Happy Owl o Ween - Finished!

Morning!

So here we are one day short of the end of March.... and I have a finish to show you - just in time for me to say that I managed to finish something this month!

This sweet little Halloween Owl was one of my Crazy January starts (Day 15) and it was also my March choice for the "Owls and Ravens/Crow" theme of the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL blog.

This sweet Halloween style owl was designed by "Needle Bling Designs" and I stitched him on "Rocky Creek Canyon" 32ct Belfast from Stitches and Spice.

The chart is a freebie that is located on their website, but I originally found the freebie via the Pumpkin Seed Stitchers" FB group.

I haven't decided what to do with him yet... he would make a nice little cushion for a Halloween display I think... but that thought is for another day!

Next month's theme is "Tombstones" and as yet I haven't decided whether to stitch on "Dancing in the Moonlight" again and use the tombstones in that WIP as my April stitching... or whether to look for another design.  So stay tuned!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx

Last Week's Stitching Progress.....

Who wants to see some more Crazy January Challenges updates?

I have managed to stitch on some more of my Crazy January WIP's over the last week.... having some many WIP's is certainly making sure that I don't get bored!

"You are so Loved" - The Snowflower Diaries
Stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen "Fairy Tale" 

I started this on Day 26... and the last pic you saw it looked like this:

I had to frog out most of what I stitched last time as I had started the words in the wrong place!  It now looks like this.....

"Autumn Fab Fob" - Lizzie Kate
Stitched on 28 ct Pumpkin Spice Jazlyn 

I started this on Day 4... it looked like this when I left it

and now it looks like this...  As I mentioned in my January post I was going to re-stitched the ray stitches above the word "Autumn" - which I did.  I found a variegated yellow and orange in my thread stash and replaced them.

"Happy Owl O Ween" - Needle Bling Designs
Stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen "Rocky Creek Canyon" 

I started this sweet Owl on Day 15 of the Challenge, and you last saw him on 4th March.

Since then I have managed to stitch on him a little bit more.  I am planning on getting him finished by the end of the month as he is my March design on the Halloween 2015 SAL Blog.

"Koala" - Carrol Nielsen
Stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen "Olive Grove" 

My cute little Koala was started on Day 6 of the January Challenge.  This is part of a larger design but I am only stitching the second Koala.

I haven't managed to do much more but there was been a small amount of progress on this little cutie!

"Mouton de Saisons - Printemps" - Tralala Collection
Stitched on 28ct Cashel Linen "Fairy Forest"

This gorgeous design was started on Day 8 and I also managed to stitch on "Printemps" in February. This is what the delightful little sheep looked liked when I last posted....

Yesterday I picked up this sweet little sheep again and this is where I left him... one finished sheep!

"Christmas Eve Couriers: Comet" - Nora Corbett
Stitched on 32ct Opal Belfast Linen "Arabian Nights"

Last but not least.... Comet!  I started Comet on Day 5 and left him looking like this.....

I haven't managed to stitch on Comet as much as Prancer recently, but at least there has been some progress this month.

Well, that's it for this update.  So far I have managed to make some progress on quite a few of my January challenges.  I need to finish the Happy Owl O Ween before the end of the month so I will spend some time this week on that design before stitching on another of the WIP's.

Til next time, Happy Stitching!

Hugs xx

WIP update - Jingles and more...

February has now ended and March has begun.... which means it's time for me to show you where I am at with Lizzie Kate's "Jingles".

I last showed you my progress on "Jingles" on 12th February:

Progress of Lizzie Kate's "Jingles" as at 12th February 2015

After a couple more stitching days during February, "Jingles" now looks like this:

Progress of Lizzie Kate's "Jingles" as at 4th March 2015

I was hoping to have finished this block by the end of February... but didn't quite get there!  My March update will hopefully be a picture of a finished block.

So what else has come out of the stitching basket this week?

Happy Owl O Ween - Needle Bling Designs

I started stitching this design in January as part of my January challenges.  This little owl is my March choice for the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog.

When you last saw this little owl he wasn't very far along.... just the top of the pumpkin was stitched:

Happy Owl O Ween - progress as at 15 January 2015

Happy Owl O Ween - progress as at 4 March 2015

Now I have a whole pumpkin and I have even managed to get a little bit more stitched.... stitching one colour does seem to mean that I can get a bit more stitched in a shorter time frame!

Christmas Eve Couriers - Prancer: Nora Corbett

"Prancer" was my Day 3 start during the January challenges.  When you last saw "Prancer" he looked like this:

" Christmas Eve Couriers: Prancer" - progress as at 3 January 2015

I haven't had the chance to stitch on him since January, but I made up for it on Sunday!  I love the way the pinks are showing up on this beautiful fabric colour.

" Christmas Eve Couriers: Prancer" - progress as at 4 March 2015

That's it for today.... tonight "Comet' is coming out of the stitching basket for a bit of TLC.

Til next time, happy stitching ♥
Hugs xx

Crazy January Challenges - Stitching Updates....

Remember all those lovely designs that I started stitching throughout January, well I have tried to make a big effort to keep stitching on them throughout February.  I did show you some of them in my stitching updates over the last couple of weeks - post link are here and here... and now I have some more for you.

Lizzie Kate's Tiny Tidings XV - "Feeling Festive"

When you last saw this little cute reindeer he looked like this:

Now he looks like this:

Lizzie Kate's Tiny Tidings XV - "Joyeux Noel"

Back in January, the second of the designs from this chart pack looked like this:

Now, it looks like this:

Slowly but surely these two are inching along....

The Trilogy - Halloween Sneak Peek

Back in January I left you with a little bit of a black border:

and today there is not much more to see.... just a tiny bit more of the black border!

Happy Howloween - Brooke Nolan (Brooke's Books)

I just love these two cuties (a cat dressed as a dog and vice versa!).... in January I left them looking like this:

Not a lot of progress happened when I picked this up again the other day... but at least the dog/cat is getting a pair legs!!

Don't you just love how different the fabric looks under different light and photo conditions!  The photo above is probably a lot closer to the real colour of the fabric than the one I took in January!

I have also been stitching on some new starts over February, but they will have to wait for another post!

♥ Thank you for all your lovely comments on my posts over the last few weeks... it is so nice to read your encouraging words. ♥

Til next time, Happy Stitching!
Hugs xx

How about a February stitching update!

Hello!  Did you miss me?  After all my prolific posting in January, I seem to have come to a bit of halt all of a sudden!

But I am back again now with a very quick update on some of my WIP's from the Crazy January challenges as well as some updates on my older but much loved WIP's.

Since the end of the January's crazy challenges I have focused my stitching efforts on three WIP's - Lizzie Kate's "Jingles", Joan Elliott's "Faces of JE SAL" and my little Winter Witch.  Below are the latest pics of where they are all at now.

Faces of JE SAL - designed by Joan Elliott
Last update on this SAL was on 16th January 2015 and she looked like this:

Progress as at 16 January 2015

After a bit of a stitching session (SAL within in a SAL) last weekend, she now looks like this:

Progress as at 9 February 2015

I am still way behind in this SAL but eventually I will catch up!  Part of the slowness of stitching on this design is that I decided to stitch the face and skin "over 1".... I am regretting that decision a little bit now as it takes so long..... but I think overall it will be worth it.  As you can probably see I keep taking a break from the "over 1" stitching other parts of the design to give my eyes a rest!

Lizzie Kate's "Jingles" - designed by Lizzie Kate
As you know "Jingles" has been around for awhile now.... and every now and then I do a bit more on them.  I picked it up again the other night and did some stitches, but as I don't officially need to do a "Jingles" update til the end of the month, this will just be a quick sneak peek!

When you last saw "Jingles" on 17th January 2015, it looked like this:

Progress as at 17 January 2015

And now "Jingles" looks like this:

Progress as at 10 February 2015

Slowly but surely this one is inching it's way to the end!  I will try and get a bit more stitched on this section before the end of the month.

and last but not least, there is:

Winter Witch - designed by The Snowflower Diaries
The last time I showed you my lovely little witch she looked like this:

Progress as at 28 January 2015

And after some intensive love and attention Winter Witch and her snowman companion are finished!

Winter Witch - designer: Snowflower Diaries
stitched on "Hocus Pocus" 32ct Belfast from Stitches & Spice
Finished 6 February 2015

So there you go my first finish for 2015!  I decided not to do some confetti white stitches around her wand and instead stitched on some pretty gold beads and blinged her up a bit!

I now have to post her on the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog and I can then tick "Witches" off my stitching list!

I am not sure yet what I will do with her as a final finish yet.... so for the time being she will go in the finished file til inspiration strikes!

That's it for this very quick stitching update.  I will be back over the next few days as TUSAL is coming up soon, as are a couple of other posting deadlines. so til then....

Happy Stitching and no froggin!
hugs xx

Day 28, 29, 30, 31 - and that's all folks!

Yep, that's right we have reached the end of January... which means we have now reached the end of my January challenges of 15 new starts in 15 days, and 31 days of stitching either new starts or old WIP's - and I did it!!!  Well, really it wasn't that hard, was it?  I just had to stitch every day and be a bit organised and do some pre-planning.

The last couple of starts were all smalls and free gifts that I had in my stash as my stitching time in the evenings wasn't a lot this last week and I had to make the most of it!

So what did I start for the last 4 days?

Day 28 - The third mouse in the Margaret Sherry Christmas mouse trio.  More purple!!

Christmas Mouse #3 - designed by Margaret Sherry

I managed to get a good start on this one on Thursday night as Hubby was out so I had a quick early tea when I got home from work and then started stitching!  I am looking forward to getting back to these three meeces in the next couple of weeks and hopefully getting them finished before the end of the year!

Day 29 - Free Gift from The World of Cross Stitching magazine (WOCS) - unfortunately I can't remember what issue it is as the chart was separated from the mag when I first decided to stitch it!

This is a Helz Cuppleditch design and it is just so cute!  I really like her designs and have collected a few now that have been in the UK magazines.

Flowerpot Kitten - designed by Helz Cuppleditch

As this is a free kit I am using the included aida and threads.  Although I am sort of thinking I should have changed the fabric to a nice coloured one.... but I will stick with what I have started now!

Day 30 - Free Gift from The World of Cross Stitching magazine (WOCS) - unfortunately again the chart was separated from the mag and I had forgotten to write the issue number on it!

This one is the adorable Fizzy Moon!

Fizzy Moon

Not many stitches on this one on Friday night.  I was a bit side tracked when I got home from work on Friday night and I didn't really get going til late and then it was time for bed!  But a start is a start even if its only about 20 stitches!

Day 31 - another Margaret Sherry design, and another freebie! This one is from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 171 and is a Christmas kitty.  Do you think I like kitties??

Merry Christmas Kitten - designed by Margaret Sherry

I know yesterday was a Saturday and normally I would get a few more stitches in than this... but we went to see Les Misérables at the Crown Theatre and by the time we got home last night I didn't have a lot of hours left for stitching!  But we loved the show... first time seeing Les Misérables for Hubby but I had seen it many years ago (like about 20 or more!) when it came to Perth for the first time. This would have to be my all time favourite theatre/musical... just love the show and the music. Always brings a tear or two to my eyes when I hear songs like "Bring him home" and "On my Own". This new touring cast was amazing!

So that's it for the January challenges.... I am toying with the idea of continuing into February and making it 59 days of stitching on something new or an old WIP, but actually I think that I now need to concentrate on finishing some of these lovely new starts.... that doesn't mean to say that I won't have some new starts in February as I actually have one lined up to start once I get off the computer!! And I have couple of others that I meant to start in January but didn't so with a bit of luck they will get a showing in February!

Overall I have really loved doing the January challenges, and while I know that I have a lot of WIP's now... the challenge has got me right back into stitching and blogging again, and that is a good thing!   Now I just have to keep up the momentum and continue for the year as I started the first month!  Thank you to everyone that has read my posts and commented on them - all your comments are greatly appreciated and I have tried to respond to every comment except for those that were a "no-reply" blogger (with those ones I have tried to find your blog on your google profile and where I can I have tried to repay your comment with a comment).  I am still getting around to catching up on my blog reading so that it is next challenge to conquer!

Til my next post, happy stitching!

If you want to have a look at any of my previous updates for the FB CrosstitchCrazy Event and Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015) the links are below:

Day 1 - Winter Witch    Day 2 - "Eek!"    Day 3 - "Prancer"  Day 4 - "Autumn Fab Fob"    Day 5 - "Comet"    Day 6 - "Koala"  Day 7 - "Sneak Peek - Halloween"    Day 8 - "Printemps"    Day 9 - "été"
Day 10 - "Joyeux Noel"    Day 11 - "Feeling Festive"    Day 12 - "New Year's Magic"  Day 13 - "Grumpy Kitty"    Day 14 - "Happy Howloween"   Day 15 - "Happy Owl O Ween"    Day 16 - WIP "Faces of JE Mystery SAL"   Day 17 - WIP "Lizzie Kate's Jingles"    Day 18 - "Witch & Friends"
Day 19 - "Mini Mandala II - C"     Day 20 - WIP "Spring Bouquet"  Day 21 - WIP "Bonsai & Buddha"    Day 22 - Katie Kitty  Day 23 - Peter Polar Bear     Day 24 - MS Christmas Mouse #1  Day 25 - Mary Mouse  Day 26 - You are so Loved  Day 27 - MS Christmas Mouse # 2  Day 28 - MS Christmas Mouse #3  Day 29 - Flowerpot Kitten   Day 30 - Fizzy Moon   Day 31 - MS Christmas Kitten

Til next time, Happy Stitching

Day 25, 26, 27 - the end is in sight!

Well, the end of January is around the corner, which means my crazy January challenges are coming to an end...  quite sad about that, but probably not sad enough to keep going throughout February with new starts!!  I will just work on my 31 WIP's over February!  Which means that all your favourites will get their pictures taken again sometime over the next month or so!!

So onto the latest new starts....

Day 25 - Mary Mouse (designed by Brooke Nolan)
Mary Mouse is the third animal from Brooke Nolan's 25 Advent Animals.  As I mentioned in my last post there is a Facebook group for those stitching these animals, but the charts are actually downloaded from Brooke's website.  The latest animal has just been released and it is just so cute... think it's my favourite so far (but then again I think that about each one as they come out!!)

"Mary Mouse" - designed by Brooke Nolan

Day 26 - You are so Loved (designed by Snowflower Diaries)
Australia Day saw me start on another design from the Snowflower Diairies.  This is a really lovely design and is designed to be stitched with variegated hand dyed threads, but I am using good old DMC for this one as well.  There is also a French version which I think I may also stitch as it just has a nice feel to it!

"You are so Loved" - designed by Snowflower Diaries

I am stitching this on 32ct Belfast Linen "Fairy Tale" from Colour Cascade Fabrics.  It is a bit hard to see the pretty light pink/peach colour of this fabric in the photo, but believe me it is so pretty!

Also on Australia Day I took advantage of some extra stitching time and worked on my Winter Witch.  It is going to be a close call to get her finished by the end of the month!

"Winter Witch" - designed by Snowflower Diaires
progress as at 26 Jan 2015

Day 27 - Christmas Mouse #2 (designed by Margaret Sherry)
Last night I started on the second of the Margaret Sherry Christmas mice.  I am loving this one as it has a big purple ornament to stitch and I am so enjoying stitching the purple!!

"Christmas Mouse" - designed by Margaret Sherry

So there we go, up to date again.  There are only 4 more days of this challenge left and I have lots of designs still waiting to be picked and stitched.... can't wait to see what jumps out at me when I go searching for a new start tonight!  I probably won't get to post again until the weekend as I have a busy week at work and I never seem to get enough time in the evening for both stitching and posting!

If you want to have a look at any of my previous updates for the FB CrosstitchCrazy Event and Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015) the links are below:

Day 1 - Winter Witch    Day 2 - "Eek!"    Day 3 - "Prancer"
Day 4 - "Autumn Fab Fob"    Day 5 - "Comet"    Day 6 - "Koala"
Day 7 - "Sneak Peek - Halloween"    Day 8 - "Printemps"    Day 9 - "été"
Day 10 - "Joyeux Noel"    Day 11 - "Feeling Festive"    Day 12 - "New Year's Magic"
Day 13 - "Grumpy Kitty"    Day 14 - "Happy Howloween" 
Day 15 - "Happy Owl O Ween"    Day 16 - WIP "Faces of JE Mystery SAL" 
Day 17 - WIP "Lizzie Kate's Jingles"    Day 18 - "Witch & Friends" 
Day 19 - "Mini Mandala II - C"     Day 20 - WIP "Spring Bouquet"
Day 21 - WIP "Bonsai & Buddha"    Day 22 - Katie Kitty
Day 23 - Peter Polar Bear     Day 24 - Christmas Mouse #1

Til next time, Happy Stitching!

Day 22, 23 & 24 - Still going strong!

So are you ready for another update?

Days 22, 23 and 24 are all new starts, and I have returned to a couple of my favourite Designers - Brooke Nolan and Margaret Sherry.

Day 22 and Day 23 are both Brooke Nolan freebie designs.  Currently Brooke is designing 25 Advent Animals of which one new animal is released each month.  There is a Facebook group for those stitching these animals, but the charts are actually downloaded from Brooke's website.  The link is here if you are interested in stitching these designs as well.

So onto the pics..

Day 22 - Katie Kitty

Katie Kitty - Brooke Nolan

Day 23 - Peter Polar Bear

Peter Polar Bear - Brooke Nolan

I am stitching both of these on the same piece of fabric - 32ct Belfast "Moonbeam" from Stitches & Spice.  I do plan to stitch more of these little cuties over the next couple of days and they will also be on this same piece of fabric.  Stay tuned to see some of the Advent Animals later in the week.

Day 24 saw me go back to Margaret Sherry....  Yesterday I was looking for something small and quick to stitch as my next start and I remembered that there was a Margaret Sherry free gift that came with Issue 220 of The World of Cross Stitching (WOCS) that would be perfect for this!

Xmas Mouse #1 - Margaret Sherry

There are three little Christmas mouses in this freebie.... they are very similar to some other Christmas mouses that have previously appeared in WOCS, which is a bit of a shame and very disappointing, but nevertheless they are still cute! The freebie kit included a piece of Aida that would need cutting if you were going to make the cards, but I have decided to stitch them as one piece and turn them into a hanger when I have stitched all three.

So that's it, I am all up to date again with my posting, so it's time to go and find some stitching to do!

Til then, if you want to have a look at any of my previous updates for the FB CrosstitchCrazy Event and Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015) the links are below:

Day 1 - Winter Witch  Day 2 - "Eek!"  Day 3 - "Prancer"
Day 4 - "Autumn Fab Fob"  Day 5 - "Comet"  Day 6 - "Koala"
Day 7 - "Sneak Peek - Halloween"  Day 8 - "Printemps"  Day 9 - "été"
Day 10 - "Joyeux Noel"  Day 11 - "Feeling Festive"  Day 12 - "New Year's Magic"
Day 13 - "Grumpy Kitty"  Day 14 - "Happy Howloween"  Day 15 - "Happy Owl O Ween"
Day 16 - WIP "Faces of JE Mystery SAL"  Day 17 - WIP "Lizzie Kate's Jingles"
Day 18 - "Witch & Friends"  Day 19 - "Mini Mandala II - C"  Day 20 - WIP "Spring Bouquet"
Day 21 - WIP "Bonsai & Buddha"

Til next time, Happy Stitching!