Finally Fully Finishing Fun for June

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).

The first piece I fully finished was from 2018, one of my Just Nan Smalls.  Here's where you saw it last:

I knew I didn't have all the recommended charms so I used random ones from my stash:

There's a bee, butterflies, flowers and a little fairy at the very top:

The colours in this scrapbook page matched perfectly:

Then, when I was looking for something else, I found another piece from 2018:

I bought a black frame for this and painted the mount black to match.  Then I couldn't find where I had put the finish!  So I thought I'd better get this one done straight away before either element went missing again.

That's it for the FFO pieces this month but I did have a Flurry of Finishes as well.

First of all, I finished Just Nan's Garden Maze which has been my focus small from before Maynia:

stitched on 28 count green evenweave

I added one of the buttons I am going to use for Summer in the Square:

This will be scrapbooked for next month.

The next finish up was the second in the Scary Apothecary series from Hands On Design; Bitter Brew:

stitched on 28 count linen in Radioactive by Chromatic Alchemy

 I used the DMC conversion again, including a blended orange for the main cartouche:

The black is Weeks Dye Works Kohl:

And the metallics are DMC rather than the charted Kreinik:

The contents of the bottles are satin-stitched which makes them look a bit wonky!  Hopefully when I fully finish these they will straighten up a litte bit.

Finally, I finished the first shop in my CCN Main Street Spooky Conversion.  I'll save all the details for my Gifted Gorgeousness post on the 15th:

stitched on 32 count Charcoal Slate from Sparklies

Finishing Fun After a Month of New Starts!

I'm limbering up for the Longest Day Marathon later this month by trying to clear a few WIPs!  Ideally I'd like to have 26 or fewer by 22nd June in order to spend 30 minutes on each one and still have time to eat and look after Small Boy.

The first finish this week is one of Satsuma Street's Zodiac designs; Libra with two birds representing my husband and my older son.  This is the second design from the series I have stitched, the first being Virgo for me.

stitched on 28 count black evenweave

The colours are gorgeous on these designs, they really pop against the black fabric.  They are a quick stitch too.  15 days in total.

after 4 days of stitching

 after 7 days of stitching

after 11 days of stitching

The next project to be finished is a band sampler I've been working on just one or two days a month, totalling 9 days altogether.  This is a former class project I was gifted; Diamond Bouquet:

stitched on 28 count lilac evenweave

The chart came with the beads and the ribbon which is couched in place by speciality stitches.

 There are so many different stitches in this design which made it great fun to stitch.

Finally, I mentioned The Longest Day Marathon earlier.  This will be taking place on Friday 22nd June this year.  The Longest Day is Thursday 21st but I have my Toddler Group and an afternoon tea for a friend's birthday that day.  I will be posting photos live on the IHSW Facebook page and then doing a recap post here.  If anyone wants to join me, either on the day or at the weekend that would be brilliant!

Zodiac SAL - Gemini

Welcome to the  Zodiac SAL.  I will be posting on the first Saturday of each month with information about that month's sign and a linky for anyone who wants to join in.  The linky will stay open until the end of the month.

Last month we had three people link up with me, please do visit them now if you missed their posts before:

Jocondine
Tiffstitch
Leonore

Gemini, the Twins, is an Air sign ruled by Mercury and covers those born between 21st May and 21st June.

Gemini constellation by June Bug & Darlin'

The brightest star in Gemini is Pollux, and the second-brightest is Castor.  In Greek mythology, Gemini was associated with the myth of Castor and Pollux, the children of Leda.  Pollux was the son of Zeus, who seduced Leda, while Castor was the son of Tyndareus, king of Sparta and Leda's husband.  When Castor died, because he was mortal, Pollux begged his father Zeus to give Castor immortality, and he did, by uniting them together in the heavens.

Source: Wikipedia - Gemini (Constellation)

Gemini by Josephine Wall for HAED

Gemini People - What they are like:

Gemini people can come across as clever and quick-witted, eager to dish out the juiciest pieces of news and happenings to their friends via text message and social media. And in case that’s not enough, they’ll probably send you a Snapchat story for good measure. Geminis love fast cars, trendy clothes and any wacky gadgets or games they can tinker around with. Part of the fun (and curse) of Gemini people is that you’re never quite sure which personality you’re going to experience. Will it be the vivacious, pun-dishing jokester, or the snarky, mean-spirited critic? But if you’re willing to see Fifty Shades of Gemini, they’ll color your life in thrilling ways!

Source: Astrostyle - Gemini

Gemini by Awesome Patten Studio on Etsy

Famous Gemini People & Celebrities:

Angelina Jolie, Kanye West, Colin Farrell, Prince, Johnny Depp, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, Macklemore, Alanis Morissette, Fetty Wap, Kendrick Lamar, Iggy Azalea, Troye Sivan, North West, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Morgan Freeman, Blake Shelton, Kate Upton, Amy Schumer, John F. Kennedy, George Bush, Walt Whitman, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Joyce Carol Oates, Salmon Rushdie, George Orwell, Salvatore Ferragamo, Charlotte Olympia Dellal

What She Said Stitches

For the stitching part of the SAL I have chosen a series of designs from the Donna Kooler book 365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs. I am stitching them all on one piece of 32 count Millenium Blue fabric. Here is Gemini:

I have no idea what that is meant to be!  Just a wobbly II I think.  Probably my least favourite of all the blocks.

Here is the whole piece so far:

I am also stitching the Satsuma Street Zodiac and this month I picked up Libra which is my current WIP:

stitched on 28 count black evenweave

I stitched all the green vine today.  It would be nice to get this finished this month.  Not least because it's one less WIP for my Longest Day Marathon!

There are no Geminis in my immediate family and while I did stitch a birth sampler for twins many years ago, I did not keep a photo unfortunately.  I really regret not photographing all my early finishes.

So, let's hand over to you! This is the place for you to link up if you want to join in, please link to the actual blog post, not your blog homepage and include your name so we can see who has joined in.

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Finally, The Longest Day Marathon will be taking place on Friday 22nd June this year.  The Longest Day is Thursday 21st but I have my Toddler Group and an afternoon tea for a friend's birthday that day.  I will be posting photos live on the IHSW Facebook page and then doing a recap post here.  If anyone wants to join me, either on the day or at the weekend that would be brilliant!  You can see how I did in previous years:

2016

and

2017

Zodiac SAL - Taurus

Welcome to the  Zodiac SAL.  I will be posting on the first Saturday of each month with information about that month's sign and a linky for anyone who wants to join in.  The linky will stay open until the end of the month.

Last month we had three people link up with me, please do visit them now if you missed their posts before:

Jocondine
Tiffstitch
Leonore

Taurus, the Bull, is an Earth sign ruled by Venus and covers those born between 20th April and 21st May.

Taurus constellation by June Bug & Darlin'

The Bull represents a strong-willed character with great perseverance and determination.  In India Taurus is known by its Sanskrit name Vṛṣabha, which is occasionally given as a name for Shiva and his vehicle Nandi as well as the first of twenty-four Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha.  In Egypt, Taurus was seen as the cow goddess Hathor.  Hathor was the goddess of beauty, love, and happiness, and she represented all of the riches seen in cattle as the providers of nourishment.  Roman astrologers considered Taurus ruled by Venus, the goddess of beauty, and Earth, the goddess of the earth and nature.

Source: Wikipedia - Taurus (Astrology)

Taurus by Josephine Wall for HAED

Taurus People: What They’re LikeTaurus people can be grounding, bringing a sense of ease and contentment.  Unless, that is, they’re worked up about something.  Then steam pours out of their ears.  You’ll see them pacing, muttering the same thing over and over, clenching their fists and looking like Bulls ready to charge!  But when they’re content and in the groove, there’s no happier sign than Taurus.  Lovers of the arts, you can find them composing photos, blissing out to music, losing themselves on the dance floor or preparing a feast fit for royalty.  This affectionate, comfort-loving sign can indulge in hours of deep lounging or sensual boudoir play.  As earth signs, they may love to go on walks, bike rides and hikes. Disclaimer: other Bulls think “communing with nature” means gazing at the French Riviera from the Hotel du Cap veranda, chilled rose in hand.  Never go cheap on a Taurus, because these epicureans love the finer things.  That said, they can be very down-to-earth and work hard to pay for their indulgences. (You might need to light a fire under their asses to get them going.  Once in motion though, there’s no stopping this charging Bull!)  Sure they can be materialistic, but really they just want tasteful creature comforts that last the test of time.  And, if you’re lucky enough, they’ll share the finer things in life with you, too.

Source: Astrostyle - Taurus

Taurus by Illustrated Ink for Gecko Rouge

Famous & Celebrity Taurus People:
Adele, Al Pacino, David Beckham, Stevie Wonder, Donatella Versace, Cher, Robert Pattinson, Chris Brown, Channing Tatum, The Rock, Gigi Hadid, Queen Elizabeth II, Sam Smith, Megan Fox, Meek Mill, George Clooney, Lena Dunham, Tina Fey, Christian Lacroix, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Valentino Garavani, William Shakespeare, Harper Lee, James Monroe, James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant, Harry S. Truman

This is a wonderful design from Bothy Threads showing some of Shakespeare's best loved plays:

William Shakespeare by Bothy Threads

I also added some lines from "The Scottish Play" to the edge of this design by Oberlin Samplers:

The Witches by Oberlin Samplers

For the stitching part of the SAL I have chosen a series of designs from the Donna Kooler book 365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs. I am stitching them all on one piece of 32 count Millenium Blue fabric. Here is Taurus:

Here is the whole piece so far:

Now I have Taurus in place I can see that Aries was stitched in exactly the right place!

I am also stitching the Satsuma Street Zodiac and this month I picked up Libra which is my current WIP:

stitched on 28 count black evenweave

I have got quite a lot done.  I stitched all the right hand bird and it's cup as well as finishing off the base of the scales.  There is a rose vine wrapped around the scales so that will be the next part.  After I fill in his beak!  And the missing area which is a colour I need to order.

My brother is a Taurus but I have never stitched anything for him.  Sorry!  However my husband's niece is also a Taurus and I made these sugar skull designs for her when she got married:

Senor and Senorita Sugar Skull by Brooke's Books

This is the place for you to link up if you want to join in, please link to the actual blog post, not your blog homepage and include your name so we can see who has joined in.

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Finally, there's a new blogger in town.  I have persuaded and enabled my friend Sarah to start a blog!  You can find her here - The Hermit Crafter
I have to be nice to her, she knows me in real life and could tell you all my secrets.  So please visit her and say nice things to her!

Zodiac SAL - Pisces

Welcome to the  Zodiac SAL.  I will be posting on the first Saturday of each month with information about that month's sign and a linky for anyone who wants to join in.  The linky will stay open until the end of the month.

Last month we had four people link up with me, please do visit them now if you missed their posts before:

Jocondine

Tiffstitch

Linda

Leonore

Pisces is the Latin word for "fishes" and a Water sign covering those born between 19th February and 20th March.

Pisces constellation by June Bug & Darlin'

Pisces is associated with Aphrodite and Eros, who escaped from the monster Typhon by leaping into the sea and transforming themselves into fish.  In order not to lose each other, they tied themselves together with rope.  The Romans adopted the Greek legend, with Venus and Cupid acting as the counterparts for Aphrodite and Eros.

Source: Wikipedia - Pisces (Constellation)

Pisces by Josephine Wall for HAED

Pisces People: What They’re Like
Pisces people are sensitive and intuitive, and can become easily overloaded by crowds or overstimulating environments.  It’s often hard to pin these people down, because they’re so keen on swimming away to a place where they can experience some downtime and meditative R + R.  Pisces can gain a reputation as flaky because of the way they swim in and out of your life.  When they do surface, Pisces make charming and magical friends, especially because they view life through rose-colored glasses.  These fantasy-fueled folks need to keep at least one fin on solid ground.  At their best, Pisces are attentive and inspiring.  You can find Pisces artfully composing a photo, listening to music or guided meditations in their Zen dens, people-watching in the shadows of an underground club, or holding hands under the table at a romantic restaurant with a sunset view.

Source: Astrostyle - Pisces

Pisces by Illustrated Ink for Gecko Rouge

Famous Pisces People & Celebrities:
Albert Einstein, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Adam Levine, George Washington, Carrie Underwood, Kesha, Steve Jobs, Ansel Elgort, Kurt Cobain, Eva Longoria, Drew Barrymore, Eva Mendes, James Madison, Andrew Jackson, Grover Cleveland, Victor Hugo, W.E.B. DuBois, Dr. Seuss, Jack Kerouac, Henrik Ibsen, Hubert de Givenchy

The Cat in the Hat by GoBunnyGo on Etsy

For the stitching part of the SAL I have chosen a series of designs from the Donna Kooler book 365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs. I am stitching them all on one piece of 32 count Millenium Blue fabric. Here is Pisces:

Here is the whole piece so far:

I am also stitching the Satsuma Street Zodiac and here is Libra which represents my older son and my husband:

stitched on 28 count black Jobelan

My Mother-in-law is a Pisces and I am rather disappointed to realise that I have never stitched her anything!  Somehow I have never come across exactly the right piece for her.   She has a special Zero Birthday next year so I am thinking of a family tree design.  One we can add to as her grandchildren are now producing great-grandchildren!

This design would be perfect as I could have a branch for each of her four children and then add leaves or flowers to represent each of their children.  Only one son has grandchildren and he has six of them so the tree is rather weighted on his branch!

Family Tree by Florashell

This is the place for you to link up if you want to join in, please link to the actual blog post, not your blog homepage and include your name so we can see who has joined in.

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Finally, don't forget the  Easter Blog Hop.  If you would like to take part this year, just leave a comment here.  The week before Easter I will send you a letter of the alphabet which will form part of the mystery phrase.   On Good Friday you will post that letter along with a photo of something seasonal that you have stitched (could be Easter or Spring or just something cheerful and sunny or floral).  We all hop around like little bunnies to find the Mystery Phrase!