Theme-a-licious Looking Backward and Forward XI

Theme-a-licious is hosted by Heather of It's Geek to Me

Each month Heather thinks up a theme for us to stitch to, or in my case, a theme to somehow shoe-horn my existing stitching into, no matter how tenuous the link!

This was the theme for November:

No-Xs November

What can you make without making an X?? Blackwork, hardanger, embroidery, needlelace, and the list goes on! Don't panic...you can even backstitch for the month!

Not a very successful month for sticking to the theme I'm afraid!  I did finish the Mirabilia for the Round Robin.  She has lots of beads and some backstitch so that's OK.  I mailed her off to Rachel who now has possession of the piece so I'm happy to show it on here.

This is the piece I stitched; Titania, Queen of the Fairies

and a side angle to show the beads and fabric sparkle: 

And the whole thing, Rachel has not quite finished the beading and the Kreinik on her piece or added her name:

From left to right we have January Garnet Fairy, Adia, Fairy Idyll (Lenna's colour conversion) and Titania.

Heather and I did have a little discussion about how small an X had to be before it became eligible for No X October!  So here are some small Xs:

This is the JBW Alphabet Kitty for November, stitched on 28 count black over 1.  The theme is 5th November Fireworks Night so there are lots of splashes of bright colours and some stars in the air.  I couldn't find a firework charm or any fabric so I'm going to stitch some ray stitches on another piece of black and use that as the backing.

Next month's theme is:

Detritus December

It's the end of the year...are there some projects you thought you'd have done by now? Let's take a walk down memory lane and start the new year with a clean plate.

This is quite a good one for me as I have two giveaway prizes to stitch and a Hobbit Challenge piece to finish too.  As well as finishing off two of my year-long challenges; the JBW Kitties and the 12 Dragonlets of Christmas.

Finally, the Advent Calendar post is all set up to run from midnight tonight, Vickie is our first poster so I'm looking forward to seeing what she shares with us all.  I bet there's a poodle somewhere in the post!  I just love Henry and Mabel.  I have my supplies for MY advent calendar all ready to make it up tomorrow:

Aren't craft goodies fun?

Theme-a-licious November Update

Theme-a-licious is hosted by Heather of It's Geek to Me

Each month Heather thinks up a theme for us to stitch to, or in my case, a theme to somehow shoe-horn my existing stitching into, no matter how tenuous the link!

This is the theme for November:

No-Xs November

What can you make without making an X?? Blackwork, hardanger, embroidery, needlelace, and the list goes on! Don't panic...you can even backstitch for the month!

I have actually been stitching alot of little Xs, very little, tiny Xs over 1 on 28 and 32 count.  I did add all the beads and Kreinik to Titania, Queen of the Fairies so here is a little sneak peek of the top part of her:

So that's it for No Xs!

Here are some of the little Xs.  First is the Owl from Blackberry Lane Designs:

Stitched over 1 on 28count Black Jobelan.  I'm using the DMC conversion and 92 for the background.  Because I'm using 1 strand over 1 it's not changing colour very much but it should be ok once I've finished.

And here is Fairytale Advent Calendar from The Little Stitcher:

This is stitched over 1 on 32count Belfast Vintage Grain using the DMC conversion.

By the way, what do you think the animal in number 4 is?  A hare or a dog maybe?

I am trusting the colour choices in this one, on the ring they are all shades of brown/sludge but once on the fabric they take on coloured hues, the little woman in 6 is a great example.  She is stitched in 3021, 433 and 3782 but they look more like red and blue together.

It seems from the comments left that I am getting alot of kudos from stitching over 1.  I have a secret!  I am so shortsighted I have to stitch looking over the top of my varifocals and hold the fabric approximately 6 inches from my eyes.  Whatever the count.  So stitching over 1 is no harder than stitching on aida.  The biggest danger is stabbing my nose with the needle it's that close!

Finally, it's time to sign up for the Annual Advent Calendar Blog Hop.  As in previous years there will be 24 doors posted on my blog.  Each person who signs up will be allocated a date, on that date they must post a photo of something Festive they have stitched, either in the past or this year.  I will then copy the photo across to my post and by Christmas Eve we will have 24 Open Doors each linked to a different blog.  Last year I had more than 24 people so we had some Double Days which was great.  To take part please email me letting me know if there is a date you prefer or wish to avoid.  

Theme-a-licious Looking Backward and Forward X

Theme-a-licious is hosted by Heather of It's Geek to Me

Each month Heather thinks up a theme for us to stitch to, or in my case, a theme to somehow shoe-horn my existing stitching into, no matter how tenuous the link!

This was the theme for October:

Opulent October
It's time to don your tiaras and bring the bling! Stitch on projects with sparkly fibers, beads or charms.

The main piece I have been stitching in the evenings has been Titania, Queen of the Fairies for the Mirabilia Round Robin.  I finally managed to actually stitch some bling on her this week.  Mind you, the fabric is sparkly itself so maybe that already counted?

The interesting thing about Miras is that you stitch away for evening after evening and sometimes don't see alot of progress then all of a sudden you're on the last colour (white for me) and it's time for the bling!  You look at all the empty places and realise those are all for metallics or beads!  There is silver blending filament on the edges of the wings and the inside is solid Kreinik which I will be starting tonight.

The other blingy piece I stitched in about two hours was the Needlecraft Haven Challenge for October.  Christine has chosen a very small and sweet Christmas piece.  I'm not feeling very Christmassy yet but thought it would fit the Opulent October theme so here it is:

The mount is an old Christmas card.  I keep alot of my cards, either as gift tags or stitching mounts.

And here is a side shot so you can see how I made this one.

Totally beaded, not a stitch in sight!  Even the fabric is sparkly.

Looking forward to November we have

No-Xs November

What can you make without making an X?? Blackwork, hardanger, embroidery, needlelace, and the list goes on! Don't panic...you can even backstitch for the month!

Oh, I could have had the NH challenge for that too LOL.

And by lucky chance this new start fits in perfectly.  Serendipitous or what?!!

This is stitched on 32 count Belfast in Tobacco, the same colour I used for Autumn Typography.  The design is Glorious Fall by Stitchers' Hideaway.  A while back I stitched Hear the Sea Call by the same designer (see this post for my finish).  I changed my FB profile picture to the design and Sue the designer got in touch to find out how her pattern had reached across the sea to me!  She also told me she was bringing out a companion piece which, of course, I had to buy.  She sent me the chart and the threads, so far I have stitched the poem composed by Sue herself in pure backstitch.  The border will be a in lovely variegated thread.

Finally, the Hallowe'en Mystery Phrase Blog Hop is still open for entrants, you must leave a comment on that post before 7th November.  I know alot of people catch up with blogs at the weekend.  And Mr Boo is by Val of Val's Stuff.  Before another persons asks me!!  He was in last years JCS Hallowe'en special and has been very popular. 

IHSW

or Numb-Bum Weekend as it's also known!!

I nearly always sign up for IHSW but usually forget to blog about it!  So here is a blog post just for a change.

Over the weekend I worked on just two projects, Drac and Titania.  I have now finished all the cross stitching on Drac and I have rather alot of sewing to be done.  Here are the four pieces of fabric which need cutting up and finishing:

Six box sides

Two lid pieces

On the right, Drac's face and my start on the body.  I managed this small amount of black before I got bored and decided to cheat!  Instead of stitching all that black I just used some black evenweave and stitched the coloured parts.  I have to add some little beads to the waistcoat and his eyes then I'm set for the making-up.  Watch this space!

And here is the latest photo of Titania, Queen of the Fairies for the Mirabilia Round Robin:

I finally got to work on something other than pink or flesh.  Some of those lines on her arms will be for beads.

Finally, this will be the last call for people to sign up for the Hallowe'en Blog Hop.  Just click on Mr Boo on the right hand side bar for details of what you have to do.  Incidentally, Mr Boo is designed by Val from Val's Stuff.  You can get her designs from 123stitch online and probably other places too!  This one came from Just Cross Stitch magazine last year's Hallowe'en ornie special.

October WIPocalypse and some Freaky Friday Freebies

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi of Measi's Musings.

The main focus of my WIPocalypse this year is my "13 in '13" a list of 13 projects I want to complete in 2013, click on top tab for the list.  Since the last WIPocalypse post I made some more progress on Prairie Moon Thine is the Trick and the Treat.  Here it is as  I left it to start work on the Mira RR:

The second part of my WIPocalypse are the monthly challenges.  Usually I have at least two finishes to show for this part, but not this month because I have been focused on Drac-in-a-Box for my daytime stitching.  I have finished the six sides and this week have been working on the double sided lid.  There is quite alot of stitching in the lid because there is a double row of whole and fractional stitches in those octagons which require careful counting, then the Moon and Bat motifs fill virtually all the space inside:

Now I must start on the little fellow himself.  There are alot of rows of plain black crosses in his body.  More careful counting!  Well I suppose he is Count Dracula LOL

Although she isn't part of the WIPocalypse, here is the progress on Titania, Queen of the Fairies for the Large Mirabilia Round Robin:

I managed to stitch something other than pink - pale flesh!!

Most of tonight will be pale flesh too.

Finally for those of you still deciding whether to join us for the Hallowe'en Blog Hop here's a list of freebie designs I love!

Angi Creative - Look What's Brewin'

Bits of Floss  - Hallowe'en Biscornu and Surfing Witch

Craft Town - Pumpkin and Witch's Hat

Cyberstitchers.com - 77 different Hallowe'en designs, love the Barbara Ana ones

It's Daffycat - Frightful Cat

DMC Blog - Links to some more freebies

Gazette 94 - Pumpkin in witch's hat plus other Hallowe'en/Autumn

Les Grilles de Maryse - Hallowe'en House and another one too

Happiness is Cross Stitching - Hallowe'en Cat Scissor Fob

Jaunty Fox - Fence Cat

Joie de Vivre blog - Froth and Bubble

Kit & Bixby - Hallowe'en House (I know you shouldn't link to the pdf but I can't find the link anywhere, everyone is linking to the pdf!!)

La Comtesse de le Point de Croix - several Hallowe'en designs

Lizzie*Kate - Spooky Time

Passione Ricamo - several designs

Primitive Hare - Kitchen is the Witch's Lab

Ravenelle Blog - Autumn House

San Man - Quaker 31

Silver Cute Dwarf - Cat and Spooky Tree, Widey-eyed Cat and Pumpkin

Snowflower Diaries - Seasonal Witches and a forthcoming Pumpkins for Cathey design

Stickeule Blog - Lots of Hallowe'en and Autumn designs

Stitcheree - Creepy Hollow, Owls of Autumn and One Good Witch

Stitchers Anon - Cauldron Bubble

Sub Rosa - Witch and Haunted House

Sullivans - Best Witches and Witch Hat

and finally, the cutest of them all Carand 88

Plus some Just Autumnal ones for those of you not into Hallowe'en stitching:

Cross Stitch Happy - Swirly Autumn

Simply Necessaries  - Autumn House and pumpkins, click on Grilles Gratuites in side bar on left

If you have seen any other lovely Hallowe'en freebies around this year, please leave a link in the comments and I will add them to the list.

Theme-a-licious October Update

Theme-a-licious is hosted by Heather of It's Geek to Me

Each month Heather thinks up a theme for us to stitch to, or in my case, a theme to somehow shoe-horn my existing stitching into, no matter how tenuous the link!

Opulent October

It's time to don your tiaras and bring the bling! Stitch on projects with sparkly fibers, beads or charms.

The only thing I have which fits the theme so far is my Mirabilia, Titania, Queen of the Fairies.  Unfortunately I have not yet reached the bling stage on her!  Just alot of pink of various shades.  So here is a photo of where the bling will be when I get there:

The fabric is sparkly, does that count?

Here is the full piece so far:

I have been making excellent progress on Drac-in-the-Box.  I have finished the six sides of the box and made a tiny start on the lid piece.  Here are the sides:

It's orientated like that on purpose because I stitched them whichever way up was easier to hold the fabric.

Have you seen this new design yet?  It's from Northern Expressions Needlework and is called Twisted Band Sampler:

A while back I won the back catalogue from Nicole and they are absolutely gorgeous designs.  The instructions are really good too.  Nicole has a nice friendly style of writing so it feels like a friend explaining how to do the stitches rather than a textbook.

Finally, there are still places available for the Hallowe'en Blog Hop on the 31st October.  Simply click on Mr. Boo on the right hand side bar for more details. 

Progress Reports

I've finished one of the pieces I couldn't show and mailed it off.  The other piece was the Needlecraft Haven September Challenge by Kissy Cross.  I stitched this on some nice green evenweave over 1 as it was a rather large design for an ornie stitched over 2.  I haven't decided whether to make it into an ornie or to scrapbook it so I just Photo-shopped it onto a piece of backing paper:

It's quite interesting looking at the original blog photo to see which parts they stitched in which colour.  The chart didn't come with a key and they used the same symbol for every stitch so you wouldn't be bound by their choices.  I like my version.  The whites do pop more in real life.

I have not been in the mood for Christmas stitching as yet, it's not even Hallowe'en so I have made a good start on my Drac-in-the-Box.  I want to get this done by the 31st if only because everyone keeps saying "Let me know how you get on with the finishing"!  I posted a picture on FB of the first steps I'd done and the designer left a comment saying how pleased she was someone was going to stitch it.  So not much pressure there to make a good job of it!

Here are two photos to show the two completed blocks the right way up:

Headstone - top left

Fangs and Bat - Left and middle

I changed the orientation of the blocks simply because I found it easier to hold the fabric this way.  It's a very stiff Permin linen and I don't want to crumple it too much.

Here is my evening project, Titania, Queen of the Fairies for Rachel's Mirabilia Round Robin:

Not a great picture, it's a scan and the purples in the sash are not showing up well.  They are actually the Teresa Purples (3041 and 3042) so called because Teresa Wentzler seems to use them in every design she does!  You can really see the shape of her arms appearing.  There's alot of flesh to do next, then her hair and finishing with the wings.

Finally, the sign up for the Hallowe'en Blog Hop is open.  Click on Mr. Boo the Ghost on the right side bar for more details.

October TUSAL

It's TUSAL time again!  For those of you new to blogging, the TUSAL is a project run by Daffycat, click on the button on the right hand bar for more details.

October's ORTS are pictured with my Haunted Castle from La Contesse and my current project Drac in the Box.  I have stitched one box side.  It took me most of one day because I kept popping onto the computer to converse with my good friend Shirlee.  Do you like the lovely photo of her to the right of my blog?  Did you know she is a cheerleader?

We don't really have cheerleaders in this country (apart from some inner city areas I understand), we tend to the well-covered animal mascots which invariably get drunk at some point and disgrace their team!!  Anyway, I digress, if we did have cheerleaders, this is what mine would look like:

Needs another M for MUM!

I've also been progressing well on the Mirabilia Round Robin.  Here is the latest photo:

In case you can't tell, it's Titania Queen of the Fairies.  Love all these shades of pink in her dress.

Finally, sign-ups for the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop are now open.  I have a great group so far, more than last year already!  But more are welcome. the more, the merrier.  Or the more, the spookier!

All you have to do to join in is email me to sign up.  Then on 31st October post a photo of something you have stitched on a Hallowe'en theme alongside a letter of the alphabet which I will allocate you.  The letters will spell out the mystery phrase.

Lesley-Ann and Stitch by Rachel, please could you contact me by email as you are both "no-reply" commenters.