February Smalls

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Mary's Thread

This year my Smalls will be my JBW 12 Days of Christmas ornaments which I started on Boxing Day 2019 for the 12 Days of Stitchmas.  I completed the Second Day in February:

stitched 1 over 2 on 40 count white linen

I completed and fully-finished a Just Nan Small.  This one is the Christmas Memories ornament:

stitched on 28 count Platinum Cashel linen

I have added a ribbon trim to this but you will have to wait until Rachel's FFO Gallery to see it

Then I started the next Just Nan; Crystal Heart:

stitched on 32 count Lavender Murano

Finally, the lovely Clare from Aimetu's Stitching is asking for some help with her smalls.  Each year Clare decorates a tree for her church's Tree Festival with stitched ornaments.  I have donated ornaments in the past and this year she is asking us to join in again.  The theme is A Bouquet of Flowers.  All she needs is the stitched piece, she will fully-finish it for you.  Just leave a comment on Clare's blog to get involved.  This is the Joy Tree from 2 years ago:

February 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.

I started the weekend working on my Alice in Wonderland SAL, designed by Amanda Butler for  Cross Stitcher magazine.  I showed that in my TUSAL post yesterday so here's a quick reminder of the block I completed:

stitched on 32 count yellow Belfast

The White Rabbit only took two days so I used my Tiny Decision app to choose what to work on for the rest of the month.  Mrs Peggotty's Queen of Hearts came up.  in 2018 I stitched Alice and the Flamingo by this designer and loved her.  But the Queen is proving a different kettle of fish.  I started her as my bathtime stitch but progress was very slow and she fell by the wayside.

Last time I showed her was in September 2019 and she was here:

stitched on 22 count white hardanger

This is the portion I've been working on this weekend:

And here is what she looks like now:

I'll work on her for another five days and see how much boring background I can get done!

I did have quite an Alice themed month as I bought a new book for stitching inspiration:

As well as stitching the Alice in Wonderland sampler I decided to stitch just the backstitch on some random linen and make a little book up:

This page isn't finished yet.  I want to chart the gloves from the book and add a charm or maybe some ribbon.

The inspiration for doing this is a FB group about slow stitching.  Run by Paula MacGregor, it's all about making little fabric books from things in your stash.  There's embellishments and freehand embroidery and little buttons and so on.  Of course, mine has to be cross stitched themed and the Alice SAL seemed the perfect subject.

Here's a link to the project website if you want to learn more - Paula MacGregor - Ellen's Legacy

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

February TUSAL

It's TUSAL time!

The project on the left is the Alice in Wonderland SAL by Amanda Butler for Cross Stitcher magazine.  The border was published in issue 353, and the first two blocks in issues 354 and 355.

stitched on 32 count yellow Belfast linen

I thought I'd show my thread holder.  I printed a playing card, covered it in sticky backed plastic and punched holes down each side.  I have just used the colours which appear in the border because I am working on that each evening.  Whereas the blocks themselves get two or three days dedicated to them so I use my master set of threads.

Here are the first two blocks completed:

I am a little disappointed that the rabbit is not the Tenniel version:

But is the Tim Burton version:

I do hope she doesn't do too many different illustrators for this SAL.  I don't want to have to chart my own designs for it!

Here is the whole piece:

I finished all the larger motifs between the blocks plus the green leaves and I am now working on all the roses, hearts and butterflies.   One colour at a time.  The vines will come with the beads at the end.

The second project is also Alice themed but I will save that for the IHSW post tomorrow as I'll be working on it some more tonight.

Finally, Mini asked me to let you all know that she has a Gifted Gorgeousness Giveaway on her post here:

Miniz Diary

February Gifted Gorgeousness Link-up Post

Welcome to the February 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.

We do have a nice new logo and a new sign-up page - remember to add your blog here as well as at the bottom of this post for your February post.  If you have the link in your sidebar on your own blog, don't forget to update it to the new sign-up page.

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 it was at the end of January:

And this is the portion I have been working on in February:

I have stitched on this for 10 days so far this month.  Once I complete two more columns of the dark gold and the backstitch for the area I will have reached my goal for February.  I think I'll go up a page and complete the backstitch there too.  Then I'll be ready to move to the right in March.

And the whole piece at the moment:

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

I finished my Just Nan Christmas Friends project, the chart was a gift from Mouse:

stitched on 28 count beige evenweave

The current Just Nan small was also a gift, but I'm not sure who it was from.  There is a little Post-it note which just says "Enjoy!".  So Thank You Mystery Person for the gift of Crystal Heart.

stitched on 32 count Lavender Murano

Gathering Eggs by Nora Corbett was a gift from Carol, I got four days on her at the end of January:

stitched on 35 count Vintage Country Mocha Linen

The final gifted project for this month is the 12 Days of Christmas by JBW.  Two of my friends bought two charts each for my Christmas present.  I started one design per day for the 12 Days of Stitchmas and have completed the Second Day: 

stitched on 40 count white linen, 1 over 2

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 "February 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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Edit to add - Mini is having a giveaway this month - Miniz Diary

Finally, the Valentine's Day Blog Hop was a great success.  We had 25 participants.  I think this was the most we have ever had!  Poor old Shelly in Arizona had a computer issue and posted late but everyone else got their posts up on the day.  If your Sweetheart hasn't revealed herself by the end of Sunday, let me know and I'll let you into the Secret!

In the meantime, here are all the Valentine's together:

Secret Stitching Sweetheart 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.  Then 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:

Dragon Stitches and Stuff

Silver Moonlight Stitches

Kitten Stitching

Aimetu's Stitching

Jeremiah's Mom

Tickled Pink in Stitches

The Alchymyst's Study

Stitching Friends Forever

Needles Everywhere

Dancing Backwards in High Heels

Tiffstitches a Blog

Elfin Stitches

Beth's Needlework Stash

Mary's Thread

Colourful Cross Stitches

An Arizona Stitcher 
Le Coeur Celtique

Needles, Pins and Dragonflies

Jocondine

Needle, Pen and Sword

A Stitching Grandma

Alaska Wolf Pack

A Stitcher's Story

The Flashing Scissors

Craftartista

As the organiser of this Blog Hop I don't usually get a Secret Sweetheart for myself but this year two people sent in two photos!  Just click on the photos to see who they came from:

Finally, don't forget to leave some lovely comments on all the participating blogs, share the love!

Finally Fully Finishing Fun for February

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 did my very best to not leave things to the last moment this month.  I had some framing to do which needs a little bit of time and space.

The first one is Cast Your Spell by Stacy Nash, finished in October 2017:

The second one is Smiling Jack O'Lanterns by JBW, finished in October 2018

This is actually a plastic frame.  The fabric was a little bit too short so I trimmed it with some scrapbook paper offcuts.

I also finished a project, Just Nan's Christmas Memories Ornament:

stitched on 28 count Platinum Cashel linen

I've finished this as a pillow ornament but I am thinking of adding some ruched ribbon trim to co-ordinate with the twisted ribbon stitched around the edge.  I have never done a ruched ribbon trim so we shall see how successful that was next time!

One of my favourite backing fabrics:

Finally, today is the deadline for the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop.  I will be emailing the photos out with further instructions on the 12th or 13th February so watch your Inbox for my email.  I have already received a bumper crop of hearts through my Inbox so it's going to be a good hop this year.

Let's Go Round Again - the Rotation Starts Anew

This year I'm going for a similar rotation to last year - SALs first, then Discworld, then free choice.  The only change I have made is to put the Alice SAL after Discworld because the magazine is released around about the 23nd of the month.

So the first day in February was spent working on my Christmas piece; the 12 Days of Christmas by JBW.  Most of the borders have been done now so it doesn't take long to fill the motifs in.  Or it wouldn't, if the frog didn't visit!  I stitched the darker yellow twice because I had got the red ribbon wrong.

stitched 1 over 2 on 40 count white linen

The next three days were spent on my Hallowe'en piece; the Scary Apothecary series by Hands on Design.  I have put three of these in my "20 in '20" list this year but if I finish all three I might add an extra one.  This is Bat Balm:

stitched on 28 count linen in Radioactive from Chromatic Alchemy

After that I moved on to the Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs.  I finished the banner at the bottom of the left hand corner and then moved across to the landmass in the centre of the piece.  I plan to stitch the coast for the whole of page 14 and then see if I can fill it all in this month.  My goal is a page a month this year and this one is 60% full coverage.

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

Finally, if you signed up for my Secret Sweetheart Stitching Blog Hop, I need the photos by 10th February.  If you haven't signed up yet, there is still time!  Send me an email and I'll add you to the list.

The People Chose Penguins

This SAL is all about what you want to see on the blog.  Each month I ask for suggestions for themes and then put them up to the members of the IHSW Group on FB to vote for their choice.  This is what they have chosen:

February - Penguins

March - Coffee
April - Modern Samplers

Penguins.  Penguins.  Thanks Christine.

Unfortunately it would appear that the only penguins I have stitched were in my pre-blog, pre-digital camera days and were given to a friend whose son liked penguins.

So it's going to be a short post today LOL

I was given this lovely book from Lakeside Needlecraft before Christmas:

There are designs from 60 different designers within the book including this cute Penguin from Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery:

And these two from Heather Nugent:

There are also numerous Penguin designs in the magazines I collect and plenty online.  I rather like this one by White Willow Designs:

Several years ago I sent a very long piece of fabric to Sharon from Shebafudge to stitch a design called Penguin Parade by Mary Hickmott on.  This is what the design looks like:

This post shows Sharon's start - Shebafudge - Crazy January Challenge 2014

I wonder how she got on with it?

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