And Heaven and Nature Sing

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I have just time to include another finish for 2018, And Heaven and Nature Sing by Kathy Barrick. I really wanted to finish this off before the year was done and I have accomplished that. There is a clean slate to start 2019 with now. I have stitched this on 40ct with the called for NPI silks. Some of the tree trunks were stitched in grey and some in brown which I found odd. I had completed the ones on the left (which were grey) so I carried on with the others in grey. So another one for the finishing pile that will go to the framers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Heaven and Nature Sing - Kathy Barrick.

40ct Platinum Newcastle Linen.

Used recommended NPI Silks.

 

-oOo-

 

Thank you for staying with me on my blog, I know I have progressed in the technicological world to Instagram but I would miss blogging too much. Your comments are always appreciated and I do have a smile to myself as I'm reading them. So thank you so much for them.

 

So all it remains for me to do is to wish each and everyone of you a very Happy 2019. I hope you have health, wealth and happiness throughout the year.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next year …….. 

Plans

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas Day, if you celebrate. I had a lovely day quietly stitching away.

I have tentative plans for next year..... subject to change at any point! I feel I need more organisation in my stitching life. I have my new yearly planner book where I write down what I stitch on each day and have made a start on my "Stitching 2019" notebook. So do you want to know what plans ……..

Farmhouse Christmas - LHN.

I am going to be stitching this as one piece with the free border. I've been stitching a length of thread or two every so often through December so I would have a foundation to begin with the first design in January. Ideally one a month would be good.

 

Farmhouse Christmas - Little House Needleworks.

40ct Raw Newcastle Linen.

Using recommended hand-dyed or DMC threads except DMC 3865 instead of what is called for.

-oOo-

Prairie Schooler Santas - The Prairie Schooler.

This is another project where I would like to complete one a month.

I heard just recently there is a SAL going to be starting in January which might be an extra incentive for me. It's called "A Very Prairie Year SAL" and the IG hashtag will be #averyprairieyearsal. The SAL invites you to start a Prairie Schooler project each month on any day of the month.

I've decided to stitch the PS Yearly Santas on 40ct so that they are ornament sized. They will be stitched on one piece of linen and then I'll cut them individually to fully finish them all at once towards the end of the year.

-oOo-

 

Now a couple of projects that are on the top of the list for the stitching year.

 

-oOo-

Christmas Garden - Blackbird Designs.

I've loved this particular chart ever since I saw it a few years ago. Many people have stitched it and now it's going to be me. Have I heard there is a SAL with this one? Was it December 25th? I can't remember, anyway I put a few stitches in to it on Christmas Day. I have deliberated so much over the thread colours. I have kitted it up with the called for threads, so we'll see how we go. I'm not rushing this one, let's face it, I have at least 10 months to get it finished to be framed ready for Christmas 2019, if it's longer so be it.

 

Christmas Garden - Blackbird Designs.

36ct Antique Ivory Edinburgh Linen.

Using recommended threads.

-oOo-

Brick House Sampler - With Thy Needle and Thread / Brenda Gervais.

Looking through my charts I have pulled this one out to begin the year with. I won't be stitching on 28ct over 1, it will either be 36ct or 40ct fabric if I can find something suitable.

I was watching Jen's Stitching Niche on flosstube and when she was talking about her plans she mentioned Brick House Sampler and that there was going to be a SAL for this one too, #janbrickhousesamplersal, starting January 1st.

-oOo-

 

It goes without saying I will be stitching for my RAKS and gifties as well throughout the year. So I have 3 ongoing projects throughout the year and then one project that will be started and finished before moving on to another. Nothing dramatic in my plans, I don't think I could cope with more than what I have planned for especially with the monthly stitching.
 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

The Festive Season Is Upon Us

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Just popped in to wish you all a very Happy Christmas. I hope the jolly chap wearing a red coat and wearing a white beard leaves plenty of wonderful gifts for you all. Have you all been good boys and girls this year? Are you on the naughty list?

 

I'm hoping to post my plans for next year in between Christmas and the New Year. Exciting …. I actually have a plan!!

 

Hugs to you all …….

 

Until next time …..

Christmas Baskets

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

We are just a couple of days away from the BIG day itself. Is everyone ready? I'm ready for some time off work if nothing else. Just tomorrow to get through, hopefully the company will let us go at lunch time.

I have a final finish, I can't see I will get anything else complete. This is Christmas Baskets by The Drawn Thread. It stitched up so quickly and my favourite red and green colourway. Each small block contains 1 or 2 speciality stitches. Alternatively there are instructions for stitching the blocks individually in to ornaments or stitching the blocks together vertically or horizontally.

 

 

Christmas Baskets - The Drawn Thread.

32ct Antique Lambswool Permin linen.

Used recommended Dinky Dyes and NPI Silks.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

Surprise Gift

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I had a surprise package that arrived yesterday and it came from Manuela. Thinking back she did say she would send me something but I had forgotten … but I never expected anything as beautiful as what Manuela sent. It's gorgeous, so delicate. How on earth Manuela manages to sew these hexagons together is beyond me, I don't think I could even hold them together. I measured them for you to give you an idea, 2½ cm from point to point. Mmmmm. It's just beautiful. Thank you Manuela, it WAS a surprise.

 

Gift from Manuela.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

Exchange Special Delivery

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

My second exchange partner is Katrina of Kiwi Stitching, again for a number of years, I'm thinking along the lines of about 7 years. I now have another wonderful ornament for my tree. I said to Katrina that I have the same finishing fabric that she used on one of my project bags that I'm using at the moment. Dear Katrina, thank you for my beautiful ornament my friend.

 

Majestic Bird - Homespun Elegance.

 

-oOo-

 

For Katrina I stitched Special Delivery by Pickle Barrel Designs. It's such a fun design from Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 2018.

 

Special Delivery - Pickle Barrel Designs.

Raw linen (??) - could be 36ct.

Used recommended DMC or hand-dyed threads.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

Exchange Joy

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Exchanging Christmas ornaments has been a ritual for  a few years now. One of my exchange partners is Carol of Garden of Stitches. Carol has stitched me a wonderful ice-skater lady. The hair colour is true -to-life but I'm afraid I am no ice-skater. The one and only time I went was about 30 years ago and I nearly came away with one finger less!! Never again!! Thank you Carol, I so look forward to what you create for me each year my friend.

 

Merry Skater - Little House Needleworks.

 

-oOo-

 

For Carol I stitched a freebie chart from La Comtesse & Le Point de Croix which you can find here. Not sure of the fabric count, although it is antique white for sure. Threads are some hand-dyed I picked that seemed to work well together but again, not sure. I'm going to make sure my note taking is back on track for next year - my New Years Resolution!!

Joy Freebie - La Comtesse & Le Point de Croix - Joy.

Antique White Linen (count ??).

Threads (??).

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

Giftables

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Well it is the time of year that we exchange gifts to our family and friends. Today I have what was sent to my friend, and yours, June at Butterfly Wings, along with what I received in the post yesterday.

 

This is the ornament I sent to June. I have not taken a photo of the items I sent - but I'm sure if you go to June's blog she will show a photo at some point. Unfortunately I can't remember what this design was. I know I was sent it by someone, it is copyrighted to Linen and Threads and I think it is from one of their newsletters. But I could be completely wrong! Anyway it's a beautiful design,  Scandinavian-inspired would you say?

 

Design by Linen and Threads.

32ct Misty Blue Belfast Linen.

DMC White.

Handmade cording using DMC White.

 

-oOo-

 

Yesterday my package arrived from June. It was wonderfully wrapped, such a shame to open it, but I forced myself!! This is what my gift contained. Isn't it gorgeous. I have a spiced apple and cinnamon perfumed sachet which you can smell even wrapped up. I have buried it in the tree so I can smell it all the time. The tree decoration is also hanging on the tree … I have managed to find space. The little tin is adorable, I thought it was just the tin but … no … inside were the three lengths of trimmings. A beautiful address/notebook and pen accompanied everything on the journey. I said to June she really couldn't of chosen anything better, I love things like this and yet I probably wouldn't buy them for myself. Thank you June, you are a dear friend. I hope you and DH have a few hours to yourselves before the festive season has all finished and a distant memory.

 

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

Monthly Christmas Ornament - December

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

For my last monthly ornament I chose Noel 2018 by JBW Designs. It's a small design, quick to stitch from the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 2018. I used the recommended threads of either the hand-dyes or DMC equivalents except WDW Cayenne instead of CC Cupid / DMC 816. Simply finished with the handmade cording and ribbon hanger.

 

Noel 2018 - JBW Designs.

Just Cross Stith Ornament Issue 2018.

40ct Vintage Country Mocha Newcastle linen.

Used recommended hand-dyes / DMC equivalents except WDW Cayenne instead of CC Cupid / DMC 816.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time …….. 

Prairie Schooler Santas - Christmas RAKs

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Hope everyone is well on this second day of December. How did we get here so quickly? I haven't been stitching a lot this past week or so, having been busy with making Christmas cards, writing Christmas cards, shopping for gifts ….. and of course work. Just wrapping left to do which I will hopefully get around to this coming week as I've put in for a couple of half days.

Manuela and Sandy (RAK recipients and their blogs are here) have received their ornaments safely and I'm hoping they are adorning their Christmas trees. Now as I wrapped them up identically and placed them in to an envelope, I'm afraid I don't know which one was received by whom. However I can now reveal the front of the ornaments. I know they were stitched with the recommended threads but I can't remember what they were stitched on - perhaps raw linen. This year I decided to put my stitching notes on a spreadsheet but unfortunately I lost the file and couldn't get it back so some details are a little hazy. It's back to pen and paper from now on.

 

Both ornament details: 

St Nicholas: Book 20 - The Prairie Schooler.

Recommended threads.

Natural-coloured linen??

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time …….. 

 

Christmas Monthly Ornament - November and Christmas Candlestick

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

 

I hope you are all well. The weather next week in the UK is supposed to get colder, down in to single figure temperatures. I think the hat and scarf will be coming out of the wardrobe.

 

Thank you for all of your comments of late. I love reading them and do appreciate the time you take to comment.

 

-oOo-

 

I have 2 more finishes to show today, the first is my monthly Christmas ornament for November. I chose a fairly quick stitch for this month, Quaker Christmas Holly by The Workbasket. I had this in my pile of freebies. I have found where I printed it from, which is here. There are a few more on that page as well which you may like. I chose to stitch with a couple of silks. Shades of Wine by Dinky Dyes is one of my favourite red colours, the green seemed to work well too. Where I have attached beads, it is charted for French knots. I decided to put gold beads in the centre of the poinsettas and the red at the ends of the holly leaves. I just had enough thread left to do a corded hanger and was fortunate enough that the chenille I had was a good enough match.

 

 

 

Quaker Christmas Holly - The Workbasket.

Freebie found here.

36ct Antique White Edinburgh Linen.

Used Dinky Dye Silk No. 229 Shades of Wine and Belle Soie Creme de Menthe threads.

Mill Hill Petite Seed Bead #40557 Gold.

Mill Hill Petite Seed Bead #42012 Royal Plum.

Lady Dot Creates Chenille - Sequoia.

 

-oOo-

 

I have stitched and finished Merry Holly Berries by With Thy Needle and Thread in the same style as Oktober Feast. The candlestick is a different style and a little darker but essentially the same. This is stitched on 40ct Legacy Picture This Plus linen, I had just enough to stitch this as well as Oktober Feast. The only changes I made was to substitute GAST Carriage Black for GAST Wood Trail. I preferred black boots, belt and gloves for Santa rather than brown. Also I used the CC Chilli Pepper as charted and for the Valdani Cinnamon Swirl. There didn't seem much of a colour change on the photo so there wasn't much point buying the Valdani thread, the Chilli Pepper worked just as well.

 

 

Merry Holly Berries - With Thy Needle and Thread / Brenda Gervais.

40ct Legacy Picture This Plus linen.

Used recommended threads except,

Gentle Art Carriage Black instead of Gentle Art Wood Trail.

Used Classic Colorworks Chili Pepper as charted and instead of the Valdani Cinnamon Swirl.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

 

 

 

RAK Recipients

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Just a short post to let you know the recipients of the 2 Christmas RAKs.


1). Manuela @ Manuelas Flowergarden

2). Sandy @ I Majored in Home Economics


Congratulations!

Both of you should of received an email asking for your postal address. Please reply and I will get the RAKs packaged and sent as soon as possible.

Until next time …...

Ghoulish Goings On With an Autumnal Twist

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

A warm welcome to November. The leaves on the trees have definitely turned. The heating is on so it's nice and cosy inside.

 

-oOo-

Today I have a stitching finish and a fully finished piece which I am very pleased with. First the stitching finish. I did manage to finish on the evening of October 31st. I'm not going to rush trying to fully finish it now, it will wait until sometime next year. I was pleasantly surprised to see how the colours worked on this, they are lovely, a real Autumnal feel as well as a witchy twist. I did change the GAST Chamomile that was charted. I think it said DMC 3011 as an alternative on the chart but I looked at another conversion and that mentioned DMC 371 which I preferred. It is stitched on 40ct Silvery Moon Newcastle. This is the first time I have used Silvery Moon and it just has a hint of greyness to it.

Ghoul Tidings - Plum Street Samplers.

40ct Silvery Moon Newcastle linen.

Stitched with the recommended threads except

DMC 371 instead of GAST Chamomile.

 

-oOo-

 

Did I show my last Autumn finish … I don't think I did. Well I have a fully finish on it now. I'm so pleased.

 

 

Oktober Feast - With Thy Needle and Thread / Brenda Gervais.

40ct Lecacy PTP linen.

Used recommended threads.

Used thin handmade twisted cord for bow instead of 6-strands of thread as called for on the chart.

Pom-pom trim is Vintage by Dames of the Needle

 

 

It is stitched on 40ct Legacy Picture This Plus linen with all of the recommended threads. The only thing I did change was the bow on the neck of the squirrel. It said to have 6-strands of thread but I decided I would make a thin twisted cord and just sew it on the front of the piece. Not sure whether I'll keep the ends that length, may be a bit too long looking at the photo … I can always make them shorter at a later date.

I really wanted to finish it similar to the way Brenda Gervais did on the photo on the chart. However there was no way I was going to send to the USA for one of the little tables … customs duty and all that … I would of wanted a second one for another chart of her charts that is finished in the same way. Good old Ebay came to my rescue. I looked under "wooden candlestick" and on the first page there was my answer. It was meant to be. In the centre of the candlestick was a shallow plastic dish with a small spike (to hold the candle on) in the middle held in by 2 tacks. I tried to get the spike off with some pincers but instead pulled the whole shallow dish out which was even better. Everything was going so right. It was then a case of making the stitching in to a round as you would an ornament. The pom-pom trim was attached to the piece before I attached it to the candlestitck. It's wonderful - even if I do say so myself - perfect colour too, I didn't have to do anything to it at all, except dismantle the plastic part.

 

 

-oOo-

 

Don't foget the Christmas RAK has been announced on the previous post. Get your comments in on at post if you haven't done so already.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time …….

 

 

What's the time Mr Wolf?

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Do you remember that game in the school playground .. What's The Time Mr.Wolf? Is it played throughout the world?

Clocks went back last night and I'm all over the place already! But you know what this time of year means ….. Christmas RAKs.

 

There are two again this year … but I will reveal on the other side of these ornaments below are Prairie Schooler Santas.

So …..

• Leave a comment telling me you would like to be included.
• I would prefer you to be a follower of my blog.
• Please leave some way to get in touch - either by having a comment I can reply to or an email address on your comment.
• Open until November 8th. Recipients of the ornaments will be announced on the weekend of November 10th / 11th.

That's it ….. and it doesn't matter if you have received before.

Good luck.

Until next time …….

Christmas Monthly Ornament - October

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I'm back this week to show my Christmas ornament for October, First Snow by The Drawn Thread. The free chart is copyrighted for 2003 - I have had it printed for a large amount of that time - 2003! Can you believe that! It is charted for either Weeks Dye Works or DMC threads. I chose to stitch with the DMC. Just Smyrna Cross and Pine Stitch for speciality stitches so very easy.

 

 

First Snow - The Drawn Thread (freebie chart here).

40ct Pearl Grey Newcastle linen.

Used recommended DMC alternatives.

Cording in DMC Blanc.

 

-oOo-

 

Until next time ……..

Seasonal Finishes

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

 

Well I said I was close to finishing a couple of pieces, so I am back to show you all, along with a "long time languishing in my stitching to finish box" fully finished piece.

 

The first finish is the Tis The Season SAL by Blackbird Designs that has been on Facebook and Instagram. The quality of the photos might not be great but at least you get more of an idea of the fabric colour.

 

Tis The Season - Blackbirds Designs.

Joyeux Noel or Home For The Holidays Book.

36ct Vintage Pear Lakeside Linen.

Used recommended Belle Soie silks.

 

-oOo-

 

Then I managed to finish Welcome Autumn by The Drawn Thread. This is the second season I have completed, having stitched Welcome Spring, found within this post. I just love this one, the colours, the motifs, especially the acorns. I am particularly pleased with the acorns.

 

 

Welcome Autumn - The Drawn Thread

32ct Antique Lambswool Permin/Wichelt Linen.

Used recommended silks.

 

-oOo-

 

My fully finished piece is one that I stitched in 2016, which you can find here. It's Full Moon by The Drawn Thread. I finished it in a tart pan, a small flan dish as we might call it over here in the UK. It was silver but I painted it black which I think suits the overall appearance better. Around the top I added handmade cording. It's something different from my usual repertoire.

 

Full Moon by The Drawn Thread.

32ct Dirty Belfast Linen.

Used recommended NPI and Dinky Dye Silks.

Stitched 1 over 2.

Handmade cording in DMC 310.

 

-oOo-

 

I have chosen my October Christmas ornament and  have that underway. Other WIPs to look forward to are Ghoul Tidings by Plum Street Samplers, Oktober Feast by With Thy Needle and Thread and And Heaven and Nature Sing by Kathy Barrick. Progress can be found throughout the weeks on my IG account.

 

Until next time ……..