Finally Fully Finishing Fun for October

 

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).

Let's do the Big FFO first:

I got my Discworld Mappe framed!  I took it to my professional framer who I have been using for 17 years now.  The first piece she ever framed for me was my son's Birth Sampler so it was most appropriate that she frame this piece to celebrate his 18th Birthday!

We chose a simple rich brown frame with a gold edging.  This really is one of my favourite styles of frame, after plain black for Hallowe'en!

Here's a close-up of the corner so you can see the frame a little better:

She did "complain" about how tricky it was to get the lines just right but said she really enjoyed looking at the design while she was working on it to stretch and lace it.

It really is worth taking the time to find a decent framer who understands how to frame cross stitch and will appreciate the effort you put into stitching a piece.  I only get my larger pieces professionally framed and I ask for vouchers as Christmas presents to help with the cost.

And some smaller pieces, two new finishes from this year's Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Ornament Special.  The first is Mosaic Halloween by Twisted Willow Designs:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

I love the colours, I thought 1970s and Christine said Clarice Cliff.  I also loved the chequerboard grass, just a fun design to stitch.

I scrapbooked it with two other Autumnal designs, Autumn by Lizzie*Kate and Little Owl Sampler by Knotted Tree NeedleArt:

This one is Downdraft by Turquoise Graphics & Design:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

The mount was removed from a frame I got from a charity shop and used for something else.  I used marker pen to colour it black and added a cauldron sticker.  Scrapbooked on it's own, waiting for the right design to join it in the future!

Finally, there will be a Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop as usual this year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's

2019 Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

All Around the Discworld

"In a distant and second-hand set of dimensions, in an astral plane that was never meant to fly, the curling star-mists waver and part ...
See ..
Great A'Tuin the turtle comes, swimming slowly through the interstellar gulf, hydrogen frost on his ponderous limbs, his huge and ancient shell pocked with meteor craters. Through sea-sized eyes that are crusted with rheum and asteroid dust He stares fixedly at the Destination."

I started this one back in June 2017 with this photo:

The fabric is a custom-dyed 32 count Murano from Sparklies.  I explained to Kate what I needed and very exact dimensions for the paler blue circle.  I started stitching in the middle and worked to the top so I could make sure the edge of the Disc would match up with the circle on the fabric.  Fortunately, it did!

Here are some photos of my favourite parts:

The very centre of the Disc, Cori Celesti is the Home of the Gods:

The whole Mappe:

I do know how many days I stitched on this piece, anyone want to make a guess?

I recently discovered how to make Slideshows of my photos!

This first one shows the progress from June 2017 to December 2019:

This one shows the progress throughout 2020:

Finally, the story of my love of the Discworld.  The first book in the series was published in 1983 when I was still at school.  I think my Uncle introduced us to the books as he had with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy some years before.  My edition is a 3rd reprint from 1985 which is the year I started work so I probably bought it to read on the train.  It cost £1.75, about an hour's wages for me.  The standard paperback still costs an hour's wages at about £7.99 which is interesting when so many other things have seen rampant inflation.

I collected each book after that, getting the signed ones when my brother went to Uni and attended all the signings at The Forbidden Planet bookshop.  Then I stopped collecting about the time I started cross stitching on the train.  It was hard to read anyway as there were a good group of us who used to chat every day and socialise together off the train!

Fast forward to my son being born and being read to each evening.  We were given The Bromeliad as a present which he loved.  In April 2014 we started reading the entire series from the beginning.  This took us three whole years.  I started collecting the new hardbacks at this time too.  Then when we finished reading the series, topped off with the Science of Discworld books, I started stitching the Mappe.  Now to get it framed.

Thanks for being part of this journey with me, especially those who were tempted into reading the books themselves.  De Chelonian Mobile - The Turtle Moves.

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett

August WIPocalypse Mystery SALs

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 "20 in '20" for this year.  This month I stitched on 6 of them.  2 finishes and 1 goal met this month.

Joan Elliott - Faces

(Project 2)

Lyndisfarne - Discworld Map

(Project 5)

JBW - 12 Days of Christmas

(Project 11 - Book 3)

Hands on Design - Broomstick Fuel

(Project 15)

Amanda Butler - Alice in Wonderland SAL in Cross Stitcher magazine

(Project 17)

Just Nan - Morning Meadow

(Project 19)

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss:

August – Have you participated in any of the mystery SALs on Facebook (or other social media)? What do you think makes a successful mystery SAL?

I have taken part in a few Mystery SALs but I am much more cautious about committing myself these days!  The current one is a good example of why.

My usual guidelines would be:

Do I like the designer?
Do I like the theme?
Is there a sneak peek?
Can I keep up?

The Joan Elliott Faces SAL scored highly in all categories.  I love Joan Elliott.  The frame was so pretty and the first face was gorgeous.  Then she released the second block.  A cat's face.  I like cats.  I would have liked a witch's cat.  But this was a moggie and just didn't appeal to me to stitch it.  So the entire SAL stalled!  And we all know that once you fall behind, you stay behind.



I am determined to complete this because every Longest Day Marathon I get it out and love stitching on it.  So the plan is to substitute an owl from one of the fantasy designs for the cat and stitch a block or two each year until it is done.

Other SALs which have also fallen by the wayside include Around the World in 80 Stitches by Papillon.

Reason - it's so fiddly!  I chose to do the speciality stitches version and I am just not loving all the stopping and starting.  I think I prefer my speciality stitches in a band sampler.  I have done loads of those and love them!

The plan for this one is to stitch all the dark green outlines.  Then all the light green foliage.  Then set small goals and see how that goes.

Finally, a successful SAL to finish with!  The Stitchonomy Snowflake SAL from last December.  One snowflake per day.  Of course I decided to be extra and do them all in beads but still completed it by the end of the month.

The Hallowe'en SAL starts soon.  Will I start it?  Will I keep up with it?  We shall see!

August 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 have been focusing on my Discworld Mappe this weekend, adding the Longitude and Latitude line which is extremely tedious and leads to much procraftination - doing anything to avoid stitching those lines!

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

So what was I procraftinating with?  I did some FFO'ing which I will show on the 10th for Rachel's FFO Gallery.  I also did some tidying-up on my Happy Dance blog, added a few photos there.  And started writing my "21 in '21" list too!

This one is my current Just Nan small, Jasmine Mix.  There are 17 different colours in this piece just 49 x 49 stitches!  I still have to add two shades of yellow, some pink and quite a lot of white.  And beads!

stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Mocha

I reached the final row of Just Nan's Morning Meadow, my Summer Sampler SAL with Leonore.  This is a pretty motif and once it is done I only have to add beads.

stitched on 32 count pale green linen

I'm doing very well with my bath-time stitching so I will only show this portion of her face.  It's amazing how a few stitches in just three colours can be so effective.

stitched on 28 count linen from a Crafty Kitten grab bag.

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

August Gifted Gorgeousness Link-up Post

Welcome to the August Gifted Gorgeousness link-up.  The link-up date continues 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.

My main project for Gifted Gorgeousness has been my Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs, which will be a gift for my son.  I completed all the cross stitch in July and started some of the longitude and latitude lines today:

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

I changed technique for the lower four lines and they look much better.  It's really hard to keep the lines taut.  This is one time where a frame might be useful!

I finished my Just Nan design, Holly Noel, which was a gift from Brenda:

stitched on 28 count Beige evenweave

And FFO'd it too!

At the end of July I worked on my Joan Elliott Faces SAL piece, the fabric for this was a gift from Dawn of Crafty Kitten.  I did a few days this month because I really wanted this block DONE.  The skin took sooooo long but was worth it in the end:

I used 00557 for the beads within the figure and 40557 (the petite version) for the background.

Close-up of her lovely over one skin:

The whole piece so far:

stitched on 28 count Jazlyn in Snapdragon by Crafty Kitten

The final gifted project for this month is the 12 Days of Christmas by JBW.  Two of my friends bought two charts each for my Christmas present.  I started one design per day for the 12 Days of Stitchmas and have almost completed the Eighth Day: 

stitched on 40 count white linen, 1 over 2

Last month I showed a photo of the Birthday Countdown Box I had made for a friend.  She loved every day and took a photo of everything on the final day:

The gifts are a mixture of things I have bought (e.g. some GAST threads), things from my stash (e.g. charms) and things I have made (e.g. scissor fob) as well as some hand painted aida.  I discovered that diluted acrylic paint is great for painting aida.  If it's too bright - just give it a tea bath!

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 "August 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, I have been stitching away on my Summer Sampler SAL with Leonore.  I completed another two bands last week and this is where we are now on Just Nan's Morning Meadow:

stitched on 32 count pale green linen

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 started the weekend by working on Friday, since we have reopened Friday has become my "set day" as that is when the Small Boy was at school, until the end of term anyway.

I did get to stitch on a Just Nan Small in my lunchbreak as well as at bath-time.  This one is Jasmine Mix:

stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Mocha

For Saturday and Sunday I worked on Discworld Mappe for my focus piece.  Then this happened:

Yes, I completed the final corner of the Mappe!

I made one small change to the design, the original has the credit to the person who drew the original artwork so I changed that to "Stitched by me".  I also believe that is a Murder Hornet from the Cataclysmic Year of 2020:

The little boat was the last motif to be stitched:

All I need to do now is go over all 30 pages and make sure I haven't missed anything and then backstitch the Longitude and Latitude lines.  Or whatever the Discworld has instead.  Lots of couched straight lines.

I also started Week 3 of my Just Nan Summer Band Sampler SAL with Leonore.  We are both stitching Morning Meadow:

stitched on 32 count pale green linen

I made the bunnies two shades darker as the charted colour didn't show up so well.  The next band down is Rice Stitch in the same colour as the strawberries.  I am using a blend of 3687/3688 which is coming out a bit dark for this band.  I am going to start at the other end doing the main X in the darker shade and the corner stitches in the paler shade and see how that looks.

Finally, the next IHSW will be 21st-23rd 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.