Finally Fully Finishing Fun for October

 

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).

Let's do the Big FFO first:

I got my Discworld Mappe framed!  I took it to my professional framer who I have been using for 17 years now.  The first piece she ever framed for me was my son's Birth Sampler so it was most appropriate that she frame this piece to celebrate his 18th Birthday!

We chose a simple rich brown frame with a gold edging.  This really is one of my favourite styles of frame, after plain black for Hallowe'en!

Here's a close-up of the corner so you can see the frame a little better:

She did "complain" about how tricky it was to get the lines just right but said she really enjoyed looking at the design while she was working on it to stretch and lace it.

It really is worth taking the time to find a decent framer who understands how to frame cross stitch and will appreciate the effort you put into stitching a piece.  I only get my larger pieces professionally framed and I ask for vouchers as Christmas presents to help with the cost.

And some smaller pieces, two new finishes from this year's Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Ornament Special.  The first is Mosaic Halloween by Twisted Willow Designs:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

I love the colours, I thought 1970s and Christine said Clarice Cliff.  I also loved the chequerboard grass, just a fun design to stitch.

I scrapbooked it with two other Autumnal designs, Autumn by Lizzie*Kate and Little Owl Sampler by Knotted Tree NeedleArt:

This one is Downdraft by Turquoise Graphics & Design:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

The mount was removed from a frame I got from a charity shop and used for something else.  I used marker pen to colour it black and added a cauldron sticker.  Scrapbooked on it's own, waiting for the right design to join it in the future!

Finally, there will be a Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop as usual this year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's

2019 Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

September TUSAL

 

It's TUSAL time!

Here is my TUSAL jar with my current project:

And here is the Garden I have been working on this week.  Yes, there are a lot of Queen Stitches to do.  All the way around in pink and then all the way around in blue.

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Cotton Clouds by Crafty Kitten

Did you spot something else in that top photo?  The adorable scissor holder!  Remember the friend who I gave the Hallowe'en Countdown box to for her Birthday?  She has a 10 year old daughter who wanted to make me something for my Birthday.  I really needed a scissor holder as mine currently live in the plastic case they came in which is split and held together with tape.  She used the fabric that her Dad made a project bag from to make me a matching scissor holder.  Look how well she cut the fabric so the fairy looks like she is holding the scissors!  I love it.

I will take photos of the bag when I get a chance but I wanted to get this post up before the weekend.

I have got photos of another finish to share:

stitched on 28 count linen in Radioactive from Chromatic Alchemy

This is the third in the Scary Apothecary series by Hands On Design - Broomstick Fuel.  My goal for this year was the first three and I have achieved that which is great news.  Three more next year and the final three in 2022.

I used the DMC conversion provided and DMC Metallics too, apart from the black which is Weeks Dye Works Kohl.

I used a blend of two DMC for the pink around the word "Fuel" rather than the charted variegated:

Finally, a little spooky finish from this year's Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Ornament Special:

stitched on 32 count Platinum Linen

This cute little one is called Downdraft designed by Turquoise Graphics & Designs.  I used a Jodyri variegated thread for the smoke and some random beads for the sparkle.  This was a very quick stitch - 2 bath time sessions and an hour to bead.