End of 2025 and early 2026 update

I like my catchy blog titles, Ha! Ha!

For Christmas I received lovely stitching and craft gifts from my Needlecraft Haven friends as you can see in the photo below.

Presents received from Needlecraft Haven friends

We also had our Christmas ornament exchange at Needlecraft Haven. I received this pretty Mrs Claus in the kitchen ornament from Julie.

NH Christmas Ornament received from Julie

I sent this Just Nan 2008 Christmas reindeer ornament to Gill.

Blitzen Glistens - Just Nan

Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Opalescent Belfast linen

Threads: Proposed DMC threads

Embellishments: Charm pack purchased with chart

Before the end of 2025 I finished stitching on four projects but they still have to be fully finished.

First is the bookmark kit from Gill that I had nearly finished in November.

Summer Bookmark Kit - The Textile Heritage Collection

Fabric: Black Aida band in kit

Threads: In kit

Note: 2024 Christmas gift from Gill

Second was Santa's List.

Santa's List - Country Cottage Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Vintage Country Mocha Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Note: Gifted from Justine

Third was Just Nan's Lady Scarlet's Christmas

Lady Scarlet's Christmas - Just Nan

Fabric: Zweigart 28ct Flax Cashel linen

Threads: Proposed DMC threads

By mid December I fancied stitching something different so I pulled out Just Nan's 'Spring in the Square'.  This was a project that I had kitted for a New Year start in 2023 so it was ready to go. This design stitched up quickly and made my fourth finish for November/December. I just need to add the central charm and mount it on a canvas frame and it's completely finished. I  love the colours in this design.

Spring in the Square- Just Nan

Fabric: Zweigart 28ct Light Mocha Cashel linen

Threads: Proposed DMC threads

Embellishments: Swan Lake Gold Visions charm - to be added

Naturally I wanted to follow this up with Just Nan's 'Winter in the Square' so I started this in the New Year. Progress on this has been slower due to its snowflake border. Last night I fell into the trap of just wanting to complete a few more stitches before bed. That was a mistake as I miscounted and now will need to removed some pale lilac stitches from the inner left hand corner. 

Winter in the Square- Just Nan

Fabric: Zweigart 28ct Light Mocha Cashel linen

Threads: Proposed DMC threads

Embellishments: Winter Sheep Gold Visions charm - add on completion

If I managed to keep this level of activity up throughout 2026 I would have a very productive year. However I know that is unlikely to happen as I always seem to have a slump when the summer season arrives.

November's stitching update

You can tell that cooler weather has arrived as I'm blogging again.

I have four projects on the go at the moment and I'm trying to give them all some time each week. Just by chance they are all projects that have been gifted to me.

Apple Blossom Biscornu - Faby Reilly Designs

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Antique White Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except DMC 3689 used for 604

Note: Gifted from Clare

Frosty Forest - Country House Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Pearl Grey Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Note: Gifted from Clare

Santa's List - Country Cottage Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Vintage Country Mocha Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Note: Gifted from Justine

Summer Bookmark Kit - The Textile Heritage Collection

Fabric: Black Aida band in kit

Threads: In kit

Note: Christmas gift from Gill

This afternoon I will be stitching again on the summer bookmark. I expect to complete the cross stitching and hopefully start the backstitching.

Gifted Gorgeousness June

 Just slipping in on the last day of June to share my Gifted Gorgeousness (GG). This is hosted by Jo and this month's participants can be found here along with a summary of how GG works. 

I finished adding the beads to my Christmas Crew project. The pattern and fabric were gifted to me by Clare. After I've cut the Hardanger, I just need to fully finish it. Given our current heat wave I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Christmas Crew - Faby Reilly

Fabric: 28ct white evenweave

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I've also started stitching Country Cottage Needleworks' Frosty Forest series. This is also gifted from Clare. I'm stitching this as a single piece with a view to completing it as a cushion cover and I've added a border as I've seen in some other projects.

Frosty Forest series - Country Cottage Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Pearl Grey linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I don't expect to complete much stitching in July as in this heatwave I only feel fit to drink water and read. Have a relaxing and comfortable month.

Smalls SAL

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Rachel, The Ten Hour Stitcher and now that I am in my winter stitching mode, I have two small in progress projects to share.

First up is a Christmas Robin from The Little Stitcher. I've only got as far as stitching his tree branch, legs and lower body. This will be a gift and will be finished within the next five days. Nothing like a deadline to concentrate the mind.

Christmas Robin - The Little Stitcher,

Just CrossStitch Christmas Ornaments, 2019

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Silver Moon linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

In January I had this plan of stitching all Just Nan's gingerbread Mice in 2024. Well that didn't happen but here is my progress on Gingerbread Angel Mouse.

Gingerbread Angel Mouse - Just Nan

Fabric: 32ct Picture This Plus Gingerbread Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC thread

Embellishments: Embellishment pack included with chart

Of course, this means I should have something for the Fully Finished Gallery later this month.

Needlecraft Haven Autumn Exchange

Despite increasing postal costs, at Needlecraft Haven we still continue to participate in seasonal exchanges. It is lovely that I can take part as it increases my sense of belonging to a stitching community.

I received this lovely selection of gifts from Gill (no blog). With my sweet tooth, it goes without saying that the chocolate didn't last long.

Autumn Exchange from Gill

My exchange partner was Clare. I sent her the items as shown below.

My exchange gifts to Clare

A close up of my exchange ornament to Clare.

Autumn Bliss - Tracey Richards of Wrought Iron Stitching, Just CrossStitch, Autumn 2024

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Mocha Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Embellishments: Black pompom

I also sent Clare two Santa ornaments for her church Christmas tree. It was my first time stitching on perforated paper and it was easier than I expected. For some reason I imagined that it would tear easily. Thankfully it didn't.  These are both free designs; Santa Cookie Small can be found on Shannon Christie Designs Instagram page and the Santa on the right is from Durene Jones's Facebook page.

Santa Cookie Small - Shannon Christie Designs and Santa - Durene Jones

Fabric: 14ct Antique Brown perforated paper

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I think I might be back to stitching regularly again.

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.

2021 Advent Calendar Blog Hop Day 13

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is hosting her annual Advent Calendar Blog Hop. The theme this year is Christmas trees, our traditions, ornaments and whether we are a Star or Angel household when it comes to a tree topper. The links to this year's participants can be found here. Today it is my turn to share some Christmas tree memories and some Christmas stitching.

Since this year's theme is Christmas trees, I had to stitch this tree design.

Christmas Tree Sock Hop - Fresh Threads Studio,

Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2011

Fabric: 28ct The Craft Kitten Dawnblush Lugano

Threads: Suggested DMC but substituted DMC 958 for DMC 3812

and Soie d'Alger 2114 for DMC 907

We don't tend to take a photo of our Christmas tree and since we put it up the final weekend before Christmas, it is still sitting in its box. As we put it up so late, it comes down on the Epiphany.

You've probably guessed with my reference to box that we put up an artificial tree. This year we are putting up a new tree as last year's had got so old and droopy. It had been in use for 25 years so it doesn't owe us anything. Our tree is topped with a star.

When I was a child we always had a real tree topped with an angel, but once Santa stopped coming my parents bought an artificial one. We had beautiful glass ornaments and I always made sure that I was the one who put up the bell. I looked forward to the day it would be given to me to hang on my own tree. Sadly during the late 1980's someone dropped the box when taking it out out of the loft and virtually all the ornaments were broken, including 'my' bell.

As a result our Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments that my husband and I have bought together over the years. We tend to buy to buy a Christmas ornament when on holiday so for example, we have Santa on a San Francisco tram, Father Christmas climbing the Eiffel tower, Murano glass from Venice and wooden ornaments from Oberammergau. This means that decorating our tree can be a slow task as there are many pauses prefaced by "Do you remember when ..."

All the Christmas/Winter ornaments that I have received in crossstitch exchanges over the years are hung from a garland which hangs behind our television. That way I can easily admire them every day that they are up. The current year's exchange ornament is always hung in the centre.

Have a happy Advent season as we progress towards Christmas day.

Happy Christmas 2020

What a year it has been. I hope that next year will be kinder to all of us. In the meantime I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and I will share with you my final Christmas themed stitching for 2020. Only the first of these is fully  finished.

Christmas Lace - Tracy Horner of Ink Circles

Gift of Stitching, Dec. 2007

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Light Mocha/Mushroom linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

It's Snow Cold - Little House Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Smokey Pearl

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Daschund Through the Snow - Durene Jones

CrossStitcher Nov. 2020

Fabric: 25ct Crafty Kitten Pixie Dust Lugana

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Gifted Gorgeousness and Fully Finished SAL - December 2020

Once again I'm combining two blog events as there is a lot of overlap in what I am showing today. Jo of Serendipitous Stitching hosts Gifted Gorgeousness and you can found out how it works here. In summary it is an opportunity to show any stitching/craft related gifts you have made and/or received. 

Rachel of Ten Hour Stitcher is our host for our Fully Finished Gallery. The purpose of this gallery is to encourage stitchers to fully finish some, if not all, of their projects. I'm not great at finishing something when I've completed the stitching as I want to move on to the next thing instead. It's good for me to have an incentive to complete my smaller projects. 

First up is my gifted stitching.  For Advent I took part in Wichtelaktion (Advent Elf card exchange) organised by Martina. I wrote of this more fully in an earlier blog post but here is a reminder of the cards sent and received. 

 

Sent to Lynda Ruth (Purple Dixie)

 Received from June (Butterfly Wings)               

In addition, I received these extras from June.

Like many stitchers I've been busy stitching for Christmas over the past couple of months. The designs below are fully finished and have all been gifted. Three of these designs are from The Gift of Stitching magazine. I bought all the back copies years ago and in September I decided to choose some ornaments from this magazine. Just last month I discovered that there has been renewed interest in it and that it now has its own Facebook group. It's not like me to be 'on trend' :)

Prairie Schooler Santa - Prairie Schooler

Gift of Stitching, November 2008

Fabric: 32ct Raw unbleached linen

Threads: Suggested DMC

Snowed In - Something in Common in

Gift of Stitching, December 2006

Fabric: 32ct Flax linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

When I saw Snowed In on Margaret's Blog, I knew I had to stitch it. For some reason my photo is skewed. 

Snow Keeper - The Drawn Thread (freebie)

Fabric - Unknown light beige evenweave

Threads: Suggested DMC

Beaded Candle - unknown

Fabric: 18ct Antique White Aida

Mulberry Snowflake - Just Nan

Fabric: 32ct Natural Linen

Threads: Suggested DMC

Beads: Unknown petite brown/gold colour

Christmas Eve Deer - Prairie Schooler

Gift of Stitching, November 2009

Fabric: 32ct Raw unbleached linen

Threads: Suggested DMC

2020 Advent Calendar Blog Hop

It's the fourth day in Jo's advent blog hop.

My Christmas stitching that I'd like to share today is this Christmas tree. I love the effect of the variegated thread in this design.

Christmas Tree Ornament - Debbie Draper Designs (Gift of Stitching, Dec 2007)

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart white linen

Thread: Crescent Colors Bing Cherry. Cording in DMC 3685

Jo asked us to think about Christmas books that we enjoy. I don't have a 'go to' Christmas read but as a child I always looked forward to Christmas as Santa would leave me a Christmas Annual of my then favourite weekly comic. I think the first one I received was Bunty. This weekly magazine comprised of several short comic-strip stories, broken up by letters pages, competitions, featured readers, puzzle pages, promotions, next-week previews or advertisements. The back page initially featured a cut-out doll and paper clothes. I loved that.  As I got older, my tastes changed and my favourite weekly comic became Tina, later called Princess Tina as it and Princess magazine merged. The contents were broadly similar to Bunty but for a young teen audience. Of course these are now out of print.

 

Check back to Jo's blog to find out who has/is posting on each day in December. 

Wichtelaktion 2020 - Advent Elf card exchange - UPDATED

This year I took part in Wichtelaktion (the Advent Elf card exchange) arranged by Martina (Mein allerei Hobby). Each participant stitched a card to send to their partner with the intention that it would arrange by Advent. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photograph of the card I stitched before posting it but here is a photo of the packaging. Martina has kindly sent me a copy of the card I stitched which I have now added.

 

Clare gifted this kit to me a number of years ago and I was delighted to stitch it for my partner. There is a lot of detail in this small design (3.5 cm x 4.6 cm) and I fully intend to stitch it again.

I received this pretty card from June (Butterfly Wings)

along with these festive extras. Thank you June.

All the other Advent Elf cards made in this exchange can be viewed on Martina's blog, here.

Thank you Martina for arranging this.