Vibrant Vintage blanket is finished

Hurrah! I've finished my Vibrant Vintage blanket (see Cypress Textiles for full details of this free design). I worked pretty solidly on this for the past three months because; a) I loved it and b) I knew if I didn't finish it now it could end up lingering in a cupboard for at least a couple of years. I omitted the very final border of picot stitches because I liked it as it was.

Now I'll return to stitching for a while 😊

Vibrant Vintage blanket - Cypress Textiles

Vibrant Vintage blanket - Cypress Textiles

One half of the blanket

Vibrant Vintage blanket - Cypress Textiles

The other half of the blanket

More crochet blanket progress

I'm almost ready to crochet the border of my blanket. Yesterday morning, I had to finish adding the last row of granny squares and this is what it looked like then. This is the first time that I have used the cont

Vibrant Vintage Blanket - Cypress Textiles

Wool: Stylecraft Life DK

My local AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises) is having an 'Open Doors' weekend on 20-21 January and this will be one of the items on display from our sewing and knitting group. The border won't be completely finished by then but it will look as if it is.

I'm really pleased with how this has come out. I found some of the squares challenging but I got there in the end. Full information on this 2016 free blanket CAL can be found on Cypress Textile's blog, here.

I've also found another blanket that I would like to crochet. To celebrate Finland's 100th anniversary, the Kalevala CAL (information here) will consist of 24 squares. Some of the designed squares look complex to me but it still appeals. If I decide to make one it will probably be in a single colour.

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2018.

I'm beginning to show my age as we didn't sit up until midnight. I was tucked up in bed before then. Instead we went out for lunch yesterday and had a nice leisurely walk by the Canal du Midi afterwards.

Today I will catch up on some of my blog reading and will complete the edging on my crochet squares. As previously mentioned, I started on the 2016 Vibrant Vintage Blanket CAL from Cypress Textiles in late November and I have been busy with my crochet needle since. Here are some of my crochet squares. I thought that I could have it finished in time for Christmas but there was more work involved than I realised. At least I'm almost ready to join the squares together.

Vibrant Vintage Blanket - Cypress Textiles
Wool: Stylecraft Life DK

Final Gifted Gorgeousness of 2017

It's hard to believe that a year has almost gone by. It's been my first year to participate in Gifted Gorgeousness and I've enjoyed it. It's been fun seeing what other stitchers have gifted and received. Thank you, Jo for hosting this.

Well as this is December, it is no surprise that there is a theme in these photos. I received this lovely Hardanger Santa from Clare (Aimetu's Stitching).

 Hardanger Santa from Clare, Needlecraft Haven

 As previously posted, for our Needlecraft Haven Christmas exchange I made this for Angi ...

Deck the halls - JBW Designs
Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Cashel light mocha
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

 and received this from Gill.

Needlecraft Haven gift from Gill

I also particpiated in the Friendly Stitchers Christmas exchange and I received this ornament, fabric and thread from Vivian in New Brunswick (no blog, I think). Unfortunately her card features its own watermarks as it got wet in my postbox. This bell finish is so well done. I want to try one.

Friendly Stitchers Christmas Exchange 2017 from Vivian

I forgot to take a photo of the ornament that I stitched for Christine at Friendly Stitchers. It was free design from Madame La Fee called Bouquet of December which can be found here.

Needlecraft Haven Christmas exchange

First of December was opening day for Needlecraft Haven's Christmas exchange.

I stitched 'Deck the Halls' from JBW Designs for Angi (no blog) and finished it as a hanging flat fold ornament. I also included some 'icy' blue/white fabric but forgot to take a photo of it.

Deck the halls - JBW Designs
Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Cashel light mocha
Threads: Suggested DMC threads
Embellishments: red beads substitued with French knots and
star charms were replaced with stitched silver stars.

I received this lovely ornament with a stitched card, thread and chocolate from Gill (no blog). Given my sweet tooth, you will not be surprised to read that the chocolate didn't last long.

Needlecraft Haven gift from Gill

Not much stitching has taken place recently as I'm busy crocheting Granny squares for my blanket. If I get a bright day soon, I'll take some photos to show my progress.

I've started to crochet a blanket

Late last year, I bought wool to crochet the Vibrant Vintage Blanket from Cypress Textiles. This was a free SAL that she ran during 2016. Well, this weekend I finally got my crochet out and made a start. These four squares are not perfect and I admit there was a lot of 'reworking' at times but I finally got there.

I've realised that if I make an effort I could have this blanket completed in time for Christmas. I like the thought of it, so watch this space. :)

Gifted Gorgeousness - November

Gifted Gorgeousness is the brainchild of Jo of Serendipitous Stitching where we showcase the stitchy gifts that we have made and received. For further information on what it is and how it works, please visit Jo here.

A short post this time as during November my stitching has been mainly for Christmas exchanges, which means that I don't have much to show this month. However, now that Clare (Aimetu's Stitching) has received the ornament that I made for her church Christmas tree, I can post a picture. You can read more about Clare's church Christmas tree here on her blog.

Snow Happy - Glory Bee
taken from 2011 Just CrossStitch Christmas ornaments issue.
Fabric: 28ct Cashel Ice Blue
Threads: recommended DMC

Chart Giveaway - winner!

Sorry for the delay in posting this. Thank you to those who expressed an interest in the charts. DH has pulled  the winning name from a bowl and the winner is Terri.

Terri, please email me with your postal address so I can send these charts to you.

Happy Stitching everyone.

Chart Giveaway - 2 Halloween designs

As promised in an earlier post, I am giving away the following two charts (pictured below):

1) Frightful Halloween from Shepherd's Bush which includes 7 orange beads and a couple of strands of Tobacco Road. I received this chart from Sally of Stitchyangel's Treasures and I am now passing it on.
2) Boo! from Brittercup Designs which includes some Carrie's Thread 'Halloween' (for the border, if you wish) and a small Scarecrow charm.

If you would like to receive them, please leave me a comment for this post. If more than one person is interested I will randomly draw a recipient. The giveaway is open until Tuesday 14 November 2017.

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!

Gifted Gorgeousness with finishes - September

2017 has so far been the year of 'smalls' for me and this month's Gifted Gorgeousness is more of the same.

I have three finishes to show and it would have been four if I could have found one project that I had 'safely' put away. I think that this missing piece is telling me in no uncertain terms that I need to reorganise my crafting materials. Some labelled storage boxes would help rather than my current method of putting stuff in folders and hope that I remember what I put where!

But on to my finishes. First up is Lizzie Kate's 'Dog leave paw prints'. This is the fourth time I've stitched this. This one is a gift for a dog-mad cousin who I will be visiting shortly in Canada. It is sitting on the fabric that I used for mounting.

Dogs leave paw prints - Lizzie Kate
Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Belfast Light Mocha (I think)
Threads: Recommended Weeks dye threads except for Kris' Bon Bon
which was replaced with DMC 898

We had a Holiday Exchange at Needlecraft Haven where you received from your partner a Christmas design with fabric and threads to stitch and complete as you wish. Christine of The Alchymyst's Study sent me the materials for this 'Joy' design (a copy can be found here) which I stitched and finished as a mounted flat fold. As usual, when trying a new to me finish, I used Vonna, The Twisted Stitcher's YouTube finishing instructions.

Joy - La Comtesse & Le Point De Croix
Fabric: The Crafty Kitten 32ct Murano Moondust 
Threads: Anchor 19, 876, 879, 1042, 1086

Finally, I stitched 'Promises' from Just Nan. Yes - another Just Nan design!
This has been finished as a wedding card as I will be attending a wedding whilst in Canada.

Promises - Just Nan
Fabric: Zweigart 28ct Cashel flax linen
Threads: Recommended DMC threads and beads

 If you are unfamiliar with Gifted Gorgeousness where we share gifted crafty items, pop over to Jo of Serendipitous Stitching to learn more and find out how to take part.