Snowdrop SAL – Step 2

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Heather

Oh dear, I’ve just discovered Making a Murderer. The biggest advantage to, and the biggest problem with, Netflix series is that all the episodes are available all at once. Yesterday I sat down and watched the first three episodes of Making a Murderer and didn’t get too much done around the house. I did, however, finish up step 2 of Esther’s beautiful Snowdrops SAL.

Snowdrops SAL, step 2

Snowdrops SAL, step 2

I love how the stitches look like delicate little piles of snow around the edges of the snowdrops. So different from the icy, blowing snow we have outside right now. I love winter, but I wish it was more snow fairies and snowdrops rather than ice and freezing winds. 😉

As before, the fabric is probably Sky from Enchanting Lair, and the fibres are DMC blanc and an unknown green silk. I’m guessing it is a Dinky Dyes’ oops based on how it feels and how nicely it stitched.

SAL SNOWDROPS by BB

If you’d like to know more about the SAL, you can find Esther’s blog here: Brodeuse Bressane.

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2015 Smalls SAL Winner

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Heather

Hello, Smalls Stitchers! After far too long of a delay, it is time to announce the winner of the 2015 Smalls SAL giveaway. I’m very sorry I didn’t get around to it last week.

2015SmallsSAL

And the winner is:

Kate of Stitches, Scraps and Sparkles in the Sun

Congratulations, Kate! Her winning entry was for July, for a cute little design that says “My Husband has an awesome wife.” 😉 You can check it out right here.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2015 Smalls SAL. We stitched up a huge pile of designs between all of us; 391 in fact. (And that isn’t taking into account check-ins that were for more than one design.) Interestingly, but perhaps not unexpectedly, participation declined as the year when on.

Participation graph for the 2015 Smalls SAL

Participation graph for the 2015 Smalls SAL

Thank you so much, Smalls Stitchers, for all your encouragement and inspiration, and for all the accountability you provided for me and your fellow stitchers. I hope that you have decided to join me for the 2016 Smalls SAL. All the details can be found right here.

SmallsSAL2016

Speaking of the 2016 Smalls SAL, the first check-in is just around the corner. Be sure to come back on January 28th to share your small finish with everyone. I can’t wait!

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Snowdrop SAL – Step 1

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Heather

SAL SNOWDROPS by BB

I may have said something a little while ago about not join in any more SALs because I have so many projects to work on. Well, about that…

I decided to join in on the Snowdrops SAL from Esther over at Brodeuse Bressane. It is just a little design, 88×88 stitches and should work up pretty quickly. Sadly, the SAL has closed to new members, but the final design (along with a larger outside border) will eventually be available on her etsy shop.

Keeping in mind my desire to not buy any more stash than I need to complete projects already started, I decided to do a deep drive into my fabric collection to see what I had that would work. I ultimately decided on a piece of Sky from Enchanting Lair. I think it is 28 count Lugana, but I could be wrong.

For my fibres, I am using DMC blanc and some unknown silk that comes from my big mess of silk thread odds and ends (some came from Dinky Dyes oops packs, some from HDF, and some from other sources, so I really have no idea what it is).

And here is step 1 complete:

Snowdrops SAL

Snowdrops SAL, part 1 (from Brodeuse Bressane)

I think it looks delicate and lovely. I can’t wait to get started on step 2!

If you are stitching along with the Snowdrops SAL too I would love to know. Be sure to leave a comment below.

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First Finish of the Year

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Heather

Yesterday I put the final stitches in my first project of the year. I began it on January 1st, and finished January 3rd.

I Love Canada, designed by unknown

I Love Canada, designed by unknown

The design is called I Love Canada, but I have no idea who the designer is or any other information about it. I was only given the chart and was told that it was a freebie design at some point. I think I remember being told that the designer has retired, but I really don’t know.

Canada-shaped map close-up; I Love Canada, designed by unknown

Canada-shaped map close-up; I Love Canada, designed by unknown

I used DMC 3865 and GAST Buckeye Scarlet. The fabric is 32 count Belfast in colour Heritage from Enchanting Lair.

Hopefully all the rest of my stitching this year will go just as well and just as quickly! 😉

2015SmallsSAL

Smalls SAL – The check-in for December 2015 closes on January 6th at about midnight Eastern time. So, you still have a little bit of time left to add your link.

SmallsSAL2016

The check-in post for the new 2016 Smalls SAL will go up on January 28th. Don’t forget: the check-in day has switched to Thursday this year.

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Happy New Year’s Eve!

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Heather

Happy New Year’s Eve, stitchy friends! In just a few hours (or maybe it has already happened where you are), we will be leaving the crazy year of 2015 behind and moving into the clean slate of 2016. I can’t wait! I love these threshold times of year, like when the kids go back to school or the start of summer vacation, but New Year’s Day is my favourite one of all.

vintage-new-years-eve-31

A new year means new goals, new plans, new dreams. I have no idea what 2016 will ultimately bring, but I can’t wait to find out.

11 Comments | Posted in The Outside World |

All My Finishes

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Heather

It is the penultimate day of the year, and an excellent time to look back on everything that we’ve accomplished. I managed to fulfill my goals of keeping up with the Smalls SAL, finishing my mom’s stocking, and completing a baby sampler for my cousin. Everything after that was pure extra. Including this little biscornu that I finished up a couple of weeks ago:

Lilies Biscornu, designed by Gingerbread Girl

Lilies Biscornu, designed by Gingerbread Girl

It is Lilies Biscornu, which is from a class taught by Kathryn Drummond of Gingerbread Girl Designs at this fall’s Creativ Festival. The technique is called Punto Antico, and it makes use of satin stitches, whipped backstitch, and beads. The finished product is very lovely and romantic feeling.

Overall, I’ve had a pretty good year.

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My knitting and sewing didn’t get very much attention this year, though. And, I didn’t share all of my finishes on my blog. My rough estimate is that I finished four pairs of socks, the hermit crab, and a vest for my dad. I sewed a little sewing kit, a big bag for my son’s swimming stuff, two purses for me, and a toy elephant. :/ There was so much else I wanted to do!

Phil

Phil

I have big plans for next year. (Who doesn’t?) And to start off the year I will be tearing apart my craft room and making a list/taking pictures of projects I want to finish or get started on. My biggest goals, though, are to keep up with the Smalls SAL and to finish my dad’s Christmas stocking.

2015SmallsSAL

Speaking of the Smalls SAL, you can post you December 2015 finish right here. And, if you’d like to learn about the 2016 edition, you can do so right here.

9 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch, Punto Antico | Tagged , ,

Smalls SAL 2015 – December Check-In

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Heather

Hello, Smalls Stitchers! We’ve made it to the end of another year. If you’ve followed along all year, then you have at least 12 completed smalls. Congratulations! If you’ve just joined recently, or couldn’t check-in every month, you should still be super proud of however many smalls you did complete. Any year that ends with at least one finish is a good year.

2015SmallsSAL

For my final small of the year I originally wanted to do something really special. And then I realized that it was December and I just had too much going on. :/ So, I dug out one more Mill Hill kit, because you can’t go wrong when you stitch something you love.

Holly, designed by Mill Hill

Holly, designed by Mill Hill

This month’s design is Holly from the Mill Hill Winter Holiday Collection 2011. I stitched it as per the chart, and added a little twisted cord using some floss left over from the kit.

So, what did you stitch this month? Did you finish up a couple of holiday ornaments? Did you stitch something summery because you a lucky enough to live somewhere where it is warm right now? Or, are you already thinking ahead to Valentine’s Day or Easter? (I was just tidying up the seasonal decorations in the basement, so I am happily thinking ahead to spring myself.)

Please share your finish by filling out the little form at the bottom of this post. And, if you have time, be sure to visit some of the other participants. The check-in form will remain open to new entries until January 6th, 2016 at about midnight Eastern time. Shortly after that, I will tally up all the entries from the year and announce the winner of the big year-end prize. Good luck!

SmallsSAL2016

Next Month – Yes, the Smalls SAL is continuing into 2016, and I sincerely hope you will join me. I love having the accountability and inspiration that every single one of you provide. The rules are the same as the 2015 SAL, with the edition of discrete parts of large designs (e.g. squares or rows in a big sampler, but not a face or a flower) being allowed. You can find all the info over here.

Thank you so much for taking part in the 2015 Smalls SAL. You participation means so much more than you know.

 

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