Gifted Gorgeousness - December 2023

It's hard to believe it is nearly the end of the year, making this the final blog post for Gifted Gorgeousness in 2023.  Hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, this is a good opportunity to share the crafty gifts we have made and/or received each month.

December the first was our exchange opening day at Needlecraft Haven. I stitched Clare a snowman ornament and a robin Christmas card. The robin is a free design from La Comtesse & Le Point de Croix which can be found here and the snowman is from a Brittercup Design that was gifted to me by Ursh, a former Needlecraft Haven member. The snowman is stitched on a fabric that was gifted. I've shown the back of the ornament as well as I was pleased to find I had a piece of fabric that would suit.

Christmas Robin - La Comtesse & Le Point de Croix

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Newcastle white linen

Threads: DMC 349, 630, 869, 3363, 3767, 3831, 3841

Winter is in the air (scissor fob design) - Brittercup Designs

Fabric: 25ct Unknown  evenweave latte fabric

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Back of Snowman ornament featuring another Snowman

I received this pretty ornament and other items from Gill. The threads are gorgeous and I'm looking forward to using them. In real life the bells on this ornament look 3D. The chocolate didn't last too long (LOL).

Needlecraft Haven Christmas exchange from Gill

I have completed the stitching on the Just Nan travelling pattern Tea with Honey. I have stitched 2023 as the year of completion on the base. That is my incentive to fully finish it as a cube before the year ends.

Overview of completed stitching and beading

Tea with Honey - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Flax Cashel linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Base of Tea with Honey with year added

Centre design of Tea with Honey

In 2022 Jardin Privé offered a free floral Temperature SAL on her site. I finally completed the stitching at the beginning of this week. I still intend to fully finish it as a cushion cover.

Projet Météo 2022 - Jardin Privé

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Light Lilac linen

Threads: Suggested range of cool, warm and other DMC colours

and using a 4 degree Celsius range between colours

I am stitching something for myself. My intention is to complete this reindeer design from Punch Needle & Primitive Stitching (PNPS) as a drum pincushion.

Reindeers Winter - Liezbeth Gottschall of Thistles,

in PNPS Winter 2015

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Belfast Natural linen with a gold thread

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except 3023 for 3024 and 3053 for 3052

I wish you all a Happy Christmas.

Advent Blog Hop - 8th December

The Advent Blog Hop is again hosted by Jo, Serendipitous Stitching. There is an entry for each day up to and including the 24th December. Pop over to Jo's blog for the list of participants.

My winter/Christmas themed stitching that I'm sharing today is a Christmas Robin. This was due to be completed as an envelope but due to my miscalculations it's larger than that. I'm thinking of finishing it as a mounted flat-fold ornament. That won't happen until I find the safe place that I put it!

A Robin's Christmas - Lynne Nicoletti

Fabric: 28ct pale blue linen

Threads and beads: Recommended DMC and Wisper threads, Mill Hill beads

This year Jo asked us to share our favourite Santa traditions from our family or local area. The main thing I remember about Santa was that he came down the chimney in our bedroom (it is an old farmhouse) and left our toys at the foot of the bed. We were told that if we ever saw Santa delivering our presents that would be the final time he would visit us. Needless to say that left us with the quandary of who would risk getting out of bed during the night to see if our presents had been delivered. Someone usually did and we learnt in later years that we were usually awake not long after Santa had visited.

One summer there was great excitement when the chimney was cleaned and a small soft toy duck fell down it. As children we were convinced that it fell out of Santa's sack when he was leaving us the Christmas before. The mystery of how that unknown toy ended up there has never solved.

Enjoy your month of December.

Gifted Gorgeousness - November 2023

It's  a good job that Jo keeps the link up page for Gifted Gorgeousness open until the end of the month, otherwise I would have missed another month. If you visit Jo's blog you can find the other Gifted Gorgeousness posts for November.

Needlecraft Haven held an Autumn exchange at the end of October and I took part. I stitched this flat ornament for Julie. I now need to stitch this design again so that I have it for myself. I already have Spring and Summer completed as small pillows.

Spot of Autumn- The Drawn Thread

Fabric - 32ct Zweigart Light Mocha linen

Threads - Suggested DMC threads

Charm - Acorn charm from stash

I received this pillow from Christine. I love the Hips (I think they are hips and not haws) as they remind me of walking home from primary school along a country backroad.

For those of you who might be interested, an explanation of the difference between the two berries can be found here.

Needlecraft Haven Autumn Exchange

Received from Christine

I've not stitched much this year but I have returned to working on Just Nan's Tea with Honey. This is a travelling pattern that has been temporarily gifted to me from Jo.

Tea with Honey - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Flax Cashel linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Until next time, enjoy your stitching.

Halloween Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2023

It's Halloween and time for Jo's annual Halloween Trick or Treat Blog Hop. If you want to make sure that you've collected all the letters for the mystery phrase make sure to go to Jo's blog where you will find the link to all this year's participants .

I've pulled out one of my favourite Halloween finishes from a few years ago. I like the quick and effective use of felt here.

Boo - Val's Stuff

JCS Halloween 2012

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 32ct Belfast Mottled Sage

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

This year my letter is:

and the next person in this blog hop is:

Books, Crafts and other procrastinations 

Gifted Gorgeousness - May

Our Internet has been erratic this past month and the telephone company seem to be no closer to solving the problem, whatever the problem is. This will be a short post as I wish to get it up while I can.

First up is a quilted throw that I started back in late November. I followed Jenny Doan's tutorial (Missouri Star Quilt Co) on how to make this Double Friendship Star quilt. The recipient received it last month and was delighted with it. I admit I was pleased with it too.

Double Friendship Star - Missouri Star Quilt Co

Front

Double Friendship Star - Missouri Star Quilt Co

Label and close up of quilted star

Double Friendship Star - Missouri Star Quilt Co

Back

My other item of Gifted Gorgeousness is my long delayed start to Tea with Honey. This is a Travelling Pattern which Jo has passed on to me. After debating which colour fabric to use as I had no Light Sand Cashel linen I settled on Flax. Then I discovered that Light Sand is also know as Latte! I'm glad that I'm happy with Flax as I would hate to restart this project. Oh, I've just noticed that I've missed some stitching in the green border. I must fill that in first thing later today.

Tea with Honey - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Flax Cashel linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

If you are not familiar with Gifted Gorgeousness which is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, you can find the full details of how it operates here.

Fully Finished Gallery and an Easter Exchange

I hope you all had a good Easter Sunday. As I participated in Needlecraft Haven's Easter exchange (hosted by Clare) I have some Fully Finished items to show.

I stitched this free 2011 Easter Heart design from Aliolka for Christine.

Easter Heart - Aliolka

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Vintage pale blue Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads but substituted DMC 3078 for 727

As Christine often shares cat images I couldn't resist stitching this free Janie Hubble design of a cat in an eggshell for her as well. Sadly this design no longer seems to be available.

Krazy Kitty's Easter - Janie Hubble Designs

Fabric: 32ct Zweigrart White Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads but substituted DMC 703 for 704 and DMC 415 for 318

Though she organised the exchange, Clare didn't take part, so as a Thank you I stitched this free design from My Fanny. I omitted the word 'Easter' from the original design.

Easter - My Fanny Design

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Antique White linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I also included this Hardanger card.

Hardanger cross - Designer unknown

Fabric - 32ct Fabric Flair unknown colour

Threads: DMC Perle 8 Ecru, unknown DMC soft pink and green

Over the Valentine season Clare and I stitched a card for each other. I stitched this Friendship card which was special to me as I had received the design kit in a previous Valentine Exchange from Angie, one of Needlecraft Haven's departed members.

Friendship - Carolyn Meachan, Serendipity Designs Kit

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Natural Linen (replacing Aida in kit)

Threads: DMC as provided in kit

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop

Hello again and welcome to the next step in the Easter Treasure Hunt.  This Blog Hop is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. To learn more about this Hop and find all the letters to complete the mystery phrase, please head over to Jo's where she lists all the participants with links to their blog.

My letter for the blog hop is:

K

The next letter in the Hop can be found with Mouse of Tales of a Stitching Mouse. 

Most of my Easter stitching has been gifts which I will show later but for now I will share this Hardanger card which I have stitched a number of times. 

Hardanger cross - Designer unknown

Fabric - 32ct Fabric Flair unknown colour

Threads: DMC Perle 8 Ecru, unknown DMC soft pink and green

Wishing you all a Happy Easter.