Finally Fully Finishing Fun for November

       

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).

I actually have a couple of things to show you this month!  The first one has been my Dark 13th project all year and my evening stitching for Dark October.

Here it is, all stitched up and ready to go (except for one little tombstone I noticed after taking the photo):

stitched on 32 count grey linen

Here it is fully finished.  I mounted each of the four pieces on card, along with a rectangle for the base.  Then I whip stitched each piece to the base.  After that I whip stitched the side together.  I got two pieces of thick card cut to size with two flaps and fixed it to the centre of each side using double sided tape. 

Then I got a large piece of brown spotty fabric, stuck it to the cente pieces, tucking it between them at the top.  Then I used double sided tape to stick the fabric to the base of the basket and to the sides.

The wooden handle came with the kit.  I used glue to fit that into the central groove between the two pieces of fabric covered card in the middle.  It's for decoration not for practical carrying purposes!

This is a different method to the one described in the kit which advises you to make an inner basket with fabric covered pieces and use trim to cover the edges.

I like my method and it's part of my Halloween display now.  I need some more pumpkins to put into it!

Here's the second finish, a lot simpler as it came with the Whimzi frame!  This was a gift from June Butterfly and I was really pleased to get it finished and on display in time for Halloween.

Just Nan  -  Horrified!

Finally, it's time to sign up for the biggest Blog Hop of the 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:

2022 Advent Calendar

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.

October 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.

My first project was my spooky conversion of CCN's Main Street.  I've been working on the final part which was the Gazebo.  I converted this into a blackwork lych gate with some lovely plants on either side.

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate Murano from Sparklies

This is now a finished project so I'll take lots of photos and share all the details soon.  The plants came from the current Stitchonomy SAL although I grew them a little bit myself!


Then I got quite a bit done on the Zodiac signs from Circle Cross, finishing Libra:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Isn't she majestic?

My evening project has been the Mani di Donna Halloween Sewing Basket, which is now finished as far as stitching goes.  I just need to make it up!

Of course after I took the photo I immediately spotted the missing black tombstone on the bottom left piece.  So that has now gone in.

My evenings then moved on to one of the smalls from my Just Nan-athon.  I had 3 spooky smalls in there and thought it would be nice to actually finish them.  So here's Batty Jack almost complete:

stitched on 28 count lilac linen

Finally, the next IHSW will be 17th - 19th November 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.

Gifted Gorgeousness October Link-up Post

         

Welcome to the October 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.

For September, my focus was Fairy Idyll from Mirabilia.  Here's where she finished the month:

  

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

Then we moved into Dark October with my Spooky Conversion of CCN's Main Street.  The final shop was the Art Gallery which now sells Tarot Cards and has a crystal ball on it's sign as predicted by Jocondine.

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate Murano from Sparklies

Only the Gazebo to go now which is going to be a blackwork lych gate.

I am continuing with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket.  This has moved into the evening slot.  I've almost finished the second side then it will be FFO tine.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

I made some more progress on the Zodiac Signs from Circle Cross' Tarot design.  I finished Leo and Virgo and started Libra: 

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle was my evening project in September:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

And now, a little gift to me from a dear friend - I wonder if you can guess from the clues in the pictures?

There's a poster on the corkboard as well as my birth date:

A lovely plant in a macrame pot holder:

The magazine rack holds some stitching magazines and a special folder:

So much detail, even inside the magazines!

The letters in the rack spell out a message of L O V E too:

and some postcards and extra little treats for me!

Did you guess?  It was our dear crafting enthusiast Jocondine!  Thank you my sweet friend!

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 "October 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 Dark October so time to think about my annual Trick or Treat Blog Hop! I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's:

2022 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.

Finally Fully Finished 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).

Unfortunately I don't have anything to show this month but as Rachel has made the effort to make a post this month, so have I!  I'll just link back to my September FFO instead.

I have been stitching for Dark October and have made good progress on the final shop for my CCN Main Street Spooky Conversion.

This one was the Art Gallery and will now be...  any guesses?  It is Art-related, something beautiful that a witch or fortune teller may own.

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate Murano from Sparklies

Once I have stitched this shop I will move to the centre of the bottom row and add the adaptation of the Gazebo.  This will be a blackwork Gate, maybe a Lych Gate, of some sort.

My evening project has been the Halloween Sewing Basket by Mani di Donna.  This has been my Dark 13th project all year so I thought it would be nice to get it completed and made up this month.

I've got the yellow and white to add then then a little bit of black and then I can start the task of sewing it all together.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

Finally, it's Dark October so time to think about my annual Trick or Treat Blog Hop! I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's:

2021 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.

Gifted Gorgeousness September 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.

At the end of August I was working on my Chatelaine Gardens of London, mostly the border but I did get a guardman's hut stitched too:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds linen from Crafty Kitten

Then for September, my focus has been Fairy Idyll from Mirabilia.  I am so in love with this project!  I'm stitching her for 14 days this month.

  

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

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 continued with the third Zodiac sign - Leo:  

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Little Snapdragon was my evening project until I finished it:

stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

Since then. Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle has been my evening project again:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

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 "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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Finally, it's International Hermit & Stitch Weekend this weekend.  I'll be working on Fairy Idyll for one day and then returning to Taurus on Sunday.  September really is a Nora Corbett sort of month!

Gifted Gorgeousness August Link-up Post

       

Welcome to the August 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 few days of the month my focus has been Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.  And I have a finish!

  

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

More photos in the previous post.

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 finished one side panel.  Now I have to stitch the same thing again!

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

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

And made a start on Leo:

In July I worked on Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle and finished here:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

In August I decided to make Little Snapdragon my evening project in a final push to finish it.  I am currently stitching the lighter blue which is the final colour and double-checking for missed stitches in other colours.  I only have this part left to do:

stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

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 "August 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 have some gifts which are not stitched.  I made another hexacard using some lovely dragon and fairy paper:

Then I made a locked page card with 5 locked layers:

The last gift is a Window Nook made from a Cool Katz kit:

I'm adding all these to my blog for art, called Serendipity Rock Paper Scissors and also to my YouTube channel - @SerendipitousStitching

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.