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

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I had hoped to have all three designs from Pineberry Lane's Shamrocks completed for today but I only got one stitched. Oh well, there is always next year.

Here is my finish of  Erin Go Bragh sitting on the same fabric as I chose for backing this ornament.

Erin Go Bragh - Pineberry Lane

Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Fully Finished SAL - March 2021

For a change I'm ready to share my fully finished objects on the opening day for this thread. This SAL is hosted by Rachel (Ten Hour Stitcher) and the links to this month's other participants can be found here. 

I have two finishes this month. The first is a simple and straightforward padded card finish. As it needs to be in the post by Friday, I didn't dare delay finishing it any longer. It is a Just Nan design that I completed earlier in the year.

(Happy Birthday) Heartfelt Trio - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct pale blue (not Zweigart) linen

Threads/Embellishments: Suggested DMC threads plus sequins

My second finish is a recycle of an earlier finish from 2015 when I stitched all the Prairie Schooler seasons designs from the February 2008 issue of The Gift of Stitching.  Originally I had finished this to sit on a little easel. 

However I was never really satisfied with this and had planned to change it for some time. I've now made it into a small pillow and will complete the other seasons in a similar manner throughout the year.

Spring - Prairie Schooler 

The Gift of Stitching, February 2008

Fabric: 18ct Flax Aida

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Stick 6 in 2021 - First update

I have joined Martina (Mein-allerlei-hobby) for her Stick 6 in 2021. This means that I will stitch and complete six cross stitch designs in 2021. Each of my selected projects is given a number of 1 to 6.  For January/February's stitching the chosen project was No. 4. For me that meant Just Nan's 'M is for Mouse'. I'm pleased with this pillow finish especially as I made my cording the right thickness (to me, that is).

M is for Mouse - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct Crafty Kitten Jazlyn Sunlit Smoke

Threads and Embellishments - As suggested DMC threads and mouse charm

My Stick 6 in 21 projects for the year are: 

1. Mill Hill
2. Heartstring Samplery
3. Blackbird Designs
4. Just Nan
5. Plum Street Samplers
6. Abbey Rose Designs

For March and April's stitching the chosen number is 2 which will be Heartstring Samplery for me. I won't start it straight away as I want to do some stitching for St. Patrick's Day first.

Fully Finished Gallery SAL - May 2020

After reading Clare's post on her fully finished item (FFO), I decided that I would join in this month as I have one! Generally I'm slow to finish my stitching as something unless I have a reason for it, usually an exchange or gift.
The Fully Finished Gallery SAL is hosted by Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher and it is an opportunity to show off our FFO.

I have a lack of summer stitching to display so I stitched The Drawn's Thread 'Spot of Summer' and finished it as a pillow. I've had this kitted up for a while so I have no excuses really for not stitching it sooner. It was a quicker stitch than I was expecting.

Spot of Summer - The Drawn Thread
Fabric - 32ct Zweigart Sand linen
Threads - Suggested DMC threads
Charm - Sunflower charm included with chart

Take care everyone.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day and 'Sláinte' as I raise a glass to you. (If I'm completely honest, it's a cup of tea 😄 ).

This year I was determined to get some stitching completed for St. Patrick's day and I managed to finish two small pieces.
My first piece is Leprechaun Cottage from Blue Ribbon Designs. I've had this on my 'To do' list for a number of years. I finally stitched it.

Leprechaun Cottage - Blue Ribbon Designs
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Natural linen
Threads: Recommended DMC threads

This second design is called March Quaker and I have been unable to find out who designed it. It's ages since I've made a biscornu so I enjoyed making this finish.

March Quaker - ??
Fabric: 40ct Zweigart Silvery Moon linen (7011)
Thread: DMC 3818

May you all stay safe and healthy in these unsettling times.

Smalls SAL - February 2018 and Needlecraft Haven Monthly Challenge

It's my first time taking part in the Smalls SAL 2018 hosted by Heather, Stitching Lotus. Having stitched a number of smalls in 2017, it seemed logical to take part in this year's SAL.

My smalls finish for this month fits both the Smalls SAL and Needlecraft Haven's (NH) monthly challenge*. Since this is February it will not be too big a surprise that my stitching has a love theme.

Love never fails - The Primitive Hare

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Vintage Country White linen

Thread: Le fil Atalie - Carmen

*If you are unfamiliar with NH's monthly challenge, it works like this. Christine, one of the members of Needlecraft Haven, runs our Monthly Challenge. At the start of the month she posts up a freebie chart she has found online for us all to stitch. We can use any thread, fabric and finishing. When completed, we send a photo to Christine and on the last Sunday of the month she reveals the Gallery showing all our different finishes. Until the Gallery is open, we cannot show our finished item anywhere else.

Stitching time

I've started to stitch my Christmas ornaments and here is the first one. When I saw this 'Santa's cat and dog' design from Madame Chantilly earlier in the year I just had to get it as I have so many cat and dog lover friends. Here is the dog design which has still to be finished into a hanging ornament.

Santa's Dog - Madame Chantilly
Stitched on 36ct hand-dyed linen (hand-dyed by Madame Chantilly)

I met Madame Chantilly at a needlework show in Pexiora, Aude. She was delightful to speak to and I hope to buy more of her designs in the future.

I finally filled the pillow I made for Little Blue Bungalow, our birthday thread exchange at Needlecraft Haven. It's only been waiting since May. Why I kept putting it off, goodness knows, because it didn't take that long to do.
This free design can be found on the Weeks Dye Works website, here.

Little Blue Bungalow - Blue Ribbon Designs
Stitched on Goldrush 32ct Murano by Crafty Kitten

If all goes to plan, I'll get some stitching time today and I'll start another Christmas ornament.

I'm so lucky

Today was opening day for Needlecraft Haven's summer exchange and I received this lovely bookmark and linen threads from Alison. This bookmark is perfect for me as I collect them.

Needlecraft Haven 2014 Summer Exchange
Received from Alison

By chance, Alison was my partner in this exchange and I sent her this pincushion Spot of Summer by Drawn Thread.

Spot of Summer - Drawn Thread
Stitched on 32ct Belfast Sand
Stitched for Alison, Needlecraft Haven 2014 Summer Exchange

I mentioned yesterday my summer exchange from Sharon at Friendly Stitchers. Well here it is. In addition to the pillow with a motif from the Summer Sampler by The Victoria Sampler, she sent me a supply of goodies that I will also put to good use.

Friendly Stitchers 2014 Summer Exchange
Received from Sharon

Once again, thank you to Alison and Sharon for their lovely stitching gifts. No wonder I say "I'm so lucky".

A Contribution to History, a Finish and a WIP

I couldn't resist the phrase 'A contribution to history', it makes me smile. I haven't done anything dramatic or earth shattering; just stitched my initial using DMC 321 on a 15cm square piece of linen and sent it to the Textile Museum Parc Wesserling in Alsace, France. DMC are having a permanent exhibition where the stitched initials will be displayed along with the names of the participants. Closing date for contributions is 12th May. Further details are here (in English) and here (in French).

Initial M
Stitched on 32ct white Belfast

I completed Little Blue Bungalow,(a free design from Blue Ribbon Designs) which is the 2014 chart for the Birthday thread exchange on Needlecraft Haven. The picture below shows an unfilled pillow as I need to buy some more filling. I love how the colours really stand out and fortunately I had some suitable pink/fushia fabric that I could use for the pillow.

Little Blue Bungalow - Blue Ribbon Designs
Stitched on Goldrush 32ct Murano by Crafty Kitten

I have started the Mojo Sampler, which is the current SAL on The Stitch Specialists. I've decided on a combination of purples (DMC 333, 340, 3746) and yellows (DMC 725, 744). Unfortunately, the yellow backstitch lettering isn't showing up too well on the fabric. If I am still unhappy with it when the SAL is completed, I will switch it for another yellow. The lettering reads 'I love to stitch'.

Mojo Sampler - Abi Gurden, Bee's Needleworks
The Stitch Specialists SAL
Stitched on 32ct White Belfast