Longest Day Marathon 2018

This is the third year for the Longest Day Marathon and I stitched the most projects out of the three years too!

Once again, I had to chose a date which fitted my schedule and that turned out to be the day after the Longest Day; Friday 22nd June.

I made a list of all my WIPs and UFOs the day before and went through all the storage places to make sure I had all the charts, fabric and threads in the same place to make it easier.

Before the boys had left for school I had managed to stitch on two projects starting with my Ten-a-Day:

Just Nan's Autumn in the Square:

ten lilac stitches in the left corner

Followed by my Temperature SAL by Hetti Ruckert:

9 orange stitches in the top left corner

Once the boys went off to school and hubby to work, the stitching could really start with 15 minutes on my Just Nan Small; Butterfly Summer:

a row of satin stitch at the bottom

9.15am Project 4 - Lavender & Lace Enchanted Alphabet

started the X

 9.45am Project 5 - Lyndisfarne Designs Discworld Mappe

stitched some turtle flipper

10.15am Project 6 - Chatelaine Gardens of London

completed the cross stitch for this garden

10.45am Project 7 - Nora Corbett Gathering Eggs

stitched some hair

 11.15am Project 8 - Joan Elliott Reading Fairy

stitched some purple and green

11.45am Project 9 - Donna Kooler Zodiac

started Cancer

12.15pm Project 10 - Just Nan Autumn House

stitched some orange border

12.45pm - short break for lunch and then

1.00pm Project 11 - Jardin Prive Happy Hallowe'en Night

started the graveyard

1.30pm Project 12 - Just Nan 12 Days of Christmas

stitched the white numbers

2.00pm Project 13 - Satsuma Street Nest Egg

stitched a beak

2.30pm Project 14 - Plum Street Sampler Brew Haha

stitched the letters

Then I had to take an unplanned break to do the school run as hubby could not get back from his job in time.

4.00pm Project 15 - JBW Smiling Jack O-Lanterns

stitched the orange in the border

4.30pm Project 16 - Nora Corbett Raven

stitched some purple

5.00pm Project 17 - Kustom Krafts Little Snapdragon

turquoise in the wing

5.30pm Project 18 - Joan Elliott Faces SAL

stitched some blue ribbon

6.00pm - break for tea

6.30pm Project 19 - Scarlet Letter English Transitional Sampler

stitched some blue Holbein

7.00pm Project 20 - Papillon Around the World in 80 Stitches

stitched some green border

7.30pm Project 21 - Yiota's Cross Stitch Coffee Fairy

frogged a bit and then stitched some cup

8.00pm Project 22 - Marie Suarez My Lovely Sewing Tools

stitched some border

8.30pm Project 23 - Samplermakers Spring Sampler

stitched some green leaves

9.00pm Project 24 - Craft Collection Art Nouveau Head

stitched some brown

9.30pm Project 25 - Ernie Bishop Noel Letter O

stitched some green

10.30pm Project 26 - Mrs Peggotty's Alice & The Flamingo

stitched around her eyes

And so to bed!

It was a fantastic stitching day, reminding me why I started so many of these projects and wondering why some became UFOs.  There is definitely a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) with some of the SALs where I started because everyone else was but then ran out of steam.  The plan is to pick one or two UFOs each work to focus on and try complete some of the older projects.  My Lovely Sewing Tools is probably my favourite and closest to a finish too.

Thanks to everyone who joined in on Facebook, whether you stitched or just watched.  It was fun to see all the "likes" over the course of the day.

Finally, here's a little video clip of me talking about my set-up:

June IHSW

That was a good Hermit Weekend, lots of progress on my beautiful Chatelaine design.

Here is where I picked it up on Friday:

And here is what it looks like now:

I'm hoping to complete this small garden by next Monday which is the end of my rotation.

The other project I've been working on is Alice and the Flamingo by Mrs Peggotty.  Here's where I was last IHSW:

And here is where I am now

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

Here's a close-up of the part I've been focusing on, love that bow in her hair.

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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Finally, the next IHSW will be 20th - 22nd July 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 or on Joysze's Blog - Random Ramblings.

Gifted Gorgeousness June Link-up Post

Welcome to the June Gifted Gorgeousness link-up.  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.

In the past month I have stitched a few gifted pieces:-

Just Nan's 12 Days of Christmas - Chart was a Christmas present

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen

Just Nan's Diamond Bouquet - chart was a gift and this was a finish, another off the 18 in '18 list

stitched on 28 count lilac evenweave

Lyndisfarne Design's Discworld Mappe - a gift for my son.

stitched on 32 count evenweave custom-dyed by Sparklies

And the starting point for IHSW on Chatelaine's Gardens of London - a Birthday gift

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Belfast by Crafty Kitten

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 "June 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.

Please could you remember to link up as well as make your post.  There have been a few people making GG posts but not linking.  Which means they don't get entered into the draw.  If you have technical or memory issues, just leave a comment and let me know!

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Finally, as mentioned above, it is IHSW this weekend.  International Hermit & Stitch Weekend, where you get to kick the family out of the house and spend the entire weekend stitching to your heart's content.  Or just try squeeze in ten minutes stitching time for yourself.  Sign up on the Facebook Group via the link below or on my blog on Monday:

IHSW - Facebook

A number of people have asked me to host a blog link-up page as they don't have Facebook so it will appear on Monday (evening as I'm working all day).

ps - this is my 777th post!

June TUSAL

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:

On the left we have the most recent Just Nan Small finish, Honeysuckle Rose:

stitched on 32 count Antique White linen

I need to add a charm in the centre.  I ordered a batch from eBay and will be having a little finishing session this weekend.

The project on the right is the next Just Nan Small to be the focus, Dragonfly Summer:

stitched on 32 count white evenweave

I am undecided whether to buy a large dragonfly to go in the middle or use one of the butterflies I bought this week.  Watch this space!

Having finished the SALs part of my rotation, I started on my focus piece for the month; Gardens of London by Chatelaine:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Linen by Crafty Kitten

I'll be working on the little garden this month and it would be great to finish all the plain cross stitching by the 25th.  But I do have some extra work shifts to cover holiday so we shall see.

There is an extra incentive to finish this.  A group of Chatelaine stitchers have put together a Gallery of Martina's designs and they don't have Gardens of London yet.  So no pressure there!  You can find the Gallery here:

Chatelaine Gallery

Finally, the email comment notification issues are still on-going.  Blogger had said they were working on it back on 31st May but have said nothing since then.  Blogger is a free platform so there's no sense of urgency for them.  The work around of clicking "Notify Me" or "send follow up comments to..." is working insomuch that you get the emails but from a "no-reply" address.   So please keep commenting, on my blog and the other blogs you follow.  Please spread the word that people need to check their dashboard for comments and how to work-around it.

I certainly value every comment and reply to as many as possible.  I also comment on as many blogs as I can.  I do not return to other people's blog posts to see if there is a reply.  So if that is how you're doing it, please email me the reply or don't be surprised when I don't acknowledge it!

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