A blog trying to focus on all the nice things in life, those moments when everything turns out right. Finding the perfect fabric for that chart you love, the ideal sampler quote, just the right picture in all the 1000s of magazines you own. Meeting people who share your interests and obsessions and totally understand why you NEED that chart when you already have enough to last until you're 104
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).
This one has been hanging around for some time because I couldn't decide whether to frame or scrapbook it. I couldn't get into my cupboard where I keep my frames so I decided it had to be scrapbooked!
Look at this lovely ribbon I used to trim the design:
Never throw anything out, it may come in useful!
Two Lizzie*Kate designs together. The smaller one was stitched over one in just five days back in 2018. The larger one was stitched over two back in 2015.
Both charts were gifted from blogging friends so it's nice to have them finished together.
Finally, I have a part-finish, The third element in the Circle Cross Tarot SAL. This one is Air and joins Fire and Earth:
stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers
My main Small project has been my 12 Days of Christmas by Just Nan which I completed earlier this month. I started it for 12 Days of Stitchmas last December and then completed one block per month throughout the year. Here it is all finished:
When I completed the final block I had a new start, a gifted piece from Heather of Stitching Lotus, a Lizzie*Kate design called Life is Better:
stitched over 1 on 32 count Lambswool linen
The adorable buttons were a gift from Ariadne, I just laid them on the fabric for the photo but will sew them on when I fully finish the piece.
When that one was finished I had four days free to stitch anything I wanted, unfortunately the frog came to visit!
Then it was 12 Days of Stitchmas again! This year I decided to make a start on the 12 Ornaments I will be stitching for the Christmas Ornament Blog run by Kaye. There are three themes in 2019 and I have decided to go for the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Special 2001 - 2010. I have chosen my 12 designs from the magazines and started four so far. Today is the Fourth Day of Christmas.
On Day One I stitched Rosewood Manor's Festive Quaker Tree from 2009:
On Day Two I stitched Ink Circle's Poinsettia from 2008 and Rosewood Manor's Festive Quaker Tree:
On Day Three I stitched The Sweetheart Tree's Noel Christmas Bellpull from 2007 and Rosewood Manor's Festive Quaker Tree:
I debated whether to stitch design 2 as well but thought that as the Quaker Tree is quite large, I'd rather focus on that each day. I will thank myself once we get further on and I'm not trying to fit 10 designs into one day!
On Day Four I stitched Dragon Dreams' Peace on Earth from 2002 and Rosewood Manor's Festive Quaker Tree from 2009:
I am choosing my own colours on the Festive Quaker Tree and didn't get much done today as the paler colours blend into the fabric too much. I frogged and will restitch with a medium blue and B5200.
Throughout the year I was stitching 30-a-Day on my Just Nan Smalls. That ground to a halt in September when I switched to Leonore's Wedding present.
I did manage to complete 10 Just Nan Smalls and here they all are:
And here are Leonore and Felix's wedding presents:
Finally, there is housekeeping to be done on the blog, the "19 in '19" list to be finalised, the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL to set up for next year and the Happy Dance list and blog to be updated. Plus rather a lot of emails to answer. Good thing I have some time off work!
Welcome to the December Gifted Gorgeousness link-up. The link-up date will continue 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.
In the past month I have only stitched two gifted pieces but did get a finish from one of them!
First, the finish - 12 Days of Christmas by Just Nan:
stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain
Close-ups of the blocks:
I started this piece for the 12 Days of Stitchmas in 2017. On the 1st day you stitch on block 1. On the 2nd day you stitch on blocks 2 and 1. On the 3rd day you stitch on blocks 3, 2 and 1. And so on. Then I completed one block per month.
It's a lovely design and because the same colours are used in the borders it lends itself well to the 12 Days SAL. This year I am planning to start 12 Ornaments from JCS for the Christmas Ornament SAL organised by Kaye.
Once I finished this design, my thoughts turned to next year's Gifted Gorgeousness SAL. Yes, there will be a GG in 2019 and in every year after for as long as I have gifted projects to stitch! I read a blogpost recently by someone who said she often gave charts and giveaways and wondered how many of the recipients actually stitched them. I feel she needs to follow GG and she would find out!
Which made me think about the logo for next year. Each year so far the logo has been a gifted stitched piece but so far this year I did not have a small to use. Then I remembered, Heather sent me a lovely Lizzie*Kate chart which I said at the time would be perfect! So here's my start:
I didn't even have to choose fabric as Heather had included that too. It wasn't labelled but I think it's the called-for Lambswool Linen by Wichelt. It's certainly stiff enough for a Wichelt fabric, even after a wash. But that's OK for stitching in hand. I'm stitching it over one because we all adore tiny stitching!
In case anyone is interested, here are the three previous GG logos:
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 "December 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, the Advent Calendar Blog Hop is well underway. We've seen some beautiful stitching and heard some lovely songs too. Today is a Double Door Day so twice the fun! Don't forget to visit and leave comments on the posts of the day.
