I did it!!!

I managed to finish this wonderful design on 28 December 2017! Phew! Just made it... the last 3 blocks were finished on 16th, 26th and 28th December!  Marathon stitching effort over the Christmas break :o)

For 2018 I have a plan to stitch on 2 pieces - one small one and one rather large one... and the odd extra one if I feel like it!  More info to come at the end of January when I do my update post!

Til then... I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and all the best for 2018!

Hugs xx

12 Days of Christmas - Day 9

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers

Free design - link to the Plum Street Samplers "Grand Finale" blog post is here

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers
Fabric: 28ct Jobelan "Gold Digger" - Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: Jodryi Designs (Wuthering Heights, Sense & Sensibility, The Olde Curiousity Shoppe, Midnight Hour)

Ninth Day

Started: 2 January 2017
Finish: 15 October 2017

Another one bites the dust!  Day 9 is late... but is now finished!  Can't believe that there are only three more squares left to go with this one now!  I am going to a stitching retreat at the end of the month so plan to take this WIP with me in an attempt to try and get Day 10 finished on time!

Til next time... happy Christmas stitching

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers

Free design - link to the Plum Street Samplers "Grand Finale" blog post is here

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers
Fabric: 28ct Jobelan "Gold Digger" - Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: Jodryi Designs (Wuthering Heights, Sense & Sensibility, The Olde Curiousity Shoppe, Midnight Hour)

Almost on target.... I finished Day 8 last night so thought I best get on here and blog about it now otherwise you won't see it for months!!!

So here you go - 8 Maids a Milking....

Next Sunday I will continue on with Day 9 which is another "big" block of stitching.. 9 Ladies Dancing!

So til next time, happy Christmas Stitching
Hugs x

June & July 12 Days update!

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers

Free design - link to the Plum Street Samplers "Grand Finale" blog post is here

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers
Fabric: 28ct Jobelan "Gold Digger" - Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: Jodryi Designs (Wuthering Heights, Sense & Sensibility, The Olde Curiousity Shoppe, Midnight Hour)

I'm back!  Finally got back on blogger to show you the next block (or 2) of my version of 12 Days of Christmas by Plum Street Samplers.  June and July are both now completed.  I do need to get back to August before the month is out....

Unfortunately the photo above doesn't really show the blocks up that well.  The colours look stunning in real life... I will have to try and get a better picture when I come back to post August!

Til then, happy Christmas stitching

Hugs x

April and May done... June won't be far behind!

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers

Free design - link to the Plum Street Samplers "Grand Finale" blog post is here

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers
Fabric: 28ct Jobelan "Gold Digger" - Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: Jodryi Designs (Wuthering Heights, Sense & Sensibility, The Olde Curiousity Shoppe, Midnight Hour)

Well best laid plans to come back and post in May went right out the window!  I did however get Day 4 and Day 5 finished in May and I have now started Day 6.

I decided to add a bit of gold highlight on the gold rings on Day 5 by doing a half stitch over the top of the full cross stitch in gold petite treasure braid.  The picture doesn't show it up though.

See you again soon (I hope!), til then happy stitching! 😄
Hugs xx

Late again! 12 Days of Christmas - Day 3

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers

Free design - link to the Plum Street Samplers "Grand Finale" blog post is here

Sorry it would appear that yet again I late posting my 12 Days of Christmas finish.... March, aka Day 3, is done and I have started on Day 4 so hopefully I will be posting during April with a Day 4 finish and not leave it til May!!

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers
Fabric: 28ct Jobelan "Gold Digger" - Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: Jodryi Designs (Wuthering Heights, Sense & Sensibility, The Olde Curiousity Shoppe, Midnight Hour)

Because I am using my own colour palette I am not really following the chart's suggested thread placement - I am just going with the flow when I stitch on each block.  The colour that I used for the lettering doesn't really show up on the photo but in real life it is gorgeous (it is the same colour as the third bird just to give you an idea of how different it can look depending on the stitch pattern)

Thank you all for the lovely comments you have left on my previous posts - it's great to see that the colour changes work for you all as well :o)

So that's it for Day 3... see you again soon with Day 4
Happy Stitching xx

Late... 12 Days of Christmas - Day 2

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers

Free design - link to the Plum Street Samplers "Grand Finale" blog post is here

Sorry.... I am so late posting this pic of my finished second day square.  I did have this finished in February but I just kept running out of time to post!

I am stitching this on 28ct Jobelan "Gold Digger" from Colour Cascade Fabrics and using threads from Jodyri Designs.  The colours I am using are: Sense & Sensibility, Wuthering Heights, The Olde Curiosity Shoppe and Into Midnight (the border).

Day 3 is progressing nicely.... hopefully I will get back to post that before the end of March!

Til next time, happy stitching :o)

12 Days of Christmas - 1st Day

12 Days of Christmas - Plum Street Samplers

Free design - link to the Plum Street Samplers "Grand Finale" blog post is here

I have been wanting to stitch this design since the last of the blocks were released in December 2015 and this year's double theme was the perfect excuse for me to finally start stitching it!

But I just had to be very different... and I have gone for slightly different/non traditional colours than the recommended colours... as you will see from the pic below:

I am stitching this on 28ct Jobelan "Gold Digger" from Colour Cascade Fabrics and using threads from Jodyri Designs.  The colours I am using are: Sense & Sensibility, Wuthering Heights, The Olde Curiosity Shoppe and Into Midnight (the border).

I am really loving how the First Day has turned out.... so onto the Second Day!

Til next month... happy Christmas stitching!

Two months rolled into one....

Hi there!  It is nearly the end of another month... goodness me this year is flying by!

As we all know this month's theme is presents/toys.  What a fun theme... there were so many things to choose from in my pile of magazines but in the end I picked a nice quick one!

This little Christmas Bunny was a freebie from a late 1990's/early 2000's issue of Cross Stitch Collection (I think...)  She fits in with the theme as she is holding a beautifully wrapped Christmas present :o)

The kit came with 18ct Aida - it is stitched with one thread of DMC floss.  (In the old days if they said DMC it was most likely really DMC thread!)  I even managed to make up the card as soon as I finished the stitching (not often I do that!!)

So that was October.... onto November's Christmas Tree theme!

Now is this cheating... I hope not... I want to call it brilliant planning because I have already finished my Christmas Tree for November!!

This design was published in the Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2015 issue.  The designer is From the Heart ~ NeedleArt by Wendy.  I didn't use any of the recommended threads - instead the lettering is stitched in Dinky Dyes "Pilbara", the tree foliage in Dragon Floss "Stem Green" and the trunk and star in DMC.

So that's me done and ahead of the game for a change.....

Happy Christmas Stitching
Hugs xx

Who wants Figgy Pudding?

Isn't it amazing what you can find when you go rummaging around in your stash!  I was looking through my stash of Christmas designs for something pudding or food like but nothing jumped out until I raided the box of magazine freebies....

So who would like some figgy pudding?  This is a Jane Greenoff design.  I am not sure what magazine it came from originally (probably Needlecraft UK) but it would have been from the late 80's or early 90's I suspect.

So that's it - quick and simple this month!

See you next month! Til then happy Christmas stitching!
Hugs xx

Noni's Free Choices!

It's July already.... where is the year going?

Seeing as how this month's theme is a free choice theme... and seeing as how I had a flurry of Christmas starts and finishes in the last couple of days in June, I decided to do a post today instead of waiting for the end of the month... and forgetting!

Here are my July free choice Christmas Ornies....  most of them are free gifts from magazines so very appropriate for free choice month! :o)

Tartan Stocking Decoration
Free gift - UK Cross Stitcher magazine December 1995 issue

Punched Needlepoint Christmas Card
Free gift - UK Needlecraft magazine December 1992

Noel Decoration
Free gift - UK Cross Stitcher magazine Christmas 1996

"Joyful Santa" - Homespun Elegance
Just Cross Stitch - Christmas 2015 issue

"Joyful Santa" - Designer: Homespun Elegance

Stitched on Sugar Cane Crunch (Stitches & Spice) 28ct linen using the called for DMC threads.  I am hoping to finish this one off as flat fold in the next few days.

So that's me done for July's post.... if you're lucky I might be back again by the end of the month with another finish :o)

Til then, happy stitching!

Hugs xx

Noni's Christmas Penguin

Thank you for your lovely comments on my cute reindeer and Santa finish.... I wanted to stitch him as soon as I saw him in the magazine last year and it was a no-brainer to stitch him for May :o)  They are such a cute couple!!

So now here we are in June and I thought I would do a quick post to show you my choice for the Christmas Animals/Pets theme.  I was originally thinking of doing another reindeer but instead I stitched another of my favourites... a Christmas penguin!

This little guy was a freebie in the Cross Stitch Crazy magazine many years ago but I only just managed to get around to stitching him.  Surprise, surprise... I actually made up the card already as well (it is going on a Christmas in July trip that's why it is done already!!)

Now I may (if I get the chance) stitch something else for June... if not, then I will see you in July!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx

Noni's Reindeer

As we slide through to the end of yet another month.... I have my finished Reindeer on show...

This gorgeous reindeer is called "Christmas Test Drive" and designed by Mosey N Me.  The design was published in the Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2015 issue.

I stitched him on 28ct linen - the colour isn't showing up too well but it is a very pale green... quite a pretty colour and that red shows up really well in real life!

I love this reindeer and Santa... they are so cute :o)

See you next month
Hugs xx

Noni's Christmas Bauble

As soon as this month's choice came up on the stitching plan I knew exactly what I wanted to stitch...

I found this design in the Cross Stitch Crazy magazine last year but wasn't sure what to stitch them on (perforated paper, plastic canvas or fabric) - I ended up choosing plastic canvas and once I have stitched a couple more of them I will cut them out and make them into felt backed ornies.

The Christmas Bauble is designed by Jody Rice from Satsuma Street.  Love the colours!  The pink/purple colour is just so lovely...  This was a very quick stitch - took me one day in total (afternoon/evening) when I was home sick last week.

Now I just need to get cracking on my choice for May.... those that follow my blog can probably guess what it will be.... but then again I may change my mind - either way I have so been waiting for the reindeer choice to come up!! :o)

 

Til next month, happy stitching

hugs xx

March Christmas Eve Delivery

I made it just in time.... here is my March choice - Santa and his reindeer helper... Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery "Christmas Eve Delivery".

This is my first ever Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery finish.  I have seen these designs around for ages on blogs and FB but never actually stitched one until now!  And I loved stitching on it..  it is so cute!  I will definitely be stitching another one of these designs at some point down the track....  This design was published in the Just Cross Stitch Chrismas 2015 magazine.

I stitched this design with DMC threads on a plain piece of 28ct linen from my stash.

Now I just need to think about the April choice.... :o)

 

Til next month, happy stitching

hugs xx

January and February done and dusted!!!

Hello everyone! Happy New Year (belated....)  I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and got lots of stitching done!  I see from all the posts that everyone has chosen some great music designs for January, and there are even some snow designs popping up already!

Well.... would you believe it.... I have manged to finish both my January and February ornies already! So I am feeling mighty proud of myself right now.... :o)

Here we go...

January's theme was Music - I loved looking for something to stitch for this one.  I have so many little Christmas designs that could fit into the theme that I was really stuck for choice!  I did finally decide to stitch a "Christmas Carol" design that feature in the Cross Stitch Card Shop magazine.

"Christmas Chorus" - designer Durene Jones

February's choice was really simple.... I was stitching the Blue Ribbon Designs "Snow Mates" for another SAL so they just had to be my February choice for "Snow"!

"Snow Mates" - designer Blue Ribbon Designs

This design was featured in the Just Cross Stitch 2015 Christmas Ornaments magazine.  I stitched it using mainly DMC but did have a Weeks Dye Works "Hunter" in my stash so was able to do the border in the called for colour.

So that's me up to date for a change!

Til next time.... Happy Christmas Stitching
Hugs xx

October & November Finishes!

Surprise, surprise... I do have two finishes to show you today!

October's theme first:
Remember some time ago I showed you my "Joy Angel" and she was looking bit strange....

Well, she is all finished now and currently on her way to England to be added to the Christmas Tree of Joy that Clare-Aimetu is organising for her local church.  Hopefully the tree will be full of cross stitched ornies from around the world all with the word "Joy" on them in one form or another.

"Joyful Angels Triptych" (Designer Mona Eno)
Cross Stitch Christmas magazine (1999)

The second finish that I have to show you is my choice for November's theme.  I love snowmen and had a terrible time choosing which one to stitch.... so in the end I didn't do any!!

Instead I went with a Fizzy Moon freebie that I had in my stash...  it is sort of a winter scene, don't you think?

Fizzy Moon Freebie - Cross Stitch Card Shop (issue 92)

This freebie was published in the Cross Stitch Card Shop magazine (issue 92).  I decided to cover the plain white card with a vintage winter scene scrapbook paper that I had and then added a snowflake to fill in the rather large white space at the top.

So that's me all up to date again!!

Now I just have to think about my December choice....

Til next time, happy Christmas Stitching!
Hugs xx
Stitching Noni

An Angelic Fail....

Yep, I failed!  So close but not quite close enough!

This is my Angel (or part there of).....

I know she looks a bit weird at the moment..... I have to find (order) the colour for her hair and locate some more of the colour of the shading around her wings, so I stitched what I could and then started backstitching the lower section.  I am not stitching the bottom of the dress as I need to keep this as a small design (further details on why later...).  You will probably notice that I changed the word "Joy" and stitched it in gold Kreinik.  I have also embellished her sleeve and head dress with green Kreinik just to bling it up a bit!!

For those of you that might like to know where this design came from.... she can be found in a very old Cross Stitch Christmas magazine (1999) - design is called "Joyful Angels Triptych" and is designed by Mona Eno.  I am stitching her on a piece of "Waratah" 32 count fabric from Stitches and Spice (an Australian online fabric store).

I will come back and post a finished pic once she is done.... and then hopefully she will look more angelic!

Til then, happy Christmas Stitching!
Hugs xx
Stitching Noni

Feelin' Festive....

Hello!!

For September's stitching choice I dived into my rather large WIP basket and pulled out a Lizzie Kate design - "Tiny Tidings XV - Feelin' Festive".

I still have to do the "final" ornie finish on this one but the stitching is finished so I think it ticks the box as a finish!!

"Feelin' Festive - Tiny Tidings XV" Chart Pack
Designer: Lizzie Kate

While there isn't a tree in this design... there are presents!  I love the simplicity of the Lizzie Kate designs... no (or minimal) backstitch...  The fabric that I stitched it on has gold flecks through out which just adds to the festive feeling!

Before I go, I just want to say that there have been some lovely designs stitched (and shown on the blog) over the last couple of months, and I am really looking forward to seeing more as the months count down to Christmas!  Thanks Kaye for setting up this blog... :o)

See you all next month....

Til then, happy Christmas Stitching!
Hugs xx
Stitching Noni

Aussie Santa Claus - August Ornie

Merry August Christmas!!

Before I post my August "Santa" picture, I just want to say thank you to Kaye for setting up the blog... this is going to be such fun being a part of a blog just for Christmas stitching all year round!!  My Christmas Tree will be loving all it's new decorations in December!

Ok... onto my Santa!  As I mentioned in my blog title I have stitched an "Aussie" Santa for this month's ornament.  I searched my chart and magazine stash for ages trying to find the right one and then all of a sudden I found this one in a pile of designs that I had put aside for filing (one day)....

So here he is.... Aussie Santa and friends!

This design was published in the Cross Stitch Crazy magazine issue #171 and is designed by Jenny Barton.  He was part of Jenny's "Santa's of the World" feature in that issue and I just couldn't resist him.

I have stitched him on plastic canvas and backed him with felt which I need to trim and finally finish once the glue has well and truly stuck!

Now I  have to start the process all over again to find next month's masterpiece!!

Til then, happy Christmas Stitching!
Hugs xx
Stitching Noni