Gifted Gorgeousness - December 2021

I have been remiss during the latter part of this year in not recording the gifts I've made or received. So before the year is over I will put that right by showing the gifts that were sent and received in three Needlecraft Haven exchanges.

First up is my Christmas exchange ornaments. I received this beautiful ornament from Justine with this gorgeous Cranberry red thread.

NH Christmas Exchange - From Justine

I stitched Baked Goods by Little House Needleworks for Gill. This design was gifted to me years ago from Clare. I now want to stitch this design again for myself.

Baked Goods - Little House Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart  Belfast Flax linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Back in October I also took part in Needlecraft Haven's Halloween exchange. Our Halloween themed stitching was to be completed as a bookmark. I stitched 'Owls in Moonlight' for Mel as I knew she liked owls. 

Owls in Moonlight - Blue Ribbon Designs, Just CrossStitch October 2014

Fabric: 28ct unknown blue/grey fabric

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Mel was my exchange partner and she sent me this terrific bookmark, which just happens to have a owl on it. It will not be used now until next October but will sit in a box with my bookmark collection. I've got over 200 bookmarks as I often buy them as a souvenir when on holiday. 

NH Halloween Exchange - From Mel

Finally, there is the Needlecraft Haven summer exchange that I also took part in. The theme for this was wellbeing, so it could be anything finished as a pillow that would make the recipient feel bright and cheerful. For Justine I stitched this Victoria Sampler pillow. I thought the colours were so pretty. It was available as a free design with The Victoria Sampler Summer Garden Sampler for a time, so I am not sure if it is still available.

Bloom -  The Victoria Sampler

Fabric: 32ct Fabric Flair mint green colour

Threads: DMC 300, 500,725, 778 #12perle Blanc, Atalie 'Les 4 Saisons'

and unknown variegated green, pink and red threads

Clare stitched me this sewing themed friends banner. I hadn't taken a photo of the finished pillow and the lighting is too poor today to get a decent photo, so I will update this photo on a brighter day.

NH Summer Exchange - From Clare

Gifted Gorgeousness and Fully Finished SAL - November 2020

I'm linking up with two blogs for November, Jo of Serendipitous Stitching and Rachel, the Ten Hour Stitcher as my recent stitching fits both of these nicely.

My fully finished pieces were also gifts that I sent as part of a Halloween Exchange with Clare. I sent Clare this Halloween scissor fob and a card which had a detachable hanging ornament.

Owls in Moonlight - Blue Ribbon Designs

Taken from Just Cross Stitch magazine, October 2014

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Light Mocha linen

Threads: Recommended DMC threads. Stitched 1 thread over 2

Scream Girls - Just Nan

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Natural Line

Threads: Suggested DMC threads, 

DMC 310 used for BOO lettering instead of Krenik #4 005

I received these gifts. Firstly from Christine I received this cute scissor fob. This is a Durene Jones freebie which can be found on her Facebook page.

Witches Cat - Durene Jones

I also had a surprise gift of an initialed Halloween scissor fob from Clare. As I am into scissor fobs at the moment, it's another delightful addition to my collection.

Finally, I was the lucky recipient of DJ's (Tickled Pink in Stitches) Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway. Here is the lovely biscornu and scissor fob that I received. Thank you DJ.

Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2020

It's scream time and time for the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop. I have two spooky finishes this year. The first is Just Nan's Scream Girls which I finished as a flat ornament and attached to a card.

Scream Girls - Just Nan

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Natural Line

Threads: Suggested DMC threads, 

DMC 310 used for BOO lettering instead of Krenik #4 005

The second finish has been completed as a scissor fob.

Owls in Moonlight - Blue Ribbon Designs

Taken from Just Cross Stitch magazine, October 2014

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Light Mocha linen

Threads: Recommended DMC threads. Stitched 1 thread over 2

The Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop is organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. Follow the blog hop to find a list of all the blog participants and to collect a letter from each of them to complete a mystery phrase.  

This year I am the final blog listed and I have the letter L:

Source: SunCatcherStudio.com

Work out what the mystery phrase is and hop back to Jo's blog to give her your answer. While there take some time to watch the slideshow of Jo's Spooky Scrapbook stitching.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day and 'Sláinte' as I raise a glass to you. (If I'm completely honest, it's a cup of tea 😄 ).

This year I was determined to get some stitching completed for St. Patrick's day and I managed to finish two small pieces.
My first piece is Leprechaun Cottage from Blue Ribbon Designs. I've had this on my 'To do' list for a number of years. I finally stitched it.

Leprechaun Cottage - Blue Ribbon Designs
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural linen
Threads: Recommended DMC threads

This second design is called March Quaker and I have been unable to find out who designed it. It's ages since I've made a biscornu so I enjoyed making this finish.

March Quaker - ??
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Silvery Moon linen (7011)
Thread: DMC 3818

May you all stay safe and healthy in these unsettling times.

Stitching time

I've started to stitch my Christmas ornaments and here is the first one. When I saw this 'Santa's cat and dog' design from Madame Chantilly earlier in the year I just had to get it as I have so many cat and dog lover friends. Here is the dog design which has still to be finished into a hanging ornament.

Santa's Dog - Madame Chantilly
Stitched on 36ct hand-dyed linen (hand-dyed by Madame Chantilly)

I met Madame Chantilly at a needlework show in Pexiora, Aude. She was delightful to speak to and I hope to buy more of her designs in the future.

I finally filled the pillow I made for Little Blue Bungalow, our birthday thread exchange at Needlecraft Haven. It's only been waiting since May. Why I kept putting it off, goodness knows, because it didn't take that long to do.
This free design can be found on the Weeks Dye Works website, here.

Little Blue Bungalow - Blue Ribbon Designs
Stitched on Goldrush 32ct Murano by Crafty Kitten

If all goes to plan, I'll get some stitching time today and I'll start another Christmas ornament.

A Contribution to History, a Finish and a WIP

I couldn't resist the phrase 'A contribution to history', it makes me smile. I haven't done anything dramatic or earth shattering; just stitched my initial using DMC 321 on a 15cm square piece of linen and sent it to the Textile Museum Parc Wesserling in Alsace, France. DMC are having a permanent exhibition where the stitched initials will be displayed along with the names of the participants. Closing date for contributions is 12th May. Further details are here (in English) and here (in French).

Initial M
Stitched on 32ct white Belfast

I completed Little Blue Bungalow,(a free design from Blue Ribbon Designs) which is the 2014 chart for the Birthday thread exchange on Needlecraft Haven. The picture below shows an unfilled pillow as I need to buy some more filling. I love how the colours really stand out and fortunately I had some suitable pink/fushia fabric that I could use for the pillow.

Little Blue Bungalow - Blue Ribbon Designs
Stitched on Goldrush 32ct Murano by Crafty Kitten

I have started the Mojo Sampler, which is the current SAL on The Stitch Specialists. I've decided on a combination of purples (DMC 333, 340, 3746) and yellows (DMC 725, 744). Unfortunately, the yellow backstitch lettering isn't showing up too well on the fabric. If I am still unhappy with it when the SAL is completed, I will switch it for another yellow. The lettering reads 'I love to stitch'.

Mojo Sampler - Abi Gurden, Bee's Needleworks
The Stitch Specialists SAL
Stitched on 32ct White Belfast