A Fistful of Finishes

One advantage of the DUCJC was that I now have rather a lot of started projects which don't take much to finish them off!  So although January was a washout for actual finishes, they have been coming thick and fast in the last month or so.

So fast in fact that I haven't blogged about them all here!  All three of these have appeared on the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL blog so some of you may have seen them already.

First up is a design I received in a Giveaway from Gaynor of Stitchers Anon.  She gave me a free choice from her website and this was my favourite because I love the book:

Stitched over one on 28 count Platinum linen.

Shown with my scissors for scale.

This was a nice quick stitch, even over one.  It only uses a couple of colours so is ideal as a travelling project, I did most of the border in a lunch break at work.

The next design was even quicker, just one day!  This is for the May theme for the Ornie SAL which is Pumpkins:

Stitched on 32 count Lavender evenweave

This was a Just Nan freebie, I think I downloaded it from JCS's website but I can't remember.  It's been sat in my files for ages anyway.  I love those little top hats the spiders are wearing.

And now, the Big Finish:

Stitched on 28 count Chocolate Orange evenweave from Crafty Kitten

This is Just Nan's design Haunted Pumpkin Tree, the chart was a gift from Mouse and the fabric from Shebafudge, both for my Birthday last year.  I started it in October, did one day for the DUCJC and then picked it up again this month to complete.

The pumpkins took so long, there are five different shades of orange in them and each one is slightly different so you need to pay close attention to the chart.  Once they were done the colours went really quickly.  The black backstitch was the most fun because it made each character come alive.

The heart charm came with the chart.  There are four of these designs in a series called Charmed Heart Trees.  This is most definitely my favourite.  I may or may not buy any of the others,  I am undecided and there are more Just Nans higher up my list!

Here are some close-ups:

Just to prove it's not all finishes around here, I've been working on two WIPs:

Anchor Kingfisher, the fabric is blue evenweave

The Goode Huswife Book of Spells

on 40 count Jewel Butterbeer

Finally, the next post will be the Gifted Gorgeousness Link Up on the 15th.  We will be having another Giveaway, this time a chart donated by the lovely Stitching Noni.  So sort out your GG projects to be in with a chance.

May Music WIPocalypse

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

The focus of my WIPocalypse will be my "15 in '15"which are 15 charts I want to stitch in 2015 (following on from my "11 in '11", "12 in '12", "13 in '13" and "14 in '14" - imaginative, eh?)

Over the last month I have stitched four of my 15 designs, including 3 finishes!

First Finish was Joan Elliott's February Cherub from the 2013 Diary:



The second was Prairie Moon's Thine is the Trick and the Treat:

And the third was Just Nan's Winter Typography:

I also completed another letter for Hallowe'en Cubes by Primitive Hare:

Once I had completed these pieces I decided to continue with another of the 15.  Just Nan's Haunted Pumpkins Tree.  Thanks to a nice long weekend I have almost finished it!

This is what it looked like at the start of the weekend:

This was by the end of Saturday:

And this was by the end of Sunday:

I have now completed nearly all the black stitching thanks to a Star Wars Movie Marathon on Sky TV for Star Wars Day - May the Fourth be with you.  The fabric is a 28count evenweave from Crafty Kitten called Chocolate Orange.  Beautiful to look at and stitch on but does not actually smell of chocolate orange.  Shame really but at least it stops people licking it.

Measi usually sets us a topic to discuss and asked for suggestions this month.  Unfortunately she hasn't chosen one yet so I'm going with one of mine:

May - what do you like to listen to while you are stitching?

I like to have something on in the background when I'm stitching.  Usually I don't get the choice, its whatever channel is on TV for the boys.  Usually Cartoon Network.  Last Summer the TV was tuned to CN so much that the logo was burned into the plasma screen in the corner.  Seriously!  Good thing it's rented and not our's.  When they are at school I listen to Planet Rock on the radio, I like to let someone else choose the music and I enjoy the chat too.  Sometimes I comment via their FB page and usually get my comment read out because I have the same name as a famous guitarist, although his Jo has an e obviously.

Sometimes Hubby and I will watch a film together and I prefer one with more dialogue because you can follow it without watching!  It is a true saying that stitchers recognise actors by their voices and not their faces.

Finally, the April A-Z challenges are all done for another year.  I did really well this year.  What do you mean, you missed it?  My challenge wasn't to POST every day, it was to read other people's posts every day!!  I think I managed most of my regular followers, even if I didn't always comment.  One person's blog that I did comment on every day was Evalina's of This and That.  She always does a great A-Z and this year her theme was her heroes.  From Literature to Politics via History and Myth she made some great choices.  My personal favourite was Boudica because she's a local lass.  The Iceni lands were in East Anglia where I live now.





Days 15 to 17 of the DUCJC 2015

Gosh, this makes post titles a doddle, doesn't it?

The DUCJC is being held this year in memory of SoCal Debbie and I am attempting to stitch on 31 different projects throughout January.  A mixture of WIPs and new starts.

Day 15 - Just Nan - Haunted Pumpkins Tree:

Stitched on 28 count Chocolate Orange evenweave from Crafty Kitten

I stitched the two pumpkins on the bottom left.

Day 16 - Joan Elliott - Believe:

Stitched on 28 count opal evenweave Robin's Egg by Silkweaver Fabrics

I really didn't want to put this one down and continued into the evening when I usually read blogs

Day 17 - Primitive Hare - Hallowe'en Cubes:

Stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen.

Giovanna will be SAL with me on this one.

One cube per month until Hallowe'en.

I emailed Isabella to ask for this chart plus two thread winders for Christmas.  Due to a misunderstanding she sent me the Christmas Cubes instead.  So what's a girl to do?  I decided to keep those too, pay for them and ask her to send the Hallowe'en Cubes in addition.  As a little "sorry" she invited me to choose one more chart of my choice!  I loved the design Gracie had stitched for the Christmas competition so chose "Dear Santa, define Good".

My previous post was the link-up for the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL.  I have now visited and commented on every blog who linked up so far.  The link-up will stay there so please feel free to join in any time this month.  There has been some great stitching going on, lots of lovely gifted charts and fabrics plus a good few shoehorns too!

Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 

It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart. Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.   It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

Send me the email by 10th February.

When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February.  Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading

 Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself  in their comments as their

Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

Does that make sense to everyone?  I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post, I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.  

November Just Nan SAL and Theme-a-licious Update

Just Nan SAL is hosted by Zeb of Keep Calm and Cross Stitch

Unfortunately Zeb is no longer updating the SAL on her blog but that's no reason to stop stitching and posting!  So here is my monthly update:

Haunted Pumpkins Tree

stitched on Chocolate Orange from Craft Kitten.

This as the only Just Nan design I stitched this month but that's OK because it fits in with the next SAL:

Theme-a-licious is hosted by Heather of It's Geek to Me

Each month Heather thinks up a theme for us to stitch to, or in my case, a theme to somehow shoe-horn my existing stitching into, no matter how tenuous the link!

No-Xs November

What can you make without making an X?? Blackwork, hardanger, embroidery, needlelace, and the list goes on! Don't panic...you can even backstitch for the month!

I made No Xs on this Just Nan design so that totally counts for No Xs November!

Winter Typography - No Xs done on this one.

I did a lot of No Xs on Green Goddess too, adding the metallics, the backstitch, the metallic backstitch, the metallic french knots and the beads:

Green Goddess by Joan Elliott

Stitched on 32 count Sunlit Heath from Crafty Kitten

And that seems to be it for No Xs November!

I did set some themes of my own for next year, for the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog.  You can find them here.  A mixture of traditional choices (Black Cats, Witches etc) as well as some new suggestions.  Creepy Trees being one of my favourite new ones.

Finally, we now have over twenty people signed up for Gifted Gorgeousness SAL next year.  Everyone seems to be very excited about showing their appreciation to their fellow bloggers via the medium of "Stitching and Blogging About It".  This is an informal SAL, there will be a Linky Post on the 15th of every month, just blog and link up in any month that you have stitched on some Gifted Gorgeousness.  WIP photos more than welcome.

October Just Nan SAL and Theme-a-licious Update

Just Nan SAL is hosted by Zeb of Keep Calm and Cross Stitch

Unfortunately Zeb is no longer updating the SAL on her blog but that's no reason to stop stitching and posting!  So here is my monthly update.

I had a last minute Nan start this month, Haunted Pumpkins Tree which was a Birthday gift from Mouse and the fabric came from Shebafudge.  Here is my latest progress photo:

Stitched on Chocolate Orange from Crafty Kitten

Theme-a-licious is hosted by Heather of It's Geek to Me

Each month Heather thinks up a theme for us to stitch to, or in my case, a theme to somehow shoe-horn my existing stitching into, no matter how tenuous the link!

Oft-Overlooked October

Find a new-to-you designer and start a new project this month! Or maybe two...or three...

This was actually an adaptation of my idea of Newbie November (I won a prize for it!!) but changed to alliterate with October!  In some ways it was quite difficult to find an actual new designer to me because I do stitch designs from alot of different people.  But luckily enough I had purchased a chart by Madame Chantilly to stitch for my cousin's new baby boy.  They have a nautical themed nursery so this perfect:

 

Stitched on Kynance by Sparklies

I started this one in August.  This was a Mystery SAL in four parts which are all released now from Frosted Pumpkins:

Stitched on Moondust by Crafty Kitten

My final piece for this month's Theme-a-licious isn't an actual new-to-me designer but she does fit into the "Oft-Overlooked" category.  Val's Stuff features regularly in the JCS magazine ornie specials but she does not seem to be a well-known or much talked about designer.  Anyway, I stitched her Tricks or Treats from JCS Sep/Oct 2010 Hallowe'en Ornie feature:

Stitched on 32 count twilight blue linen

The chart calls for three candycorn buttons which I didn't have and which are almost impossible to find in England, we just don't have them.  So I just did some little over one stitched versions.  To my eyes they look like traffic cones!  But maybe Americans don't have them?

Next month we have No Xs November so I shall have to see how I manage with that.  I didn't do very well last year!

Finally, the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop started yesterday.  One blogger has been in touch to apologise for not being able to post due to real life getting in the way of blogging!  But you should be able to guess the phrase without the one letter.  Unless you are the person who guessed 

AVOCADOS AND PURPLE DEER 

Because that is not correct!!  You have until 7th November to join in.

ps there is an amazing firework display going on outside my window as I type.  Not sure why because it is still 4 days until the 5th November!  I really don't hold with early fireworks.  Save them for the big day, we will be.

Oooooo, massive Chrysanthemum just gone off!!

October Smalls SAL

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Stitching Lotus

I chose three different monthly themes to follow this year:

Hallowe'en Ornie SAL - 12 different themes

Little Stitcher Fairy Tale 12 Days of Christmas - one per month

Primitive Hare Spooky Countdown - one per week starting 31st January

The Hallowe'en SAL theme this month was Trick or Treat so I am saving that one for my Hallowe'en Blog Hop this Friday.  All the "letters" have been emailed out to the participants so if you signed up to take part and haven't heard from me, then please contact me ASAP.

The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas I am using to illustrate my TUSAL posts, so here is a repeat of the latest Day, the Day of Tea:

 

I asked people whether they preferred tea or coffee and the tea drinkers came out in front with eight to three coffee fans!

Of course, the stitching is now finished on my Spooky Countdown and each little piece has been mounted on a tombstone and attached to the tree.  Here is today's:

As I finished the Blog Hop stitch yesterday I decided there was time for a new start before the end of the month.  Yes, I know I could have continued with the Hallowe'en Town Mystery, On the Beach sampler or even resurrected Thine is the Trick and the Treat but I felt like a new start!  This one is a chart I received for my Birthday and I am stitching it on some fabric I was also gifted:

Just Nan - Haunted Pumpkins Tree - gift from Mouse

Fabric - Crafty Kitten Chocolate Orange - gift from Shebafudge

(unfortunately the fabric does not smell like a chocolate orange)

Finally I would like to promote a newish blogger who has been following me for a couple of months but as yet does not have many followers herself.  Caitlin blogs at Musings of a Crafter and has just finished a lovely Christmas Angel.  So why not pop over and say Hi?