February 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.  Links at the bottom of this post.

Friday is usually my day to go to the Crafty Coffee Morning but the shop which hosts it is relocating this month so the last two Fridays have been Coffee & Cakes at my house instead.

I'm using this time to work on my Just Nan Smalls.  Since the last IHSW I finished Thanks a Bunch and started Fairy Roses.

Thanks A Bunch

stitched on 32 count Antique White linen

The little Floral Bunch charm is discontinued so I'm using a butterfly instead.

Straight on to the next one in turn:

stitched on 32 count Antique White linen

This one is quite unusual as it is not symmetrical.  The green stitches are quite random so I've made a working copy of the chart and colour each symbol in as I go.

The next project is one I've been working on for just over a year, stitching a little bit each day while my son is in the bath.  Linda was SAL with me and she finished recently so it was time to ramp it up and get it done!

Alice & the Flamingo by Mrs Peggotty Arts

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

I really enjoyed this piece, the blocks of colour meant you didn't have to change thread too often.  I usually prefer stitching a monochrome at bathtime for this reason but with this project I could use the same colour all session most evenings.

The plan now is to stitch the Satsuma Street Nest Egg design and then start on Mrs Peggotty's Queen of Hearts.  I don't think I'll catch Linda up as she's already started her.

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Marie's Daffodil by Chromatic Alchemy

My main focus piece for IHSW was the Discworld Mappe.  Thank you to everyone who said how much they enjoy seeing this piece.  You're going to be seeing a LOT of it this year!

Here's where it was on Friday:

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

and here is where I am now:

I didn't quite finish the banner pink because it was so boring after a while, so I started alternating with some grey for the heraldic hippo instead.


A few people have said that they don't do Facebook and asked if I could host a link-up for them, so here it is! Just add your name and the link to your actual IHSW post, not just your blog home page.

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The next IHSW will be 15th - 17th March 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.

Finally, the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop was a great success.  Everyone posted on the actual day and now all the links go direct to the SSS post on each blog so you can still hop round quite easily.

Here's a collage of all the photos sent in:

(can you tell I have a new collage maker?

January Smalls SAL

The Smalls SAL is now hosted by Mary's Thread

Heather from Silver Lotus has been hosting the Smalls SAL since 2013 when it was The Ornament SAL.  Last year she found she had less time for blogging so when Mary asked if she could host the Smalls SAL this year, Heather gratefully handed over the tiny reins to a new host.

The rules are basically the same and can be found on the Sign-Up Page on Mary's blog.

Since the last Smalls Update in December I have completed my Rosewood Manor Festive Quaker Tree for the Christmas Ornie Blog.  Here is the finish as a fully finished scrapbook page:

It was such a pretty piece of fabric I didn't want to cut it down too much!

I've been continuing to work on a Just Nan Small as my travel project and work lunch break project.  This is Thanks A Bunch:

stitched on 32 count Antique White linen

I started this one on the 11th January, the goal is to finish one every four weeks.

That's it for the Smalls, this year is The Year of The BAP.

Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 

It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart. Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.   It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

Send me the email by 10th February.

When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February.  Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading

 Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself  in their comments as their

Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

Does that make sense to everyone?  I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply".   I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.  

January 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.  Links at the bottom of this post.

Unfortunately I had to work on Saturday and Monday, which is usually my catch-up day if I work one of the weekend days.  Never mind, I did manage a couple of daisies on my lunchbreak project on those two days.  This is Just Nan's Thanks a Bunch:

stitched on 32 count white linen

I cleared Sunday afternoon to focus on my Discworld Mappe with the goal of completing the darker pink in the banner.  This is where I was at the start of Friday:

This is where I was at the end of Friday:

And this is where I am now:

Goal achieved!  To give you some idea of the size and scope of this piece, here is the cover photo with the page numbers for the pages I have stitched on already:

This is a good chance to show the progress on my two daily projects.  The first is my Ten-a-Day project which is Just Nan's Summer Typography, the fourth and final one in the series:

Day 76 - 760 stitches

stitched on 32 count Pink Linen

The second daily piece is Mrs Peggotty's Alice & the Flamingo.  Here is where I was last IHSW:

And here is where I am now:

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

I stitched all the border to the right and bottom, frogged and restitched the pale green in her skirt, filled in the grass and made a start on the final tree.

A few people have said that they don't do Facebook and asked if I could host a link-up for them, so here it is! Just add your name and the link to your actual IHSW post, not just your blog home page.  

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*

The next IHSW will be 15th - 17th February 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.

Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 

It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart. Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.   It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

Send me the email by 10th February.

When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February.  Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading

 Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself  in their comments as their

Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

Does that make sense to everyone?  I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply".   I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.  

First IHSW of 2019

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.

My weekend started this morning at our crafty coffee morning get-together.  I'm taking my Just Nan smalls to these this year in an attempt to finish a few more.  I'm currently stitching Thanks a Bunch:

stitched on 32 count white linen

I am hoping the white daisies will show up on the linen, if not then I'll outline them in yellow.  This may have been better stitched on a pale green fabric.  We shall see.

My current focus for two weeks will be the Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs.  This is intended as an 18th Birthday present for my son but it may end up being a "Leaving Sixth Form" present or even a 21st if I really get into a slump!

Here's where I left it last time I stitched on it in 2018:

And here's where I am now:

stitched on 32 count Murano custom dyed by Sparklies

I have completed the turtle flipper and started the very large banner being held aloft by two heraldic hippos.  I will only have Sunday to stitch as I'm working tomorrow and Monday but hopefully I can complete that shade of Rose Pink in the banner.

My goal is to complete the banner this month and start the second hippo.  Once I have completed the second hippo I will have stitched the width of the design.

Do come back on Monday to see how I got on.  

Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 

It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart. Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.   It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

Send me the email by 10th February.

When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February.  Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading

 Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself  in their comments as their

Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

Does that make sense to everyone?  I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply".   I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.