Smalls SAL - April 2020

It's the end of the month and now's the time for another Smalls SAL check-in. This is hosted by Mary of Mary's Thread.
I stitched three small items this month but I've still to decide how I would like to finish them.

First up is La Poule. I received this chart from Clare of Aimtu's Stitching for Christmas.

La Poule - JBW Designs
Fabric - 28ct Zweigart Natural linen
Threads - Recommended DMC threads

Shepherd's Bush has this free design available which I fell for. I stitched it on a mottled green scrap of fabric that I had.

Ewe be well - Shepherd's Bush
Fabric - 32ct Fabric Flair mottled green
Threads - Suggested DMC threads

Finally I stitched this rose. I am considering finishing this as a rose scented sachet. That won't happen until the lockdown restrictions are eased and I can buy something rose scented to include in the filling. So who knows what my thinking will be by then!

Rose - Teaching model at a beginner's class in 1993
Fabric - 28ct White evenweave
Threads - DMC 309, 776, 899, 3346, 3347, 3348

Works in Progress

During the past month I've started a new project and went back to an older one.

I had put Alpine Seasons Garden away as I was finding it cumbersome to stitch it in a hoop, in hand. So earlier in the year I ordered a Lowry Workstand and some Elbsee easyclip scroll bars. I'm finding it easier to stitch on this project though I'm not yet comfortable with such long scroll bars. The important thing is (from my point of view) that Alpine Seasons Garden is seeing some progress again. Over the past two weeks I've stitched the top left section of the trees. With all the colour changes it's coming along slowly but I still love it.

This is where I started

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
as at 02 April 2020
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Sand linen
Threads: Recommended silk threads

and here it is today.

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
as at 28 April 2020
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Sand linen
Threads: Recommended silk threads

I'm glad I took a photograph of my starting point as it shows me that I am making progress.

My new project is Julie M's ( I'll cross that leg when I get to it ) mixing of Little House Needleworks' Little Sheep Virtues and Country Cottage Needleworks' Sheep in the Meadow. I've admired it since 2014 (!) but I was only able to buy the charts last year. It's a lovely project to work on and I find it relaxing.

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks and
Sheep in the Meadow - Country Cottage Needleworks
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural line
Threads: Recommended DMC and Weeks Dye Works threads

So as you can see, I've plenty of stitching to keep me busy.

Gifted Gorgeousness - April 2020

Even though I'm confined to the house, time is still passing quickly. It seems no time since I last posted for Gifted Gorgeousness. This is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching and details on how it works and how to take part can be found here.

I took part in Needlecraft Haven's Easter Exchange. With postal services being disrupted we had a virtual exchange on Easter Sunday where we posted a photo of the exchange pieces we had stitched but without saying who they were for.

I had stitched both a card and an ornament. With staying at home I thought it would be pleasant to imagine a trip up the Eiffel Tower at Easter.

Pâques à Paris (part of design) - Les Brodeuses Parisiennes
Fabric: 28 ct Zweigart White linen
Threads: Suggested DMC threads, stitched one over one
Spring! - Just Nan
Fabric: 28 ct Sky Blue (I think)
Threads: Suggested DMC threads with a
gold brown bead used for matt gold beads

I hope everyone had a good Easter and that you are staying safe and well.

Easter Treasure Blog Hop 2020

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is again hosting the Easter Treasure Blog Hop. This is an opportunity for those taking part to display some Spring and/or Easter stitching and a letter of the alphabet which will form part of a mystery phrase. Please visit Jo's blog here to see the list of all those who are taking part and visit their blogs to collect your letters to find out what the mystery phrase is.

This year for the blog hop I have stitched a free design from Lizzie Kate called Celebrate Spring.
You can find this design on Lizzie Kate's blog here. I have finished it as a flat ornament to hang from a small frame. When things are back to normal I'll buy a couple of small hangers. In the meantime it will have to stand on the mantlepiece.

Celebrate Spring - Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct Permin Natural Linen
Threads: DMC 3687, 597,720,3354, 580, 307, Blanc, 310, 3836

My Letter for the mystery phrase is

P

Please visit the Wicked Stitcher at http://primpair.blogspot.com/  for the next letter in the mystery phrase.

Happy Easter!