Smalls SAL October 2016

Hosted by Stitching Lotus

Hi there! Today is the last Thursday in October which means it is the day to post our Smalls finishes for the month, so let's dive right on in! ☺

Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL
September - Wizard
Designer: Durene Jones
Finish #34 (5 October 2016)

Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL
August - Pegasus
Designer: Durene Jones
Finish #35 (7 October 2016)

Stitched on 32ct Jobelan fabric "Silver Springs" from Colour Cascades Fabric  - DMC threads

Peacock
Designer: Kate Knight
Freebie Cross Stitch Crazy Magazine
Finish #36 (7 October 2016)

Really pleased to finish this little one... I started it back in January for the DUCSJC!

Autumn Harvest - Plaid Pumpkin
Designer: Mill Hill Kit
Finish #37 (16 October 2016)

You saw this one earlier in the month... so cute! I just need to cut it out and put it together now.... something else to add to the final finishing day that I keep promising myself I will have one day!

Halloween Portraits - Black Cat
Designer: Blue Ribbon Designs
Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2015
Finish #38 (18 October 2016)

This is my Halloween Ornie Blog entry for October - theme is black cats.  I have stitched 3 of these Halloween Portraits so far this year for the Halloween Ornie themes.

Christmas Bunny
Freebie from Cross Stitch Collection magazine (1990's...)
Finish #39 (21 October 2016)

This is my Christmas Ornie Blog entry for October - theme is presents/toys and she is carrying a Christmas present!

Merry Christmas (2015/6)
Designer: From the Heart ~ Needleart by Wendy
Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2015
Finish #40 (25 October 2016)

Stitched on 32ct Belfast "Fairy Tales" from Colour Cascades Fabric using Dragon Floss "Stem Green" for the tree foliage; Dinky Dyes "Pilbara" for the lettering and DMC for the star and tree trunk.  I re-charted the year and my initials as the original chart was for 2015 and had the designers initials :o)

So that's it for today's Smalls post!  I am feeling quite good about my Smalls finishes this month... I will try and pop back again later today with a new start and a WIP update.  Have a great stitchy day....

Til next time, happy stitching!
Hugs xx

IHSW October 2016

International Hermit & Stitch Weekend (IHSW).... 

held on the third weekend (Fri - Sun) of every month

hosted by Joyce (Random Ramblings).

Back again.... this time I am here to show you what else I stitched on over the weekend for the October IHSW.

I always keep forgetting to post my weekend stitching these days (bad blogger!!) but today I have remembered!

So here we go....

Friday night's stitching you have already seen but here's a recap:

Merry Christmas (2015)
From the Heart ~ NeedleArt by Wendy
Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2015 issue

Saturday was another new start...

Autumn Harvest - Plaid Pumpkin
Mill Hill Kit

I was debating whether to hold this one over for the Smalls post at the end of the month, but if I did I would have nothing to show now because Saturday's start was a Sunday finish!!

Sunday's stitching was a finish on the Plaid Pumpkin

Autumn Harvest - Plaid Pumpkin
Mill Hill Kit

Not a great pic... I now just need to "finish" finish this one which I might try and get done by the end of the month (hopefully!)  This is my very first Mill Hill kit finish... and I absolutely love it! I have two more started (Scottie Dog you have seen, the other one is below) and have become addicted to buying them on 1-2-3 Stitch website! Danger Will Robinson!!

So that was Sunday afternoon... after tea on Sunday night I went back to my little Christmas Bunny card (which I haven't shown you before).  I am stitching this one for the Christmas Ornie Blog as the theme is presents/toys.

Before pic:
Christmas Bunny Card - freebie from UK Needlecraft magazine (1990 something....)
Started 8 October 2016

before Sunday night stitching

After pic:

after Sunday night stitching

Bit more progress last night on this one.... completed all the red and white in her dress, stitched her feet and the white tail, as well as the white in the present and on her hand (not that you can really see that white at the moment!)

So that was my IHSW stitching for this month.  I'm not sure if Joyce is going to do a second one next weekend.... we shall have to wait and see!

New Starts:

Now while I am here I might as well show you my new starts that I have on the go at the moment...

Rubber Ducky - Mill Hill Kit
Started 15 September 2016

Dog House Sampler - Little House Needleworks
Started 26 September 2016

If You Don't Believe - Sue Hillis
Started 28 September 2016

Endless Knot II - Ink Circles
Started 1 October 2016

I do have a couple of finishes to show but I am going to save them for the Smalls Post at the end of the month - just to keep you all in suspense a bit longer!!

So that's it - think I am relatively up to date with all the pics of what I have been stitching lately.  Lots of new starts, couple of finishes and numerous WIPs to tackle!  Oh well... you can't say I'm not trying hard enough!! :o)

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx

Smalls SAL September 2016

Hosted by Stitching Lotus

Hi there! Today is the last Thursday in September which means it is the day to post our Smalls finishes for the month, and I have some to show! ☺

Double Double
Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2013 Issue
Designer: Lizzie*Kate
Finish #30

Stitched on 32ct fabric from Colour Cascades Fabric (un-named - Studio Session piece)

DMC threads - I did sub out a couple of colours as I didn't have the charted threads for the blue wave and the witch's body parts.

Flower Owl
Bucilla Kit
Finish #31

Isn't he cute? I showed him off in my recent GG post as I received this kit as a gift in an exchange some time ago... but he also belongs in this post as he was finished in September!

Figgy Pudding
Designer: Jane Greenoff
Finish #32

This little card was a freebie many many moons ago... When I was looking for something quick to stitch the other day for the Christmas Ornie SAL blog I found it languishing in my box of magazine free gifts - it is perfect for the Christmas Food theme on the blog! ☺

Black Hearted Queen
Freebie - Sub Rosa Blog
Finish #33

Stitched on 32ct fabric from Stitches & Spice (Lime Ghost Gum) with DMC threads.  I wish the photo would show the true colour of this fabric - it's a really pretty light lime green colour and is simply gorgeous.  Unfortunately it is the only piece I have and as Naomi is no longer dyeing fabric I can't get anymore!
If you like to stitch this design you should pop over to the Sub Rosa blog and see what else she has on her blog - link is here

So that's it for today's Smalls post!  I have some WIPs and new starts to show you... hopefully I will get that post up in the next couple of days.

Til next time, happy stitching!
Hugs xx

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL 2016 - Update #9

It's time for a GG update...

I have a little finish to show you.... I managed to finish stitching my little Flower Owl (Bucilla Kit) the other day.  This kit was a gift from someone but for the life of me I can't remember who gave it to me... and shame on me I can't find where I may have posted about it.... if you recognise this kit and you sent it to me, please let me know! :o)

Finish # 31
Flower Owl
Bucilla Kit

He does come with his own little frame, so hopefully by the time I do my Smalls post I will have actually framed him!!

That's it for this month...

Til next time, happy stitching

Jo from Serendipitous Stitching hosts the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL.  The GG SAL is about stitching charts/kits or using fabrics & threads that we have received as gifts, won in giveaways or anything that is intended be a gift or giveaway prize... or anything else that you can loosely use the word "gift" for!!  If you wish to sign up for this SAL, click on the button below or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.

Smalls SAL August 2016

Hosted by Stitching Lotus

Late again.... but it is still August... and to make up for being late I have another finish to show you!!

My first Smalls finish for August you have already seen but to refresh your memories here it is again:

Christmas Candle
Cross Stitch Gold Issue 5
Designer: Pam Johnson (Kooler Design Studio)
Finish #28

Started: 20 August 2016
Finished: 21 August 2016

My second Smalls finish for the month is:

Santa on a Bike
Needlecraft UK
Stitched on 32ct Belfast "Waratah" Stitches & Spice
Finish #29

Started: 16 August 2016
Finished: 28 August 2016

So that's my two finishes for the month.... I still have a couple of WIPs in progress and I am behind on my Christmas Ornie Blog piece!

New Starts / WIP Update

Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL - August "Pegasus"
Designer: Durene Jones

New start in August - Progress as at 16 August 2016

Progress as at 30 August 2016

Double Double

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2013

New start in August - Progress as at 16 August 2016

Progress as at 30 August 2016

This should have been finished this month for the Halloween Ornie SAL Blog.... oh well!! Fingers crossed it will be done in the next week :o)

Dear Santa

Designer: The Little Stitcher

Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2015

New start in August - Progress as at 30 August 2016

I am stitching this for the JCS SAL FB Group... again this should have been finished by today... another fail!  I will get it done in the next couple of weeks though once I locate the elusive DMC 3865 which I know I have somewhere!!!

So that's it for now.... I will come back in the next few days to do my TUSAL and Goals posts.  Hope everyone is having a good stitchy week!

Til next time, happy stitching!
Hugs xx

Stitch Maynia Summer Olympics Challenge (Part 2)

Well, the Olympics have now come to an end which means that the Stitch Maynia Summer Olympics Challenge has also finished.

I showed you in my last post all the pieces that I worked on for the first 11 days and now I can show you what I worked over the last week or so.

I left you at Day 11 which was white for the Olympic flag....

"Santa on a Bike" (New Start)
Christmas Cross Stitch Project Book
Needlecraft Magazine - unknown year/issue
Day 12 - Cycling (or anything with a wheel)

Insert photo shows what he will look like when finished
This motif is part of a larger tablecloth design
I'm not doing his bike tyres in purple....

Day 15 - Medals - Silver

This wasn't my original choice... I did start doing a silver and purple metallic mitten on perforated plastic with some free Maderia metallic thread... and I hated it so much I threw it in the drawer in disgust and quickly stitched the yellow and silver in this one.  The mitten was frogged on Saturday and will not be discussed again!!

Nora Corbett's Christmas Couriers -"Comet"
Shoe-horn alert!!
Day 13 - Medals - Gold
Day 14 - Patriotic/National Anthems (or music related)

Added the browns of his hind legs

For gold I stitched all the gold metallic around the ribbon that forms part of the strapping/ribbon holding the presents on.

Now this is where the shoe-horn appears.... I am not currently stitching anything that could be called patriotic or music inspired so I decided that I would use the rather large shoe-horn I have to lever Comet in as a Christmas National Anthem (ie he is in the song "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"....) LOL! :o)

Christmas Candle (new start)
Cross Stitch Gold Issue 5
Designer: Pam Johnson (Kooler Design Studio)
Finish #28
Day 15 - Olympic Torch - fire or flames

Started: 20 August 2016
Finished: 21 August 2016

Queen of Peace
Designer: Nora Corbett
Day 16 - Medals - Copper/Bronze

I pulled this beauty out yesterday and did some stitching on her (not quite as much as it looks as I hadn't taken a progress shot last time I put her away!

I did work on quite a bit though from the ribbon in the middle downwards and to the left as I wanted to get to the bronze metallic so that I would be able to say that I stitched on bronze for the last day of the challenge!

So that's it for the Olympic Stitching Challenge!

See you next time!
Til then... happy stitching
Hugs xx

Christmas Festoon

web image

Woo Hoo!! It's Friday.... 

Not only am I doing the Friday Happy Dance... but I also have a finish to show you :o) So today is a double happy dance day!!

Finish # 27
Christmas Festoon
Designer: Patricia Ann Designs
Started: 31 July 2016
Finished: 3 August 2016

Design published in Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2015

This was a really quick stitch - I think it probably only took about 8 hours all up to stitch.  The red flowers are Kreinik braid and the rest of the stitching is in regular DMC 666 and 500.  Gold delicia beads are the final touch.

Another Christmas ornie stitched and waiting to be finally finished!!

Have a great weekend... hope you all get heaps of stitching done and no visits from the frog!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx

Whipping those WIP's to the finish line!

WIP update
Isn't it a great feeling to get those long time WIPs (not going to say UFO's!) out and start showing them some more love?  If you saw my last post then you would have seen that I stitched on a 2015 WIP recently.

The other long lost WIP that I have been stitching on recently is Nora Corbett's "Christmas Eve Couriers - Comet".

The last time I showed you "Comet" was way back in June 2015... I have just re-read that post where I rabbited on about a stitching rotation... no, that never really happens in my stitching life no matter how much I try to do it!!!

June 2015....

Comet now looks like this:

July 2016

Over the last couple of evenings I have managed to finish the antlers of "Comet" and I am starting on his head.  As he is still on the q-snaps I might stitch on him again today...

New starts:
I can't believe it... I forgot to show you 2 other new starts that I had in June....

First up is another of those old kits that I had languishing in the bottom drawer of the craft room.  I have no idea when I bought this but it would have been in the late 1980's or early 1990's.  I pulled it out last month to start stitching it for the Vintage SAL on one of the FB groups.  This is as far as I got....

This one is called "Honey Do" and is stitched on 14ct vinyl.... very strange medium to stitch on but, I do like the design so I will get back to it again very soon and get it finished.  The kit came with the magnetic notebook accessories to put it all together.  Once done it will be a nice little addition to the fridge or even a nice little gift for someone... :o)

The other new start that I had in June was the "June" design for the Snowflower Diaries "Joyful World SAL".  I don't have some of the threads for this so I started with what I have got... It is stitched on a pale blue 28ct linen from my stash.

So that's new starts and WIP's covered....onto finishes! :o)

Finishes Update:
First up on the finishes list is a mini finish....

Most of my stitching time over the last week or so was dedicated to the new Durene Jones / Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL.  When I last showed you the border stitching it looked like this:

5 July 2016

Well, surprise, surprise, I have finished all the circles...

11 July 2016

... and I have now put it away until the first character is released in August.  Depending on how much stitching is involved in each character I may start/stitch the border each month when a character is released or I may leave the border til the end.... who knows!

The fabric I am using for this one is "Silver Springs" 32ct Jobelan from Colour Cascades Fabrics using a variegated thread from Cottage Garden Threads called "Heliotrope".

Finish #26
"Stitching Witch"
Designer: Maria Warmke (The Stitcherhood)
Started: 7 July 2016
Finished: 8 July 2016
Fabric: Name unknown (cardmakers pack) - Colour Cascade Fabrics
Thread: Nevermore - Jodyri Designs

This design is called "Stitching Witch" and is designed by Maria Warmke from The Stitcherhood.  How perfect is this design for my Halloween Ornie Blog July post?  This month's theme was "witches accessories" and this design has a hat and a cauldron - tick... and then needle and scissors!!  It was published in the October 2014 issue of the Just Cross Stitch magazine.

I stitched this on a piece of fabric from Colour Cascades Fabric - no name as it was in a cardmakers pack - just love the colours!  The thread I used was "Nevermore" from Jodyri Designs.  The design called for all black thread but I decided to try something different for a change!!

I think I am now up to date on all my WIP stitching... it's time to sign off now and get back on the couch with my stitching in front of the fire (we have rain with storms forecast today... oh well it is winter!).

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx