Smalls SAL - April and Needlecraft Haven Monthly Challenge

Another one for two this month for the Smalls SAL organised by Heather, Stitching Lotus and the monthly challenge, hosted by Christine at Needlecraft Haven.

To summarise, for the Smalls SAL you stitch something small during the month and share a link up to your blog post at Stitching Lotus to show your finish. Over at Needlecraft Haven, Christine posts a small free design each month which we can stitch and finish as we like. Alternate months are a Christmas design.

A Bee Design - unknown

Fabric: 40ct Newcastle white linen

Threads: Atalie - Carmen, Les quatre saisons; DMC - 3371;

Weeks Dye Works - Whiskey

As you can see I finished this month's design as a scissor fob. This free design can be found at Suzi's blog, here. The fob is sitting on a baby quilt, which is almost finished. I am sewing the binding at the moment so I should be posting a picture of the completed quilt within the week.

Gifted Gorgeousness - April

Let me start by saying sorry to those of you who have commented on my blog and perhaps left a question. I have just discovered that not all my comments come through to my primary email, some go to my gmail account only. That is why you have not heard from me. Why this happens I have no idea and it only seems to have started since I changed phones some weeks ago. I must have made some change to my phone settings without realising it.

Now on to Gifted Gorgeousness which is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. Full details of how Gifted Gorgeousness works can be found here.  This month's stitching is a gift from Jo. I guessed the phrase in last year's Easter blog hop and she sent me this Just Nan design as well as the charm pin.  Given my love of Just Nan, this was an ideal gift for me. Isn't the rabbit charm pin just delightful?

Tiny Bunny Biscornu - Just Nan

Fabric: 32ct Belfast pale lilac linen

Threads: Recommended DMC threads

Chart embellishment pack

In answer to your question, Jo, here is my finished Just Nan's Diamond Bouquet. This was completed around 1998 and was my second Just Nan sampler (Bee Blossoms was my first).

Diamond Bouquet - Just Nan

completed as a class project at local needlework shop

Ready for quilting

Recently, in our wider family, a baby boy was born. This was just the excuse I needed to make a quilt. Originally I planned to make a scrappy design but when I saw this finish from Rita Norton, there was no going back.

So after converting my dimensions from inches to centimetres, here is my quilt (or play mat) based on Rita's design ready for the quilting to commence. The finished size will be 100cm x 120cm. I just love those bears.

Fabric: Moda Big Sky, Bears-Teal and Mustard; Makower Linea Zinc;

Makower linen texture Sunflower; Makower Essentials Tiny Dots light cream;

unknown brown/grey fabric and

Makower Linea Ebony for backing

Smalls SAL - March and Needlecraft Haven Monthly Challenge

For the second time I've been able to combine these two stitching updates.

The Smalls SAL 2018 is hosted by Heather and the Needlecraft Haven's monthly challenge is provided by Christine.

This month I kept to a simple finish and completed this free design from Cuore e Batticuore as a card.

Christmas Joy - 

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Belfast Vintage Blue linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads but snowflakes were

stitched with 1 strand of DMC E5200, pearlescent thread

Easter Exchange

It's Easter and time for the Needlecraft Haven Easter exchange. The exchange gifts included a stitched item, a sweet treat and a card. I received an exchange parcel from Clare and she sent me this exquisitely finished egg ornament, these sweet treats and a card. (I see the card is missing as it is sitting on the mantle). Thank you so much, Clare.

My Needlecraft Haven Easter exchange gifts from Clare.

I sent an exchange parcel to Dusty. For this I sitched the upper half of Tralala's 'Duo Printemps' for the card. Along with the chocolate I included a chicken shaped key/scissor fob. As for my ornament ... well ... I really wanted to try something different in a finish. After much searching I finally found what I wanted on Pinterest. A 'cuckoo clock like' finish from La Bottega Della Nonna appealed to me and inspired by motifs from Gazette94, I made an Easter themed hanging ornament. I was pretty pleased with the finish and I've included an photo of it hanging to show it off better.

Easter exchange gifts for Dusty

A hanging Easter ornament inspired by

La Bottega Della Nonna and Gazette94

I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter weekend and that you are not tired of the sight of chocolate eggs.