Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2020 and FFO Gallery

Spring Fantasy by Just Nan

Welcome to the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop for 2020.  I am sure you all know how it works now - hop around the list of blogs and collect the letter each one has for you.  They spell out a message (in English this year) which you can leave in a comment here for me.  I have moderated comments so no-one will see them until  23rd April.  Just to give everyone a chance to play along.

This year we are starting with:

Colourful Cross Stitches

and then on to

The Alchymyst's Study

Jeremiah's Mom

A Patchwork of Crafts

Crafting Ramble

Aimetu's Stitching

Kitten Stitching

Tiff Stitches A Blog

Needle, Pen & Sword

Elfin Stitches

Stitching Grandma

Beth's Needlework Stash

Mary's Thread

Jocondine

Mamivonat

Bronny’s Bits

Le Coeur Celtique

Wicked Stitcher

Dragon Stitches and Stuff by Astrid

and finally back to me for this letter:

I don't do a lot of Spring or Easter stitching but this finish has flowers so that will do!  This was my Leap Year start for 2020 and then I continued at bath-time.  The Small Boy is currently enjoying a long bath-time so I got lots done each evening!

This is Fox Few by Plum Street Samplers:

stitched on 32 count khaki evenweave

I used the DMC conversion for this with the exception of the yellow for the bees.  They recommended a brown 435 for Amber but I used 783.  I backstitched the pale blue flowers as they blended into the fabric colour.  The chart says to use a dark blue for the centres but the cover picture shows them as white.  There is a symbol for white which isn't used anywhere so I guess that is a mistake.

I also used a blend for the hillside rather than a variegated thread.  They recommend 3012 which was too close to 3011 which I used for the flower stems.  3013 was too close to the fabric colour but blending it with 3012 was perfect and makes a nice mottled effect for the grass.

I didn't think I had anything for the FFO Gallery this month until I remembered my Butterfly Card.  This was the cover gift from Cross Stitcher issue 356.  I stitched it and then lost the beads.  I substituted some from my stash and then found the original ones this morning.  Which reminded me I could post it for Rachel's SAL.  Check out her blog for more organised people.

stitched on 32 count white linen

cardboard butterfly and greeting card supplied

Finally, don't forget to leave a comment as you visit each blog - Happy Hopping!!

Dewdrop Bunny by Just Nan

March 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.

I started the weekend off with my Alice in Wonderland SAL from Cross Stitcher magazine:

Then moved on to my Discworld Mappe.  I didn't seem to get much stitching done but we have been going out for long walks each afternoon which is usually my stitching time.

stitched on custom-dyed 32 count Murano from Sparklies

I think I need to turn Facebook off and stitch more!

In the evenings I have been stitching the cover kit from this month's Cross Stitcher magazine.  There are some beads to be added around the butterflies:

stitched on 32 count white evenweave

I don't usually stitch the cover kits these days but I have a friend who loves butterflies so this will be a nice little "I Miss You" card to send her.  This came with a lovely printed butterfly button too.  And aida which I substituted.  The threads aren't DMC but the coverage is really nice on the 32 count.

The next IHSW will be 17th - 19th April 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. 

🐇 Good Friday - Friday 10th April 🐇

Finally, it's time to sign up for the Annual Easter Treasure Hunt.  If you would like to take part this year, just leave a comment here.  The week before Easter I will send you a letter of the alphabet which will form part of the mystery phrase.   On Good Friday you will post that letter along with a photo of something seasonal that you have stitched (could be Easter or Spring or just something cheerful and sunny or floral).  We all hop around like little bunnies to find the Mystery Phrase!

Here's a link to last year's hop so you can see how it all works - Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2019