Christmas is coming, 2016 .... Part Seven

In recent years, as my Christmas buying list has got simpler as the children have become adults, I have made a real effort to buy my gifts locally.  

I do this for two reasons:  One, I try to avoid the crowds and the commercialism of the shopping malls; and Two, I want to support my local shopping centres so that the traders can stay in business.

Obviously, the Ivanhoe traders agree with me as this year, the pavements were covered in the following very cute symbols....

Oh, I also completed the Final Finish on my Xmas Tea cushion, so it has been added to the Christmas grotto display. 

Thank you to all of those who gave me advice on this post as to which fabric to choose to complement the design. As you can see, I chose the second fabric.  As always, your advice and kind comments were greatly appreciated.

I have been doing a series of these "Christmas is coming" posts, if you would like to check them out, please click the links below:

Christmas is coming, 2016 .... Part One

Christmas is coming, 2016 .... Part Two

Christmas is coming, 2016 .... Part Three

Christmas is coming, 2016 .... Part Four

Christmas is coming, 2016 .... Part Five

Christmas is coming, 2016 .... Part Six

Isn't Christmastime so much fun?

hugs, 

Smalls SAL.... September Update...

A few Smalls to show you this month, as I am finally getting my act together early and starting writing this post on the 14th of the month (lol - no way that plan worked!).  I have not posted a Smalls SAL post since May - that means that I missed June, July and August.  Now, I know that I have stitched a number of Smalls since then - so here we go, let's play Smalls Catch Up!


Christmas Smalls finishes (mostly stitched as part of the Christmas Ornie SAL).... but let's start with my most recent Christmas finish, one that I stitched just because .... Wee Santa 2016 by Heart in Hand

Now onto the belated Christmas Ornie SAL Smalls finishes:

June: Love Letters

"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.


July: Prairie Schooler Book #150 (snippet)

I am not overly thrilled with how it has turned out - not the design's fault but mine!  I made an error somewhere near the start, didn't pick it up until it was way too late, so had to ditch the idea of a border and create this snow "hill" instead - now it is a bit of an odd shape - may have to make it a bell-shaped ornie, I think, when I Finish Finish it.  Although, some other interesting shapes have been suggested to me, as well.

Prairie Schooler Book #150

December

28 ct Ivory linen

Suggested DMC floss

August: Believe in Christmas

"Believe in Christmas"

Samplers not forgotten

Fabric: Unknown 28ct

Floss: various from my stash

This design is from the JCS Christmas Ornie mag 2015.

September: Xmas Tea.... 

Xmas Tea

Designer: Primitive Acorns

Source: JCS Christmas Ornie Mag 2016

28 ct linen

Assorted floss from stash

It was a very sweet stitch.

Also, way back when, for my June Ornie for the Halloween Ornie SAL, I finished this piece....

"Crow on a Pumpkin"

Samplers Not Forgotten

JCS Halloween 2015 magazine

Using a mixture of my own choice of GAST, CC and WDW floss

I love the fact that the pumpkin is not orange!  And I am thrilled with my use of CC Queen Bee for the border on the right instead of GAST Gold Leaf - it looks quite unusual.

Happy, Happy Happy!

So, I think that I may leave my Smalls SAL post there, as it is now the 3rd of October and despite my very best intentions, this Smalls SAL post is now late - lol!

You can find the check in for the Smalls SAL here, so please go see what everyone else got up to this month.

hugs,