A blog trying to focus on all the nice things in life, those moments when everything turns out right. Finding the perfect fabric for that chart you love, the ideal sampler quote, just the right picture in all the 1000s of magazines you own. Meeting people who share your interests and obsessions and totally understand why you NEED that chart when you already have enough to last until you're 104
It's TUSAL time, the Totally Useless SAL where we all show our ORTS and link-up on Daffycat's blog.
Here is my TUSAL jar with two projects:
The current rotation is as follows:
1. Christmas Ornament
2. Hallowe'en project
3. Gardens of London
4. Discworld Mappe
5. Something from my 19 in '19
So you can see we are on item 2 - my spooky conversion of Lavender & Lace's Enchanted Alphabet.
stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily from Sparklies
I completed all the letters last year and now I am adding various motifs to fill the gaps in. Last month I added the gate and this month some cats are appearing. The plan is to use Just Nan designs as much as possible so everything goes well together. The gate came from Jardin Prive though.
The design on the right is my third finish for this year and my second Christmas design. This is Poinsettia by Ink Circles from the 2008 issue of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Special.
stitched over 1 on 28 count green evenweave
Behind it is the backing paper I am going to be scrapbooking this piece on to. You'll see that on the 10th for Rachel's Fully Finished Gallery SAL.
Finally, you still have time to sign up for the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop due to take place on Valentine's Day. See previous posts for more details. And if you have already signed up, don't forget to email the photo of your secret piece to me! Obviously I can't take part in the Hop myself but I do enjoy seeing all the hearts and love in my Inbox in the run-up to the Hop. So thank you for that.
Regular followers will be aware that for over 3 years now I have run a themed SAL on the first Saturday of each month. First we spent 26 months doing The Alphabet Club and then 12 months of the Zodiac. Now I have decided to listen to the People and post about your choice of theme. Each month I ask for suggestions on the blog and then make a poll in the IHSW Facebook Group from those suggestions.
February - Hearts
March - Freebies
April - Speciality Stitches
The Hermiters are a romantic bunch and chose Hearts for February. I have stitched a lot of heart designs in the past and even have one as my avatar. Here's a collage I made for the letter H in the Alphabet Club back in 2017:
You can see my avatar on the top left. That one is by Heather Holland-Daly from her book Stitch Graffiti. I stitched it on a piece of upholstery fabric using a piece of aida as waste canvas. Not entirely successfully as it was hard to pull the fibres out from the densely stitched areas. But it looks good if you don't look too closely!
Three Just Nan smalls I have completed since then:
And this beautiful little cube I stitched for last year's Valentine's Day Blog Hop:
I've also been busy painting heart rocks to hide for Valentine's Day and bring some love and a smile to people's faces.
I have a new collage maker as the old one is being retired due to issues with Flash. It's a lot more versatile and it's going to be fun playing with it. You can find it here - Photo Collage
Now it's over to you. All you have to do is make a post on the theme of Hearts, mention The People's Choice SAL (you can copy the picture I used at the top of this post and in my side bar) and my blog. Please link up using the URL of the actual blog post, not the home page of your blog. I look forward to seeing what you all post.
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I shared one link for freebie hearts up above and here are some more. They should all be "live" still but if you find one that isn't please let me know and I'll remove it.
Finally, I need your suggestions for the next poll. Any thing, no matter how obscure, weird or random will go into the poll. Keep the theme suggestions to a single word or two - so you could have Cats, or Blue, or Holidays, or Warmth etc. Really anything which could be illustrated in cross stitch.
It certainly feels that way some years! Anyway, we have finally reached the end of the month so it's time for pie and budgets. Pie first:
I am very pleased with my pie this month, it looks exactly as I planned - 2 weeks for Discworld, 1 week for my Chatelaine and the rest of the time on smaller projects including the Christmas and Hallowe'en SALs.
This is where the Discworld Mappe was last time I stitched on it in 2018:
and here's where I am now:
I could have finished the banner but it turns out that I ordered a skein of the darker pink not the lighter pink when I was stocking up on threads for this design. So I moved on to the island instead. The island is called XXXX (or Fourecks) and is the Discworld equivalent of Australia.
"when Death requested a book about the dangerous creatures of XXXX from his library, he was subsequently hit by a large pile of books consisting of the various volumes of "Dangerous Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, Birds, Fish, Jellyfish, Insects, Spiders, Crustaceans, Grasses, Trees, Mosses and Lichens of Terror Incognita", the total books going up to Volume 29C Part 3, while a request for information about the harmless creatures merely produced a note saying "Some of the sheep"."
Here is the total of the design stitched so far. I started in the centre and worked upwards to ensure the dyed circle was in exactly the right place for the circumference of the Disc. The darker blue represent the Deep Space the enormous world turtle Great A'Tuin is swimming through.
stitched on 32 count Murano custom dyed by Sparklies
Next month I will stitch another Heraldic Hippo and complete the banner.
I am doing Stitch from Stash once again. This will be my 5th year so far. I did the original blog versions in 2014 and 2015, skipped 2016 as it was my Big Birthday year then signed up for Stephanie's Facebook version in 2017, 2018 and now 2019.
Here is this month's spend:
January
Cross Stitcher sub
£8.72
Mrs Peggotty Queen
£5.20
Total
£13.92
I needed the Queen of Hearts as I will be starting her as soon as I finish Alice & the Flamingo. Mrs Peggotty happened to be having a 20% off sale this week so I grabbed a bargain!
Finally, don't forget the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop coming up on Valentine's Day. I think I've posted about it enough now for everyone to be aware it is coming soon but just in case you haven't signed up yet - read a previous post and find out how to take part.
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 "19 in '19" for this year. You can find the full list here. This month I stitched on five of my list: 1. Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace
stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily from Sparklies
2. Gardens of London by Chatelaine
stitched on 32 count Belfast in Cotton Clouds by Crafty Kitten
3. Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs
4. Alice & the Flamingo by Mrs Peggotty
5. Summer Typography by Just Nan
stitched on 32 count Pink Linen
Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.
January - What SAL’s are you participating in this year?
Quite a few as it turns out! Most of them are the more open kind of SAL where you fit your existing stitching into the theme rather than stitching on the same project as everyone else.
You can find links for most of my SALs in the sidebar of my blog.
1. The People's Choice - posts on the first Saturday of each month - theme in sidebar
2. Fully Finished Gallery - post your FFOs on the 10th of each month
3. Gifted Gorgeousness - post anything gifted on the 15th of each month
4. Hallowe'en Ornie Blog - a different spooky theme each month
5. Christmas Ornie Blog - a different festive theme each month
6. Smalls SAL - last Friday of each month
7. WIPocalypse - last Sunday of each month
8. The TUSAL - post on the New Moon each month
9. Stitch-from-Stash - keep track of your spending and try stitching from your stash
10. 10-a-Day - stitch just 10 stitches on a project each day
Last year I stitched a Temperature SAL designed by Hetti which everyone enjoyed seeing grow and has prompted the question - will I do another one this year?
I was undecided and left it to serendipity. Serendipity duly provided me a new design for this year! I did not go looking for this, one of my FB friends posted it on her timeline and I was smitten.
Isn't it beautiful? There is a branch for each month and the leaves are stitched in the temperature for the day.
The designer is Tom et Lily Creations and can be found here - Tom et Lily Creations - SAL temperature. It is not a free design but the chart is only 10 Euros or you can buy it with the thread pack too. There is also a Facebook group you can join, presumably once you buy the chart. I have to wait until February to buy this but I am sure I can catch up quickly with January. I've been noting the temperatures and have my colour key already. I will use the same colours as last year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Welcome to the first Gifted Gorgeousness link-up of 2019! The link-up date will continue to be the 15th and I will keep the link-up open until the end of each month so you have plenty of time if you are late posting.
The format remains exactly the same, there is a list of rules on the main sign-up page if you want to check what is required but basically anything connected to the word "gift" is allowed, whether it was a gift TO you or is a gift FROM you.
Last year we had 30 people sign up and only one didn't manage to post while 8 people linked up every single month. Both of which were improvements on the previous year. In total there were 221 posts linked up via my blog.
So I put 221 into the random number generator and post number 119 came up. This was the June post from
Congratulations to Beth. You win the chart which is our logo for 2019 and some random stuff I will put together for you. I'll also need an address to send it to. Beth in IL is probably not enough info for the postman!
Since our last update in December I have worked on three gifted projects. The first was our new logo. This was a gift from Heather for taking part in last year's Smalls SAL:
stitched over one on Wichelt Linen
The next project was Nora Corbett's Gathering Eggs which was a gift from Carol:
stitched on 35 count Vintage Country Mocha linen
Unfortunately, not too much progress as there was an attack of the frogs!
Then I spent the 12 Days of Stitchmas on Christmas Ornaments followed by a couple of days on my Hallowe'en project. My first Focus Project this year was a week on my Chatelaine, Gardens of London. This was a gift for my Birthday in 2016, several of the speciality threads and most of the DMC were gifts from my blogging friends and the chart and fabric were gifts from my family.
Here's where it was last time I stitched on it in 2018:
Here's where I am now:
stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Belfast linen from Crafty Kitten
(it only looks wonky because I stitch in hand and haven't stretched it out for the photo)
Close-up of Garden 1:
Close-up of Garden 2:
Garden 1 is complete except for the beads and the speciality stitches in the border. I have decided to do the borders for both gardens at the same time.
I am using a mixture of the charted threads and my own conversion of DMC or Jodyri which is working out rather nicely. I am particularly pleased with the pink Queen's Stitches. They were charted for a very variegated silk which I wasn't keen on so I substituted DMC 3688 which is more subdued and I prefer it.
Now it is your turn to show us your Gifted Gorgeousness for the month. Please use your name or your blog name in the field and NOT the words "January Update" so I can easily see who has linked up this month. And link to the actual post, not just your blog. It is easier if you copy and paste the link, rather than typing freehand.
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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.
