Two Seasonal Finishes and Back In My Solo Groove

The first finish took much longer than I thought it would.  I started this one back at the beginning of October to go with the October Black Cats theme on the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog.

Here are the black cats:

And here is the Skeleton for November's theme:

And here is the final finish:

Ghastly, Ghostly Ghouls by Just Nan

stitched on 28 count lilac linen.

Those little frogs along the top brought all their froggy friends to the party!  I frogged and stitched the top border three times and the same for the two gourds at the bottom in my search for the right shade of dark orange.  I'll be framing it in a 6x6 black box frame which it fits perfectly.

The second finish is an entire series, The Christmas Cubes by The Primitive Hare.  Each cube fitted a different theme on the Christmas Ornie SAL Blog although I did have to stitch them out of order.  Hence, H being the last one to be completed:

stitched on 35 count Country Mocha linen

Here are all nine as a collage:

They will be cubified by Christmas!

Since then I have been working solidly on one daytime project and one evening project.  The daytime project is Dragon of the Winter Moon by Dragon Dreams:

stitched on 32 count Moondust evenweave by Crafty Kitten

There is no DMC cotton in this so far; we have white rayon, Waterlilies and Kreinik.  So far I have stitched all the white on his body and tail.  I just have the head and wings left in the white.  Then lots of Kreinik and a little DMC.

Close-up of the sparkly tail:

The evening forest is a new-to-me designer called The Workbasket and this is Fox Forest:

stitched on 32 count Light Khaki linen

(which looks more green in real life)

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Finally, I am still taking names for the Advent Calendar Blog Hop.  I will allocate each participant a day in December, they will post a stitched picture and an answer to this year's discussion topic.  I will copy their picture onto the main post and add a link to their blog.  To take part, just leave a comment or email me.  If there's a day you can't do or a special day you would like then please let me know.

Remember, Remember the Chill of November

It's freezing and a poor little robin is just outside my window begging for food.

I've been focusing on two designs for all of November so far.  This one is my evening and workday project:

Ghastly, Ghostly Ghouls by Just Nan

Those three little frogs across the top brought their froggy pals with them and I stitched that top border three times!  First because I forgot to leave a gap for the frogs and second because I stitched the gaps one square to the left,

I also frogged those bottom two pumpkins again and replaced the darker shade with the next lighter shade so that's three times they have been stitched too!

I debated with myself about what should be my focus project this month and decided to pick up the one WIP which hasn't really been touched this year apart from 30 minutes on the Longest Day SAL in June:

This is Dragon of the Winter Moon by Dragon Dreams, stitched on 32count Moondust by Crafty Kitten.  Here's where I am now:

Lots and lots of white Rayon and some Waterlilies too.  The Waterlilies are lovely and I'm planning to splash out and buy the colour needed for the wings.  Riona sent me the chart and kindly included most of the speciality threads needed, which is most of the dragon!  There's a lot of Kreinik to come and some beads too.  But he is beautiful.

Advent Calendar Blog Hop!  I'm taking names for the next blog hop.  I will allocate each participant a day in December, they will post a stitched picture and an answer to this year's discussion topic.  I will copy their picture onto the main post and add a link  to their blog.  To take part, just leave a comment or email me.  If there's a day you can't do or a special day you would like then please let me know,

Finally, vote for me!  I've been nominated for Blog of the Year here, so please click on the picture, answer a few simple questions about stitching and vote for me!

 

Pumpkin Pie? With a Side Serving of ORTs!

Pumpkin-coloured Pie!  The oranges make it a little harder to see which project is which but basically I spent more days working on smaller projects because I had less stitching time than usual.

I started the month off stitching on She Tends by Shepherd's Bush hoping to get all four completed but sadly not.  I wanted to get Frosted Pumpkin done and off the list and then the Teresa Wentzler Byzantine Ornament took more days than the previous two put together!  And then I ran out of beads and had to wait for SewandSo to deliver in three days instead their usual next day.  Here is the finished piece:

stitched on 28count Burgundy linen

I also had a new start and finish for the Blog Hop which you saw then.  The Brooke's Book's letter is for The Alphabet Club next Saturday.  I can show you the latest letter on the Enchanted Alphabet.  I am stitching this one for the Now I Know My ABCs SAL for Cross Stitch Finish Line on FB.  The original design is by Lavender & Lace but I have changed the colours, the fabric and this week the placement of the letter:

Stitched on 32 count Tiger Lily Murano from Sparklies

I wanted to use this fabric but it was just a little bit too short for the full design.  By removing the child from the design and moving the E to the middle (it was originally to the left of the B) the full alphabet will fit nicely onto the fabric with a good margin for framing too.

I'm continuing with Just Nan's Ghastly, Ghostly Ghouls mostly during my son's bathtime but also in my lunchbreak at work when I do a full day.  Here's the current progress picture:

stitched on 28 count lilac linen

I did change the red in the border for 919 but I still think it's a little dark for the pumpkins so I might change them to 920 or even 921.

Here's the side-serving of ORTs for this month's second TUSAL:

Spending-wise it was a much more frugal month after my Birthday extravaganza.  SewandSo revamped their website recently which caused enormous problems for everyone.  You just couldn't get anything to load and then when it did load we discovered they hadn't migrated our Wishlists in the first run, they were waiting to do that when the site was working properly.  Or when enough people complained!  Originally they offered us all a 10% discount from the website but after all the problems they upped it to a £5 voucher.  When I was eventually able to get it to load I bought the beads I needed for Byzantine Ornament and some lovely Lime Green 32 count for my Hallowe'en SAL project for next year.  

October

Beads	£1.27
Lime Green Fabric	£10.95
Total	£12.22

Good practise for the Stitch from Stash next year.

Finally, don't forget to vote for me!

British Craft Awards

October Smalls SAL

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Heather from Stitching Lotus

This year I have two Small Challenges:

1. The Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog

2. The Christmas Ornie SAL Blog

Now I have finished the Counting Bats sampler I have to find a smaller piece for each theme for the Hallowe'en blog.  This month I chose Ghastly, Ghostly Ghouls also by Just Nan for the two little cats which fit the month's theme:

stitched on 28 count lilac linen

I'm not sure if I'll finish it before the end of the month but the cats have been done.

I started a new Hallowe'en small ready for the Blog Hop:

stitched on 32 count Twilight Blue linen

This is Sampling Hallowe'en by Lizzie*Kate and was a gift from Mii for last year's Hallowe'en Mail Art Exchange.

I also completed finish-finishing my Hallowe'en Cubes from Primitive Hare:

Here's a shot showing the side fabrics, the same print in three colourways:

Now I have finished them I have started on the Christmas Cubes, also by Primitive Hare:

Here is this month's block:

stitched on 35count Country Mocha linen

And here are all eight so far:

Here's a nearly finish of the third Byzantine Ornament by Teresa Wentzler, I ran out of beads and SewandSo's delivery is no longer "next day" so I had to wait until today but have had no time to attach them:

stitched on 28 count Burgundy linen

I really should apologise to you all for giving you a scare regarding the title of my last post.  So many people thought I was getting all political on you but no, I just want you to vote for me!   My blog has been nominated in the blog category for the

British Craft Awards

By "my blog" I mean my blog and all my lovely followers who make it the happy place it is.  So please pop over and vote for us!  The first question asks if you live in the UK or not but that's only to decide if you are allowed to enter the draw.  Anyone from anywhere can vote in the awards.

Finally, the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop is nearly here.  I have decided on the Mystery Phrase and will be emailing all the participants tomorrow with their letter so they have plenty of time to make their post on Monday 31st.

ps this is my 600th post!

It is Your Civil Duty to Vote

No, this is not a political post!  Don't panic!  This is me blowing my own trumpet and urging you to vote for the best nominee - me!

I got an email from Immediate Media earlier this week telling me that I have been nominated in their Best Blog Category.   I was blown away and had to log on to see the other nominees.  I am in good company, there's a couple of designer blogs, one with 3 times the followers I have, a group blog and a couple of other bloggers who have really nice blogs, although one seems to be having a little break right now.  None of the blogs have my USP which is you lot!  I honestly do believe that Immediate Media have chosen my blog because of the community activities I run and take part in.  So really, this nomination is for all of us.  So go and vote for yourselves LOL

This is the website where you can vote - British Craft Awards.  There are several categories to vote in and have your say.  The first question asks if you live in the UK but that is only to assess your eligibility to be included in the prize draw.  Non UK residents can still vote, so please do!

Voting is open until 20th December but why wait?  Go and vote when you've finished reading this post!

It's been a bit of a slow week for stitching thanks to work.  The school I've been working with has placed another large order following a meeting with them on Monday so I've been looking up books and making a list and checking it twice.

So here's my day time project:

stitched on 28 count burgundy linen

This is the third in the Byzantine Ornaments series by Teresa Wentzler.  I am using the same fabric and threads as the previous two.  The yellows are as charted but the accent colour is DMC 321 for all the ornaments.  I have just started the gold backstitch for this one.   Hopefully a finish for tomorrow.

Here is my evening project:

stitched on 28count lilac linen

This one is Ghastly, Ghostly Ghouls by Just Nan.  I'm using the DMC conversion and I'm not sure about that red at the bottom.  It should be more dark orange to me.  I'm not using it for the pumpkins anyway, I need the better dark orange that she has used in some of her other designs.

I've had a good response to the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop which will take place on the 31st October.  This is your last chance to sign up.  Just leave a comment to say you'd like to take part.

Does this collection of counting pins and a scissor charm look familiar to anyone?  I feel sure I have seen the scissor charm on a blog somewhere but the name escapes me for now...

Finally, don't forget to Vote For Jo!  Remember - a Vote For Jo is a Vote for Blog Hops and SALs and all of you too.  Click this rosette to cast your vote:

On With October

With the Obligation (Alphabet Club is contagious) of the Sugar Skulls Over I am now free to return to my WIPs list.  I have done so well with that this year, finishing more of the WIPocalypse list than ever before.  Out of the remaining four projects, three are BAPs.  I have done quite a bit on two of them (Gathering Honey and Little Snapdragon) already this year and very little on the other two.  So this month I am focusing on the smallest WIP because I know I can get this one finished.

Before:

After:

And another one too: 

stitched on 32 count Light Mocha linen

The design is She Tends by Shepherd's Bush and there are four smaller designs which can be stitched individually or as one long piece.  I have gone for individual.  There are four charms specifically designed to go in the gaps but I haven't got them and doubt you can get them here.  I do have some nice little flowers and can get some sheep so they will fit nicely.

I got my rotation in a muddle last week.  Because the First Saturday was the 1st I had it in my head that it was Hallowe'en stitching weekend and started Ghastly, Ghostly Ghouls by Just Nan.

stitched on 28 count lilac linen

However, when I came to do my entry on the Friday Frolics blog I realised Friday 30th had actually been a Fifth Friday and I could have started another Teresa Wentzler Byzantine Ornament.  Never mind, we'll have an extra Friday this month instead!

My evening stitching is a WIP I last worked on for the Longest Day SAL.  I said at the time it wasn't appealing to me and it still isn't.  So the plan is to finish this part and make it into a small.  I loved the house but the rest of the colours are sludgy and dull.  I also don't like the coverage on the 28 count evenweave.  It's a lovely soft fabric but better suited for over one stitching I think.

stitched on 28 count Moondust from Crafty Kitten

Meanwhile, the Birthday gifts keep coming in!  Two more packages for me this week:

Dragon Dreams Dragon from Kerry the Rambling Biscornu Addict

The dragon sits atop a tiny jar full of button soup

Button and charm soup spilled: 

Those spooky charms will be going on my Enchanted Alphabet sampler, they are perfect!

 From Heather of Fantasy Cross Stitch

Stacy Nash chart and some 32 count Belfast linen (a favourite fabric of mine)

Doing the Stacy Nash (to the tune of the Monster Mash) leads me nicely onto the next topic - The Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop!

Yes, it is that time of year again, we are counting down to the Spookiest Hop on the Blog.  All you have to do is leave a comment here saying you would like to take part.  I will assign each person a letter of the alphabet.  On 31st October you make a post featuring your letter and a stitched piece relating to Hallowe'en.  The stitched piece does NOT have to begin with your letter.  I will post the blogs in order and we hop around visiting them, collecting the letters which will spell out a Mystery Phrase.  Return here and leave a comment with the Phrase to be in with a chance to win a prize!

Hoppit to the Hop!

Finally, my niece and her fiance loved her Sugar Skulls when I gave them to her last week and they are gracing her fridge already.  We had a lovely afternoon tea with her and the female members of both families, playing games such as "How Well Do You Know Helen?" and Consequences making stories about her and her soon-to-be husband.  The official Hen Night will be Pub Golf with costumes.  I'm quite glad to have gone to the afternon tea instead LOL.

The Outstandingly Opulent Alphabet Organisation and Added TUSAL ORTs

It's the first Saturday of the month so it's time for detention!

"They only met online, but it changed their lives forever"

I think most of you know the lovely enigmatic Chiara who blogs at The Grey Tail?  We were chatting via email a while back and between us came up with the idea of an A-Z language challenge.  We batted some ideas around and are calling it the The Alphabet Club.  Chiara has the full details on that link but basically she will post a link-up post on the first Saturday of each month (Saturday being detention day in the film) reminding us of the month's letter and we will all link up with themed things, from stitching to designers and local customs.

O is for Occult from A Dark Alphabet designed by Julie and Becky's Note of Friendship blog.  Those are Octagon stitches there.  I will be covering the Occult side of the Alphabet Club for the Hallowe'en Ornie entry.

O is also for Over-dyed thread as shown in the Brooke's Book's Stitcher's Alphabet piece I am stitching for the Alphabet Club SAL:

I am stitching this on a 28 count afghan fabric in blocks of four to make a little soft book at the end.  Here's the latest page finish:

I do use over-dyed threads but I tend to call them "variegated" threads so I'll save that one for "V".

O is for Owls, here are some cute ones and one BAP:

Left - Cross Stitcher magazine, Blackberry Lane, Jacquie,

Centre - June Rose

Right - Knotted Tree NeedleArt, Blue Ribbon Designs, Blackbird Designs

O is for Orange, a great colour for a fabric, especially for Hallowe'en designs:

I don't have anything for designers beginning with O but I do have one in my stash from "Xs and Ohs" in collaboration with Dragon Dreams so I'm counting that one.

There are a few SALs with Ornament in the title:

The Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog

The Christmas Ornie SAL Blog

Stitching Lotus Smalls SAL

(this started out as the Ornament SAL so that's how I label it to keep all the posts together)

On to the Blog Roll:

Oubliette

(which is one of my favourite words as well as blogs!)

Obsessive Cross Stitcher

Oh Sew Crafty

Orts, Splinters & Mulch

Finally that last blog brings me nicely to another O and another SAL or TU-SAL to be correct!  It's time to show your ORTs to Daffycat!

New start - Ghastly, Ghostly Ghouls by Just Nan