January Smalls

 

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

This year my Smalls will be the Stoney Creek 12 Days of Christmas 2019 Ornament series which I started on Boxing Day 2020 for the 12 Days of Stitchmas.

Here are the 12 starts:

And the First Day completed:

stitched on 32 count Lime Green Linen

I completed this design from the November 2008 Gift of Stitching issue which was the Christmas Ornament Special.  Designed by MTV Designs and called Treasure Christmas Pincushion.

stitched on 32 count mid-green linen

I have actually fully-finished this but will save it for the Fully Finished Gallery on 10th February.

As I admin the Just Cross Stitch Ornament FB group, I always feel I should stitch more of the ornaments!  I did manage this months because it's a nice little one.  This is Poinsettia by Punochka:

stitched on 32 count mid-green linen

I used the charted DMC except for the brighter red which I substituted 321 as the charted was too similar to the main red.

My last small was the cover gift with issue 365 of Cross Stitcher, a lovely calendar by Tiny Modernist.  I plan to stitch them as a sampler as the piece of fabric I had was a little tight on margins for individual pieces!

stitched on 32 count Summer Sky Belfast linen from Silkweavers

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 Blog Hop

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 or send me an email if you are "no-reply". 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.

Naughty November, Stitch from Stash and Pie

 Rachel and Tiff had the wonderful idea of starting something new every weekend in November and called it "Naughty November".  I did like the idea of joining in but didn't want to add any WIPs to my total.  I want to be down to 15 or fewer by the end of the year.

So I decide on smalls only, preferably ones I could complete within the weekend.  The first two weekends I stitched a tiny haunted village, the fourth house is nearly finished.  The third weekend I stitched a Christmas Ornament and this weekend I stitched AND fully-finished another one!!

I'll only show the stitched picture here and save the FFO for Rachel's other SAL, the FFO Gallery.

This is from the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Special 2019 and was the September choice for the JCS FB group.  Silvery Lace Snowflake from Works by ABC.  Or Golden Lace Ornament as it now is:

stitched on 32 count Burgundy linen

on the backing fabric for the ornament:

A while back I started the Teresa Wentzler Byzantine Ornaments on this fabric.  I stitched three of them and kept all the threads in a bag with the stitched pieces and the fabric for the remaining three.  There was plenty of fabric to make at least four of Works by ABC's designs.  She has only done three so far but there may be more.

Here's the photo from the magazine so you can see how different it looks!

Here's my pie for November:

Everything else has been shown at least once except for my current progress on Snowfire Christmas by Just Nan:

stitched on 32 count Burgundy Linen
(the same linen as the ornament above!)

How did my spending go in November?  Much better than in October!  The only things I bought were right at the start of the month.  I wanted the 2020 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Special and ordered the new Nora Corbett ClockHouse to go with it. 

Finally, the Advent Calendar Blog Hop starts tomorrow!  This is the Tenth year of hosting the calendar so I am very excited to see what everyone will be sharing with us.  The post will go up tomorrow afternoon and we will open the first door when the first person makes their blog post.

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.

Once again, I worked on Friday so my weekend got off to a late start, bath-time to be exact!  This is Framed Fright by Barefoot Needleart from the Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Ornament Special:

stitched over 1 on 28 count Moondust evenweave from Crafty Kitten

I used a Victorian Motto Sampler thread called Violet Grey for the Castle, it is subtly variegated and was a gift from Beth in IL.  The tree and bat are DMC 310.  There is supposed to be an ornate frame all the way around it but I didn't fancy stitching all that yellowgold so I will use a scrapbook frame instead.

I finished that one on Saturday evening so I started a new bath-time stitch, another one of the designs from this year's Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Ornament Special.  This is Happy Halloween by StitchyFish Designs:

stitched over 1 on 28 count linen from a Crafty Kitten grab bag

Basically I am using up scraps of fabric and choosing designs that suit the fabric colour.

Saturday and Sunday daytime was dedicated to my Just Nan Autumn Mouse Scissor Roll and we have another finish!

Scissor Roll stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Mocha linen

Here are the four sides of the roll when it is all rolled up.  The lining wool is doubled over at the pumpkin end to make a little pocket for a pair of scissors.  These ones are a little bit too tall.

I am not really a fan of sewing but it didn't take too long to blanket stitch all the way around.  The whole piece is 10 inches long when unrolled.  There was the added incentive of my next new start when I finished it too!

This has been my Unicorn chart for many years (along with Mirabilia's Touching the Autumn Sky).  This was a Limited Edition for Silver Needle and I was lucky enough to be sent this chart by a destashing stitcher earlier this year.  It had to go to the top of the list!

stitched on 28 count Wood Violet linen from Permin

SCREAM HOUSE!!  Yes, I got the Scream House chart and finishing instructions!  The project is charted for 30 count linen from Weeks Dye Works which is incredibly difficult to find here.  I wanted to go slightly larger so you can see all the details so when I went off to the needlework shop to collect my Owls of October II, I had a rummage through the linens to see what I could find.  This is called Wood Violet and is more purple than it is showing.  It's a Permin linen which means it is stiffer than Zweigart but that's OK because stiff is better for 3D creations.  

The charts calls for DMC and some Weeks Dye Works threads.  Four of them have good substitutions in DMC but the 5th is for the borders so I dug out this silk by Stef Francis which appears to be called "49" and was a gift from Mouse.  It is mostly all purple and pink apart from that patch of yellowygreen in the middle.  It is nice to be using gifted threads.  I have 13 days left this month, let's see how much I can stitch by the 31st.

Finally, the next IHSW will be 20th - 22nd 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.

April Smalls SAL

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

For this SAL I am showing the monthly project for the Christmas Ornie Blog.  I am choosing from the back issues of the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Specials.  This month we could chose any ornament from the 2002 issue.  I am a big fan of Dragon Dreams so I went for this cute little design of a baby dragon cuddled up to a sparkly Christmas Bauble.  This is Not a Creature Was Stirring:

stitched on 32 count green linen

added metallic threads to the bauble 

I have just realised that April was supposed to be the 2002 design and this was the design from 2001.  ooops!  Never mind, 2002 is also a Dragon Dreams design so maybe no-one will notice!

I also added some stitches to my Spooky Conversion of the Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace.  This month I chose some bats from here Brigitte Dadaux:

stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily by Sparklies

I started a new Just Nan Small and have almost finished it.  The white is the perfect thing to stitch on my Crafty Coffee Mornings.

Just Nan -Butterfly Lace

stitched on 32 count Lavender Evenweave

The Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop was the perfect time to squeeze in another small.  This was a beaded Mill Hill kit which was passed on to me as just the chart.  So I stitched the DMC conversion on 16 count yellow aida:

Finally, thank you to everyone who took part in the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop and everyone who has hopped around to visit the blog and guess the mystery phrase. All the links go direct to the posts now so you have plenty of time to try and guess the phrase. Happy Hopping!

500th Post!

That's a real cause for celebration!  I have been blogging for over four years and seven months now and love every minute of it.  I've made some great friends and stitched an enormous amount of little x's.

Here's a look back at some milestones posts:

100th post - 8th March 2012

WIPocalypse catch-up and a rant about "touchers"

The Dark Alphabet letter T

200th post - 15th February 2013

Theme-a-licious progress

Joan Elliott Cherub

(finished some time later, I frogged the heart as I didn't like the colour contrast)

300th post - 20th January 2014

Stitch From Stash SAL

Just Nan Lady Scarlet's Christmas

400th post - 24th December 2014

Advent Calendar Blog Hop

Well, isn't that just the most serendipitous co-incidence?  I really had no idea that was my 400th post until I just looked!  Of course I am now taking sign-ups for this year's Advent Calendar.  I really do need more people this year.  Last year we had so many we did double-up Sundays, this year we are a little short!  So please sign up now.

So much for past stitching, what about the current projects?  I have just spent the weekend with Elizabeth Shephard from Scarlet Letter.  Here she is now:

stitched on 30 count linen

I've been working on that floral motif to the left hand side this week.

I'll save my Plum Street Samplers for the Smalls SAL this Wednesday and show you two pieces which I've had to keep secret up until now.  The first is an ornie for Clare AKA Aimetu:

Earlier this year Clare told us she is decorating a tree for her church's Christmas Tree Festival and her theme is Joy to the World.  She invited us to send in Joy ornies.  The little Jeanette Douglas design came from JCS back in 2010 and has now been received by Clare.  I changed the colours to make it a little brighter.

I made a beaded hanger for it.

I am rather pleased with it and will do that again.

The second donated stitch is for my dear friend Mouse who will be celebrating a zero themed Birthday at the start of next year.  She has decided to make a quilt using squares stitched by all her friends.  Well honestly, I changed my mind four times on what to stitch!  The obvious thing is a little mouse but then I thought "everyone will do mice" so I thought of a monogram and downloaded a few.  Then I found my Michael Powell book and a lovely cake (who doesn't love cake on a Birthday?).  But then Glendon Place went and released this SAL design and I really wanted to stitch it.  There wasn't time to stitch this AND a square for Mouse so I thought "I will stitch this FOR Mouse, it has the perfect title too!"  More serendipity, you can see why I named my blog, can't you?

Friendship Compass by Glendon Place

I only stitched the centre because I felt the whole square might overpower the quilt a little plus it looks more compass-like.  I added my initials to the East point because I live in the most easterly point in the country.  I also subbed the beads for eyelets in bright pink. 

So, a big Thank You to everyone who follows and reads my blog; if you haven't already clicked the Followers Button on the right, please do.  It's how I track my followers and find their blogs too.

Finally I am also celebrating a big zero Birthday next year (the same one as Mouse, it was a good year!).  Any suggestions for a project I/we could do to celebrate?  I have a few ideas but they are very much in the draft phase at the moment! 

September Smalls and D.E.S.I.G.N SALs

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Heather from Stitching Lotus

This year I am going to have two monthly challenges:

1. The Primitive Hare Hallowe'en Cubes SAL

2. The Hallowe'en Ornie SAL themed blog.
and a third one added from August:
3. The Christmas Ornie SAL themed blog

I have only one letter left to do in the Cubes but I have left that until next month because I really need to finish the exchange piece first.  So here are my two ornies for the two blogs:

Witchy Brew by Witchy Stitches

stitched over one on 28count light beige evenweave

Roaming Reindeer by BRD

From JCS Christmas Special 2012

stitched on 32 count Twilight Blue linen.

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The idea of this Blog Hop is to choose a different designer each month and do a post focusing on a piece of their work you have stitched on during the month.  The hosts of D.E.S.I.G.N ask us to answer a few questions on our chosen designer.

1. What designer are you talking about this month?

I am doing something completely different this month.  Rather than choose one designer I have chosen one publication which feautures many designers.  The Just Cross Stitch Annual Christmas Ornament Special.  I first heard about this publication when I was new to blogging and discovered the American way of doing things!  I loved the idea of an entire magazine dedicated to Christmas and to Hallowe'en too.  I now have 2012-2015 as paper copies and all the previous ones on the CDs they do.

I love reading the reviews of the magazine and seeing everyone's top choices too.  I chose ten this year (and forgot to include the tenth which is the lovely Brooke's Book's Angel, added by edit).  So here are my top nine:

Top Row - Dragon Dreams, Blue Ribbon Designs, SamSarah Designs

Middle Row - Fern Ridge Collections, From the Heart, Ink Circles

Bottom Row - The Little Stitcher, Patricia Ann Designs, Elizabeth's Needlework

2. Have you stitched a project from this publication before?

Yes, the magazines are an amazing source of designs and a great way to discover new designers.  The first year I knew hardly any of their names but now I can look at the pictures and identify most of the designers by sight.

3. Would you buy/stitch a design from this publication again?  Why/Why not?

Yes, I have a subscription!  I'm going to be taking part in Kaye's Christmas Ornie Blog all next year which is a great opportunity to stitch some of the wonderful designs from the magazines.

4. What made you choose these particular designs for your Top Ten ?

Every year I go through the magazine and write my favourites on a piece of paper which I leave in the front of the magazine to refer to later.  Then I think "oh yes, I still love that one" or "what was I thinking that year?"

This year's choices were made because:

1 - I love dragons
2 - I love BRD's serieses
3 - This will make a great gift for someone I know
4 - I like the effect of the satin stitch
5 - I love an alphabet and I like the quirky lopsided look to this one
6 - Big fan of Ink Circles.  Not such a big fan of tangled up lights!
7 - Love the Little Stitcher's designs
8 and 9 - Two nice abstract ornies which I think will look lovely stitched in the same colours on a high count fabric.  Maybe add some beads.
10 - Brooke's Book's Angel (see below).  I will probably never stitch this but it's gorgeous and so different.  I love it!

5. Did you notice anything that distinguished this issue from others?

I have to be honest, I felt there was a lot of repetition this year.  A series is nice (see number 2) but mamy of the designs had a feeling of deja-vu about them.  The Ink Circles one is fun but was there a similar one in a previous year?

I also think there was a problem with the printing this year.  Everything looks very washed out.  Look at the SamSarah design.  Surely that will be more vibrant in real life?  It made choosing the designs quite difficult, I looked at the charts and descriptions more than usual.

So what were your favourites this year?  If you've done a review leave a link in the comments so we can all pop over and read it.

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Finally, a pie chart for September, a complete reverse of last month.  With fewer projects and more time spent on each one.

Is It Still Hallowe'en?

ARACHNOPHOBIA WARNING - 

THIS POST CONTAINS A SPIDER!!!!

Oh well, Hallowe'en stitching is for life not just for October!  I finished Jack-A-Rachnid today.  I could have finished him a week ago but I didn't have the beads and while I got 15% off in SewandSo's sale I did have to wait a little longer than usual for them to be dispatched.  Think 2-3 days instead of next day!

I stitched him one colour at a time starting with the black so the photos show the addition of each new colour:

Black only

918 added

3776 added

720 added

3825 added

Beads added.

The Jack part!

Wow, you can really tell the difference between the first scanned pictures and the final photographs.  The fabric looks totally different.  In real life it is not as bright as the scanned pictures and more vibrant than the photos!  It is a random piece of 32 count linen from a Crafty Kitten grab bag.  The design is by Tempting Tangles and comes from JCS Sep/Oct 2013.

I hope you are enjoying the daily updates on the Advent Calendar and remembering to visit each new blog every day.  Update time depends upon whether I am working or not but it will always be done by early evening.  Assuming the poster has remembered to post!  I am loving the stories about Best Present Ever this year, it's been a lovely heart-warming topic so far.  

Although I don't have a door myself this year I thought I'd share my story today.  A couple of years ago we had a pretty tough year, it was one of those years when you look forward to Christmas because you know it will all be over soon and you get a nice shiny New Year!  Hubby and I had set a budget for presents which we stuck to.  I can't remember what I got but it was probably something stitching related I had chosen myself!

After all the presents were opened hubby gave me and the Large Boy an envelope with a clue in it.  We solved the clue and found another and so on around the house.  Finally at the end we found an enormous wrapped box addressed to us both with love from Hubby and the Small Boy.  Very curious.  We unwrapped it and were bowled over by the most awesome present you could ever imagine.

I will interrupt myself at this point to say when I told this story to my colleage at work and said "Guess what I got for Christmas" he guessed correctly first time because he "said the most awesome thing he could think of".  Shows how much we have in common LOL.

Anyway, here is a photo of the most awesome thing ever!

Yes, hubby bought us the Lego Death Star!!

How utterly cool is that?

Finally, we now have 25 people joining me for Gifted Gorgeousness so far!  More are welcome.  Don't worry if you don't think you can join in much, just post and link up whichever month you have stitched on something suitable.