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.

Smalls SAL - May 2020

Most of my stitching this past month has been done in the evening as during the day I've been busy doing family history research. I sit down at the laptop for a short while in the afternoon and the next thing I know, it's dinner time!

However, I managed to 'finish' a couple of smalls. I stitched Peace and Love on my Little Sheep Virtues sampler. I still find this a relaxing project for the evenings.

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

My second project was Shepherd's Bush All Seasons Scissor Fob. I love the colours and delicate look of this design. I still have to fully finish it but I'm getting there.

All Seasons Scissor Fob - Shepherd's Bush
This was a kit so all fabric, threads and embellishments were included

Smalls SAL - April and Needlecraft Haven Monthly Challenge

Another one for two this month for the Smalls SAL organised by Heather, Stitching Lotus and the monthly challenge, hosted by Christine at Needlecraft Haven.

To summarise, for the Smalls SAL you stitch something small during the month and share a link up to your blog post at Stitching Lotus to show your finish. Over at Needlecraft Haven, Christine posts a small free design each month which we can stitch and finish as we like. Alternate months are a Christmas design.

A Bee Design - unknown

Fabric: 40ct Newcastle white linen

Threads: Atalie - Carmen, Les quatre saisons; DMC - 3371;

Weeks Dye Works - Whiskey

As you can see I finished this month's design as a scissor fob. This free design can be found at Suzi's blog, here. The fob is sitting on a baby quilt, which is almost finished. I am sewing the binding at the moment so I should be posting a picture of the completed quilt within the week.

Gifted Gorgeousness - March and Stitcher's Day exchange

It's time for Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) again, which is organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. You can find out more about GG and how to take part here.

Most of my stitching during the past month has been for exchanges. The Stitcher's Day exchange at Friendly Stitchers is completed for me as I have sent and received.

My partner was Meari (Meari's Musings) and I stitched this scissor fob from The Sweetheart Tree as well as this hardanger matchbook needle case. I added Meari's initials and the year on one side of the fob. Unfortunately it was difficult to get decent photos of these, but at least I have a photographic record of them.

The Sweetheart Tree - Stitcher's Favorite Fob

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Flax linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Embellishment: Beads from own stash

 Hardanger matchbook needle case

I received this beautiful and handy thread keeper with two gorgeous Sparklies threads from Chris (no blog).

Thread Keeper with threads from Chris

A mini scissor fob

Back in January/February, I stitched Just Nan's 'Tiny Beaded Heart' but until now, I didn't finish it. Last week, I finally made it into a scissor fob. So after adding a little heart on the reverse side of the fob, here it is.

Tiny Beaded Heart - Just Nan
stitched on 28ct Cashel linen

Reverse of scissor fob with small cross-stitched heart

If I were to stitch this again, I would add a backstitch border around the heart (4-6 threads out from the design) before stitching the two sides together as it would frame the design and make the fob a little larger.

Nevermore ...

Well that's how I feel after stitching this double-sided key fob on 28ct evenweave, 1 over 1. I didn't really enjoy it and if it hadn't been for a little seven year old girl who loves all things 'Frozen', I would have put it to one side and never looked at it again.

However, an aunt's love knows no bounds and it is now in the post to her. I just hope that she hasn't switched her affiliation to Cinderella before it arrives.
 

Elsa - Crafty Guild
stitched on 28ct white evenweave

Anna - Crafty Guild
stitched on 28ct white evenweave

Valentine Exchanges

Okay, it is a little late in the day but I still want to share the lovely gifts that I received from two Valentine Exchanges I took part in.
Firstly, I received this lovely gift from Kate - a friendship stocking (Plum Street Samplers), sweets, tea and a small candle.

Friendly Stitchers Valentine Exchange from Kate

I sent Kate this hardanger heart along with some tea and soap. I only took a photograph of the heart. This free design can be found here.

Hardanger Heart - Lee Albrecht

At Needlecraft Haven, you stitched your partner a heart or friendship themed scissor fob and enclosed 3 small gifts. I received this lovely set of heart themed goodies from Ursh.

Needlecraft Haven Valentine Exchange from Ursh

I sent my gifts to Jacklyn at Needlecraft Haven and again I only photographed the stitched piece. This was a 2011 Thanksgiving freebie from Dragon Dreams. I altered the wording to another phrase I preferred.

2011 Thanksgiving Freebie - Dragon Dreams

I really enjoy taking part in exchanges. I love the challenge of finding what I think will be the 'right' chart to stitch for my exchange partner and of course, there is also the delight of waiting on that parcel to arrive and seeing what you've received. Win - win!