October WIPocalypse, Rotational Stitching and TUSAL

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 "19 in '19" for this year.  You can find the full list here.

This month I stitched on five of my list and had one finish:

1. Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace 

stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily by Sparklies

The owl is from a Maria Diaz sampler in Cross Stitcher magazine issue 349

2. Raven by Nora Corbett

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Nebula by Crafty Kitten

3. Mystic Sampler by Primitive Needle - a finish!

stitched on 40 count Newcastle in Jewel Butterbeer by Under The Sea Fabrics

seen here with my TUSAL.

More photos to follow in later posts

4. 25th Anniversary Cameo by Mirabilia

stitched on random 28 count hand-dyed evenweave

5. Victorian Christmas Tree by Sue Hillis Designs

stitched on 28 count green evenweave

Bling to be added.

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.

October - Do you prefer to stitch on a rotation or one project at a time?

I think you probably all know the answer to this one!  I do like a rotation.  I have tried several over the years and the one that suits me is based around the time of the day.

1. Each morning after breakfast - a small daily stitch project - it might be 10-a-Day or one length a day.  In October it has been Mystic Sampler, approximately one 20 x 20 block per day.

2. The afternoon - My focus piece for the day.  This year it has been The Discworld Mappe for a fortnight each month.  Then one of the other projects on my "19 in '19"

3. The Small Boy's Bath-time - stitching while supervising.  This year I have stitched on Mrs Peggotty's Queen of Hearts and the Jessica Savage Words as well as some of my Christmas Ornaments. 

Finally, there will be a Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop as usual this year.  I am currently working on the Mystery Phrase and will email all the participants very soon.

October Smalls SAL

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

At the beginning of the month I managed to finish my Christmas Small from September.  Several people guessed it was a dragon!  This is You Are My Gift from the 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Special.

stitched on 32 count dark green linen

The design I chose for October wasn't the best choice for stitching time unfortunately.  As it is Dark October and I am stitching Hallowe'en all month, the only time I get for Christmas stitching is at bath time.  But I can't bead at bath time so this month's design is looking a little dull.  It is Victorian Christmas Tree by Sue Hillis Designs from the 2003 issue of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Special.  You stitch the basic tree and then add beads to make candles and garlands.

Here is the tree:

stitched on 28 count green evenweave

I love the effect of the pine needles - they are blended with one strand of dark green and one of light green and then you backstitch the needles.

I will be adding the beads the first chance I get in November.

I have started this month's Word by Jessica Savage.  This is a series in Cross Stitcher magazine.  This is a very pretty one and will say "Imagine" when I finish it. 

stitched over one on 25 count blue evenweave

I also made a little bit of progress on the 25th Anniversary Cameo by Mirabilia.

stitched on random 28 count hand-dyed evenweave

Finally, this is the last call for the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop.  There is still room for more people to join in, I will be sending the emails out on Monday so everyone knows what they are doing.  Just leave a comment or send me an email if you are a no-reply person.

October 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.  Links at the bottom of this post.

My focus piece for the weekend is Raven by Nora Corbett.  Here's where I was on Friday morning:

Here's the part I worked on this weekend:

Lots of over one skin!  The gaps are for beads.

And here is the whole piece now:

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Nebula by Crafty Kitten

You may have spotted where the frog attacked.  The pale purple in the dress is charted as 156 but it just didn't look quite right so I frogged it and I'm replacing with 155 which looks much nicer.  And it's a break from over one skin on linen.  I made the decision to stitch the backstitch on her arms first and fit the skin around it.  This turned out to be a very good plan although I may redo the backstitch in a darker grey.  It was charted for a lighter fabric.  It did help get the arms nice and smooth.

I've also been making daily progress on my Mystic Sampler by The Primitive Needle.  Here is Day 21:

stitched on 40 count Jewel Butterbeer linen from Under the Sea Fabrics

That tree took ages!

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 15th - 17th November 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.

October Gifted Gorgeousness Link-up Post

Welcome to the October Gifted Gorgeousness link-up.  The link-up date continues 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.

My main project for Gifted Gorgeousness has been my Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs, which will be a gift for my son.  This is where I left off last GG post:

This is where it was at the end of September:

Usually I would show you the portion I've been working on this month but I am taking a break for Dark October.

My main focus has been Nora Corbett's Raven.  The chart was a gift.

stitched on 32 count Nebula Belfast from Crafty Kitten

My daily stitch is Mystic Sampler by Primitive Needle.  Both the chart and the fabric were gifts from two different people.  This is Day 15:

stitched on 40 count Jewel Butterbeer linen from Under the Sea Fabrics

I haven't stitched on the next piece in October so this is the progress from last GG to the end of September.  The fabric was a gift.

stitched on random 28 count hand-dyed evenweave

This is the chart released by Nora Corbett to celebrate her 25th Anniversary of Mirabilia designs.  By using hand-dyed fabric I am hoping to avoid stitching all the background!

I did have a Birthday just after the last GG post.  I showed the things I bought for myself in my Stitch from Stash post, so here are the things other people bought me. 

The Little Stitcher Alice in Wonderland chart from one friend

The fabric to stitch it on from another plus the needleminder, Jodyri and the ORT catcher.

The cute pug postcard came from Mini.  It's so nice to get mail!

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 "October 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, there will be a Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop as usual this year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's

2018 Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

Dark 13 in Dark October

October in the stitching world is Dark October where we stitch our spookiest stitches.  Last year I had a selection of smalls and this year I am focusing on two large projects and one daily stitch.

The daily stitch is Mystic Sampler by the Primitive Needle.  I am stitching a portion each day, approx 20 x 20 squares on the chart.  Here are the first 12 days:

And here is Day 13:

stitched on 40 count Jewel Butterbeer by Under the Sea Fabrics

These snaps are taken using my iPad and the colours are not true at all.  To give you a better idea, here's the project I stitched on the other half of this piece of fabric:

The Goode Huswif - Books of Spells

It's because I take the photos sitting beside my large kitchen window in full daylight.  The thread colours are pretty accurate, I am using my own DMC conversion.

I've been using the Tiny Decisions app to choose my project some days and some days I have just stitched what I felt like.  The first project to get chosen by the App was my spooky conversion of Lavender & Lace's Enchanted Alphabet.  I've been adding various motifs throughout the year and the recent issue of Cross Stitcher magazine had an awesome Hallowe'en sampler with some perfect birds and animals to add.

stitched on 32 count Tiger Lily Murano by Sparklies

 

So far I have a wonderful over one raven and what will become an owl.  I think I need a couple more ghosts and then I can say it's finally done!

The other project is one of Nora Corbett's Bewitching Pixies.  This is Raven as she was at the start of the month:

And here she is now:

stitched on 32 count Nebula Belfast by Crafty Kitten

I've been stitching in three shades of purple all month.  The charted purples are 333, 3746 and 156.  But 156 is rather a blue purple and it just didn't look right.  You can see it in the top two folds of the cloak - the lightest shade.

So I tried 155 which is slightly more purpley and it looks much better.  So now I have to frog out the top two panels.  The difference is more striking in real life.

Of course I decided to make life just a little bit harder by stitching the skin over 1.  It's a bit blurry in the photos but looks good in person.

We've still got plenty of time this month and with half term holiday looming it would be nice to think I could get a finish on this one too.

Finally, there will be a Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop as usual this year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's

2018 Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

Finally Fully Finishing Fun for October

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).

Last month I showed you an "Almost Fully Finished" piece and now I am happy to show you the Fully Finished version:

The Sweetheart Tree - Holly and Hardanger

From Just Cross Stitch Ornament Special 2005

stitched on 32 count linen

I added a bow and ribbon loop on top

then used red drawing pins to hold the ribbon in place around the edge:

I also got around to framing the final in the Just Nan Typography series, this is Summer Typography:

The raw wood frames I used for the first three are no longer available but they had a white wood one which I painted pink.  Here are the other three designs in the series:

Awesome Autumn completed 2013

Winter Wonder completed 2015

Splendid Spring completed 2016

Super Summer completed 2019

Finally, there will be a Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop as usual this year. I am sure you all know how it works but for those who need a reminder - here's a link to last year's

2018 Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop

If you want to take part, just leave a comment here or email me if you are a "no reply" person. I need an email address for you to take part in this hop.

The People Chose Cats

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.

October - Cats

November - Autumnal Colours
December - TBA
(I put the poll up late so I am letting it run another week)

I have really been looking forward to this one.  I am definitely a cat-person, we owned both dogs and cats when I was little but since I was five it has always been cats (and small rodents).  We do not currently have a cat but our garden is shared territory for a number of neighbouring cats so there is always one to see.  I tried to grow my own one year, quite successfully as you can see:

The third piece I stitched was a row of cats.  I had made two small samplers and was looking around for the next project when I saw this kit:

stitched on 14 count black aida

I love the artwork of Lesley Anne Ivory and the next cat kit I bought was one of her designs:

Margaret Sherry is well-known for her cute cats:

Lynn B from Happiness is Cross Stitch has a huge range of cat freebies, this is just one:

The biggest Cat project I have stitched was in 2013.  There was a cute JBW Alphabet Cat in the Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Special which I stitched in black on orange fabric.  Then I hit on the idea of stitching one for each month in seasonal colours.

You may be able to tell that the final three have not been fully finished...  There's a couple of projects for Rachel's FFO Gallery!

Here's the largest single cat project, again on black aida.  I just love the effect of the white fur against the black fabric:

A lot of my Hallowe'en stitching has little black cats in it, so here's one last one from Jaunty Fox:

Now it's over to you. All you have to do is make a post on the theme of Cats, 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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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.

Looking forward to reading them all!