September Gifted Gorgeousness Link-up Post

        

Welcome to the September 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.

Last 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 for myself!  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 last month was Joan Elliott's Faces SAL, stitched on gifted fabric:

stitched on 28 count Snapdragon Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten

This month, both my focus pieces are also gifts!  The charts were sent to me by a lovely friend who was clearing some of her older stash.  During the day I am stitching on Couer de Sorciere by TraLaLa:

stitched on 32 count Taupe evenweave

In the evening it's this little repeating design from Hands on Design, [never.more]

stitched on 32 count Khaki linen

Continuing progress on this one as we cool down to Lime again:

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.

I've caught up at last!

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 "September 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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No FFO for August!

       

Hosted by Rachel the Ten Hour Stitcher

Unfortunately, it's a No-FFo for me this month.  I just haven't FFO'd anything because I've been too busy papercrafting.

But I do have a rather wonderful FO which will be FFO'd within the next two months.

I first became aware of this designer and their large detailed designs of their imaginery town several years ago.  I liked a lot of their designs but couldn't pick a favourite and knew it would be a big time commitment.  So I decided that if they ever did a Halloween themed design in the series, that would be the one for me.

Of course, we are all now familiar with Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow from Carriage House Samplings, not least because of how many blog posts it has appeared in here!

I started the design on 5th February, 2021 and in that year stitched the two central blocks.  In January 2022 I decided to stitch for 14 days each month and focus on this piece until it was complete.

And as of 10th August, 2023 we have reached completion!!

Here's the final block so it can have it's moment in the spotlight.  I changed the tombstone to read 2023 for the finish year.

And here is the full piece, stitched over 1 on 25 count Cassia Rose evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy using the called for DMC except for the pumpkins which are a variegated thread from Jodyri Designs called Titian's Palette.

Here are some of my favourite parts.

I changed the date on this tombstone from 1710 to 1709 because that's my Birthday!

Here's a little slideshow of all the blocks

Finally, I mentioned the papercrafting.  Here's the cover of the latest Album I made.  It's approximately 4 x 4.5 inches and made from the leftover pieces from two other projects.

And a peek inside:

I am adding my papercraft to another blog, I'll let you all know when that is done.  In the mean time, I'll try FFO something for next month!

July TUSAL and Stitching Library

       

It's TUSAL time!  

Here is my TUSAL jar with my current projects, Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow and Turn, Turn, Turn:

Here are the ORTs for Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow before I popped them in the main jar:

You can clearly see the two main colours I've been using this month are cream and brown!

Here's Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle, that's the Spring Tree at the top and the Autumn Tree underneath.  The Summer and Winter trees are to the left along the seam.

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen

What's on my Shelf?

This is a feature I'm going to include on my TUSAL post until I run out of books! I started a Page on my Happy Dance blog for my Stitching Library and realised what a huge task it was so decided to break it down to one book per month. For the next four years...

Title: Needlework Designs for Miniature Projects

Author: Eileen Folk

Publisher: Dover Needlework Series
ISBN: 9780486246604

This book promises 64 charts for cross stitch and needlework spread over the four room settings shown in the photos.

The cover shows the elegant Oriental themed Dining Room.  I love the screen with the dragon and that beautiful blue rug.

This room is the Pink Bedroom with a lovely sampler over the mantelpiece and a traditional quilt on the quilt rail.

This room is described as an "Early American Living Room" with a fireplace, another lovely quilt and no sign of a television!

The final photo shows a Nursery with a birth sampler, height chart and a fun rabbit rug.

There are also charts for a Yellow and Green Bedroom although there is no photo for this room setting.

The book was published in 1984 and so the charts are hand-drawn but even so they are very clear and easy to follow.  I'd love to have a dolls house or even just an Oriental Room Setting!

Finally, I have been making something miniature but I can't show you until after I have given it to the intended recipient.  I'll post photos for Gifted Gorgeousness in August.

 

Gifted Gorgeousness July Link-up Post

      

Welcome to the July 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.

Once again, for the first fortnight my focus has been Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.  The plan is to stitch this for two weeks each month until it is finished.  Which could be next month!

  

stitched over 1 on 25 count Cassia Rose evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy

I am continuing with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket.  The plan for this one is to stitch it on the 13th of every month.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

I made some more progress on the Elements from Circle Cross' Tarot design and completed the first Zodiac sign - Gemini:  

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

I made a start on Cancer this morning:

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 "July 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, a new start which is also a gifted chart from the lovely Astrid.  I first saw a video for this design in July 2018 and contacted Noteworthy Needle to be told it was a class piece only.  Fast forward five years and the chart for Turn Turn Turn is finally available to purchase which is what my lovely friend Astrid did and sent it to me along with a basket of goodies including some amazing variegated DMC.

I thought I had some nice fabric for it but all my blues were either too light or too dark so I bought the recommended linen and was finally able to make a start this month:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen

What you have to do is fold the fabric along the margin and stitch through two layers for the first two columns to make a strong edge for when you put the thing together.

I'm going to work on this each evening until it is done!  I don't have the Weeks it is charted for so I'm using a mixture of variegated DMC and some blended DMC if I don't have a good variegated.

Gifted Gorgeousness June Link-up Post

     

Welcome to the June 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.

Once again, for the first fortnight my focus has been Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.  The plan is to stitch this for two weeks each month until it is finished.

Block 11 was finally completed at the start of the month so I could move on to Block 12, the last block of all  

stitched over 1 on 25 count Cassia Rose evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy

I am continuing with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket.  The plan for this one is to stitch it on the 13th of every month.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

I made some lovely progress on the Elements from Circle Cross' Tarot design and completed the fourth one - Water.  

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Now I intend to stitch each Zodiac sign in the relevant month underneath their Element.  We are currently in Gemini which is an Air sign to that will be the next one I start.  Probably over IHSW which starts this Friday.

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 "June 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, a gifted papercraft project for our lovely friend June, also known as Butterfly or the Queen of the Garden!  I made this hexacard following a tutorial by a YouTuber called 4GirlsStoleMyHeart and used black cardstock and an old calendar of RHS gardens.  I added some little butterfly stickers and then (after I took my photos) I added some Flower Fairies but you can't see them here!

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.

Once again, for the first fortnight my focus has been Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.  The plan is to stitch this for two weeks each month until it is finished.

"Steaming" along nicely with Block 11, so close to finishing it.  

stitched over 1 on 25 count Cassia Rose evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy

I am continuing with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket.  The plan for this one is to stitch it on the 13th of every month.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

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 "May 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 May so it's time for my annual Just Nan-athon.  Here are the first 14 designs I stitched on.  Some of these are gifts too:

Gifted Gorgeousness April Link-up Post

   

Welcome to the April 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.

Once again, for the first fortnight my focus has been Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.  The plan is to stitch this for two weeks each month until it is finished.

"Steaming" along nicely with Block 11!  I decided to stitch the outlines of the blocks and shapes so it's a case of filling in or colouring in the gaps next time.

stitched over 1 on 25 count Cassia Rose evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy

I am continuing with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket.  The plan for this one is to stitch it on the 13th of every month.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

At the end of last month I stitched a little bit on the Bothy Threads 12 Days of Christmas which was a Christmas present:

stitched on 32 count grey-blue linen

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 "April 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, I had a couple of questions asked in the comments by people who are "no-reply" so I couldn't email them to respond.

Stitchin Rose asked about hanging pictures on my bare brick wall as apparently she has one too.  
"How do you hang pictures on the brick?"

Answer - the same as any other wall which has been plastered or wallpapered - bang a nail in!  The bricks are just ordinary house bricks not those super hard masonry bricks.  You can also drill a hole, put a rawl plug in and use a screw instead of a nail.  In my older house I used a lot of picture hooks with very thin pins but the house was so old you could literally press a drawing pin into the wall with your bare hands!  This house is a little bit more solid so hammer and nails it is.

Beth asked "What is SAL?"

Answer - a Stitch a Long.  Anything where a group of stitchers are stitching together.  It could be on the same project or it could be on a theme.  My February WIPocalypse post explains a bit more.

I love answering questions, but please leave an email so I can get back to you and make sure you see the answer!

A Dozen Years of Hard Blogging!

 

Today is my 12th Blogaversary, a dozen years of blogging fun and hops around our community.

So, here are the stats:

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12 years

1298 posts

707 followers

22,956 comments

1,611,435 pageviews

WOW

This time last year I was focusing on my Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow project as I am continuing to do this year.

It went from here:

to here:

The current block has these three cute ghosts!

Chatelaine Gardens of London went from here last April:

to here:

One guardsman and quite a lot of border!

My Spooky conversion of CCN's Main Street went from here:

to here:

Three shops added, three more for this year hopefully

Mirabilia's Fairy Idyll grew from here:

to here:

I am hoping to focus on her once I finish Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow

Bothy Threads 12 Days of Christmas went from here:

and gained one and a bit more days to here:

Finally, a Happy Birthday to my Blog's twin - Susan from Yellow Flower Meadow!