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

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL 2016 - Update #10

I am a tad late for my GG post this month.... but I do have something to show you!

The photo below is what I have also used for my Friday Frolic post on the FF blog so apologies if you have seen it before!

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

So why am I showing you this for my GG post.... quite simple really - the variegated green thread that I used on the tree foliage is a gift!

I received this thread many, many years ago in an exchange (before my blogging days) - think it might have been a Craftbubble Exchange but can't quite remember (sorry).  The floss is a hand-dyed variegated thread from Dragon Floss and is called Stem Green.  I have never used it before and it has been sitting in the floss box for so long just waiting for the right project!  And I must say it is gorgeous to work with.... wonder if they are still around....

And in case you're wondering... the red lettering is in Dinky Dyes "Pilbara" and the star and tree trunk is good old DMC!  

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.

Progress Reports on my WIPs

Hi there! I'm back with some updates on my WIPs that you haven't as yet seen.  I have some new starts as well but given that this post will be quite long I think I will leave them for another post!

Advent Animals - Peter Polar Bear
Designer: Brooke Nolan (Brooke's Books)
Freebie - Brooke's website
Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Moonbeam" from Stitches & Spice

Then: I started stitching on the Brooke's Books Advent Animals for the DUCJC2015 and unfortunately not a lot has been done on these cuties done since then.... (25 designs - started 3, finished 1)

Yesterday I decided that it would be a Brooke's Books Sunday and Peter Polar Bear came out to play...  I last stitched on him in April 2015 and left him looking like this!

Peter Polar Bear - April 2015

Now: After a day/evening of stitching while watching Flosstube he now looks like this:

Peter Polar Bear - Oct 2016

Nora Corbett's Christmas Couriers - Comet
Designer: Nora Corbett
Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Arabian Nights" from Stitches & Spice

Then: Comet has been getting a little bit of love over the last few weeks.  I stitched on him during the Olympics and left him looking like this:

as at August 2016

Now:

as at 26 Sept 2016

Lakeside Needlecraft / Durene Jones Fantasy SAL
Designer: Durene Jones
Fabric: 32ct Jobelan "Silver Springs" from Colour Cascades Fabrics

Pegasus is not quite finished yet....

as at 30 August 2016

But I just had to start the Wizard as soon as he came out.....

as at 28 September 2016

He is nearly done as well.... the latest design has now been released but I will try and finish these 2 before starting the next one!!

Disney's Tigger
Designer: freebie UK Cross Stitcher Magazine

Then and Now: For Stitch Maynia Colour A Day (Orange Crush) on 24th September I found a poor little WIP sitting in the box that would be perfect for this day's stitching challenge.  I started him for an ABC Challenge in 2015 and did manage to do a little bit more on him in between April 2015 and September 2016... which I had to frog before I could restart the orange stitching again!

as at 24 September 2016

Queen of Peace
Designer: Nora Corbett
Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Hole in the Sky" from Colour Cascades Fabric

Then:

Now:

Merry Christmas Grumpy Kitty
Designer: Brooke Nolan (Brooke's Books)
Freebie - Brooke's website
Fabric: 32ct Belfast  "Arabian Nights" from Stitches and Spice

Then:

as at April 2015

Now:

This was supposed to be my Sept TUSAL photo but I forgot to post it... so you are seeing it now! (And I forgot to do my Oct photo.... oh well there is always next month!)

Mini Mandala II - C
Designer: Chatelaine Designs

Then:

as at June 2016

Now:

as at September 2016

So that's it for the WIPs for now!  Lots of stitching has been done recently... but not a lot of blog posting so this post is a little bit picture heavy... sorry...

I'll come back and show you my new starts another day - with a little bit of luck some of them might even be finishes by then!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx

September SAL Updates.... October Stitching Goals....

web image

Hello! Another month has come and gone!! I won't tell you how long it is till Christmas as it will freak you out!! It is so close now....  

Anyway here's what I got up to in September and what I am planning to do in October if all goes well! Note there are a few shoe-horns being used here and there.... but what's the good of having a shoe-horn if you don't use it!

September SAL Update:

**JCS SAL (FB Group): "Christmas Delivery" (Designer: New York Dreamer) ✘

Fail.... I have sort of fallen out of love with the chosen designs for this SAL at the moment.... The October design is more to my taste so I will stitch that one!

**Christmas Ornie SAL Blog - Theme: Christmas Food - Figgy Pudding! ✓

**Halloween Ornie SAL Blog - Theme: Bad Fairy - "Black Hearted Queen" (Designer: Sub Rosa Blog) ✓

**Lainey's Christmas Ornie SAL: posted ✓
**Smalls SAL: posted ✓

**Stitch Maynia (FB group)
Monthly SAL's:

"World of Pure Imagination (month long) - Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL - Wizard ✓

"Catch the Hogwarts Express" 1st Aug - Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL - Wizard ✓
"Colour-A-Day SAL" - "Orange Crush" - Tigger ✓

Year Long SAL's:
Year of Starts! (at least 1 start/finish each month): ✓
I had 6 starts and 2 finishes in September

Brooke's Books Year Long SAL: stitched on Christmas Grumpy Cat ✓
2016 Chatelaine Shenanigans SAL: stitched on Mini Mandala II - C ✓

**Cross Stitch Finish Line (FB group) 

"Monthly "Month" SAL - September": Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL - Wizard ✓

"Mill Hill SAL" - stitch on any Mill Hill kit/design: started Rubber Ducky ✓

"Now I know my ABC's "D": started Little House Needleworks "Dog House Sampler" ✓
"Magazine/Book SAL": Double Double - Lizzie*Kate  ✓

"Autumn Equinox" - (Sept to Dec) stitch any Autumn piece through to Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere Solstice): Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL - Wizard ✓

**Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2016 (DUCJC2016):

Modified to 31 starts & finishes 2016: as at the end of September I have 33 finishes for 2016 of which 28 are new starts for 2016 ✓

**Lakeside Needlecraft / Durene Jones Fantasy SAL 

Monthly fantasy SAL designed by Durene Jones - aim is to start and finish the design during the month ✓✘
Started September but didn't quite get it finished

October SAL Plans:

**JCS SAL (FB Group): Designer: From The Heart

**Christmas Ornie SAL Blog Theme: Toys/Presents

**Halloween Ornie SAL Blog Theme: Black Cats

**Stitch Maynia (FB group) 

"BAPs & Smalls, we love them all" - stitch on your biggest and/or your smallest project

"Colour-A-Day SAL" - "Catch the Rainbow" - stitch colours of the rainbow in a design on 24th
"Stitch Maynia's Election Challenge" - daily stitching challenges leading up to the US elections - runs from 25th Oct to 7 Nov

**Cross Stitch Finish Line (FB group) 

"Monthly "Month" SAL - October" - stitch on any design that is October related

"Mill Hill SAL" - stitch on any Mill Hill kit/design (15th)

"Now I know my ABC's "E" (26th) 
"Autumn Equinox" - (Sept to Dec): stitch any Autumn piece through to Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere Solstice)
"Weekend Rush #7 & #8" - 500 stitches every 2nd weekend
"Weekly Rush" - 500 stitches w/c 24 Oct

**Miribilia, Nora Corbett Designs SAL: (Nora Corbett Passions FB group) 

**Remember to post for:

Lainey's Christmas Ornie SAL

Smalls SAL

**Lakeside Needlecraft / Durene Jones Fantasy SAL (FB Group)

October design released 1 Oct

**Joyful World SAL - Snowflower Diaries (FB Group)

November design released 10 Oct

Til next time...

Take care and happy stitching

Hugs xx

The Alphabet Club - Detention for Letter "O"

"They only met online, but it changed their lives forever"

It's time for "The Alphabet Club" (TAC)

O.S.: Over Sea's

Ocker: Unsophisticated person [stereotyped uncultured Aussie male]

Off One's Face: Drunk [extremely drunk]

Off the Beaten Track: Away from the main stream of traffic, seldom used road/roads

Open Slather: Anything goes - a free-for-all

On for Young and Old: This is usually referring to a fight or an argument - involving everyone

On the Nose: Smells awful

Outback: Remote country - bush location

Out in the Sticks: In the bush, away from civilisation, or in a remote area

Outhouse: The toilet was in it's own little "house" in the back yard

Oz: Nick name for Australia

Now for something very Australian beginning with "O"

web photo - Yalgoo Shire

Outback!

The Outback is the vast, remote, arid interior of Australia. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush" which, colloquially, can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas.

Early European exploration of inland Australia was sporadic. More focus was on the more accessible and fertile coastal areas. The first party to successfully cross the Blue Mountains just outside Sydney was led by Gregory Blaxland in 1813, 25 years after the colony was established. 

The Overland Telegraph line was constructed in the 1870's along the route identified by John McDouall Stuart. While the early explorers used horses to cross the outback, the first woman to actually make the journey riding a horse was Anna Hingley, who rode from Broome to Cairns in 2006.

Other than agriculture and tourism, the main economic activity in this vast and sparsely settled area is mining. Owing to the complete absence of mountain building and glaciation since the Permian (in many areas since the Cambrian) ages, the outback is extremely rich in iron, aluminium, manganese and uranium ores, and also contains major deposits of gold, nickel, iron, lead and zinc ores. Because of its size, the value of grazing and mining is considerable. Major mines and mining areas in the outback include opals at Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs, metals at Broken Hill, Tennant Creek, Olympic Dam and the remote Challenger Mine. Oil and gas are extracted in the Cooper Basin around Moomba.

In Western Australia the Argyle diamond mine in the Kimberley is the world's biggest producer of natural diamonds (including the rare pink and red diamonds) and contributes approximately one-third of the world's natural supply. The Pilbara region's economy is dominated by mining and petroleum industries.  Most of Australia's iron ore is also mined in the Pilbara and it also has one of the world's major manganese mines.

I grew up in the Pilbara - my parents took us from the outback of South Australia to the outback of Western Australia in the late 1960's and I stayed there until I moved to the big smoke (ie the city - approx 1000 miles/1600 kms away!) in the early 1990's.

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As an aside.... for those of you that buy Dinky Dyes threads... they have a red thread called Pilbara!  I love reading their thread names - they started their thread dyeing business while they lived here in Perth so there are quite a few West Australian names as well as Aussie names in their thread ranges :o)

So that's it for "O".... quick and simple!  Next month is "P" - I was going to doing something on the Pilbara but might rethink that one now!

Hooroo for now!  Happy Stitching!
Hugs xx



If you would like to join in the fun of "The Alphabet Club", pop over to Chiara's blog (The Grey Tail) to see what all the fun is about and link up your post for the Letter "O".  Posting is generally the first Saturday of the month.