October Stitch from Stash and Pie

 It's time for Pie!

This was Dark October and I worked on three Spooky projects, the primary one being my CCN Spooky Conversion of Main Street.

I started this in May 2020 with the conversion of the Bookshop into Grimoires.  Then stitched three buildings per year until this month when it was finally finished.

I tried to keep the shops related to the original shops and the colour schemes too.

The trees became autumnal trees

I love the carniverous plants adapted from a Stitchonomy design

What's your favourite shop?

The next project up was the final Scary Apothecary design from Hands on Designs - Spider Legs.  I used two different Jodyri Threads for the variegated grey and pink.

stitched on 28 count Radioactive linen from Chromatic Alchemy

nice bit of sparkly orange metallic in this one:

I also made a pie for my evening stitching:

To start with, I focused on my Halloween Sewing Basket which is now fully finished just in time for Halloween!

Then I decided to knock out the Just Nan Spooky Smalls I started during my Just Nan-athon.  There were three of them and I finished all three.

Batty Jack

Horrified!

Fraidy Frog

Finally, Stitch from Stash.

I intended to buy the fabric for the next four Zodiac Girls earlier in the year but Sparklies closed their order books for a couple of months to try catch up with stock.  As soon as Kate reopened I was straight in with my order and it arrived very swiftly too.

Here's the three Water signs on their respective fabrics thanks to The Design and Fabric Viewer.  I also bought Capricorn which will be on next year's "24 in '24"

Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2023

  

 Welcome to the spooky hallowe’en mystery phrase blog hop!

All you need to do is visit each of the following blogs in order, jot down the letter displayed with their Hallowe'en stitched picture then return here and leave a comment telling me the Mystery Phrase.  (I have "moderate comments before publishing" enabled so no-one can copy anyone else!)

It'd be nice if you left a comment on their blog too, especially if it's new to you.

So without further ado,

start the blog hop – enter if you dare…

Tiff Stitches a Blog

Tales of a Stitching Mouse

Jocondine

A Patchwork of Crafts

Needle, Pen & Sword

An Arizona Stitcher

Aimetu's Stitching
Dragon Stitches and Stuff by Astrid

Life Outside the Washing Basket

Count it *all* Joy

Beth's Needlework Stash

Le Couer Celtique

Books, Crafts and Other Procrastinations

Jeremiah's Mom

Tickled Pink in Stitches

and then back to me for this letter:

 

and to comment with the phrase.

Hope you've worked it out!

As usual, I have been stitching for Dark October and have a number of finishes to share with you all.  The main focus has been my Spooky Conversion of CCN's Main Street.  Here's the finished piece (a little blurry, must take some another):

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate Murano from Sparklies

Here's some of my other finishes:

Just Nan Batty Jack

Mani di Donna Halloween Sewing Basket

Just Nan Horrified!

Hands on Design Spider Legs

Here are some more photos of my Spooky Stitching on display this year:

Finally, don't forget, some of us are on different time zones so if you visit a blog and can't find a letter or picture yet, pop back later in the day.

The phrase will stay a mystery for one week then all comments will be shown from 7th November, 2023.

happy hunting!

        

all from Hyraea

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.

My first project was my spooky conversion of CCN's Main Street.  I've been working on the final part which was the Gazebo.  I converted this into a blackwork lych gate with some lovely plants on either side.

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate Murano from Sparklies

This is now a finished project so I'll take lots of photos and share all the details soon.  The plants came from the current Stitchonomy SAL although I grew them a little bit myself!


Then I got quite a bit done on the Zodiac signs from Circle Cross, finishing Libra:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Isn't she majestic?

My evening project has been the Mani di Donna Halloween Sewing Basket, which is now finished as far as stitching goes.  I just need to make it up!

Of course after I took the photo I immediately spotted the missing black tombstone on the bottom left piece.  So that has now gone in.

My evenings then moved on to one of the smalls from my Just Nan-athon.  I had 3 spooky smalls in there and thought it would be nice to actually finish them.  So here's Batty Jack almost complete:

stitched on 28 count lilac linen

Finally, the next IHSW will be 17th - 19th 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.

Gifted Gorgeousness October Link-up Post

         

Welcome to the October 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.

For September, my focus was Fairy Idyll from Mirabilia.  Here's where she finished the month:

  

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

Then we moved into Dark October with my Spooky Conversion of CCN's Main Street.  The final shop was the Art Gallery which now sells Tarot Cards and has a crystal ball on it's sign as predicted by Jocondine.

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate Murano from Sparklies

Only the Gazebo to go now which is going to be a blackwork lych gate.

I am continuing with my Dark 13 project which is Mani di Donna's Halloween Sewing Basket.  This has moved into the evening slot.  I've almost finished the second side then it will be FFO tine.

stitched on 32 count grey linen

I made some more progress on the Zodiac Signs from Circle Cross' Tarot design.  I finished Leo and Virgo and started Libra: 

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle was my evening project in September:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

And now, a little gift to me from a dear friend - I wonder if you can guess from the clues in the pictures?

There's a poster on the corkboard as well as my birth date:

A lovely plant in a macrame pot holder:

The magazine rack holds some stitching magazines and a special folder:

So much detail, even inside the magazines!

The letters in the rack spell out a message of L O V E too:

and some postcards and extra little treats for me!

Did you guess?  It was our dear crafting enthusiast Jocondine!  Thank you my sweet friend!

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 "October 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, it's Dark October so time to think about my annual Trick or Treat Blog Hop! I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's:

2022 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.