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.

Gifted Gorgeousness and an Easter Exchange

April is nearly over but I'm in time to show my Gifted Gorgeousness for this month. It's a good job that Jo leaves the link-up open until the end of the month. If you want to learn more about Gifted Gorgeousness, please follow this link. 

I've completed the stitching on Christmas Crew and since this photo was taken I've started adding the beads. Though gifted many years apart, the chart and the fabric are both gifts from Clare. 

Christmas Crew - Faby Reilly

Fabric: 28ct white evenweave

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

We had an Easter exchange at Needlecraft Haven and I received these beautiful threads, ornament and card from Gill. My Spring themed ornament will be hanging near my fireplace for another few weeks.

NH Easter Exchange items received

Close up of my Spring themed ornament

Christine was my partner and I sent her a Spring themed ornament with thread and chocolates.

NH Easter Exchange sent

Spring Time - SubRosa Design, PNPS, Spring 2017

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Vintage Country Mocha

Threads: Suggested DMC threads but used 372 for 371 and 3064 for 407

I didn't spend any time  on Chatelaine's Alpine Seasons Garden in April but I should have some progress to show next month.

Gifted Gorgeousness and a Valentine Exchange - February 2025

It's time for my monthly Gifted Gorgeousness link up with Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.  Each month we show anything received or sent that we can squeeze the word gift into. If you are unfamiliar with this blog link up all the details are here. 

First up is the Valentine/Friendship exchange at Needlecraft Haven. Our theme this year was to send our partner something they could use in their stitching or knitting.

I sent Gill a pair of scissors, a scissor fob and size 26 needles (not pictured).

  

Wescott 7.6cm scissors for Gill

Pearls & Rosebuds - The Drawn Thread

Fabric: The Crafty Kitten 32ct Murano Strawberry Daiquiri

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except DMC 233 replaced with DMC 3722

Embellishments: MH 03021, size 8 white pearl beads, 2-3mm width soft pink organza ribbon

I received a beautiful collection of fabric, buttons, pins and a sparkly Perle deep pink thread form Clare. I already have ideas on how I will use these.

My gift from Clare

During the past month I've been stitching on my Christmas gift from Clare as part of our Needlecraft Haven Christmas Crew SAL. It is being stitched on white fabric that she gifted me a number of years ago. This is my progress as at the end of January which is when we share our progress.

Christmas Crew - Faby Reilly

Fabric: 28ct white evenweave

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I made some progress this month on Chatelaine's Alpine Seasons Garden. It's been more than a year since I last stitched on this. My husband who bought me this as a kit sometimes wonders if he will see it completed. When I last showed it the outer border had been completed and I was about to start the floral inner corners. This left corner has been my focus this past month.

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine as at 15 February 2025

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Sand linen

Threads: Recommended silk threads

To close this post, I stitched 'You have my Heart', the free anniversary design from Hands on Design. As I only managed to complete it on the evening before Valentine's day, it is not fully finished but here it is.

You have my Heart - Hands on Design

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Flax linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except DMC 3833 replaced with DMC 3832

All in all, I've had quite a busy stitching month. Now if only I can keep this up for the rest of the year.

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.

Valentine Exchange and Gifted Gorgeousness - February 2024

I'm just getting in before the end of the month with my Gifted Gorgeousness. As always, the details of how Gifted Gorgeousness(GG) works can be found on Jo's blog, Serendipitous Stitching.

I delayed posting this month as I wanted to show my absolutely completed finish of Just Nan's Tea with Honey with a halfway decent photograph. However, the weather has been so dull I find it hard to take reasonable photographs. It's early afternoon while I'm writing this and it's dark enough to need a lamp on. So that photo will have to wait until next month.

First up is my Valentine Exchange at Needlecraft Haven. This year we had a non-stitchy Valentine exchange. Participants sent their partner a card, socks, a free or used chart and a sweet treat.

I received these socks and sweets from Christine along with this pretty Pinker 'n Punkin Quilting cottage chart. Given my sweet tooth, the sweet treats didn't last long!

Needlecraft Haven Valentine Exchange from Christine

 I sent a stitched card to Clare and Gill.

LEFT: Valentine's Freebie - Erin Elizabeth Designs

Fabric: Unknown 32ct in a milk chocolate like colour

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

RIGHT: Full Valentine 2010 Dragon - J.L. Aikman-Smith, Dragon Dreams Inc

Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Antique Ivory Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except DMC 326 replaced with Au Voie d'Alger 3025

Clare was my exchange partner and though I sent the other exchange items to her I forgot to take a photo but you can see them on Clare's blog here.

Since my last GG post it's been my birthday and I received these stitching related gifts.

Pattern for a thread catcher bag and two skeins of thread from Clare

Four Christmas themed embroidery designs with their hoop frames from a family member

It's several years since I stitched traditional embroidery so I'm looking forward to sewing these. Realistically, I will only be stitching on one of them this year.

The following items you will have seen in my previous post for the Fully Finished Gallery and Small SAL so I will add no further comment on them.

You are Loved - Robin Sample, October House Fiber Arts

Fabric:  Unknown 35ct White linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except DMC 3833 replaced with DMC 961

Dragon from Full Valentine 2010 Dragon - Dragon Dreams Inc

Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Antique Ivory Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads 

So, a busier than usual month for me with sending and receiving gifts and I love them all.

Fully Finished Gallery and Gifted Gorgeousness - January 2024

Rachel, The Ten Hour Stitcher and Jo of Serendipitous Stitching continue to host The Fully Finished Gallery and Gifted Gorgeousness respectively. If you click on the link for their blog, it will take you to the page which explains how you can take part if you wish.

With Christmas gifts I have plenty of GG to show this month but I will start first with my Fully Finished item. It's the Jardin Privé temperature SAL from 2022. I finished it as a cushion which will be on display in the spare bedroom. As you can see, January was the coldest month in 2022 and we had a long, hot summer.

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 have also finished Just Nan's Tea with Honey. My cube is ready and waiting for my miniature tea set to arrive. When I've added the tea set pins to the cube I will post a photo in February's Fully Finished Gallery SAL.

My dear friends at Needlecraft Haven sent me the following gifts:

Gift from Clare

Chart, fabric and thread for Faby Reilly's Lily of the Valley Biscornu

Santa Ornament

Clare gifted a Faby Reilly biscornu chart, fabric and threads to each of her Needlecraft Haven friends and those of us who wish to, are stitching our gift as part of Needlecraft Haven's Biscornu SAL.

Gift from Gill

Charts are Little House Needleworks Woodland Sampling and 

Bianca's Scissor Pocket from The Cat's Whiskers. 

Two skeins of silk thread from Dinky Dyes

Gift from Julie

Socks, ribbon and a finished ornament, 

Mary and Joseph from Shepherd's Bush

Thank you once again Clare, Gill and Julie.

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.

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.

Fully Finished Gallery - June 2022 and Needlecraft Haven Jubilee Exchange

I actually have something to show for this month's Fully Finished Gallery which is hosted by Rachel, The Ten House Stitcher.

At Needlecraft Haven we had a Jubilee coaster exchange and I stitched this Commemorative Crown free design for Gill (no blog). It was my first time putting stitching in a round coaster and I imagine it will be awhile before I do it again. It was fiddly! I added some lettering, ER II and 70 years in silver but I couldn't get it to show up well in any photographs. I should have used another colour such as purple. Why purple you might ask.

Commemorative Crown design - Jenny Barton www.gathered.how

Fabric: 28ct Brittany Ivory evenweave

Threads: Suggested DMC threads except Krenik 102HL for

DMC Light Effects Gold and a gold sewing thread for backstitch

Well, it so happened that Clare stitched the same design for me and she used purple which as you can see below is more effective. As an aside, purple is one of my favourite colours.

This is not the first time that Clare and I have stitched the same design in exchanges.

Finally an update on my Jardin Privé Temperature SAL. Here is how it looked at the end of May. As you can see, it is definitely getting warmer. I haven't started on the strong reds yet but I'm getting there.

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

Happy Easter and Gifted Gorgeousness - April 2022

Happy Easter. We had an Easter card exchange at Needlecraft Haven and I received this pretty card from Clare. These colours are so delicate. I wish I had an Easter egg tree in my my garden :)

Easter card from Clare, Needlecraft Haven

For this exchange Clare was my partner and I stitched an egg design from The Cricket Collection.

Tisket-a-Tasket Egg - The Cricket Collection

Fabric: 28ct Jobelan, The Crafty Kitten, January 2018 Limited Edition

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I'm still stitching on my Jardin Privé Temperature SAL and this is my progress as at 31 March 2022. The range between my daily and minimum temperatures in March is broad.

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

In recent weeks I wasn't able to stitch as much as I would have liked on Chatelaine's Alpine Seasons Garden nor Wiehenburg's Cottage Garden SAL but at least some progress was made.

The final side of the border on Alpine Seasons Garden has met up (bottom border) and I am currently filling it in. When that is completed I'll have 'just' the corner flowers to stitch and then it will be time to start beading.

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine as at 9 September 2022

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Sand linen

Threads: Recommended silk threads

I'm still stitching the first part of the Cottage Garden SAL. While I like it on the cream fabric I wonder if it would 'pop' more if I had used a fabric that was slightly darker. I'm not inclined to restart it so I will continue on cream.

Cottage Garden SAL - Wiehenburg

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Ivoire/Cream

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

To see who else has taken part in April's Gifted Gorgeousness and to learn more about it, please visit Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.