Stitch Maynia 2018 Starts 8 - 14 / Gifted Gorgeousness May 2018

Image from Princess Sassy Pants website

Week 2 of Stitch Maynia 2018 has been and gone and my new starts have been continuing as planned for the most part...

Start 8/18 - 8th May 2018
Start #36/2018
Queen's Heart
Just Nan
Fabric: 28ct Opal Lugana - studio sessions piece / Colour Cascade Fabrics
Thread: DMC as charted

Start 9/18 - 9th May 2018
Start #37/2018
Jasmine Mix
Just Nan
Fabric: 32ct Opal Belfast - "Year of the Rooster" Limited Edition - Jodyri Designs
Thread: DMC as charted

Start 10/18 - 10th May 2018
Start #38/2018
Tabby Cat
Mill Hill Kit
Fabric: 14ct perforated paper (kit)
Thread: DMC (kit)

Start 11/18 - 11th May 2018
Start #39/2018
Old Glory
Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Dapple" Picture This Plus
Thread: DMC

Start 12/18 - 12th May 2018
Start #40/2018
Nothing But Tea
The Sampler Girl
Fabric: 28ct Evenweave coffee dyed (base fabric was light grey)
Thread: "Masquerade" Jodyri Designs

GG SAL hosted by Jo (Serendipitous Stitching)

The next couple of starts also fall into the GG category for May....

Start 13/18 - 13th May 2018
Start #41/2018
Mother's Day Bookmark
Kate Knight
Source: Free Gift from Cross Stitch Crazy
Fabric: 14ct Aida (kit)
Thread: DMC (kit)

Start 14/18 - 14th May 2018
Start #42/2018
Proverb's 3-4
Paola Gattiblu
Source: Giveaway Gift from Kaye (Kitten Stitching)
Fabric: 28ct Evenweave coffee dyed (base fabric was light grey)
Thread: "Blue Moon" Jodyri Designs

I love these 2 Gatta (cat) designs... they are so gorgeous and I do plan to stitch them both..... Thank you Kaye :o)

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.

Stitch Maynia 2018 (Starts 1-7)

Image from Princess Sassy Pants website

It has begun!  The craziness that is Stitch Maynia 2018 is up and running! 

If you have been hearing, or seeing, all the recent references to Stitch Maynia around the social media world, but don't actually know what Stitch Maynia is about.... below is my brief description....

Back in 2015 a group of stitchers decided to give themselves a challenge and do 15 starts in 15 days in the month of May.  Now this sounded like a manic type of thing to do hence the challenge was called "Stitch Mania" with Mania being spelt with a "y" to denote the month of May!  A Facebook group was born out of the original challenge and this year the challenge just seems to have completely exploded!  A link to the Stitch Maynia Facebook Group is linked here.  The group has over 10,000 people in it now and it is just the most fun place to go to see beautiful stitching*** 

This year my Stitch Maynia plan is to try and do 18 starts in 18 days for 2018 and then spend the rest of the month of May focusing on one or two WIPs (that part is still to be decided about!)

So hold onto your hats... take a seat, grab a cuppa and enjoy the show!

Start 1/18 - 1st May 2018
Start #29/2018
Awareness Ribbon Sampler
Ink Circles
Fabric: 32ct Belfast - studio sessions piece / Colour Cascade Fabrics
Thread: Jodyri "Perfect Purple" / DMC
Source: Free chart - 2006 Complimentary Chart Book (Free goodies - Ink Circles website)
Notes:  I am stitching this in purples for Fibro Awareness as a SAL with the Fibro Stitchers FB Group

Start 2/18 - 2nd May 2018
Start #30/2018
American Pie
Mill Hill Kit
Fabric: 14ct perforated paper
Thread: DMC kit threads

Start 3/18 - 3rd May 2018
Start #31/2018
Cookie Bear
Gill Cooper
Fabric: 14ct Aida
Thread: DMC kit threads
Source: Free gift - World of Cross Stitching Magazine Issue #265

Start 4/18 - 5th May 2018
Start #32/2018
Boo Club - Eek
Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Wicked Garden" / Colour Cascade Fabrics
Thread: DMC & WDW, Classic Colourworks as charted

(NB: as you can see I still have the "Spider" block and more border to complete from last month before I can say I am up to date on this one!)

Start 5/18 - 5th May 2018
Start #33/2018
Lesson #1 Summer Schoolhouse Series
With Thy Needle & Thread
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Mushroom"
Thread: Classic Colourworks/Weeks Dye Works as charted
Notes: stitched 1 over 1 on 28ct

Starts 4 & 5 were both started on Saturday 5th May as we were out on Friday 4th and I didn't end up getting any stitching time in other than 15 mins to stitch a tiny bit more of the spider web on Boo Club so that I could start "Eek".  I then spent way too much time on "Eek" o Saturday afternoon which meant that "Lesson 1" only got a light touch when we got back from dinner on Saturday night.... busy social weekend in our house - for a change!

Start 6/18 - 6th May 2018
Start #34/2018
Forest Snowfall
Country Cottage Needleworks
Fabric: 28ct Opal Brittney "November Rain" 2017 Limited Edition / Jodyri Designs
Thread:  DMC & Classic Colourworks as charted
Other SALs: #pcforestsnowfallsal with Chelsea & Priscilla

Start 7/18 - 7th May 2018
Start #35/2018
Temple View
Maia Kit
Fabric: 18ct Aida (kit fabric)
Thread:  Anchor (kit thread)

I have had this kit (and it's sister kit "Pagoda View") in my stash for quite some time... I even did a post about it when I received it from the UK in 2010!

So that's Week 1 of "Stitch Maynia"  done and dusted.... 11 more starts to come to achieve 100% for this challenge - I am pretty sure that I can manage that 😉  The next phase of the challenge I am combining with another Stitch Maynia group SAL celebrating Katy "The Stash Queen's" birthday, which means I there should, hopefully, be some method to my madness! Or not!! 😁

Til next time, happy Stitch Maynia and happy stitching
Hugs xx



*** Stitch Maynia FB Group Disclaimer... they do allow adult stitching type content so be aware that there is the occasional subversive post in the group! Most of us just scroll on by, or block the poster, if we don't wish to see that sort of stitching.

April 2018 Stitching Update

Image from Princess Sassy Pants website

Look!  I'm on time this month!!  So besides the projects that you have already seen over the last few days, what else did I have in my stitching basket for April? Not much actually... 😉

April Starts: 2 (Holly-Word Art & Aladdin block)

April Finishes: 2 (Ete & Dream Big - as previously shown in my GG post - link is here)

WIP Updates

Reindog - Mill Hill Kit
Started: 12th February 2018

Tulip Time - Just Nan
Started: 4th August 2017
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Malva" Chromatic Alchemy (gift from Tiff)
Threads: DMC as charted

(I meant to include this one in my GG post for April as the fabric was a gift from Tiff)

"The Bookshelf" - Little House Needleworks
Started: 8th January 2018
Fabric: 28ct Opal Lugana "Gaia" - Under The Sea Fabrics
Threads: DMC as charted

Holly-Word Art - Ursula Michael
Source: World of Cross Stitching (issue 223)
Fabric: 28ct Opal Brittney "Woollen Mittens" Jodyri Designs (Nov 2016 Ltd Edition)
Threads: DMC

Boo Club - Lizzie Kate
Started: 1 January 2018
Fabric: 28ct Lugana (studio session -Wicked Garden) Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: DMC & Weeks Dye Works, GAST

Sad face... I didn't quite manage to get the "Spider" block finished last night on Boo Club so I will need to give that some more love on Friday.

The WIPs above have all received some more attention since their previous updates this month so I thought I would show them today... after all we need to have pretties in an update post!! 😃

And last but not least, here's my little bar graph for April....

So that's April done and dusted.... it was a good month for my WIPocalypse projects!

Til next time... happy stitching!

WIPocalypse 2018 - April update

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

The object of the WIPocalypse is to stitch on projects that you want to complete before the end of the world, or the end of the year - whichever might come first! WIPocalypse is run by Melissa over at Measi's Musings and is now in it's 7th year.  

For 2018 I am going to try and work on 18 projects (ie 18 in 2018!).  The full list of my projects can be found on my WIPocalypse 2018 page.

April was a brilliant month for my WIPocalypse projects... I managed a finish! 😁

Finish #14/2018

"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

The other projects that saw some progress are below:

12 Days of Christmas - Little House Needleworks

Started: 25 December 2017

Fabric: 28ct Brittney Opal "Celebrations" Jodyri Designs

Threads: DMC

Quaker Christmas II (Songs of the Season) - ByGone Stitches

Started: 1 January 2018

Fabric: 28ct evenweave "grey"

Threads: DMC 816 & 895

Boo Club - Lizzie Kate

Started: 1 January 2018

Fabric: 28ct Lugana (studio session -Wicked Garden) Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC & Weeks Dye Works

Happily Ever After - Frosted Pumpkin

SAL Started: January 2017

August Block (Aladdin)

Started: 18 April 2018

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Dark Fantasy" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC, Dinky Dyes, Jodyri Designs

Eiffel Quaker - Jardin Prive

Started: 2 September 2017

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Antique Ivory"

Threads: DMC Black & B5200, Weeks Dye Works Sky, Weeks Dye Works Liberty

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks

"Love"

Started: 25 February 2018

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Sept 2017 Mystery" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC

Dog Park - Satsuma Street

Started: 17 January 2017

Fabric: 28ct Monaco "Carmel Macchiato" - Hand Dyed by Stephanie

Threads: DMC

Coffee Saves Lives - Heartstring Samplery

Started: 17 June 2017

Fabric: 28ct Belfast Opal "Gold Digger" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: as charted fancy flosses...

Question of the month: Talk to us about your longest-running WIP or UFO

Now which of the long running WIPs / UFOs should I admit to that I have and can talk about?  If I focus on what is on my WIPocalypse list, then the oldest WIP would be Lizzie Kate's "Jingles".  I started this one way back in April 2014 as a SAL with some bloggers (start post is here)... and 4 years later it is still not finished!  I love these cute charts but for some reason I just haven't finished the series, and now I have hit a wall with it as I have made a big boo-boo and I don't feel like kissing the frog!!  

I thought that I had taken a photo of my stuff up... but I can't find it... essentially I used the wrong colour for the bell in the 2nd last chart - the "Joy" chart (ie I have stitched the white bit with a green thread instead of using the white - goodness knows how I did that!!)... I am so close to finishing that I really should just put my big girl pants on and deal with it!!! Stay tuned! 💁

So a great month of WIP stitching for me - most of the projects that I stitched on fitted in with the Stitch Maynia "Coffee Stitcher Birthday SAL" - bonus!! 

Fingers crossed that May is another good month, although it is Stitch Maynia so watch out for all the new starts that will come up in next month's update!

That's it for this month - til next time, happy stitching

The long forgotten March Stitching Update

Image from Princess Sassy Pants website

Ok... here we go again.... another update post.... you don't hear from me for months and then you get your blog news feed filled up with my stitching!!  I found this in my draft blog listing - apparently I forgot to come back and finish it off and post it!! 😟

So what was in the stitching basket for March?

I previously posted my March WIPocalypse post and the update is here.  On that post I showed you Christmas Quaker II, Boo Club, Happily Ever After, Little Sheep Virtues and Shimmering Mermaid.  They each got some love, as did some other WIPs.  There were some new starts and some finishes during March that weren't in the linked post.. so strap yourself in and let's go back to the future!

Finish #9/2018
Warm Hands, Warm Heart - The Little Stitcher
Started: 28th February 2018
Finished: 5th March 2018
Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Antique Ivory"
Threads: DMC & Whisper White
Source: Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2017

March Start and Finish #10/2018

Snow! - Carolyn Manning Designs
Started: 10th March 2018
Finished: 11th March 2018
Fabric: 28ct Jobelan "Arabian Nights" Stitches & Spice
Threads: DMC, Kreinik 9294
Source: Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2017

March Start and Finish #11/2018

Spring Fling - Val's Stuff
Started: 24th March 2018
Finished: 25th March 2018
Fabric: 28ct Cashel "Fairy Forest" Stitches & Spice
Threads: DMC as charted
Source: Free chart

Stitching Progress and New Starts for March

New Start
Christmas Carols - Country Cottage Needleworks
Started: 11th March 2018
Fabric: 28ct Brittney "Scottish Heather" Jodyri Designs
Threads: DMC as charted

New Start
Leprechaun Lodge - Blue Ribbon Designs
Started: 17th March 2018
Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Peacock Fantasy" Stitches & Spice
Threads: DMC & WDW

New Start
A Stitcher's Prayer - Little House Needleworks
Started: 18th March 2018
Fabric: 28ct Opal Brittney "Mulled Wine" Jodyri Designs
Threads: DMC

Reindog - Mill Hill Kit
Started: 12th February 2018

Here's my little bar graph for March.... Boo Club got most of the love during March, followed very closely by Happily Ever After.

I should be on time for an April update as long as I don't get side tracked again!!

Til next time... happy stitching!