Gifted Gorgeousness - July 2020

I'm pleased to have something to show for Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) this month. GG is hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching and is an opportunity to show your crafting where basically anything connected to the word "gift" is allowed, whether it was a gift to or from you. Full details on how it works can be found here.

I've finished the Silver Wedding Anniversary design gifted to me by Julie of Julie's StitchyKnitter Journal. This is a lovely design. Thank you Julie, I've enjoyed stitching it. I'm hoping that the card will arrive in time as post from France to the UK is taking 12 to 14 days to arrive instead of the usual 3 to 4 days.

Silver Anniversary - Nia cross stitch
Fabric: 40ct cream Zweigart Newcastle linen
Threads: Recommended DMC and Anchor Marlitt threads

I've stitched the design suggested by Christine in Needlecraft Haven's Stay Safe Exchange. I just need to decide on how it will be finished.

Think Happy Little Thoughts - La Comtesse & Le Point de Croix
Fabric: 32ct Crafty Kitten Murano Just Pink
Threads: DMC 729, 817;
Olde Willow Stitchery linen threads 222L Octagon Blue
and  unknown 2013 Bleu Pastel

Finally, I intend to finish this design by Hinzeit as a scissor fob. It was stitched one over one and I omitted the 'Cure' letters on the the key. The fabric is a beige evenweave that was gifted to me at my sewing group. This free design can be found on Hinzeit's website, here.

Hope Cure 2020 - Hinzeit
Fabric: Unknown 28ct Beige evenweave
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Gifted Gorgeousness - June 2020

Another month, another Gifted Gorgeousness. Hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching this is an opportunity to share stitching projects/items that have been gifted to us or that we will be gifting. 

I'm stitching a silver anniversary wedding card using a chart gifted to me from Julie of Julie's StitchyKnitter Journal.  I've had the chart for over a year as originally I thought the silver anniversary was last year. Once I realised it wasn't, the project went on the back boiler until now. I love how the thread colours are blending with each other.

Silver Anniversary - Nia cross stitch
Fabric: 40ct cream Zweigart Newcastle linen
Threads: Recommended DMC and Anchor Marlitt threads

My Alpine Seasons Garden was a Christmas present from my husband several years ago. It has had very little attention during the past weeks as the weather has been so dull. The only addition has been about 20 light grey stitches on the extreme right of the snow capped mountains. I prefer stitching on it when it is bright as I think I concentrate better. Well, that's my excuse.

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
as at 16 June 2020
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Sand linen
Threads: Recommended silk threads

My evening stitching continues to be Little Sheep Virtues. I have now completed 'Hope' and I've started stitching 'Patience'. There will no more stitching on this until I have finished the Silver Anniversary card.

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks and
Sheep in the Meadow - Country Cottage Needleworks
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural line
Threads: Recommended DMC and Weeks Dye Works threads

I've also baked a one pot yogurt cake as recommended by Christine. I didn't have a suitable cake tin so I found a slight variation of the recipe she suggested, here and baked it in a 2lb loaf tin. I used Greek yogurt and added a splash of lemon juice and some lemon zest and it tastes good. Half of the cake has gone in the freezer, for eating at a later date.

One pot yogurt cake with lemon flavouring

Gifted Gorgeousness - July

Gifted Gorgeousness is the brainchild of Jo (Serendipitous Stitching) and if you are not familiar with this monthly blog post, you can read all about it here.

This month I start with a belated 'Thank You' to Julie of Julie's Stitchyknitter Journal. Julie had offered this Silver wedding anniversary pattern on her blog and I received it in late May. I have a family Silver anniversary next year and this design will be perfect. Thank you, Julie.

After a wet June, summer is definitely here! It's very hot and we've had some thunderstorms. It's probably not the best weather for knitting but that is my current gifted gorgeousness project. I am knitting a duck egg coloured long cardigan for my mother (photo below). I've completed the back and the front left side is almost finished. Finishing this will keep me busy for a few weeks.

Flat collared cardigan

Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed in Duck Egg

Until next time, I hope that everyone enjoys pleasant weather.