June's Progress

I'm using my WIPGO Board to decide what to stitch this year.  For June we had Yiotas XStitch Coffee Fairy which was my oldest WIP and Satsuma Street's Taurus from her Zodiac series.

Stitched on 28 count Monarch evenweave from Sparklies

I was sent this kit to review back in 2011 and started it in 2012.  By 2026 it was my oldest WIP and became my "Focus for a Finish".

I used the kit threads which were all Madeira but my own fabric as the kit only came with Aida.  The original design was full coverage but I left the background off so you can see the fabulous fabric!

Love these biscuits!

My Dark 13 project is Witching Hour by Keslyn's, and I added an F:

stitched 1 over 2 on 32 count Cirrus evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy

I'm using a variegated DMC thread - 4240, a mixture of blues and purples.  I decided to use a different colour for the spiders and chose the Victorian Motto Violet-Grey thread I used for the Halloween Bookshelf last year.  It's not as harsh as 310.

I finished the Coffee Fairy quite early in the month so had plenty of time for my new start which was Taurus from Satsuma Street.  This is the fourth design I have stitched in the series, all on black fabric. 

stitched on 28 count Black Jobelan

In May, I completed my annual Just Nan-athon and fully finished this design during June.  This is Winter Roses, part of the Filagree Fancies series.

The rose charm was supplied with the kit.

This is the backing fabric:

I had a new evening start too.  I love all things Alice in Wonderland so had to grab the new Living on the Rainbow book design.  This will be fully-finished into a 3D book.  So far I have started the cover and finished Page 1.  Page 2 will be released next week.

stitched on 36 count White evenweave

stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Mocha Linen

My plan is to stitch each page as it is released and then go back and do the cover to try catch up.  If I can keep up with the weekly pages that will be very encouraging.

Finally Fully Finishing Fun for December

        

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).

I have two fully finished objects this month.  First of all, a little Christmas pillow ornament.

Following the success of finishing Just Nan Spooky Smalls in October, I decided to do the same in December with some Christmas Smalls.  The first one is the complimentary ornament from the Angel Flowers sampler.  This is something Nan did with some of her older samplers, add a little ornament to match.

I started this one in May 2021 as part of my annual Just Nan-athon and just added a simple gold hanger.

stitched on 28 count pink linen

The second finish was professionally framed by my lovely framer of 20 years.  I took this one in and she was delighted with her gift as she is a Taurus herself!  I told her that in exchange for free framing for life she could keep it LOL

We went for a dark brown frame with a silver inner to keep the glass away from the beads.

Corner detail of the frame:

Each Zodiac sign with be framed differently as the fabrics and designs are so different, I don't need the frames to match as it's unlikely I will dispalay all 12 together!

Finally, the Advent Calendar.  Unfortunately we didn't get enough participants this year so I will be using the spare days myself.

This year the topic is Santa Stories, and here's one of mine.

This was the silo in our town that the elves used to store presents for all the local children.  When the tree on top was lit up that meant the silo was full and it was a signal to Santa that he could stop by and refill his sleigh when he reached our town.

In reality, it is a grain silo and the tree was placed on top for a bit of festive fun for the elderly mother of the manager there.  She lived in the only tower block in town and could see her son's workplace from her window.  So his workmates thought it would be nice for her to have a tree to look at!

Initially it was a real tree but in later years it was replaced by a much taller metal tree.  There's an article about it here - https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/21097378.lowestoft-christmas-tree-hits-epic-heights/

A Happy Dance was Predicted in the Stars

I'm Happy Dancing!  This is the second of the Zodiac Girls designs from Nora Corbett that I have stitched.  She is Taurus, of course:

Here's the full design:

Stitched on 32 count Murano called....Taurus!

When I saw that Sparklies did a range of fabrics named after the Zodiac signs I knew they would be perfect for this series.

There were some Waterlilies charted for this design, but I substituted DMC for the ones in the centre of her dress.  3 different colours in the 501-503 range instead of one variegated.

Nora made a little error on the chart and put the sigil for Aries, but it was simple to change it to Taurus

The other Waterlilies was the teal to each side of her.  I used a Classic Colourworks thread called Bejewelled instead.

The swirls around the pale green beads were charted for Waterlilies and I used DMC 503 for them all.

Finally, here's a photo of her sister Virgo who was completed last year.  Capricorn will be next to complete the Earth Trio.

September WIPocalypse Seasonal Stitching

            

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "23 in '23" for this year.  This month I stitched on 4 of my WIPs.

6. Mirabilia Fairy Idyll

11. Nora Corbett Taurus

13. Mani di Donna Halloween Stitching Basket

18. Circle Cross Blackwork Tarot

Leo - finished

Virgo

The full list can be seen here - WIPocalypse and "23 in '23"

Finally, Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too:

September - Are you a seasonal stitcher?  If so, which seasons do you find yourself more productive or less productive?

Any season is stitching season!  In the summer it can be too hot to go out much.  The depths of winter are good too for the same reason.  My least productive days are obviously days when I work a full day but even then I get some time at bath-time in the evening.

In fact, whatever the season, this is my motto:

"I count not my day complete 'till needle, thread and fabric meet"

From Nature to My Needle by The Blue Flower

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.

My first project was Fairy Idyll from Mirabilia:

stitched on 32 count Vinyard Murano from Crafty Kitten

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

and a small start on Virgo:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

Taurus from Nora Corbett was the next project:

stitched on 32 count Murano in Taurus from Sparklies

There are a couple of missing stitches around her face and then it's on to beading!

In the evenings I have been working on Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle this month.   I have reached the right hand side where those brown stitches are.  

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

Finally, the next IHSW will be 20th - 22nd 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.

August WIPocalypse WIP Workout

           

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "23 in '23" for this year.  This month I stitched on 6 of my WIPs and had 2 large finishes.

2. Kustom Krafts Little Snapdragon - finish!

3. Chatelaine Gardens of London

5. Carriage House Samplings Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow - Finish!

11. Nora Corbett Taurus

13. Mani di Donna Halloween Stitching Basket

18. Circle Cross Blackwork Tarot

Leo

The full list can be seen here - WIPocalypse and "23 in '23"

Finally, Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too:

August - What is your comfort zone regarding the number of projects to have kitted and in progress at any one time?

When I started stitching, I was pretty much a OAAT stitcher, maybe one larger and one smaller on the go.  Then I discovered the Yuku Boards and blogging and the joys of serial starting!  Also rotations and SALs.

A few years back I decided to make an active attempt to reduce my older WIPs.  When I started this attempt, I had 27 WIPs, of which 13 were older.  At the start of this year, I had 15 WIPs of which 9 were older.  So they are coming down!  This month I completed a WIP from 2015.  I now have 5 WIPs older than that of which 3 could be finished if I focused on them!

My current plan is not to start anything without a clear idea of how it fits into the rotation and the timescale for stitching it.  I've been focusing on my larger projects for a while now so next year will see a change.

It's 2024 so I'm planning "24 in '24" with 12 medium projects and 12 smalls.  The idea will be to stitch one medium and one small per month.  I have so many lovely charts in my stash I thought it would be nice to actually stitch some and take a break from the BAPs.  My WIPGO Board will help decide which order to stitch them in.

That should satisfy my need for some new starts without building up the WIPs too much!

August IHSW

 

HSW 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 made a start on Nora Corbett's Taurus and filled in all the grey/purple in the dress and then moved on to the frame around her.

From here on Friday:

stitched on 32 count Murano in Taurus from Sparklies

to here:

Lots of metallic gold in the top of the frame.

In the evenings I am going to work on Turn, Turn, Turn from Noteworthy Needle this month.   From here:

to here:

stitched on 32 count Sea Spray linen from Wichelt

I also added some stitches to Leo the Zodiac sign from Circle Cross.  From here:

to here:

stitched on 28 count sky blue evenweave from Silkweavers

to here:

Please excuse the poor quality of the "after" photos, I used my iPad as I finished stitching rather than get my camera out each time!  I'll get decent ones for the end of the month posts.

Finally, the next IHSW will be 15th - 17th September - my Birthday weekend - 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.