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.

September Smalls

 

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

This year my Smalls will be my JBW 12 Days of Christmas ornaments which I started on Boxing Day 2019 for the 12 Days of Stitchmas.  I completed the Ninth Day in September: 

stitched on 40 count White linen, 1 over 2

I finished a Just Nan small, Jasmine Mix:

stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Mocha

I am catching up on the weekly SAL from the Lin Pulsion blog entitled Bulles de Bonheur or Bubbles of Happiness.  I have been saving all the charts while I decided how I wanted to stitch them.  In the end, I decided over 1 on 25 count and using rainbow colours:

stitched over one on 25 count white evenweave

This small was for Aimetu Clare's Christmas Tree.  Her theme this year is "Flowers".   This is Amaryllis by Moss Creek Designs:

stitched over one on 28 count white evenweave

For the last Smalls post I noted that my Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Special had arrived that day.  It's a great issue and I have one finish and one WIP already.

This is the finish - Downdraft by Turquoise Graphics & Design:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

And this is the WIP - Mosaic Halloween by Twisted Willow Designs:

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

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.

 

September 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 worked on Friday so my weekend got off to a late start, bath-time to be exact!  I have started a new bath-time stitch, another one of the designs from this year's Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Ornament Special.

This is a designer I am not familiar with - Twisted Willow Designs - but I loved the 1970s colour scheme!  I have a piece of 32 count Platinum linen I have been using for a number of Hallowe'en smalls and had one piece left.  I looked through the magazine and chose the design which would fit best and look good on Platinum!  The title is Mosaic Halloween.

stitched on 32 count Platinum linen

Once I got into Saturday, the serious stitching started and I focused on my Chatelaine; Gardens of London.  Here's where I was at the start:

And here is that lower right Garden now.  All done except for a few lime green Algerian Stitches and the backstitch:

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Cotton Clouds by Crafty Kitten

I start work on the lower left Garden tomorrow.

I completed another band on my Just Nan Hallowe'en Sampler - Beware:

stitched on 32 count tea-dyed linen

I also continued with the Bubbles of Happiness, a freebie from Lin Pulsion's blog:

stitched over one on 25 count white evenweave

Finally, the next IHSW will be 16th-18th October 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.