Gifted Gorgeousness April 2018

GG SAL hosted by Jo (Serendipitous Stitching)

Guess what!  I have 2 GG finishes to show you this month! What a surprise......

First up is a GG piece that I have been stitching on for a very long time.... my original post about this gift was way back in 2013, however I didn't start stitching on this particular project until January 2015.

Finish #14/2018
Gift from Kaye (Kitten Stitching)
"Moutons de Saisons - Ete" - Collection Tra La La
Started: 9 January 2015
Finished: 2 April 2018
Fabric: 28ct Cashel "Fairy Forest" Stitches & Spice
Threads: DMC as charted

As you can see from the picture above I didn't have a lot to finish the last time I put it down... so over Easter I made a concerted effort to get that border finished!  I still have the Winter and Autumn ones to do so my Moutons de Saisons will re-appear on the GG posting schedule again one day!

The next finish I have to show you is a more recent start...

Finish #13/2018
Gift from Tiff (Tiffstitches A Blog)
"Dream Big" - Country Cottage Needleworks
Started: 1 May 2017
Finished: 1 April 2018
Fabric: 28ct Brittney "Dawn of Spring" Jodyri Designs
Threads: mix of DMC, Weeks Dye Works & Jodyri Designs

This is another one that I focused on over the Easter break and got finished!  I love the carrot... I stitched that in a Jodyri Designs limited edition thread - it is the same thread that I used for the flowers in the border but looks a little bit different in a large block than in the little flowers.

Are you ready for another mid-month update on Boo Club?

Finish #7, 8 and 11/2018
Giveaway prize from Nifty Needle Nannies 2016
"Boo Club" - Lizzie Kate
Started: 1 January 2018
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Wicked Garden" Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: DMC black & white, all other WDW as per chart

I have now started the Spiders block and the border continues to slowly grow!

That's all for this post.... I will be back again one day soon for more stitchy updates!

Til next time, have a great stitchy week... take care and happy stitching xx

Because I love this picture so much I am going to keep it at the bottom of every GG post.... Miss Mouse is the most loving puppy you could ever have... her love is a gift to us so I think it is quite fitting that she is in my 2018 GG posts!

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 link here, or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.

October Update / November Plans

Image from Princess Sassy Pants website/blog

Oh that is so true... slow progress is my only progress...  I have been stitching and getting some good progress on a couple of projects but my posting/blogging progress is almost no existent!!

So in an effort to fix that... here is an update on everything that I haven't shown you for October and a little bit about of info what I am going to try and do in November.

Gifted Gorgeousness Stitching
I completely missed posting for GG during October.  I managed to stitch on two pieces that could fit in the GG brief during the month - I will show them here as I have something up my sleeve for the November GG post.

Happy Howloween - Brooke's Books
(Freebie chart) the link to the freebie page is here
The last time I showed this was back in July 2015... and that was the last I stitched on it.... I can't believe that, but it must be true as this is what it looked like when I started stitching on it in October.

Happy Howloween - July 2015

It now looks like this:

October 2017

Dream Big - Country Cottage Needleworks
(Gift from Tiff)
The last time I showed you "Dream Big" was back in August 2017.  The gorgeous design is a gift from Tiff and I am almost done...

August 2017

This cute little bunny now looks like:

October 2017

So that's it for GG stitching.... now onto Smalls stitching (such that it is!)

October Smalls Stitching
The only "small" that I stitched/finished during October was my Peek-a-Boo Pals - Libra, which you have already seen for the Zodiac SAL.

Finished 8 October 2017

I did however have a couple of new Smalls starts... 

Hocus Pocus Trilogy - Muriel
Mill Hill kit
Started 13 October 2017

Peekaboo Pals Zodiac - Scorpio / November (Deborah Flynn)
Started: 25 October 2017
Fabric: 28ct Brittney "Dawn of Spring" - Jodyri Designs
Threads: DMC
Chart: World of Cross Stitching magazine, issue 142

My little Scorpio girl is not quite finished... but I will try and get her done by the end of the week!

So that's it for Smalls... no new finishes but hopefully by the end of November that will change!

WIPocalypse Check In
Woeful progress on my WIPocalypse projects during October.  The only pieces I worked on you have already seen... I finished Halloween Happiness on 1st October and 12 Days of Christmas Day 9 was finished on 15th October.  I haven't even started Day 10 on 12 Days!!  Now I am going to be in trouble with my plans to finish that one this year if I don't get a move on!!

Halloween Happiness - Sandra Cozzolino

12 Days of Christmas Day 9 - Plum Street Samplers

This month Mel has posed a second question... I will answer that one first and then answer the monthly question.

Do you have any plans or instructions for your stitching projects and stash for after you’re gone?
I don't have any plans for any of my stitching projects or stash for after I go.  No one in my family stitches... it is something that I have jokingly talked to Hubby about and his solution is to get 2 coffins - one for me and some stash and a second one for the rest of the stash - after all I am going to need to take something with me when I go!! 😄

How did you begin stitching?
I started stitching way back in the early 80's when I was 20-something.  My mum used to buy a craft/home magazine (Better Homes & Gardens I think it was called) and they used to occasionally have embroidery or cross stitch patterns in them.  You could also buy some kits that you could embroider aprons, pillow cases or table cloths with and I bought a couple of those to try.  But my first introduction into embroidery was by my Mum's mum.  She used to hand embroider doiley's and she got me to try some when I was about 10 or 12... I didn't enjoy the embroidery but when I found the stamped cross stitch versions I decided that I could do this!  From humble beginnings as they say!

OK... so that's the missing October stitching progress done and dusted.... how about some other stitching pics?

New Start
Shimmering Mermaid - Mirabilia (Nora Corbett)
Started: 6 October 2017
Fabric: 32ct Opal Belfast "Oceans" Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: as per chart - DMC

October 2017

Pumpkins 4 Sale - Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 28ct Jobelan "Silver Springs" Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: as per chart - DMC, Classic Colourworks (Crescent Colours)

I last showed you this back in September.  I had hoped to stitch this for the SAL that Vonna was running over on the CCN/LHN facebook page but alas that was not to be!  But I will keep stitching on this over the next few months and it will be finished eventually!  This month Stitch Maynia's Designer SAL is Little House Needleworks so I will put in a couple of stitches during November for that SAL.

September 2017

It now looks like this after stitching on this a number of days during the last few weeks including trying to stitch on it last weekend at the Colour Cascade Fabrics stitching retreat (more talking than stitching being done on Day 1!!):

October 2017

During the month of October I also stitched on the following:

Castles in the Air - Long Dog Samplers
Fabric: 32ct Belfast "At Last" Colour Cascade Fabrics
Thread: DMC White (accents will be in gold or silver)

August 2017

I spent a Sunday stitching on this during October and it now looks like this:

October 2017

Queen of Peace - Mirabilia (Nora Corbett)
Fabric: 32ct Opal Belfast Linen "Hole in the Sky" - Colour Cascade Fabric
Threads: DMC, Kreinik
I hadn't since on this beauty since April 2017... so I took her to the Colour Cascade Fabrics stitching retreat last weekend and spent a number of hours stitching on her on Day 2....

April 2017

I carried on stitching on her when I got home on Sunday night and she now looks like this:

Ok... that's my October stitching update.  I have been thinking about what I want to do in November and have come up with a plan!  I have 15 WIPocalypse projects left for 2017 - I know I won't finish them all but there are some that I haven't touched all year, so my plan is to stitch at least 50 mins on each one in November.  Stitch Maynia is having a SAL relating to 50... it's a spin-off of a writing challenge so I thought I could use that to touch all of my other projects and who knows there may be another finish before the end of the year!

So that's it for today... 
Sorry it's such a long one!
Til next time, happy stitching!
Hugs xx

Late Gifted Gorgeousness Post - August 2017

I have been very remiss in posting for GG stitching for a couple of months.... but here I am at long lost with an update on no less than 3 x GG pieces!

Tulip Time - Just Nan
Started: 4 August 2017 (#48/2017)
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Malva" Chromatic Alchemy
Threads: DMC as per chart
Fabric was a gift from Tiff (Tiffstitches A Blog)

I showed a start picture in my recent starts posts - I worked on this piece for another couple of hours after the challenge was revealed.

Dream Big - Country Cottage Needleworks

Started: 1 May 2017 (#37/2017)

Fabric: "Dawn of Spring" Jodyri Designs

Threads: mix of DMC, Weeks Dye Works & Jodyri Designs

Chart was a gift from Tiff (Tiffstitches A Blog)

The last time you saw it I was working on the rabbit using the Jodyri Designs thread "check name)

After a couple of days rotation in August it now looks like this:

Now I have just noticed that it would appear that I have never showed this start below... sorry...

Fur-ever Friends - Laurel Burch (Mill Hill Kit)

Started: 17 May 2017 (#41/2017)

Kit Fabric/threads: 28ct black linen with DMC

Chart was purchased using a gift from Linda (Stitching with my Furbabies)

I started this in May but haven't picked it up since... I really must do so soon as the colours are so gorgeous even if stitching on black is a pain in the you know what! 😏

Have a great stitchy week... and

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 link here, or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.

GG June 2017.... featuring a finish!!

Yes! I have a finish to show you.... I haven't FFO'd it yet but that hopefully will happen sooner rather than later (I know what I want to do it's just getting organised and doing it!)

Finish!
Dogs Leave Paw Prints - Lizzie Kate
Started: 14 May 2017 (start #40/2017)
Fabric: 28ct Jubilee "Sugar Cane Crunch" - Stitches & Spice
Threads: Weeks Dye Works
Finished: 5 June 2017 (finish #14/2017)

This is what Paw Prints looked like last month when I previewed it.  For those that didn't see that post I am stitching this for my sister (and her family) as a remembrance of her Golden Retriever Rosy that passed away late last year.

After a couple of stitching sessions this month I managed to finish it (it really was a very quick stitch!)

I am thinking of framing it with a picture of Rosy assuming I can find a frame the right size and shape to do that... will post another pic once I have FFO'd it.

During the last month I also did one more stitching session on another GG piece...

"Dream Big" - Country Cottage Needleworks

Started: 1 May 2017 (#37/2017)

Fabric: "Dawn of Spring" Jodyri Designs

Threads: DMC & Jodyri Designs

Gift from  Tiff (Tiffstitches A Blog)

The last pic you saw was this one when I first started it (it was only a small start):

It now looks like this:

I am stitching the bunny in a new Jodyri designs thread which I forget the name of! (I will need to find out and update my post... or let you know next time!)

So that's it for this month... not only did I have a finish happy dance... but I am on time for my GG post (wonders will never cease!)

Have a great stitchy week/weekend... and

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 link here, or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.

Gifted Gorgeousness May 2017

Guess what.... Finally I have some GG stitching to show you!! But first up let me show you an exchange gift that I received in the mail last month (after I posted my GG post).

Recently Kaye (Kitten Stitching) organised an Easter exchange, which I joined.  You have seen the card I stitched for the exchange.  Unfortunately my exchange package was a bit slow getting down under...   I suspect that with all the public holidays (Easter and Anzac Day) that we had in April the mailman decided to go on a bit of a slowdown! But it did finally arrive and was definitely worth the wait!! :o)

My exchange sending partner was Tiff (Tiffstitches A Blog).  Below is a pic of what Tiff sent me....

Was I spoilt or was I spoilt??  I love the card she stitched for me.  Also in the package was the lovely "Dream Big" chart from CCN, some gorgeous fabby from Chromatic Alchemy and all of those naughty chocolates!  Unfortunately the choc bunny had an accident on the way and didn't survive the journey... and the yummy maple bunny was so distraught at not making it in time for Easter that he lost his head!  Thanks Tiff - I love my package of goodies and I can confirm that there is no yummy goodies left now!

So that was my lovely gift story... now onto the stitching story....

Since Tiff was so lovely to send me such a gorgeous chart I just had to start it for Stitch Maynia on 1 May!

I didn't have all the called for over-dyed threads but I have substituted with Jodyri Threads for the sun, carrot and rabbit - I think they will work.  The other threads are DMC, which I had in my stash as well.  As luck would have it.. my Jodryi April Mystery fabric arrived around the same time so I decided to stitch it on that fabric - the name is very appropriate for the feel of the chart!  It was destined to be started in May :o)

New Start
"Dream Big" - Country Cottage Needleworks
Started: 1 May 2017
Fabric: "Dawn of Spring" Jodyri Designs
Threads: DMC & Jodyri Designs

And so it was started... albeit a very little start! Thanks Tiff - I love this cute design :o)  I have plans for the Chromatic Alchemy fabric for a new start later this month so stay tuned for next month's GG post to see what I have picked for that new start!

New Start
Eightsome Reel - Papillon Creations
Started: 6 May 2017
Fabric: 28ct green/brown linen (stash)
Threads: Jodryi Designs

Last month I told you about the chart that I was gifted from a fellow "Stitch from Stash" stitcher. Well ... I started it for Stitch Maynia as well...

The Jodyri Designs colours that I am using so far are: Beetle Shell (small blue & black motif); Argentine Tango (large motif) and Nevermore (the rabbit).  I have also pulled out Flamenco which is another pink and black thread for the alternate large motifs.  I really enjoyed stitching this one the other day so I think I will have to give it some more love again soon!

New Start
Free Mystery SAL - Linen & Threads (Part 1 - Jan)
Started: 7 May 2017
Fabric: 14ct white Aida (stash)
Threads: Jodyri Designs

As this is a free design it qualifies for the GG post....
Note though I did start this one back in April and attempted to do it 1 over 1 on 28 ct fabric but didn't like it... so I re-started it again on some 14ct Aida that I had in my stash.  Not my preferred choice but I was so keen to start it that I just decided that it would work no matter what!!!

I am using all Jodyri Designs threads in this project.  The main part for January is being stitched in "Hocus Pocus" and the bird (which I have just started) is being stitched in "Robin Red Breast'.  I am really pleased to have finally started this... hopefully now that I have chosen to do it on white the colours will really pop off the fabric!

New Start
Dogs Leave Paw Prints - Lizzie Kate
Started: 14 May 2017
Fabric: 28ct Jubilee "Sugar Cane Crunch" - Stitches & Spice
Threads: Weeks Dye Works

I bought this chart when my sister's Golden Retriever  (Rosy) passed away in October 2016 with the plan to stitch it for her and the family as a gift to remember Rosy.  Rosy died a couple of days after my sister's wedding anniversary and a few days after my brother-in-law had been told that there was another cancerous growth in his lung (after being 10 years cancer free).  Rosy had been staying with my parents and wasn't eating much and a bit slower than normal (she didn't seem particularly unwell though)... at least not until the night the family got home.  The next day she passed away at the Vets.  Unfortunately my sister wasn't with her as the Vet didn't know she was going to die that day - she was only in for observation!  At the autopsy they discovered that she also had lung cancer and the cancer had spread to her heart...  it was like she was waiting for them to come home before she went to the Rainbow Bridge...  It has been a struggle to start this piece as Rosy's passing reminds me of Daisy's passing - they were puppies at the same time and they always had such a wonderful time playing whenever they got a chance to spend some time together.... I think that I will end up stitching this one a second time for us....

So that's it for this huge GG post... I have certainly made up for the lack of GG stitching over the last few months, haven't I?

Have a great week... and

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 link here, or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.