Smalls SAL - March

I’d like to thank Mary at Mary’s Thread for hosting the Smalls SAL.  I stitched a purple clematis.  You can find the free pattern here  http://free-cross-stitch.rucniprace.cz/ .   I stitched the flower on 28ct lavender Lugana evenweave.

I will be sending this stitched flower to Clare for her Christmas Tree which she is decorating for her church.  Each year she chooses a different theme for her tree.  This year she is decorating the tree with flowers that she cross stitches herself and from other stitchers who want to help her.  If you want to help Clare you can read about it here on her blog.

Smalls SAL - February

Here she is Miss Strawberry Mouse from the Summer Mouse in a House series.  The pattern called for white whiskers, but I have made black ones for all the other mice I stitched.  I will have her assembled in time for the FFG on March 10.

Smalls SAL - January

I’d like to thank Mary for hosting this event each month.  If you’d like to join, you can find all the information about this SAL at Mary’s Thread.

I am slowing working through my Just Nan Limited Edition 3D Miniature mice.  I decided to stitch the Frosty Winter Mouse because it is still winter.  This was sold as a kit (Frosty Winter Mouse in a House).  It takes too long to stitch the houses, so for now I will just stitch the mice in the series.  Some day I might go back and stitch the houses to go with them.

Tuesday night (Jan. 28), I started stitching.  Here is my progress after the first night.

Wednesday night, I finished all the cross stitching.  Here is my progress after the second night.

Thursday night, I finished adding the beads (silver crystal and white pearl).  Another Happy Dance!!  This is my 4th finish of the year already.

I hope to have the mouse assembled for the next Fully Finished Gallery SAL (Feb. 10).

After completing the beads on Frosty, I still had some time to work on SYOA (Harry Potter) Hufflepuff banner/house crest.  I finished the white and black on the badger, but instead of finishing the letter H, I started the vertical trim on the right edge of the banner.  Next time I will try to finish the dark colour (DMC 3371) at the bottom of the badger’s neck and the letter H.

Happy New Year 2020!!

2020 Stitching Goals

1. Finish Spring Mouse in a House (and the Spring mouse)
2. Summer Mouse in a House (stitch just the mouse)
3. Autumn Mouse in a House (stitch just the mouse)
4. Witchy Mouse
5. Witchy Sister Mouse
6. Frosty Mouse in a House (stitch just the mouse)
7. Christmas Mouse in a House (stitch just the mouse)
8. Gingerbread Reindeer Mouse
9. Gingerbread Santa Mouse
10. Gingerbread Mrs. Claus Mouse
11. 3D Xmas tree

Stitch-a-longs I'm thinking of participating in.

Thanks to Loretta at Stitching the Night Away, because I found a Big List of Cross Stitch SALs to Join in 2020.  I only chose 3 from her list (1 for sure, 2 still thinking about joining) along with 2 continuing from last year.

Stitch Your Own Adventures (SYOA) Letters from Hogwarts - Hosted by Cunning Cross Stitch

If you are a huge Harry Potter fan like I am, then this SAL will definitely be lots of fun.

Seasons SAL (50sts x 50sts) - Hosted by Magical Quilts

I like projects that have all 4 seasons, but I will decide after seeing the first pattern.

35 x 35 for 2020 - Hosted by Magical Quilts

I’ll decide after seeing the first pattern.

Fully Finished Gallery - Hosted by Rachel at Ten Hour Stitcher
I participated most of the last year.  I'm planning to do this again, but hopefully for the whole year.

Smalls SAL - Hosted by Mary at Mary's Threads
I participated the first half of the year.  I'm planning to do this again, but hopefully for the whole year.

Card Making Goals

January - 3 birthdays

February - 1 birthday

March - 1 birthday

April - 2 birthdays, 1 Easter 

May - 2 birthdays, 1 Mother’s Day

June - 4 birthdays

July - 5 friendship Day, 2 birthdays, 1 wedding

August - 2 birthdays

September - none

October - 1 Mother-in-Law Day

November - none

December - 1 birthday, 20 Christmas 

I want to make 47 cards in total.

Other Hobbies Goals

Gardening
plant a vegetable patch 
add some new flowers
enlarge the front flower bed

Colouring
try to colour in my colouring books at least once a month

Puzzles 
We have about 7 still to do (3x1000, 1x1500 & 2x2000 pcs), plus I'm sure I'll find new ones to add to our pile.

Reading 

Read 50 books (should be easy, I read 82 in 2019).

Scrapbooks 
Cross Stitch Diary - update my book
Theatre Plays - update my book, complete pages for 2017, 2018 and 2019

Video Games 
complete as many goals on Animal Crossing New Leaf (Nintendo 3DS). Start playing Animal Crossing New Horizons (Nintendo Switch) when it is released on March 20, 2020.

I'll try to be a better blogger in 2020.  Last year I blogged 117 times, which was a lot more than the 8 times in 2018.  

Smalls SAL 2019 May

I finally assembled Cardinal Tweet.  I tried making a tail using a large red paper clip but I wasn’t happy with how it looked so my Cardinal isn’t getting a tail.  I think he looks fine either way.


Here is the Blue Jay all assembled and no tail same as the cardinal.

Smalls SAL 2019 April

Thanks to Mary for hosting this Smalls SAL 2019.  If you would like to join or want more information please go to Mary’s Threads.

I didn’t get much stitching done this month but I did finish the Lesley Teare Blackwork Anemone SAL (which was released in a 12 week SAL).  I LOVE how this turned out because I love flowers and the colour purple.

Smalls SAL 2019 - February

I want to thank Mary for hosting the Small SAL 2019.  Here is my Floral SAL 2019 February block all finished including the backstitching.  The photo shows January & February blocks.  You can see where I pulled out the grid line between the first 2 blocks.  I love the colours of the flowers, not sure if I will frame the project at the end or make it into a pillow or wall hanging.  I’ll decide when it is all finished.

 

Stitch-A-Longs for 2015

I tried to make a separate page for the 2015 Stitch-A-Longs, but cannot get blogger to add the page, so I decided to just post the information here instead.  I have added the badges to the left sidebar if you want to visit or join.

I have borrowed all the information below from the hosts of the 2015 SAL rules/sign up pages.  Please visit each of the SAL home pages for more information or to join.

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2015 Smalls SAL - hosted by Heather at The Stitching Lotus (sign up to join).
Smalls: pin cushions, needlebooks, book marks, biscornus, ornaments, etc.

I will continue to stitch Just Nan small 3D ornaments through the year.
Rules:  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. (WIPs that you complete in time for the check-in are great too!)

1. Post a picture of your completed small (stitching done, but the actual finishing is optional) on the last Wednesday of every month.
2. Hop over here to my blog and add a comment to the current month’s check in post to get an entry into the end of the year draw.

The dates for check in are as follows:
January 28 ** February 25 ** March 25 ** April 29 ** May 27 
June 24 ** July 29 ** August 26 ** September 30 
October 28 ** November 25 ** December 30

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2015 A Stitch from Stash is hosted by Mel (sign ups are closed).
This is my first time joining so not sure of all the rules (too many to list here ... see Mel's complete list of rules.  Also checked the 2014 rules looking for when to post each month see below in red text.  I will have to see when other participants are posting.


There are two parts to the challenge this year each lasting for a 6 month time-period. 

A) 2015-A from Jan 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015. (I signed up for this one).

B) 2015-B from July 1, 2015 to Dec 31, 2015.

$25 a month budget in place for each month. This is a total of $150 over the 6 months that you can buy guilt free on any stash you choose.

From 2014 rule (couldn't find on 2015)  All posts & emails need to be completed by the 28th of each month to be eligible. I don't care when you post during the month (because life is busy) but you must do it in the month (ie: February's post must be posted between Feb. 1 and 28).

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TUSAL 2014 is hosted by Daffycat (sign ups soon for 2015).
Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long.  You collect your Old Ratty Threads in a jar - post photo of your ORTS each month on the new moon.

The 2015 New Moon dates to post your progress photos:
January ? ** February ? ** March ? ** March ? ** April ?
May ? ** June ? ** July ? ** August ? ** September ?
October ? ** November ? ** December ?

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A New Stitchy Start 2015 is hosted by Tammy (sign ups are closed). 

Please post a picture of your design in your first post that you will start on January 1st and stitch along with me. Then at the end of the month 28-31st post your update. Don't forget to sign your posts!!!
I have decided that at the end of next year for incentive I will do a prize for posting. If you post every month and show your update then you will be entered into the draw at the end of the year. If you happen to complete your stitchy piece keep updating with a wip piece until the end of year.  

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Grow Your Blog 2015 is hosted by Vicki (sign up to join).

I will be participating in Grow Your Blog again this year on January 25, 2015.   This is a way for bloggers to get more readers and/or followers to discover our blogs.

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2015 IHSW - is hosted by Joysze.  I don't have the 2015 link yet, but it will be held the weekend of January 16 -18 2015.  It is held on the 3rd weekend of every month. Post a before photo on Friday and after on Sunday or Monday.

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Several exchanges throughout the year hosted by Wilma at Stitcher's Place (my Local Needlework Shop).

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Smalls SAL - August

I have been working on my Garden Chair by Cat's Whiskers (discontinued pattern).  I finally finished assembling the chair.  I still have the pillow (scissor fob) and parasol (umbrella to put your scissor inside).  Here are my happy dance photos, showing all around and under the chair.

Just Nan & Smalls SAL for July

Today is the Just Nan SAL update for July.  I worked on the 2012 Gingerbread Mouse.  I finished the stitching & beading.  Just need to assemble it before Christmas so it will sit on my tree.

Yesterday was the 2014 Smalls SAL.

I worked on my Garden Chair.  The first photo shows the 2 finished blocks at the top middle and right and the 3rd one at the bottom I started.

The next photo shows all the blocks outlined.  You can see that I've got quite a few completed. 

In case you are wondering, this is a completed photo of the chair.  As you can see mine will be purple and cream instead of pink and green.  I had a hard time finding a fabric I liked in 32ct.  

May Goals & 2014 Smalls SAL April

April Review
Finish Oakley Owlet (Just Nan) - YES
Start & Finish 2 Baby projects - both will be the Handprint poem (I like to make them unique by personalizing the project) - NO (didn't start either of them yet)
- A family friend is having their 2nd baby girl (I did the first one in pink, this time I will stitch it in purple)
- my sister's friend is also having a baby but they don't want to know if it is a girl or boy (their theme is Jungle)

Finished Just Nan's Limited Edition Oranaments - Little Princess Snow & Lorelei Lamb instead of the baby projects.

May Goals

Start & Finish 2 Baby projects - both babies are due this month.

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April was a very productive month for small projects.  I finished sewing 3 of my Just Nan Limited Edition ornaments together this month.

Oakley Owlet

Little Princess Snow

Lorelei Lamb 

Also in April was the Spring/Easter exchange, here is another photo of my basket.

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2014 Smalls SAL - March

It is the last Wednesday of March, so it is time for the Smalls SAL. I worked on 3 small projects this month.

Here are the stitched pieces for Cardinal Tweet - Just Nan. I will show the completed photo during the Just Nan SAL update.



Then I did some more stitching last night on Oakley Owlet - Just Nan.



The 3rd project was the Spring/Easter exchange project but it is still a secret until April 12th.

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2014 Smalls SAL - February update

This month I stitched on 3 small projects. I competed my Friendship exchange scissor case & fob. I wrapped it by using a heart shaped tin.


I finished cross stitching Porch Garden Mice, and even sewed it into a Humbug.





and stitched 2 more parts of my Garden Chair by Cat's Whisker's. The first photo is the front of the fob (cushion for the chair).


Back of the fob cushion. There is a spot to personalize with initials and the date completed. I'll stitch this at the end.


These are all the pieces needed. The first big shape is the back of the chair. You can also personalize this part. Not sure yet what I will put on the back. I just started stitching the drawer front.


If you are wondering, this is what the chair will look like when it is completed. Photo borrowed from The Cat's Whiskers Design Studios.


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2014 Smalls SAL - January update

I finished all the cross stitching and beads on Barnabee in Bloom. I will sew it together soon.





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