Friday Frolics - Faces of Joan Elliott #1

Hi there! Happy Saturday!  I am so happy that Saturday is here... I only had 4 days at work this week as Monday was a public holiday, but that was enough to exhaust me!! Goodness knows how I am going to go next week when it's a full 5 day week!! :)

Last night was the first time in ages that I remembered to take a photo of my stitching starting point so that I could do a Friday Frolics post!  This year I am going to try and use my Friday night stitching as more of a focused stitching time with a hope/plan that I might get a long forgotten WIP finished.  This month's WIP that I want to focus on is the "Faces of Joan Elliott SAL" that I started back in 2014!

My starting point last night looks like this:

I worked on the "Holly Fairy" in the bottom corner and she now looks like this:

I managed to get a bit more of her hair stitched.  Let's see how I go next Friday night.  This piece will stay out for the whole of January so hopefully I will get that block finished during that time.

Til then, happy stitching and may the frog stay far, far away
Hugs xx

2017 WIPocalypse - I'm In!

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Well, you may have worked it out already but I am a bear of very little brain and at times it does take me quite awhile to jump on the bandwagon.... (other times I jump on with no thoughts what-so-ever and no risk assessment!!)

After all of these years in blogland, and reading all the WIPocalypse posts every month, I have finally taken the plunge, so without further ado here is my first 2017 WIPocalypse intro post :o)

I think that most of you know what WIPocalypse is... but for those of you that don't know I will attempt to explain!

WIPocalypse is run by Melissa over at Measi's Musings and is now in it's 6th year (amazing!).  The object of the WIPocalypse is to stitch on projects that you want to complete before the end of the world! And I guess since we don't know when that will happen I should choose projects that have a special meaning or ones that I really love... or want to gift them to someone (right?)

At the beginning of January we need to choose those WIPocalypse projects and post the list.. as well as do a small intro about ourselves. (I'm not good with talking about myself so I will just assume you know me from all the years I have been around in blogland and FB!) 

Then.... every month starting on January 29th 2017 (last Sunday of the month) we need to post any progress on said WIPs and add a link to the post over on Measi's monthly signup page.

Hope that is as clear as mud.... :o)

Ok... so let's get onto my chosen WIP's for the challenge.  I like Jo's idea of picking 17 for 2017 so here goes, and in no particular order (just as they pop up in my brain!)

1.   Prancer (Nora Corbett) - started 3 Jan 2015
2.   Comet (Nora Corbett) - started 5 Jan 2015
3.   Queen Anne's Lace (Nora Corbett) - started 3 April 2016
4.   Queen of Peace (Nora Corbett) - started 8 May 2016
5.   Zenia (Nora Corbett) - started 22 Oct 2016
6.   Dressmaker's Daughter (Nora Corbett) - started 1 Jan 2017
7.   Jingles Flip-It Series (Lizzie Kate) - started 12 April 2014
8.   Moutons de Saisons - été (Collection Tra La La) - started 9 Jan 2015
9.   Faces of Joan Elliott SAL (Joan Elliott) - started Sept 2014
10. Snow Story (Lizzie Kate) - started 14 May 2016
11. Dog House Sampler (Little House Needleworks) - started 26 Sept 2016
12. 12 Days of Christmas (Plum Street Samplers) - started 25 Dec 2016
13. Halloween Happiness (Sandra Cozzolino) - started 1 Jan 2017
14. Mini Mandala II - C (Chatelaine) - started 1 Feb 2014
15. Fashionista Cat (Design Works Kit) - started 1 Jun 2015
16. Birdcage (Design Works Kit) - started 1 Feb 2015
17. Halloween Sneak Peek (The Trilogy) - started 7 Jan 2015

You may notice that while these aren't in any particular order I did list all of my Nora Corbett starts first.... I am going to a Nora Corbett stitching retreat in May 2017 and I would really love to be able to take some finishes with me especially as Nora will also be there!! (I'm getting very excited about May... not that you can tell!!)

Some (let's be honest here - most) of the WIPs I have listed won't get finished in 2017, but I am hoping that by listing them I can at least try and stitch on them, and make some progress on them all during the year!

So here's to a very productive and happy stitching 2017!  See you back here on 29th January for an update post.

Til then, happy stitching and may the frog stay far, far away
Hugs xx

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2017

Well, it would appear that I survived 2016... just!!  I don't think that I am the only one pleased that 2016 is over and that we are hopefully starting afresh with a new year and a renewed spirit.... 2016 was a tough year in a lot of ways for me (us) but it is now in the past and I am looking forward to the new year with spring in my step (well, I am trying to convince myself that I have a spring in my step anyway!!)

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and New Year!  Ours was very quiet and relaxing with lots of stitching to be had!  Best way to spend a holiday in my opinion!

So.... given that I haven't posted in quite some time.... I have a lot to catch up with you all.  I haven't even managed to read any blogs in the last few weeks so I am also way behind on everyone's news but fingers crossed that will be rectified soon :o)

Where to start....

Firstly let's look at a collage of finishes

The last 6 pictures in the collage above you haven't seen before - they were were all finished in December. (2 x Fantasy SAL finishes - Oct & Nov; Mill Hill kit; L*K Jingles "Silent Night" and the border between the blocks; L*K Snow Story "Cold Hands"; border for Plum Street Samplers "12 Days of Christmas")

Best year of finishes ever!! I had a total of 46 (yes... 46!) finishes during 2016. Most are small and some are parts of a larger piece (ie Fantasy SAL) but overall I am quite pleased to have a good total for 2016.

I did also total up all of my starts for 2016.... 89 starts - of which I finished 41! The other 5 finishes from my 2016 total were starts from 2015.

Since the beginning of 2017 I have been working on the Plum Street Samplers "12 Days of Christmas" for the Stitch Maynia "12 Days of Stitchmas" event.  (Picture below to refresh your memories as to what it looks like)

I am not using traditional colours for this piece and have decided to go out on a limb and use variegated threads from Jodyri Designs. Once the 12 days are all started I will take a picture of the full piece.  This piece will be my Christmas Ornament Blog piece and the aim is to finish a block each month during 2017.  Easy.. right?!?

For the Halloween blog I am planning on stitching mainly on one design that I will try to match up each month to the theme.  The design I chose to stitch for 2017 is "Halloween Happiness" by Sandra Cozzolino. (I got the idea of stitching this one in 2017 from Serendipitous Stitching's Jo)

I started the moon on New Year's Day as my New Year, New Start.... I think this is going to be a lovely piece when it's all done.  I have chosen to stitch it on a light purple fabric rather than the recommended smoketone fabric.  Much more of a Halloween colour!

As for the rest of 2017.... I will continue on with the Lakeside Needlecraft Fantasy SAL til that ends in July, and I have also signed up for 2 more monthly SAL's - Frosted Pumpkin's "Happily Ever After SAL" and Ingleside Imaginarium's "Dragon Birthstone SAL".  And of course, there are all the events in Stitch Maynia and the other FB Groups to stitch for, so lots of stitching ahead!  Fingers crossed I will manage to keep up with the monthly SAL's as well as getting some of those WIPs under control!!

Til my next update.... happy stitching and may the frog stay far, far away!

Hugs xx

Hallowe'en Trick Or Treat Blog Hop 2016

web image

Today is 31st October... and it's Halloween..... 
As you know (or may not know), Jo (Serendipitous Stitching) is hosting her annual Hallowe'en Blog Hop!

Trick or Treat anyone?
This is where the treats come in - a sweet hop around the blog-sphere collecting letters to make up the mystery phrase.  Can't guarantee that there won't be any tricks awaiting you, but we can guarantee the treats!

This blog hop is no different to any of the others that Jo does - all you need to do is visit each of the participating blogs in order (full list is on Jo's blog - link below), jot down the letter displayed, then return to Jo's blog post (link is here) and leave a comment telling Jo the Mystery Phrase.  Simples!

Now for my part of the blog hop.....  I need to show you something that I have stitched for Halloween (either new or old) and leave you with my letter of the mystery phrase.  So here goes!

I couldn't decide what to show you... so I decided to go with a bit of a theme - Blacks cats and pumpkins....

and now for my letter of the mystery phrase....

Ok.... its all up to you now - write down the letter "C" and hop on over to the next stop.... and say hello to Lisa at Wyrd Needles.

That's it from me..... til next time...
Happy Scary Stitching
Hugs xx

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