I decided to work on the borders this time around.  One of the rose borders was completed and I've been working on the other three.

This one is done:

Here is the whole piece so far:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Belfast from Crafty Kitten

Next task is to backstitch the remaining roses and then the gold backstitch on the two bottom gardens.  After that there is another border in shades of green, designed to look like an ornamental hedge.

I'm also continuing with my Just Nan Super Summer SAL and stitching Mermaid Heart.  Here it is with two shades of turquoise completed:

stitched on 32 count grey-green linen

Finally, I'm going to be taking sign-ups for my Summer Blog Hop on the same theme as last year - Stitching Friends are Friends Who Count. Have a look at this post for last year and let me know if you'd like to take part this year.

Stitching Friends Summer Blog Hop

 

July 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 weekend I focused on my Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow, Block 5.  I didn't quite finish it but did have fun with the coral in the corner and those great sunken skulls.

Here is where I started on Saturday:

and here's where I am now:

stitched over one on 25 count Cassia Rose from Chromatic Alchemy

I'm using a gently variegated thread from Jodyri for the coral and it looks rather nice.

I put a few more stitches in my Summer Just Nan Mermaid Heart:

stitched on 32 count grey-green linen

And a lot of fiddly details on my 3D Bookshop from Living on the Rainbow: 

stitched on 28 count Tan evenweave

Just the white and then I can start making it in a 3D shape!  I must remember to make a floor base for it too.

Finally, the next IHSW will be 19th - 21st August 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.

June Stitch from Stash and Pie

  It's time for some end of the month Pie!

Continuing to hit my 14 days goal on Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.  This month I completed Block 1 which went from here:

to here:

stitched over one on 25 count Cassia Rose evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy

Then down to Block 5 which is pretty much full coverage:

I'll continue with Block 5 in June and then go across to Block 8, if I actually finish it.

So far the number of days is:

Block 7 - 13 days

Block 6 - 16 days

Block 2 - 19 days

Block 3 - 20 days

Block 4 - 15 days

Block 1 - 17 days

Block 5 - 11 days and counting

After my 14 days on Hawk Run Hollow the WIPGO board chose Amanda Butler's Alice in Wonderland design.  I discussed my issues with this in a previous post so suffice to say I completed the final block charted by me from the Tenniel illustration and decided that enough was enough - do the border and call it done!

stitched on 32 count Yellow Belfast Linen

Lots of lovely details in the blocks and the borders

Beaded details in the crowns and clothing

Gold metallics for the watches

"Off with his head!"

Having completed this one I went back to my Little Snapdragon from Kustom Krafts as I was keen to finish the dragon himself.  This only took 2 days so I spent the rest of the month on Nora Corbett's Virgo.  I really want her to be a finish this year so I am popping her in wherever I have a space!

stitched on 32 count Murano in Evening Sky from Crafty Kitten

stitched on 32 count Virgo Murano from Sparklies

I'm doing a slight conversion to more purple colours.  The dark pink in the border is an unlabelled Stef Francis mercerised cotton.  The butterflies are a Stef Francis silk.  They are a little bit close in colour but the silk is more variegated and has some blue tones.  I used a Kreinik silver metallic for the backstitch as that makes them stand out a little more.

Her hair will be the big challenge as there are several shades of pink to convert.  I am thinking of using 3041 and 3042 as my base and seeing what looks good with them.  Watch this space!

Now May is over, I'm back to a rotation for my bath-time stitching and here's the pie for that:

The Dragon from Stitch It Picasso was a finish and will be shown for the FFO Gallery.  After I'd completed that one, I did my Day for the 12 Days and then went back to the 3D Bookshop  from Living on the Rainbow.  Here's where I finished:

stitched on 28 count Tan evenweave

Once I outline the bottom two sides there are a lot of colour changes with a few stitches for each colour.  The plan is to stitch colour-by-colour now.

Finally, on to Stitch from Stash:

Year in the Woods is the Carriage House Sampling series I signed up for the auto-ship from Sparklies.  I also needed a whole batch of DMC.  I tend to stock up once a year.  This time I bought 42 skeins.  The Shannon Christine charts were an impulse buy as she brought out a 12 Days of Christmas series.  How could I resist?

June Smalls

     

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

This year my Smalls will be the Jardin Prive 12 Days of Christmas which I started on Boxing Day 2021 for the 12 Days of Stitchmas.

Halfway through the year and the days with 6 Geese a Laying

stitched on 32 count Millenium Blue Linen

Because this year is going to be a Year of Focus, I won't really have a lot of Smalls to share so some are a little bigger, such as Just Nan's Tea with Honey.  When constructed it makes a little tea table and you can purchase a miniature teaset to make into pins to stick on top.   

stitched on 28 count Dusky Pink linen

I've also gone back to my 3D Bookshop from Living on the Rainbow:

stitched on 28 count tan evenweave

Finally, I'm going to be taking sign-ups for my Summer Blog Hop on the same theme as last year - Stitching Friends are Friends Who Count. Have a look at this post for last year and let me know if you'd like to take part this year.

Stitching Friends Summer Blog Hop

April Smalls

   

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

This year my Smalls will be the Jardin Prive 12 Days of Christmas which I started on Boxing Day 2021 for the 12 Days of Stitchmas.

stitched on 32 count Millenium Blue Linen

Because this year is going to be a Year of Focus, I won't really have a lot of Smalls to share so I'm including some slightly larger pieces.  This is my Tiny Modernist Greenhouse:

stitched on 28 count grey-blue evenweave

Which became an FFO this month:

I now have a need for more 3D buildings and immediately started another.  This will be a Book Shop from Living on the Rainbow on Etsy:

stitched on 28 count Tan evenweave

The original is designed to be a drum shaped ornament stitched as one long piece but I am stitching four walls to make a rectangular building instead.

My final 3D piece is a Just Nan Travelling Pattern called Tea with Honey.  When constructed it makes a little tea table and you can purchase a miniature teaset to make into pins to stick on top.  Again, I am stitching it as six separate pieces to be stitched together.  I didn't have a piece of fabric big enough to stitch as one piece. 

stitched on 28 count Dusky Pink linen

I was able to start this because I completed my previous Just Nan project, the Spring SAL Sampler:

Just Nan - Lily Pond

stitched on 32 count Pale Green linen

Finally, it's nearly time for my annual Just Nan-athon!  I used this to take part in Maynia in previous years.  I stitch on a different JN Small each day.  

Here are last year's projects: