Sleepy September

Here is the piece that gives today's post its title, Andie's Mirabilia Round Robin with Dreamers as the theme:

And some close-ups so you can see the bling:

And one of the whole piece so far:

The top space is empty for Andie to stitch Sleeping Beauty, then it's followed by The Dreamer stitched by Orchid Julie and Sleeping Princess stitched by Karen Stitchy Woman and finally my Lilly of the Woods.

I posted this piece off to New Zealand last Friday expecting it to take a week-ten days to arrive.  I got an email from Andie on the Tuesday saying it was there!!  Less than 3 working days to cross the world!!  Amazing.

Also for September I had the JBW Alphabet Kitty for September:

The charm for this month is a lovely acorn pin I received from Shirlee some time ago.  The fabric is a tan 28 count evenweave and the thread is a Stef Francis variegated.  I was going for an Autumn Leaves effect.

And talking of Autumn, here is my latest progress on Just Nan's Autumn Typography:

Not too sure about that bright orange in the row of leaves under the large Autumn.  They look a little like Chinese words rather than leaves.  I'll see how it looks at the end.  I have a boring border to stitch and the squirrels plus another crow then it's all done.  I like it alot!

Finally, as more people move to Google Plus, I wonder if they are aware that their email does not necessarily follow them there.  I've had comments from people that used to have emails attached to their profile but now appear as "No-Reply".  So if you've moved recently and haven't had an email response from a comment you've left me then that is why.

Working to a Deadline

Every month Christine sets up a Stitching Challenge on the Needlecraft Haven Yuku Board.  She chooses a different freebie for us to stitch and finish then the Big Reveal Day is the last Sunday of the month.

Over the Summer she combined July and August with two charts chosen.  I just managed to finish July's design from Martine at Broderies Passion but only just, I was still stitching it this lunchtime!

I used some 18count evenweave I bought from Willow Fabric and one of the hand-dyed cottons from Jodyri Designs Threads of the Month Club.  This one is called Purplinky:

I decided to scrapbook this one:

The other design is by Vavi, now I need a small square to fill the gap and I can embellishment the page with some ribbons and roses.

If you'd like to see more of my scrapbook pages, then here is a link to the dedicated page on my Happy Dance Blog - Scrapbook pages 

I have been really enjoying stitching the Mirabilia Round Robin design, Lilly of the Woods.  Here is my latest progress:

The pillow is my least favourite part so I am alternating between a length of pillow and a length of drape as my reward!  I probably won't post anymore photos of this until Andie receives it back.  I think it's nice for the original stitcher to be the first person to see their completed piece.

As promised, here are some photos of my cousin's AMAZING wedding cake.  Apparently it surpassed even her imagination!!

It is all sugar paste, not real biscuits and teacups!!

One of my blogging friends Aurelia has a monthly issue of Stitchy News on her blog Eglantine Stitchery and she mentions several things of interest this month, including a link to this amazing project, Pardalote Solar System Embroidery.  It is a stunning piece of work, blackwork in yellow and blue to represent our solar system and all the planets.

Finally, the latest delivery in the Summer Postcard Blog Hop:

My card goes to Debbie at Debbie's Cross Stitch
Debbie's card goes to Christine at The Alchymyst's Study
Christine's card goes to Lynn at Kearnel's Korner
Lynn's card goes to Clare at Aimetu's Stitching
Clare's card goes to Vickie at A Stitcher's Story
Vickie's card goes to Julie at Julie's Stitchyknitty Journal
Julie's card goes to Penny at Larkspur Lane
Penny's card goes to Astrid at Dragon Stitches and Stuff
Astrid's card goes to Cheryl at Today I Found...
Cheryl's card goes to Laura at For the Love of the Needle

You have until Saturday 31st August to send a photo of something you have stitched on a Home theme along with a short message about what Home means to you.  The final postcards will be sent out by 6th September then we can all start planning the Hallowe'en Blog Hop!!

Theme-a-licious August Update

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!

This is the theme for August:

Airborne August

What's that soaring through the air with the greatest of ease? It's the things with wings on your WIPs!

So what have I been singing all week?  On the Wings of Love by Jeffrey Osbourne.  Well, actually I haven't, but it is the only way I could think to include this piece as part of the theme:

I finished the whole Couers en Boites design but didn't photograph it before I took it to the framers.  This is just one of the hearts stitched over 2 to make a card for the couple.  That's their initials, they're not getting married in LA.

Also with wings we have dragons and fairies.  First up is my progress on this month's Dragon Dreams design:

And my Lilly of the Woods for the large Mira RR:

That pillow is so bitty and boring.  I can't wait to finish it and get on to the drapes.  Nora's drapes are one of my favourite things to stitch!  Have you seen the new Mirabilia released today?  Simply called "Red" she seems to be inspired by Little Red Riding Hood and is amazing!!

The Viewer is already working overtime as the Mira Minions try out every combination of fabric with her!

For those of you not familiar with the Minions and the Viewer, here is a link:

The Marvellous Mechanical Mirabilia Magic Machine

A stitcher known as Thutmosis set up the Viewer to help people decide which fabrics to stitch their favourite Mirabilia designs on.  She has now expanded it to include Chatelaines, Joan Elliott, Passione Ricamo and Teresa Wentzler all with the designers' approval and blessing.  She has fabric from all the major hand-dyers plus plain Zweigart too.  The HTML programming necessary must be immense but she does it all for free!  All it will cost you is several hours days of your life as you lose yourself in the different combinations.

Finally, the Summer Postcard Blog Hop is hopping onwards to Penny.  Here is the full list so far:

My card goes to Debbie at Debbie's Cross Stitch

Debbie's card goes to Christine at The Alchymyst's Study

Christine's card goes to Lynn at Kearnel's Korner

Lynn's card goes to Clare at Aimetu's Stitching

Clare's card goes to Vickie at A Stitcher's Story

Vickie's card goes to Julie at Julie's Stitchyknitty Journal

Julie's card goes to Penny at Larkspur Lane

There is still time to send a card if you haven't already done so, just click on the green "There's No Place Like Home" for more details.

Swan Swam over the Sea

Remember the box of stash my friend gave me?  This design is one she did herself and stitched most of it.  All that was left was some green and the backstitch.  So I finished it off and framed it using one the charity shops frames I collected last year.

I'm not including this on my list of completed pieces as I didn't really do all that much, but it is nice to show it.  If anyone would like the chart then please leave a comment.  My friend said I can pass the charts on to anyone who wants them.

Sunday is often a finishing day, today I decided to crack on with the JBW cats.  I accumulated the backings, the charms and the hanging ribbons but just needed to do the sewing up.

Here are all three together:

And here is Jubilee June all finished up ready to hang on the board.

I also completed my cousin's wedding sampler and took it to the framer's ready for the wedding next week.  In the evenings I've been stitching away on Andie's piece for the Mirabilia RR.  Her theme is The Dreamers and I'm stitching Lilly of the Woods.  I'm loving this piece, it's great to be reminded what a talented designer Nora Corbett is, her work is just a joy to stitch.

Finally, I found a new blog via Annie Bebop's Colouring Book.  The blog belongs to a Hungarian designer who is hosting an unusual competition.  Stitch her freebie design and be the cover picture for the pattern.  Click on this little icon to read all about it: