Halloween Spooky Link up 2024

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching has arranged a Halloween Link Up this year and you can check out who has participated by clicking on my link to her blog.

I didn't have time for any new Halloween stitching this year. I took part in Needlecraft Haven's Autumn exchange instead. I will post about that exchange at the weekend. Instead I've decided to show the Halloween stitching that I currently have on display. This is a mixture of pieces I have stitched or have received as gifts.

Halloween Stitching

Stitched by me or received in exchanges

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 - 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 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

A Halloween Exchange

At Needlecraft Haven we had a Halloween exchange and I stitched this Just Nan design for my partner, Dusty. Thankfully, although my parcel to her got damaged in the post, my ornament was undamaged.

Pretty Wicked - Just Nan

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 32ct Belfast Lavender Haze

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I received this lovely pack of goodies from Deb (no blog). Needless to say the chocolate didn't last long. I think the socks must have been scary as we had no 'Trick or Treaters' come to the door this year.

Needlecraft Haven Halloween Exchange 2018

Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2018

Will it be Trick or Treat?

Smell My feet - La-D-Da

JCS Halloween Collection, 2008

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 32ct Belfast Lavender Haze

Threads: Suggested DMC threads 

It's time for the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. Follow the blog hop to collect a letter to complete a mystery phrase. Comment on Jo's blog with the correct phrase and you could win the chart for JBW's Smiling Jack-O-Lantern and some other goodies.  A list of all the blog participants can be found here. 

This year I have the letter N:

Source: Heypik

Hop over to http://janalynmarie.blogspot.com/ to collect your next letter in this spooky blog hop.
Before you leave, this little chap would like to say 'Hi' in his own way:

Boo - Val's Stuff

JCS Halloween 2012

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 32ct Belfast Mottled Sage

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Happy Halloween!

Gifted Gorgeousness - October

Just squeezing in for Gifted Gorgeousness this month. As my 'show and tell' this month is all Halloween related,  if I don't do it now it will seem very out-of-date come mid November. As always for further information on Gifted Gorgeousness (what it is and how it works), please visit Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.

Some of this you will have already seen from my Halloween Blog Hop post. First up is the ornament I stitched for Mouse as part of Friendly Stitchers Halloween exchange.

Boo! - Brittercup Designs
Fabric: 28ct Cashel Light Mocha
Thread: Suggested DMC threads with the border
completed in Carrie's Threads 'Halloween'

In exchange I received this package of goodies from DJ of Tickled Pink in Stitches . DJ also made the Halloween themed scissor fob that came with the scissors. Thank you, DJ.

Friendly Stitchers Halloween Exchange
from DJ

To finish - I finally completed the needleroll that I was gifted from Sally of Stitchyangel's Treasures in her November giveaway last year. Thank you Sally, this was a fun stitch. I would now like to pass this pattern on, so I will do a separate giveaway post for this and the Brittercup Boo! design later this week. You can start your Halloween stitching early for next year ☺.

Frightful Halloween - Shepherd's Bush
Fabric: 32ct Belfast lilac
Threads: Recommended DMC and
Weeks Dye Works threads

Right side of needleroll

Left side of needleroll

Halloween Treat or Treat Blog Hop 2017

It's time for things that go bump in the night! It's also time for the Halloween Trick or Treat Blog hop organised by Jo from Serendipitous Stitching. Follow the blog hop to collect a letter to complete a mystery phrase. Comment on Jo's blog with the correct phrase and you could win a Halloween themed chart. A list of this year's participants and full details can be found here.

I completed two pieces of Halloween stitching this year. First up is Boo! from Brittercup Designs. I sent this to Mouse in the Friendly Stitchers Halloween Exchange.

Boo! - Brittercup Designs
Fabric: 28ct Cashel Light Mocha
Thread: Suggested DMC threads with the border
completed in Carrie's Threads 'Halloween'

Last night I finally finished Shepherd's Bush 'Frightful Halloween' needleroll. This was a gift last year in a giveaway from Sally of Stitchyangel's Treasures .

Frightful Halloween - Shepherd's Bush
Fabric: 32ct Belfast lilac
Threads: Recommended DMC and
Weeks Dye Works threads

Left side of needleroll

Right side of needleroll

Finally, for those of you collecting the letters for the mystery phrase, here is mine.

For your next letter, please go to http://firefliescatsinthegarden.blogspot.fr/ 

Happy hunting!