Gifted Gorgeousness - January 2025

Welcome to Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) for 2025. I hope to have more to show this year than last. GG is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching and here is the link to the sign-up page and details of what makes a gifted item. In essence it is an opportunity to celebrate any stitching related gifted item that you've made or received. It's hard to believe that it is ten years since Jo started hosting it.

This will be a relatively picture heavy blog post as I sent and received a number of stitching gifts at Christmas. I sent the following ornaments to my friends at Needlecraft Haven.

For Julie:

Snow Birds - Country Cottage Needleworks, 

Just CrossStitch Christmas Ornaments 2013

Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Belfast Pearl linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads, except 3347 substituted for 3346

Embellishments: White chenille aran wool used for trim

For Clare:

Oh Christmas Tree - Little House Needleworks 

Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Natural opalescent linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Embellishments: DMC ecru and 814 thread for cord trim

For Gill:

Snow Globe Cookie Small - Shannon Christine Designs 

Fabric: The Crafty Kitten Brittney Ltd. Ed. Opal,

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Embellishments: White chenille aran wool used for trim

For Christine:

Britty Christmas Kitten - Brittercup Designs, 

Just CrossStitch Christmas Ornaments 2005

Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Belfast Flax linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads, stitched 2 over 2

Embellishments: DMC 523 and 3012 thread for cord trim

I received these beautiful gifts for Christmas.

From Christine:

Seasonal red and green Anchor threads on an owl thread keeper.

I can keep my lip gloss to hand while stitching as it now has its own holder

From Clare: 

Ornaments, chart, threads and chocolate

From Gill:

A Fuchsia bookmark kit

From Gill:

My Needlecraft Haven Christmas exchange ornament

From Julie:

A scarf for wearing to my crossstitch group (and on other occasions)

From Family:

This kit will be my first attempt at Needle Felting

For Christmas 2023, Clare gifted me Faby Reilly's Lily of the Valley biscornu chart. I had high hopes of finishing it for May Day 2024. Instead it became my first finish of 2025. My finish isn't quite square but it looks good.

Lily of the Valley Biscornu - Faby Reilly

Fabric: 32ct Natural linen

Threads: Recommended DMC threads

Embellishments: Recommended metallic thread and beads

Gifted Gorgeousness and Fully Finished Gallery

I have two finished ornaments which both qualify as Fully Finished and Gifted Gorgeousness items this month. To learn more about both of these monthly SALs visit this link at Serendipitous Stitching for Gifted Gorgeousness and here at The Ten Hour Stitcher for Fully Finished Gallery

The first ornament you will have already seen as it was my Needlecraft Haven Autumn Exchange piece for 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

This second ornament was completed for a little girl who loves anything to do with space and the planets. She loved it. I've already helped her find out what she needs to do to become an astronaut. I found this free design on Durene Jones' Facebook page.

Your're Out of this World - Durene Jones

Fabric: 32ct Winter Sunset linen fromThe Crafty Kitten

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except Dmc 728 used for DMC 725

Embellishments: Blue/grey chenille wool for trim

I should have more to show next month as my Christmas stitching is under way. It seems no time since I was last Christmas stitching.

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.

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 

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

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

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.

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!
                     

Happy New Year and June-December 2019 catch-up

Happy New Year everyone. May the year ahead bring the best of what you wish for.

My Granny always said to start the year as you mean to go on, so I decided to write a catch-up blog post. During the summer we had terrible internet problems. More often than not, there was no internet nor telephone. Consequently I lost the habit of updating my blog and of reading blog posts. So it feels like I'm starting again.

I didn't do alot of crafting during the summer months as it was far too hot. Quite often, the temperature was in the high 30 degrees Celsius. If I hadn't taken part in some exchanges I might not have done anything.

For the Friendly Stitchers' Christmas in July exchange, I stitched Frosty Friends by Blue Ribbon Designs for Mouse and finished it as a flat, felt backed ornament. Sadly, I forgot to take a photo before posting.  I also forgot to take a photo of the mattress pincushion I made for Clare of Aimetu's Stitching but you can see it on her blog here. The pincushion had to have a cat or dog theme. We both chose dogs and would you believe it, we both chose the same pattern: Lizzie Kate's Dogs Leave Paw Prints. You can see Clare's exchange to me below.

Dogs Leave Paw Prints - Lizzie Kate

Received as a ring box  pincushion from Clare, Needlecraft Haven.

Next thing I knew it was time for Halloween at Needlecraft Haven. For Christine (The Alchymyst's Study) I stitched Penny's Potions from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. Naturally I changed the name Penny to Christine.

Penny's Potions - The Frosted Pumpkin stitchery
Just Cross Stitch, October 2019
Fabric: 32ct Murano The Crafty Kitten, Winter Sunset
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I received this lovely set of goodies from Dusty. 

Finally it was time for Christmas. In Needlecraft Haven I stitched Joyeux Noel for Angi (no blog).

Joyeux Noel - 123 Citrouille
Mains & Merveilles, No.93, 2012
Fabric: 32ct  Zweigart Natural linen
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I received this gnome ornament and stamped Christmas card from Christine.

Needlecraft Haven Christmas Exchange from Christine

Finally for the Friendly Stitchers Christmas exchange, I stitched Les Rennes Rouges for Meg.

Les Rennes Rouges - 123 Citrouille
Mains & Merveilles, No.93, 2012
Fabric: 32ct  Zweigart White linen
Thread: DMC 817

In exchange, Meg sent me this beautiful beaded ornament and some chocolates which are long gone.

Received from Meg
Christmas 2019

To close here is a photo of the Christmas presents I received from Clare and Deb (no blog).

Received from Clare
Christmas 2019

Received from Deb
Christmas 2019