Finally Fully Finished Fun for September

       

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).

After August's No FFO, I've got a big one this month - a large framed piece that I finished very recently. 

Having taken so long to actually stitch this I didn't want it living in the Box any longer than necessary.  I went straight out and bought a frame from Wilkos, some mount board and got it done.

It's a big piece, approximately 20 x 16 inches and I like that you can see the fabric all around it.  It's too pretty to cover with a mat.

So far this month I have been focusing on Fairy Idyll from Mirabilia.  On Friday I completed the stone face at the very top of the design.

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

Every time I put this down to look at it, I think "Nora is a freaking genius".  Look at those colours and that face, it's so perfectly stone-like and 3 dimensional looking.  I love her work.

Looking ahead I think I want to focus more on her designs.  I've always had at least one Nora Corbett or Mirabilia in my rotation but I have a lot more I want to stitch!

Finally, I made another papercraft book for a challenge.  This is called a Star Book because when you open it out, it makes a star shape when viewed from above.

I decorated it using pages from a calendar of RHS Gardens:

August TUSAL and Stitching Library

        

It's TUSAL time!  

Here is my TUSAL jar with my current projects:

And just like that, it was done!

Little Snapdragon by Kustom Krafts

Stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

I had seen this design in a magazine advert and really liked it.  I was then lucky enough to win the chart in a giveaway in 2012.   I received the threads in an exchange with a US stitcher, I sent her some UK magazines.

I didn't start stitching until 1st January 2015 as part of the DUCJC (Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge).  It also appeared in the first ever Gifted Gorgeousness post.

I stitched quite a bit in 2016 and then only on the Longest Day Marathon until 2022 when I decided he had to be finished!

I've said several times before I am not a fan of the pixellated computer generated designs and stitching this one confirms it for me.  But from viewing distance he looks great and I love the colours, especially in his wings.

Now to get him framed!

What's on my Shelf?

This is a feature I'm going to include on my TUSAL post until I run out of books! I started a Page on my Happy Dance blog for my Stitching Library and realised what a huge task it was so decided to break it down to one book per month. For the next four years...

Title: Quick to Stitch Cross Stitch Keepsakes

Author: Helen Philipps

Publisher: David & Charles
ISBN: 9780715327470

I am assuming I bought this book because I had liked her other book.  I can think of no other reason why I would get it!  It's not my style and taste at all.

There are simple little designs for every special event in your life.

Ideally suited for the beginner

This wreath is cute 

There are some great finishing instructions at the back of the book

July Stitch from Stash and Pie

 It's time for Pie:

I stitched my full fortnight on Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow for possibly the last time!  Here's where I started the month:

Here's the Block 12 progress:

And here's the whole piece:

stitched over 1 on 25 count Cassia Rose from Chromatic Alchemy

So far the number of days is:

Block 7 - 13 days

Block 6 - 16 days

Block 2 - 19 days

Block 3 - 20 days

Block 4 - 15 days

Block 1 - 19 days

Block 5 - 25 days

Block 8 - 15 days

Block 9 - 27 days

Block 10 - 31 days

Block 11 - 32 days

Block 12 - 25 days and counting

Little Snapdragon was the focus for the rest of the month, from here:

to here:

stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

My evening stitching was split between the Stitch It Picasso Temperature SAL and Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle:

Finally, Stitch from Stash and I did actually spend some money this month on supplies.  I needed the fabric for Turn, Turn, Turn and managed to get the exact fabric from Create Nostalgia in the UK.  I only needed a small piece but it's a pretty colour and looking at next year's plans there are two or three designs which will look good on it too.  Then I had to get the Just Cross Stitch Halloween Special as it's not included in the subscription and I like a paper copy anyway.

July WIPocalypse Favourite Fabrics

          

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "23 in '23" for this year.  This month I stitched on 5 of my WIPs and had 1 part finish.

2. Kustom Krafts Little Snapdragon

5. Carriage House Samplings Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow

13. Mani di Donna Halloween Stitching Basket

17. Stitch It Picasso Temperature SAL

18. Circle Cross Blackwork Tarot

Gemini and Cancer

The full list can be seen here - WIPocalypse and "23 in '23"

Finally, Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too:

July - Which are your favourite and least favourite fabrics to stitch on?

I've been keeping a tally of which fabrics I have stitched on this year and so far I have:

1 on 14 count Aida (from 2011)
1 on 22 count hardanger

2 on 25 count evenweave - both stitched over 1

8 on 28 count evenweave (4 are the House series)
6 on 32 count evenweave

4 on 32 count linen

1 on 35 count linen

So I think we can see that evenweave is my favourite fabric but 32 count is my favourite count over both evenweave and linen.

I tend to choose 28 count if I want to see the details, such as the Blackwork designs or those with lots of backstitch.  32 count is my choice if I want really good coverage.

One thing which is clear - I don't stitch on Aida!  That very old project is actually quite a soft piece of Aida and I think it will be full coverage so it won't show anyway.  Better than the really harsh piece I used that caused a friction burn on my wrist.

July 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.


I managed to work on all three of the projects I planned to focus on with Little Snapdragon up first.

From here:

to here:

stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

I completed the Spring Tree on Turn, Turn, Turn and moved onto the Summer Tree.

From here:

to here:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen

I made some great progress on Cancer from Circle Cross' Zodiac series.

From here:

to here:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Finally, the next IHSW will be 18th - 20th August 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.

The Start of IHSW for July

 

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.


For once, I'm not working on a Friday so was able to make a start today!  I'm focusing on Little Snapdragon with the hope of finishing it this month.

I only have the flowers left now which are a mixture of blue and purple colours.  So far I have stitched three shades of very dark blue:

stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

This evening I will continue with Turn, Turn, Turn working on the lovely Spring Tree:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen

I'll also find some time to fit in a length or two on Cancer from Circle Cross' Zodiac series:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Finally, here's a new design from Circle Cross which I absolutely fell in love with as soon as I saw it:

More information here - Circle Cross Norse Mythos Mandala

June Stitch from Stash and Pie

  It's time for Pie:

I stitched my full fortnight on Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow again.  Here's where I started the month:

Here's the finish for Block 11 

and the progress on Block 12:

I actually stitched another 30 minutes on that block for the Longest Day Marathon, so here's the whole piece:

stitched over 1 on 25 count Cassia Rose from Chromatic Alchemy

So far the number of days is:

Block 7 - 13 days

Block 6 - 16 days

Block 2 - 19 days

Block 3 - 20 days

Block 4 - 15 days

Block 1 - 19 days

Block 5 - 25 days

Block 8 - 15 days

Block 9 - 27 days

Block 10 - 31 days

Block 11 - 32 days

Block 12 - 11 days and counting

After that fortnight I intended to start work on Little Snapdragon but unfortunately the storage tube was empty and Snapdragon was AWOL!  Bothy Threads 12 Days of Christmas was present so that got four days stitching on Day 5, plus another 30 minutes on The Longest Day:

stitched on 32 count grey linen

Little Snapdragon was discovered in time for the Marathon and then I continued with it for another 7 days until the end of the month:

stitched on 32 count Evening Sky Murano from Crafty Kitten

I've got the two lightest shades of green in the stems and then the blues and purples in the flowers and this will be a finish!

My evening stitching was all the Stitch It Picasso Temperature SAL:

Finally, Stitch from Stash and I did actually spend some money this month.  It was unavoidable if I wanted to keep my Mr Linky subscription for all the Blog Hops.  Plus my Cross Stitcher magazine subscription.