Smalls SAL _ April 2017

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Stitching Lotus

First up is a Small which I forgot to post about in February (although I did post about it here on my March GG post).  It was the initial heart pillow which I stitched for the Swap organised by Cheryll for Valentine's Day.  This was sent to Sharmayne.

This is a modified Blackbird Designs piece.

This is most my recent Smalls finish - it the scissor fob design for Barbara Ana's A Snooty Parrot Sampler SAL (which I started in 2014!)

I have a sweet photo frame that was my mother's (we found a box of them when we cleaned out Mum and Dad's house in January - my DDIL persuaded me to keep the box of them for my stitcheries and I am so glad that I listened to her as they have been useful already), so I am thinking of framing it instead - maybe keeping it on my desk at work as it is such a sweet finish.

Next up is a FFO of my March Smalls SAL finish and the FFO of another long finished stitchery - both into cushions.

With the top cushion - I again, literally checked out my fabbie stash and pulled out this gorgeous paisley fabric which matched the design perfectly and when I didn't have enough for the back, I went back and pulled out the plain burgundy fabric - I think that this shows that I have way too much fabric!

I also found the perfect pearl ribbon floating around in my bits and bobs drawer!

I also found the perfect pearl ribbon floating around in my bits and bobs drawer!

I also finished stitching and FFOed March for the 2004 Cross Stitch Surprise series (January to December) 

... and I am very happy to report that I am way ahead on my "Smalls" finishes for both the  Hallowe'en Ornie SAL and the Christmas Ornie SAL.

February: Witchy Poo

March: Creepy Crawly Spiders

April: Winged Creatures

May: The Witch's Familiar, the Black Cat

Day Three: Three French Hens for March.

Day Four: Four Calling Birds for April

... and Day Five: Five Gold rings for May (although to be fair, this block was finished in January for a FB challenge).

And here is the whole piece so far - lots of border to keep me busy over the next few months until it is time to finish Six Geese-a-laying for June.

So, I am feeling very, very happy with all of my Smalls achievements!

If you would like to see what everyone else has stitched this month for the Smalls SAL, please click here.

hugs, 

October Gifted Gorgeousness... and October Smalls SAL update....

Hello my dear bloggy, stitchy friends, this is going to be a rather full GG post as it was my birthday this month (58 - where does the time go?), so I have some lovely gifts I was given to show you,  plus I took part in a couple of fun exchanges. So hang onto your hearts for some Gifted Gorgeousness...

But first, in case you do not know what I am talking about ...

Gifted Gorgeousness (or GG) is a SAL run by the wonderful SAL Mama, Jo from Serendipitous Stitching.  Basically, on the 15th of each month, we post anything which is stitchy gift-related.

Let's start with this GG piece did not quite make it into last month's post. But here is my finished and framed Where Flowers Bloom, which I stitched for a dear friend's 60th birthday.

Where Flowers Bloom

Blackbird Designs

unknown linen (although gorgeous to stitch on)

Own choice of speciality floss

I stitched this year (2016) and her initials in the bottom right corner.  Happily, she was delighted with her gift.

Next up is this gorgeous fridge magnet, which my Dear Friend, brought back from Scotland for me - it is Mary, Queen of Scots.  This feeds right into my Tudor fetish! lol!

The same dear friend, also gave me this sweet little ornament Wedgwood Jasperware teapot - so it was added to my collection of china and crystal.

Let's see, what else?

DD's London blanket is coming along nicely - I am well underway with Colour five, only four to go.  Furio seems to approve.

Now, I am coming to my Tea Cup/Mug exchange, hosted by the wonderful Stephanie from the sweet blog, The Enchanting Rose and you can read all about the Tea Cup/Mug exchanges here.

My first "Receive" was the Mug exchange, with the wonderful Gina, who luckily lives not all that far from me, so we were able to meet up at a local cafe, coincidentally on my birthday - so it was very nice receiving all of these lovely gifts .....

Look at all of the wonderful goodies she gave me, you spoilt me terribly, dear Gina.

Thank you, dear Gina, I absolutely love everything, which you so thoughtfully chose for me.

Next up, I received the Tea Cup Exchange in the mail from Lyn.

More gorgeous gifts ....

                                         Take note of the Tea Cup....

Yes, the Tea Cup and the Mug are the exact same design - how cool is that?  Talk about serendipity.

 Thank you, sweet Lyn, more gorgeousness for me, aren't I lucky?

But, there was more to come, dear, sweet Jo, to whom I sent a tea cup, sent me a thank you gift!

So kind of you, Jo, I am so glad that you liked your Tea Cup gifts and I adore my new Cat door plaque. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Well, I am sorry to say that I forgot to take photos of what I sent to two other ladies (not Gina or Lyn, the exchange did not work like that) but if you visit Stephanie's blog, The Enchanting Rose, on November 2nd you will be able to see all of the exchanges.

Smalls SAL ....

Now, it has taken me so very long to write this post that it is now time for my October Smalls SAL post - oh boy!

Not much to show, only two Smalls finishes this month and one of them is a little largeish, but I am counting it anyway!

First up is Summertime Stitching by LHN.

Stitched on 28 count Mocha linen using the suggested CC floss.

In the spirt of transparency, I must tell you that I made a very big boo boo but I think that I overcame it okay.

If you look at the first picture and see where the little heart shape in red is on the ground, nearest to the house.  Well, the two blooms to either side are meant to be beside each other but I totally miscalculated, so I ended up with all of this blank space.  To rectify it, I added the extra heart-shaped bloom and two more bluebirds.  I must say, I am actually very happy with my slightly different finish.

What do you think?

The other is Share the Spirit by Eudora Designs, stitched on 28ct Willow linen using Victorian Motto Shoppe Christmas Red and Green floss.

Okay, I am finally going to post this NOW!

Remember, if you want to check out everyone else's GG posts, 

click HERE

and

if you want to check out everyone else's Smalls, 

click HERE

Hugs, 

P.S. Off to Kangaroo Island tomorrow for a week's holiday with TraderVic and some dear friends, so I may not be on blogger much, although I will post on Monday for the Halloween Blog Hop.

K

Love Letters

Well, Friday afternoon, I came home from the dentist after having my back molar extracted, feeling very sad and sorry for myself!  So, what to do?  I know, take some strong painkillers, cuddle the cat, watch some trashy TV and get started on my Friday Frolics stitching and why not chose something for the June theme  for the Christmas Ornie SAL (Christmas animal/pet).

So, after a drowsy afternoon and evening - Voila!  Here is a little Noel piece, nearly finished!

and then, with a bit more stitching on Saturday morning - all done!

"Love Letters"

from "Joyeux Noel"

Blackbird Designs

28 ct Mocha Linen

My own choice of overdyed threads (as I had none of the suggested ones  - lol)

I am so very pleased with how this turned out.

hugs,  

Small SAL - February Check in ....

Time for the second Smalls SAL check in for the year.  What is the Smalls SAL?  It is quite simple, really - it is run by Heather of Silver Lotus (the SAL mama). Here are the main details:

1. Stitch a small every month. You get to decide what a small is for you. 50×50 stitches? 100×100 stitches? It’s up to you. You just need to be able to get it done by the check-in day. (WIP smalls that you complete in time for the check-in are great too!) You pick your design, I do not provide designs.
2. Post a picture of your completed small (stitching done, but the actual finishing is optional) on the last Thursday of every month, with the exception of November, which will be the last Wednesday.

First up  this month is Deck the Halls by Prairie Schooler which is  my January Music piece for the Christmas Ornie SAL, which also doubled up for my Prairie Schooler SAL and is also a DUCJFC 2016 piece - #3/31 finishes for 2016 for the challenge to honour Debbie's memory.

                                   

                                         

                                         

Deck the Halls by Prairie Schooler, Book #81

32 ct Willow Linen, DMC threads.

My second Smalls for the month was this little piece which I picked up as a UFO from last year's DUCJFC challenge and finished on the day I found out I had been made redundant - it was so soothing to stitch out my shock and upset - you can read about all of that here, if you wish.

"Ho, ho, ho" by Pineberry Lane

Next, is my heart which I stitched for the Secret Sweetheart Bloghop hosted by Jo from Serendipitous Stitching.

This is also finish #4/31 for DUCJFC2016.

Sweet Heart 

Joyeux Noel booklet

Blackbird Designs

28 ct Cocoa linen

Various specialty threads from my stash

... and next up here is my February Snow Finish also for the Christmas Ornie SAL and is my finish #5/31 for DUCJFC2016.\

Fa La La

Freebie from Plum Pudding Needleart 

(unfortunately the link no longer seems to work)

Unknown linen

Own choice of DMC and Valdani floss.

... and lastly, I was really struggling this month to choose a design for the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL, but then I saw the very "sweet" Pumpkin Man stitched by my dear friend, Noni, for this SAL and I was hooked.

So, may I introduce you to a second Pumpkin Man?

Pumpkin Man

Prairie Schooler

JCS Halloween Ornie Mag 2015

28 ct linen

Assorted DMC and specialty threads

I am quite taken with him, thanks again, Noni, for the inspiration.

This, is finish #6/31 for DUCJFC2016 (so, I am hoping that I am on track to finish 31 pieces this year in honour of Debbie).

hugs, Kaye

P.S. Of course, as this is a PS design - it counts as a finish for the Prairie Schooler SAL as well - yay!

So, that is it for me for another month of Smalls.

Please check out what everyone else is doing by visiting here.

hugs,