Pumpkin Passport - Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - Part 4 of 12 - FINISH 13 of 2016

The fourth part of the Pumpkin Passport mystery SAL was released on 1st April.  This month we travelled to Switzerland.  My fabric choice didn't work very well with this months design as the snowy mountain just blended in.  I therefore back stitched it with a pale tan colour just to help it stand out a little.  I also didn't stitch the snow in the sky as I knew it wouldn't show up at all.

I love the little sheep on the top of the mountain and the swan on the lake it's amazing how with a very few stitches you can make a recognisable animal shape.

Here's the pictures:-

I'm looking forward to see where we travel next month.

Keep stitching and smiling.

Seaside Mystery - Chatelaine - 02.04.16

I have been working on Seaside Mystery and completed parts 1 - 3.  I have also started working on the other parts in one corner.  The over one stitching of the letters in the middle had been putting me off for so long but when I finally stuck to doing them they went really quickly.  It did make the over two crosses seem ridiculously large though after doing the over one.  Part of me regrets that I haven't stitched on this in such a long time but another part of me thinks that at least spending such a long time stitching on it justifies the cost in some way.  I think when I come back to working on this I will work each corner in it's entirety.  I cannot wait to see how it looks.

It's stitched on Crafty Kittens Sunlit Water 32 count Jobelan.

The next part of the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery Pumpkin Passport came out today so I am going to rotate onto stitching that next.

Keep stitching and smiling

Owl SAL - KLT Charting - Owl 6 of 12 - FINISH 12 of 2016

So it's time for the next part of the Owl SAL for KLT Charting.  I am stitching it on an 18 count hand dyed aida from KLT Charting called Dryad Dwelling.  I've decided to count each individual owl as a mini finish for the year so this one is my tenth finish for 2016.

As there are 12 owls I decided to stitch each one in a colour that I feel relates to a month of the year.  Unfortunately the colour I had picked out for June didn't show up on my fabric so I had to switch to a different colour I chose Indian Ringneck.  I have to say this little owl caused me some real problems - first I stitched over half the outline and realised I had stitched it one column over from where it should have been so had to unpick it.  Then I started the blackwork and realised that the thread I had chosen didn't show up against the fabric so I had to unpick that - which as I couldn't really see the thread against the fabric was very difficult!  But now he's completed I love him and am thinking about doing some more blackwork as I really enjoyed it.

So here is owl number 6:

And all the owls so far:

Keep stitching and smiling

Pumpkin Passport - Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - Part 3 of 12 - FINISH 11 of 2016

Here's my Part 3 of the Frosted Pumpkin Passport Mystery SAL for 2016.  Stitched on 28 count Opal Nimbus from Chromatic Alchemy.

Keep stitching and smiling

Christmas Tree Farm - Country Cottage Needleworks - 18.03.16 - FINISH 10 of 2016

I am stitching the Santa's Village series from Country Cottage Needleworks as individual ornaments.  I am planning to hang them like bunting over the festive season.

This is the second one I have stitched and is called Christmas Tree Farm.  I used all the recommended threads.

I am stitching them on 20 count aida in Nougat.

Keep stitching and similing

Owl SAL - KLT Charting - Owl 5 of 12 - FINISH 9 of 2016

So it's time for the next part of the Owl SAL for KLT Charting.  I am stitching it on an 18 count hand dyed aida from KLT Charting called Dryad Dwelling.  I've decided to count each individual owl as a mini finish for the year so this one is my ninth finish for 2016.

As there are 12 owls I decided to stitch each one in a colour that I feel relates to a month of the year.  So owl five represents May to me and is stitched in Autumn Berries.  You may be a little bewildered as to why this represents May - well my birthday is in May and this is one of my favourite colours from Jodyri and contains purple and teal which are my favourite colours.

So here is owl number 5:

And all the owls so far:

Keep stitching and smiling

Christmas Mystery SAL 2016 from Jodyri Designs - 01.03.16

I was lucky enough to be asked again to stitch the model for a Joydri mystery SAL. This time the theme is Christmas.

The design is being released in three parts and this is the first part.  If you're interested in joining the SAL you can find it here.

I am stitching it on 18 count cream aida.  The design is charted in Jodyri threads but unfortunately I didn't have the recommended thread for the star so I subbed it with another Jodyri thread St Clements.  I was a bit concerned that the yellow wouldn't show up against the cream aida so I worked the thread so that the orange would be surrounding the outside of the star.  I am really pleased how it turned out.

The other threads you can see in part 1 are the recommended Jodyri threads - Emerald Forest and Ruby Slippers.  Can't wait to stitch the next part.

Keep stitching and smiling

Owl SAL - KLT Charting - Owl 4 of 12 - FINISH 8 of 2016

So it's time for the next part of the Owl SAL for KLT Charting.  I am stitching it on an 18 count hand dyed aida from KLT Charting called Dryad Dwelling.  I've decided to count each individual owl as a mini finish for the year so this one is my eighth finish for 2016.

As there are 12 owls I decided to stitch each one in a colour that I feel relates to a month of the year.  So owl four represents April to me and is stitched in Summer in Bloom from Jodyri Designs.

So here is owl number 4:

And all the owls so far:

Keep stitching and smiling

Pumpkin Passport - Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - Part 2 of 12 - 12.02.16 - FINISH 7 for 2016

So this month we travel to Paris with the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's mystery SAL.

It took me longer than I expected to get this part stitched because I had a few days where I didn't do any stitching.  Can't wait to see where the adventure takes us next.

Keep stitching and smiling

Owl SAL - KLT Charting - Owl 3 of 12 - FINISH 6 FOR 2016

So it's time for the next part of the Owl SAL for KLT Charting.  I am stitching it on an 18 count hand dyed aida from KLT Charting called Dryad Dwelling.  I've decided to count each individual owl as a mini finish for the year so this one is my sixth finish for 2016.

As there are 12 owls I decided to stitch each one in a colour that I feel relates to a month of the year.  So owl three represents March to me and is stitched in Charleston.

So here is owl number 3:

And all the owls so far:

Keep stitching and smiling

Pumpkin Passport - Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - Part 1 of 12 - 30.01.16 - FINISH 5 of 2016

I am taking part in the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's mystery SAL this year - Pumpkin Passport.

We got the first part of the design on 15.01.16 and I finished it today apart from the bottom border which I don't want to put in until I have stitched some more on the bottom part - I would hate to stitch the whole bottom border and find I was a row or two out!

As with my other SALs I am counting each part of this design as a finish so this if finish number five for 2016.

I am stitching this on 28 count opal Jazlyn in Nimbus from Chromatic Alchemy.  I am using the recommended DMC threads apart from the words in the middle which I stitched in Pushkina from Fiberlicious.

Part 2 comes out on 1st February so I will be working on this one again in the near future.

Keep stitching and smiling

Owl SAL - KLT Charting - Owl 2 of 12 - FINISH 4 of 2016

So it's time for the next part of the Owl SAL for KLT Charting.  I am stitching it on an 18 count hand dyed aida from KLT Charting called Dryad Dwelling.  I've decided to count each individual owl as a mini finish for the year so this one is my fourth finish for 2016.

As there are 12 owls I decided to stitch each one in a colour that I feel relates to a month of the year.  So owl two represents February to me and is stitched in Love You Lots thread by Jodyri Designs.

So here is owl number 2:

And the owls so far:

Keep stitching and smiling

Owl SAL - KLT Charting - Owl 1 of 12 - FINISH 3 of 2016

I was lucky enough to be asked to stitch the Owl SAL for KLT Charting.  The first part was released on 13th January and a new part will be released every 2 weeks.  I am stitching it on an 18 count hand dyed aida from KLT Charting called Dryad Dwelling it's a lovely mixture of greens and browns which makes for a lovely background for the owls.

Every owl has the same basic outline:-

Then each one is completed differently.  They are also all sat on a branch which I think really adds to the design.

There are 12 owls in total and I have decided to try and stitch each one with a thread that represents a month to me.  This one is stitched using Jodyri Designs Heavenly Host - the blues, whites and yellows remind me of a cold frosty morning.

You can sign up for the SAL here until 31st January 2016 if you want to join me in stitching this gorgeous design.

As I am counting each owl as a mini finish this is my third finish for 2016.

Keep stitching and smiling

In Our House - Love Thy Thread - 10.01.16

I have been stitching on a piece for my sister over the last few days.  In Our House by Love Thy Thread.  I am stitching it on 22 count Oslo in Nebula from Crafty Kitten.  I am using a DMC Variegated floss - 4025 - three strands over 1 tent stitch.

This is how the finished piece will look:-

This is where I was at when I last stitched on it:-

Here is where I am after 10 hours stitching.  I have now used one full skein of DMC thread.

Time to rotate onto another project.

Keep stitching and smiling

Pretty Little Amsterdam - Satsuma Street - SECRET PROJECT REVEAL

I stitched this design for my sister in law for her 40th birthday.  She and her partner always go to Amsterdam for New Year's and her birthday so I thought it would be something she might like.  This was finished in 2015 although I am only showing it now so doesn't count towards my 2016 finishes.

I stitched it on 18 count aida in Jem's Dreams from KLT Charting.  It's a lovely subtle blend of blues and purples and I think it sets the design of perfectly.  I used the recommended DMC threads.

Keep stitching and smiling

Huey Owlet - Mill Hill - FINISH 2 of 2016

This was my second start and my second finish for 2016.  It's a Mill Hill kit called Huey Owlet.  Such a fun and quick design to stitch up and bead.

And here he is with his sister Violet who I stitched last year.

I do have all six owls in the series so will look forward to adding to my little owlet family in the future.

Keep stitching and smiling

Mabel Figworthy's Round in Circles SAL - Round One - 01.01.16 - FINISH 1 for 2016

So on the 1st of January 2016 I have my first start and first finish for the year.  It also happens to be my first attempt at hardanger so all very appropriate!

It was also the first time I have done Kloster blocks and whipped backstitch!

All my supplies haven't come in that I had ordered for this stitch a long but I really wanted to start this today so instead of using different coloured threads as indicated in the chart I used one hand dyed thread from Jodyri Designs in Perle number 5 and Perle number 8 - the colour is called Alaskan Beauty.  It's stitched on Antique White 22 count Hardanger.

I have to say I was a little overwhelmed when I looked at all the instructions but I followed them step by step and breaking it down into each stitch made it an lot more manageable.  For my first attempt at Hardanger it only took me about 3 hours to stitch this which I am really pleased with.  So finish number 1 for 2016!  I'm looking forward to the next part coming out in February.

Keep stitching and smiling