Smalls SAL - January 2021

Mary is again hosting the Smalls SAL where, on the last Friday of the month, we show any small projects that we've worked on. Full details can be found here. 

Like I often do in January, I've stitched a number of small projects. This year it has been helped because I'm taking part in both the Needlecraft Haven and Facebook groups for The Twelve Days of Christmas SAL. So I should maintain a certain momentum in my stitching throughout the year; assuming of course that I don't fall by the wayside.

I'm working on both the Jardin Privé and Plum Street Samplers designs for the Twelve Days of Christmas.

I've chosen the red version for the Jardin Privé and I'm stitching it as a single piece. It was the border for this design that attracted me to it so it had to be completed as a single project. Here is my day one.

First Day

The Twelve Days of Chrismas - Jardin Privé

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Vintage Country Mocha linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I wanted something different for my Plum Street Samplers project which I had decided to complete as individual pieces. After a lot of searching I found a blue/silver, white and gold interpretation on this Japanese Blog that I fell in love with and decided that I wanted to do something similar. 

I haven't decided on my final finish for these so I have omitted the border for now. I might add it later if I decide that is what I want.

First Day

The Twelve Days of Chrismas - Plum Street Samplers

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart White linen

Threads: DMC 415, 932, 3750, 3820

As it's always useful to have a supply of birthday and other occasion cards I thought that it would be nice to send close family and friends a stitched card this year. This little design from Just Nan was an ideal starter. I only need to finish it as a card now.

(Happy Birthday) Heartfelt Trio - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct pale blue (not Zweigart) linen

Threads/Embellishments: Suggested DMC threads plus sequins

Finally this little Pineberry Lane sampler was a quick stitch. It only took two evenings and that included the time to chart the names that I wanted to use.

Good Dog Marking Sampler - Pineberry Lane

Fabric: 28ct Crafty Kitten Sept 2018 Limited Edition linen

Threads: Suggested DMC except 3031 used for 3021

 

Birthday Surprises

It was my birthday recently and I received these lovely surprises for the occasion.

Julie sent me these fingerless mitts which, as you can see, are perfect with my woolen winter coat. 

Birthday present and card from Julie

Clare sent me this blackwork scissor fob and decoupage card .

Present and card from Clare

Despite the post being unreliable these days, these arrived in good time and brighten my otherwise quiet celebration.

Thank you Julie and Clare. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are appreciated.

Gifted Gorgeousness - January 2021

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is again hosting Gifted Gorgeousness this year which enables us to share stitching/craft related gifts that we have made or received. We have from the 15th to the end of each month to share our gifting related craft work. Further details and to sign up can be found here. 

I have two gifts that I received over the Christmas period that I haven't yet shared with you.

The first is this beautiful coaster from Clare (Aimetu's Stitching). It is a block from the Stitching the Night Away SAL that she completed in 2020. All the blocks that Clare stitched can be found in this blog post that she wrote in late December.

Gift from Clare, December 2020

I also received this lovely patchwork ornament from Deb (no blog); another Needlecraft Haven friend.

Gift from Deb, December 2020

I am  currently stitching some gift items but these will have to wait until a later post as I am unable to share them now.

Have a good stitching week everyone.

Winter Blues

Not the winter blues we experience from the cold, dark days of winter but Just Nan's Winter Blues sampler. I'm taking part in the SAL arranged by Jo on the Just Nan Facebook page and this is my progress at the end of week two. We are broadly completely two bands per week. I bought this chart when it first came out so it's about time I started it.

Winter Blues - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart White Cashel linen

Threads: Suggested DMC and Kreinik threads

Embellishment pack included with chart

Earlier this week I completed stitching Just Nan's Mermaid Heart. I started this 1st January 2017 as my project for the Ten stitches a day SAL. However I lost interest in it after a few months as 10 stitches a day was too few for my liking. I then stitched 70 stitches once a week but that didn't work for me either. I finally took it out again before Christmas and when I saw how little needed to be done to complete it, I made up my mind that it would be finished. So here it is. I just need to decide on how I will fully finish it. Hopefully that won't take me three years!

Sadly, despite numerous attempts, the colours didn't come out well in my photos (this was the best one) but I can assure you that they are rich and vibrant.

Mermaid Heart - Just Nan

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Rue Green Belfast Linen

Threads: Suggested Ver au Soie threads

Embellishment pack included with chart

Let The People Choose - The Designer Most Enjoyed in 2020

This is my second blog post in Jo's Let The People Choose ... blog hop.  This month's theme resonated with me as the designer I most enjoyed stitching in 2020 has to be Little House Needleworks (LHN). In March 2020 I started stitching LHN's The Little Sheep Virtues and Country Cottage Needleworks' Sheep in the Meadow as a single project. It took me six months to complete this. I intend to have it framed, hopefully later this year.

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks and

Sheep in the Meadow - Country Cottage Needleworks

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural linen

The reason I enjoyed stitching this so much was because it was such a soothing project to work on when we were all adjusting to our changed lives as a result of Covid-19. I found that my thoughts dwelt on each of the themes, Friendship, Hope, Love, etc as I stitched them and remembered people and events that I associated with each one.

Last Stitches 2020, First Finish 2021

Hello everyone. Happy New Year and may 2021 be a better year for all of us.

Well, this was meant to be my last finish of 2020 and I had planned to fill it with my orts. However, my orts were too colourful and I could see them through my fabric; so I had to remove them and refill this ornament with soft toy filling. As a result this Drawn Thread freebie became my first finish of 2021. 

Heart Throb - The Drawn Thread

Fabric: 25ct Crafty Kitten Just Peachy Lugana

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

In an effort to be more productive this year I have decided to take part in some online stitching activities. These are the:

• 12 Days of Christmas SAL on Needlecraft Haven (and also on a FaceBook group) 
• Just Nan's Winter Blues SAL (Just Nan Facebook group) and
• Stick 6in2021 with Martina (stitch 6 designs in 2021)

Updates on these as well as Gifted Gorgeousness, the Smalls SAL and Fully Finished Gallery will hopefully see me write more regular updates on my stitching and other craft activities.