Smalls SAL - June 2016

Good afternoon everybody,

I can't believe another month has flown by and it's time for the Smalls SAL again, hosted by Heather of Stitching Lotus. As you are probably aware by now I am trying to complete a Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings Christmas Ornament each month. My success continues in June with Mistletoe.

Here are the usual photographs:

 Mistletoe from Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings XIV

Stitched on 16ct Cloud Brown aida from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 50 wide by 50 high

Started - 6th June 2016

Finished -  21st June 2016

Total stitching time - 7 hours 5 minutes

plus a couple of hours to finish

I'm not getting fed up with these Tiny Tidings ornaments but I'm planning on stitching something different for next month's check-in, just for a change. see you then!

Take care everyone,
Rachel x

Ocean Critters Seahorse - finished

Good morning all!

Yep, the finishes for June are continuing. I started Seahorse back in the middle of May, showing you this progress picture after just under 7 hours of stitching:

Well, I'm proud to announce that Mrs. Seahorse is now finished:

Ocean Critters - Seahorse by Janet Morningstar for Moonlight Inspirations

Stitched on 16ct Ocean over-dyed aida by sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 98 wide by 122 high
Started - 15th May 2016
Finished - 13th June 2016
Total stitching time - 25 hours

I can honestly say I enjoyed every single stitch in this project, probably because both the threads and fabric colours were so bright and gorgeous to work with.

As soon as I had taken Mrs. Seahorse off the scroll bars another piece of fabric went straight on. It's for the Dolphin in the same Ocean Critters series and will no doubt be started tonight. There are also some rather cute and playful dolphins in this month's Cross Stitch Crazy issue 218 which I just HAVE to stitch. I know I shouldn't have any more new starts, but what the heck? If the newstartitus bug is calling, I'm answering!!

Take care,
Rachel x

PS I still haven't read any blogs for about 6 weeks now. I will catch up one day - promise!

Toby Fox - DUCJC 2016 Finish 13/31

Hello again!

Here's my second finish for June and my 13th finish of the 31 projects started back in January for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge. This is Toby Fox, another character in the Woodland Folk collection by DMC.

I hadn't made much of a start when I put him down on 14th January 2016:

But now he's a fully completed very happy little chappy:

DMC Woodland Folk

Stitched on 16ct Kelp over-dyed aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Stitch count 56 wide by 54 high

Started - 14th January 2016

Finished - 8th June 2016

Total stitching time - 14 hours 50 minutes

(estimated 15 hours)

He'll join his friends in my Box of Shame until all six Woodland Folk have been completed and can be framed together.


Seeing as I'm on a roll, I'm going to continue with another Woodland Folk WIP. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I'm daring to think I may even finish the remaining two (Molly Mouse and Ollie Owl) in June. Definitely a goal worth aiming for.

Back soon I expect,
Rachel x

Frankie Hedgehog - DUCJC 2016 Finish 12/31

Hello everyone!

As hoped, I'm back to working on my 2015/2016 Challenge pieces and am pleased to show my first finish for June. This is, of course, Frankie Hedgehog.

Here's how he looked when I left him back on 1st January this year:

And here he is now, completely finished and looking utterly adorable (and with the correct fabric colour):

DMC Woodland Folk

Stitched on 16ct Kelp over-dyed aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Stitch count 52 wide by 52 high

Started - 1st January 2016

Finished - 2nd June 2016

Total stitching time - 13 hours

(estimated 14 hours)

This means I've now finished three of the six Woodland Folk characters. I'm not sure if I'll move on to number four or choose something else to work on. Decisions, decisions.....

Until next time,
Rachel x

Another Start, Another Finish

Morning folks!

At the end of each month I usually post about the stitching progress made on my Challenge pieces. But for the second month in a row there has been none.

However, May was not all wasted as I had a few new starts and finishes (as shown two posts ago) along with this cheeky one which slipped in towards the end of the month:

Lizzie Kate Boo Club - Halloween

Stitched on 16ct Lime over-dyed aida by sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 78 wide by 38 high 

Started - 23rd May 2016

Finished - 31st May 2016

Total stitching time - 7 hours 15 minutes

Again, I made a couple of small alterations, namely the buttons, and the cream in the border being replaced with E940 Glow-in-the-dark. I intend to make Halloween, and the accompanying Ghost, into a double sided hanging ornament. But that won't be quite yet.

In June I am hoping to return to my "normal" stitching routine (i.e. working on and finishing some Challenge pieces, stitching a Christmas ornament and making progress on Sherlock) without the temptation or distraction of any more new starts. I may even finish some pieces from my Box of Shame. But we'll see.....

Bye for now,
Rachel x