February SAL Finished

 Hi everyone,

I chose the theme of Sugar Plum Fairy/Fairy.  This is 1 out of 4 Fairies by Lesley Teare from the JCS December 2016 issue.  I made some changes and used some scrap piece of 28ct Monaco fabric.  The DMC metallic was a pain but was well worth it.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Mary

January SAL Completed

 Good Morning,

I am so happy that I am returning to blogging and that I can join in on this SAL.  I am trying to play catch-up and complete 12 smalls this year.  I will be jumping around with the themes as I find projects to work around each month.

For January I decided to do the Nutcracker by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery in the JCS June 2017 issue.  

It was a really fun project.

Thanks for letting me share.

Mary in Kentucky

Serendipitous Jo's January and February Ornaments

Once again I am following the 12 Days of Christmas theme.  This year I am stitching the Jardin Prive 12 Days as my monthly project.  I am also continuing with the large Bothy Threads' design but won't be completing one block of those per month!

As per previous years, I started the 12 Days on Boxing Day and stitched one day for the next 12 days.  Then I returned to Day 1 and finished it.

Here are the 12 starts:

This is Day 1, completed 6th January, 2022:

And this is Day 2, completed 6th February, 2022:

I'm using a gorgeous 32 count linen called Millenium Blue and Anchor threads.  I have quite a few Anchor threads I inherited from a friend who gave up cross stitch when she became a professional crochet designer.  They are ideal for projects like this.

The fabric is lovely but it can be difficult to choose the right shade of green.  I tried two different greens and the brighter, lighter one in Day 2 looks much better.  So Day 1 will be frogged and restitched.

I'm planning to finish these as individual ornaments.

DJ's February stitching...

I really should be fully finishing my stitching...I need a swift kick to get jump started in finishing.  Well I did finish earlier this month than last month so maybe the mood will strike soon.  Anyway...I was able to finish all 4 themes again this month...even though I REALLY struggled with Die Hard...haha.  So...here we gooooo.....

Theme one - The Twelve Days of Christmas...  I can't seem to get a good picture of these, probably because I finish them up later at night and the lighting isn't so good.  Here is Two Turtle Doves.  There are from a BG&H book called 2001 Cross Stitch Designs.  Stitched on 32 count ice blue over two.  

Theme Two - Christmas Movies.  This month was Die Hard.  I racked my brain over this one, and finally decided to stitch the I from a Christmas SAL by TT Designs.  Each letter was a different Christmas Movie and thank heavens one of them was Die Hard.  I left off some of the words (I just couldn't bring myself to stitch them) so I guess you'll just have to imagine they are there...haha.  Stitched on 28 count white over two.  Whew...glad that's done!  I'll finish it off and give it to someone who thinks that is a Christmas movie...LOL!!!  

Theme Three - JCS Ornament Issue 2013.  I chose Christmas Tree by Prairie Schooler.  Fingers crossed I hope to finish it as a Christmas tree with a stick trunk and hopefully find a cute little pot to plant it in as a Christmas ornament for someone.  Stitched on 32 count natural over two.  

Theme Four - Sugar Plum Fairy.  I know this is a bit of a stretch, but I thought this pattern, The Nutcracker Dancers by Naomi Kudo from the 2021 JCS Ornament Issue kind of fit the bill.  This was stitched on 32 count Blue Spruce over two.  Don't look too close, there's a little bit of personalization (ok, let's call it what it is...a mistake LOL) but I'm going with it because I would have had to frog a LOT...and I think it looks ok as is.   

And that is all that's fit to print.  I enjoy seeing what you guys are stitching!  Till next time....Happy Stitching!

Suzanne's February Stitching

Hello everyone! I was late commenting on all your beautiful stitching last month. But I've caught up. I am working on the Nutcracker theme and my first finish isn't Nutcracker, eek! It's Country Cottage Needleworks "Visions of Sugar Plums" from the JCS 2009 Christmas Ornament issue. It reminded me of the Sugar Plum Fairy, so I hope you'll excuse the stretch to fit the theme.

I stitched this on 18 count oatmeal Aida and finished as a flat ornament. I switched out the called for DMC threads for the boy's blanket and the border to blue and pink. 

I'm still working on Nutcracker Round Sampler I found on Etsy. Tashas Patterns

I'm hoping this is the Sugar Plum Fairy. I'm stitching this on 18 count white Aida with the called for DMC threads.

I'm looking forward to seeing your February progress. Take care!

Kaye: January 2022 update: Not quite there yet.

 Hello my lovely Elves, 

I know as the host the past few years, I have been quite an absent one but this year, I am hoping to be around far more often!  🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞It is so lovely to see what people have been stitching so far this year (please do check out the other posts for this month - all fabulous stitching. 

Unfortunately, for me, despite stitching like mad all month I didn't quite finish my choices for two of the themes: One (12 Days) and Four (Nutcracker) although I have made a lot of progress on my Nutcracker Village for Theme Four.  

But firstly, here is my 12 Days design - by Jim Shore - this is a picture of what it will look like when finished....

.... and here is my rather pathetic progress on it!

But I am pleased to say that my first section of Nutcracker Village by Country Cottage Needlework is coming along very well (although not finished).  It is stitched on the called for sparkly fabric but I couldn't seem to get the sparkles to show up but I must say I think it is one of the prettiest Christmas designs I have ever stitched and I am sorry to say that the photos do not really do it justice.

... and for those who are still looking for ideas for the Nutcracker Theme, you might like to check out this design on Etsy (click on the pic to go to the page).

Well, that is all for me for my January report - I hope to have lots more progress next month.

hugs, 

Mary's January Ornament

 

 

It has been a couple years since I've participated in the Ornies blog but I decided I want to get back to it this year! Here is my offering for January, Christmas Cactus from the 2014 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments issue. The designer is Tricia Nguyen. 

 

 The ornament was to be stitched on a Tokens and Trifles stitching card. Boy I wish I could find some of those cards! I do like stitching on perforated paper! But not having one, I used even weave with Au Ver a Soie silks. I made it into a pinball, but so it wouldn't be too heavy, I cut a foam ball in half, and put the stitching on one side and some nice red velvet on the other. I used the same velvet to make a trim and then looked up "loopy bow tutorials" to figure out how to make the ribbon topper/hanger. It is mostly how I envisioned it so I'm happy.

Gwen: January 2022

 For this month I went with the movie theme: Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. My Reindeer are from JBW's French Country II Reindeer Ornament leaflet. They were stitched with Anchor 1005, 1006, and Classic Colorworks Bean Sprout. 

I managed to stich 4; but only FFO 3. There are 2 more in the leaflet that I want to stitch those as well.

Happy Stitching