Secret Stitching Sweethearts Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to the Secret Stitching Sweethearts Blog Hop.  My annual chance to show some stitchy love to our fellow stitchers.  Over the last month my inbox has been filled with various lovely stitched and crafted pieces on the theme of Love and Friendship.  At the weekend I sent out them to randomly allocated participants who will be showing their Valentines on their blogs today.

Please hop round and see if they have found their Secret Stitching Sweetheart yet.  The following blogs are participating this year:

 💖 Craftartista 💖

💖 Ariadne from Greece 💖

💖 The Alchymyst's Study 💖

💖 Tickled Pink in Stitches 💖

💖 Aimetu's Stitching 💖

💖 Le Coeur Celtique 💖

💖 Jeremiah's Mom 💖

💖 Elfin Stitches 💖

💖 Fireflies & Cats in the Garden 💖

💖 Needle, Pen & Sword 💖

💖 Mary's Thread 💖

💖 Food for Thought 💖

💖 Random Ramblings 💖

💖 Jocondine 💖

💖 Kitten Stitching 💖

💖 Dragon Stitches and Stuff 💖

💖 A Stitching Grandma 💖

💖 Tiffstitches a Blog 💖

As the organiser of the Hop I don't get a secret sweetheart but sometimes I still get a heart!  

The pink cube is the design I stitched last year by Amint Kipatten but the painted canvas and the felt heart are new.  They are belated Christmas gifts from the lovely Wee Witchy Steph at Show and Tell.

Aren't they lovely?  Steph is doing lots of crafting at the moment and makes some gorgeous things.

I did receive another gift today but I'm saving that for Gifted Gorgeousness tomorrow.

Everyone who is participating in the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop will be entered into my Five Hops Challenge this year.  But even if you are not a participant you can still be counted for one entry by commenting on this post and letting me know you've been visiting the Sweethearts' blogs.

Finally, I am saving my stitching pictures for GG tomorrow but this is how my focus piece for the month looked when I picked it up yesterday:

Yes, it's a Chatelaine month!  Stayed tuned for progress pictures on Gardens of London.

Christmas and Hallowe'en Unseasonal Stitching

It's been a busy week with work, voluntary work, appointments and coffee mornings!  But I do have a small amount of stitching progress to show.

First up is my Christmas project - Just Nan's 12 Days of Christmas.  I started this one on Christmas and each of the 12 Days of Stitchmas I started a new block and then stitched a part of the previous blocks.  For February I completed Block 2 - Two Turtle Doves:

Here is the top section of the design so far:

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen

 Some slow progress on the border for Mrs Peggotty's Alice and Flamingo:

stitched over one on 25 count blue evenweave

One of my friends at the Crafty Coffee Morning was enabled by me to buy all five of the Alice designs and she's making incredible progress on the White Rabbit.  She's stitching on 14 count so it much bigger but still has almost an entire page done.  The colours look stunning in real life!

You can see all the designs here - Mrs Peggotty Arts

My Hallowe'en design for this year is Jardin Prive's Happy Hallowe'en Night.  This week I stitched a fence and a gate plus some of the lettering.  This does not tie in with the monthly theme of Candy Corn and/or Food unfortunately!

stitched on 32 count Cognac linen

Here is the whole piece so far:

I have one more piece in my rotation to stitch over the weekend and then I can move to the Focus Piece for the month - Chatelaine's Gardens of London.  I'm really looking forward to getting back to that piece.

Finally, tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop.  If you have already signed up, I need your photos tomorrow too.   Don't forget by taking part or commenting in every Blog Hop this year you will get entered into my Five Hops Challenge at the end of the year!  Click on the photo for more details:

Zodiac SAL - Aquarius

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:

Tiffstitch

Jocondine

Leonore

Aquarius is the Water Carrier (or Pourer) but is an Air sign ruled by Uranus and Saturn.  Aquarians are both between 20th January and 18th February.

The constellation of Aquarius is found in a region often called the Sea due to its profusion of constellations with watery associations such as Cetus the whale, Pisces the fish, and Eridanus the river.  At apparent magnitude 2.9, Beta Aquarii is the brightest star in the constellation.

Aquarius constellation by June Bug & Darlin'

Aquarius is identified as GU.LA "The Great One" in the Babylonian star catalogues and represents the god Ea himself, who is commonly depicted holding an overflowing vase.  The Babylonian star-figure appears on entitlement stones and cylinder seals from the second millennium.  It contained the winter solstice in the Early Bronze Age.  In Old Babylonian astronomy, Ea was the ruler of the southernmost quarter of the Sun's path, the "Way of Ea", corresponding to the period of 45 days on either side of winter solstice. 

Aquarius was also associated with the destructive floods that the Babylonians regularly experienced, and thus was negatively connoted.

In Ancient Egypt astronomy, Aquarius was associated with the annual flood of the Nile; the banks were said to flood when Aquarius put his jar into the river, beginning spring.

In Greek mythology the water carrier is Ganymede, a beautiful Phrygian youth.  Ganymede was the son of Tros, King of Troy.  While tending to his father's flocks on Mount Ida, Ganymede was spotted by Zeus.  The king of gods flew down to the mountain in the form of a large bird, whisking Ganymede away to the heavens.  Ever since, the boy has served as cupbearer to the gods.

Source: Wikipedia - Aquarius (constellation)

Aquarius by Josephine Wall for HAED

Aquarius People: What They’re Like
Aquarius is the sign of friendship and teamwork, so Aquarians tend to be more focused on the group than the individual. Freedom is important to Aquarians, which is why they like to keep things light on an interpersonal level. That way, they won’t feel bad about running off to the opposite corner of the world at a moment’s notice. At times, this nomadic strategy backfires, leaving them lonely and disconnected. Aquarians are uncomfortable with too much intimacy. These free spirits belong to the world, and feel off-balance giving their considerable energy to just one person. While their friends get first-class treatment, families and lovers see a different side of Aquarius: moody, brooding, anxious and neurotic. Or they may pick one (and only one) person to open up to, getting attached to the point of obsession. Learning to accept and express their emotions can help Aquarius people avoid the massive freakouts and anger flashes that come from pretending everything’s cool when it isn’t. Aquarians appreciate a quirky or eccentric twist and have some colorful characters and countercultural personalities as friends.

Source: Astrostyle - Aquarius

Aquarius by Illustated Ink for Gecko Rouge

Famous Aquarius People & Celebrities:
Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Bob Marley, Harry Styles, Justin Timberlake, Emma Roberts, Alicia Keys, Bobby Brown, Nick Carter, Sarah Palin, Mischa Barton, Michael Jordan, Ellen DeGeneres, Taylor Lautner, Ed Sheeran, Shakira, The Weeknd, John Travolta, Chloe Grace Moretz, Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Dre, Ayn Rand, William Henry Harrison, William McKinley, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Virginia Woolf, Langston Hughes, Gertrude Stein, Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison, Christian Dior

Dickens' Characters by Bothy Threads

Marley was Dead by Stitcher Anon

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 Aquarius:

And 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 younger son is an Aquarian, although I do not recognise him from the description above at all!  His birth sampler was rather delayed as I could not find a design I really liked until this chart was gifted to me, Teresa Wentzler - You Were Hatched:

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, you may have heard of the Five Peaks Challenge?

Climb Five Mountains

A little bit too strenous for me, so here's my variation:

I run five blog hops per year (see this page for details).  Anyone who takes part or comments on all five hops will be entered into a draw at the end of the year.  Taking part is obvious but as not everyone can take part in all five you still get a chance if you comment on my post which is hosting the Blog Hop.  If you take part AND comment on the post, you get TWO entries into the draw.

The first Hop is the Secret Stitching Sweetheart on 14th February and you still have time to sign up to take part.  If not, then remember to leave a comment on my Blog Hop post.

The First Pie of the New Year

We have reached the end of the first month of the year so it is time for the first pie of the year!  And the first reckoning for Stitch From Stash.  Yes, I am SFS again.  I don't have a lot of spare money to spend and what I do have I spend on my hobby.  So I won't be claiming fictious money for my finishes but I will be monitoring my spending to see what my weaknesses are!

2017 was the year of the Magazine whereas 2016 was Charts closely followed by Fabric, thanks to two large purchases for my special Birthday that year.

You've seen most of my stitching progress this month already for my WIPocalypse post.  But here's another new start!  This is another one of my "18 in '18"; Satsuma Street's Libra.  For my husband and my older son (also my Dad and my Grandad, there are a lot of Libra men in my life!).

stitched on 28 count Black Jobelan

Not much there but you can tell it is Libra already.  The goal is to stitch the smaller bird on the left this month; the larger bird on the right next month and the base the following month.  Then move on to Aquarius for my younger son.

You can see from the Pie chart that I spent 2 days on that design:

The Discworld Mappe got the most days as my January focus piece followed by 12 Days for 12 Days of Stitchmas and Dracula which has been my work lunchbreak piece.

Here is the expenditure for the month:

January
Mrs Peggotty Alice	£5.32
JN Chart return	-£10.00
Belfast Fabric	£13.95
JN Charm	£2.31
Total	£11.58

There is a return on there because the chart I ordered last month was supposed to come with an embellishment pack but it was missing.  So SewandSo gave me a rebate which I spent on some 32 count County Mocha (a store cupboard essential) and a cute charm for my last Just Nan Small:

Noah's Rainbow and Charm

A lot of the Just Nan charms are no longer available so Nan is discontinuing the charts.  I was lucky to snap this one up.  Most of the rest of the charms are generic butterflies or bees but this one is unique.

It doesn't bother me if I don't use the charted charm, half the fun is finding an alternative on eBay or Etsy.

Finally, a number of people have already signed up for the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop but there is still time for more.  The deadline for photos is 10th February.  In case you are stuck for inspiration, here are a few freebie designs.  Most of these would stitch up in a few days:

Lots of Sziv (hearts in Hungarian!) - Amint a fejemből kipattan

Valentines Heart - Anne les petites-croix

Love you to the Moon - Barbara Ana

Heart - Brigitte Dadaux

Un peu d’Amour et d’Amitié - Chalet des Perelles

Valentines - Cyber Stitchers various designers

Keys to my Heart - Erica Michaels via Rainbow Gallery

Mini Floral Heart - Le Grenier de Zoe

My Heart Leaps Up - Hands On Design
Valentine's Stitches -Hands On Design

Love, Black cat and Heart - Happiness is CrossStitching

Valentine Cat - Happiness is Cross Stitching
Valentine Birdie - Happiness is Cross Stitching

Isabella's Blog - Swirly Heart

My Valentine - iStitch Designs

Manydesigns - La Contesse le Point de Croix

Couer by Les Marottes de Nathalie

Valentine - Mindi, Joie de Vivre

Cherub with Heart - Mirabilia

Speciality Heart - Olga Maxden

Heart of Hearts - Miss T

My Happy Memories - You Hold the Key

My Happy Memories - Love Birds

Love Never Fails - The Primitive Hare

Red Heart - Renato Parolin

Be My Valentine - Sandra Longan Designs

VariousDesigns - Stickeule
Bee Mine - Stitchers Anon

And of course we must never forget the Patron Saint of Free design - Gazette 94!

22 Couer - Gazette 94

(there are 22 designs labelled Couer or Heart).

January WIPocalypse SALs

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.  For me, this will be my "18 in '18".  I started this idea back in 2011 with my "11 in '11" which was not a success.  Since then I have gradually made my targets more realistic!

Just for fun, here is my old 11 in '11 list:

I completed three of them in 2011 - Frosty Morning, Heart from Stitch Graffitti and Bluebeard's Mermaid.  How funny to see Joan Elliott's 12 Days of Christmas on there which finally got stitched last year.  The Art Nouveau Head is a UFO and the rest never even got started!

Anyway, I've done better than that this year already, having stitched on 9 of my list in January.  You can see the full list here.

1. Lavender & Lace - Enchanted Alphabet Spooky Conversion:

I stitched the S

stitched on 32 count Tiger Lily Murano by Sparklies

2. Lyndisfarne Designs - Discworld Mappe:

From here:

To here:

stitched on 32 count Murano custom dyed by Sparklies

3. Just Nan - Summer in the Square (10-a-Day)

stitched on 32 count Light Mocha linen

4. Donna Kooler - Zodiac:

stitched on 32 count Millenium Blue linen

5. Jardin Prive - Happy Hallowe'en Night:

stitched on 32 Cognac linen

6. Dam Good Crafts - Dracula:

stitched on 32 count Amortentia Belfast from Chromatic Alchemy

7. Just Nan - 12 Days of Christmas:

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen

8. Mrs Peggotty - Alice & Flamingo:

stitched on 25 count blue evenweave

so close to the bottom left corner now!

9. Just Nan - Diamond Bouquet:

stitched on 28 count lilac evenweave

Pretty impressive!  Apart from the JN Ornaments for my 30-a-Day everything I have stitched this month is on my WIPocalypse list.   Anyone would think I liked 32 count fabrics...

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.

January 28 – What SAL’s are you participating in this year?

Obviously the WIPocalypse!  And these ones too:

Zodiac Club - post the first Saturday each month

Gifted Gorgeousness - post anything gifted on the 15th
TUSAL or Totally Useless SAL - post your ORTs on the New Moon each month

Hallowe'en Ornie Blog - a different spooky theme each month

Christmas Ornie Blog - a different festive theme each month
IHSW - 3rd full weekend of each month

Smalls SAL - last Friday of each month

As well as SALs I also host 5 blog hops a year.  You can read all about them here and I have listed them on this post too:

In February we will have the Secret Stitching Sweetheart for Valentine's Day - send me a suitable picture and I will forward it to another participant, hop around the blogs to see who got your picture.

At Easter it's the Easter Treasure Hunt - sign up and be allocated a letter, post a picture and your letter at Easter, hop round the blogs (like an Easter Bunny) and find the Mystery Phrase.

During the whole of the Summer we usually have the Summer Postcard Hop - send me a picture for a postcard plus a holiday message, I will forward it to another participant, hop around the blogs to see who got your postcard.

At Hallowe'en it's the Trick or Treat Mystery Phrase - same as Easter but spookier!

During Advent I will host our Calendar - sign up and be allocated a dated door, post a picture on your day and add some information about your Christmas traditions. I copy the pictures onto my blog so we have the full calendar for everyone to see.

Finally you can see from the list of Hops that the next one will be the Secret Stitching Sweetheart in February.  You still have time to sign up for that one.  Just leave a comment or send me an email saying you would like to take part.  I will need a photo of your stitching item by 10th February.

January Smalls SAL

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Stitching Lotus

This is my 61st entry for the Smalls SAL (known as the Ornament SAL in Year 1) which means I have taken part every month for 5 whole years!  Now starting the 6th year.  That's a whole lot of Smalls!  Frankly I think I deserve a prize for that.  Haha, my name got chosen to win last year's prize! Thank you, random number generator.

This year I will be showing the block I stitch for the Christmas Ornie SAL and any other smalls I may complete during the month.  I am continuing with both my 10-a-Day (don't snigger, Christine) and my 30-a-Day challenges so there should be at least one Small each month.  And maybe even some fully finishing!

Here's the January block from Just Nan's 12 Days of Christmas:

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen

I have sort of completed two Just Nan smalls so far this month.  The first one would have been finished on 2nd January if the beads weren't hidden behind the Christmas tree!  This is Butterfly Rose:

stitched on 32 count Pink linen

I completed the stitching on this one but need the charm to go in the centre to call it a real finish.  Noah's Rainbow:

stitched on 32 count Antique White evenweave

The next one in line is Painted Lady.  I have made a change to the colours on this one.  I am using 3041 and 3042 purples instead of 611 and 612 browns.  I started the 611 and it just did not look right on the white fabric.  The original was stitched on dark green fabric.

Seems like the Smalls SAL should be renamed the Just Nan SAL for me this year!

💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕

There is still plenty of time to sign up for the next Blog Hop.  I need the photos for the Secret Stitching Sweetheart by the 10th February.  So if you want to take part, leave a comment or send me an email and I will add you to the list.

Finally, for those of you not getting notifications for comments left by no-reply bloggers - check your spam folder.  I routinely check mine and found 60 email notifications hidden in there.  Some from Nigerian Princes and Russian Ladies wanting to marry me but mostly from no-reply bloggers.  Seems like Gmail had decided you were all spam.

January IHSW

The weekend just gone was the first IHSW of 2018 and what happens?  Jo has to work on the Sunday!  Typical.  Anyway, I started on Friday with some crafty coffee morning stitching on Alice by Mrs Peggotty:

stitched over one on 25 count blue evenweave

Another 200 stitches in there and working my way down the border.  I figure that if I stitch the border then I can use that as a reference point instead of gridding the inside.

My focus piece was the Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs:

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

I stitched a turtle flipper and backstitched the main landmass with lots of little mountains.

I'm a bit confused at the moment as I am stitching Discworld but reading Lord of the Rings.

I finally finished the moon on Dracula and have almost completed the gold in his name.  Then it's finish Bram St... and add the border.  Once I complete this I will be able to put Alice in this time slot and really see some progress.

stitched on 32 count Amortentia by Chromatic Alchemy

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.