Friday 28 January 2022

Smalls SAL - January 2022

Hello all!

It's the last Friday of the month so time for the Smalls SAL. Thank you, Mary, for continuing to host this fun little SAL. Pop over to Mary's Blog to see what other participants have been stitching in the way of Smalls this month.



Each month I stitch a small project specifically for this SAL which doesn't appear elsewhere on my blog.

To start off the year I have a cute wintery design. May I introduce Snowflake the Cactus. I'm not a fan of cacti, or any plants in fact, but this one, with his ear muffs, scarf and bobble hat, was just so cute I couldn't resist!

Snowflake The Cactus by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)
Stitch count 40 wide by 46 high
Stitched on 16ct Horizon over-dyed aida 2 over 2
Started - 1st January 2022
Finished - 2nd January 2022
Total stitching time - 5 hours 35 minutes


I made a couple of little changes, using one strand of white and one strand of white Etoile for the snow on the ground and two strands of white Etoile for the backstitching and snowflakes. I think Snowflake looks cold but cosy.


I have a second and third small this month too. These were unplanned new starts, which sort of means I've broken my 'no unplanned new starts this year' rule but, in my defence, they were small, were quick to finish, and are for a very good cause as they are for Clare's Christmas Tree for her local church. 

For the last couple of years Clare stitched, and received, many flowers. This year the theme of her tree is letters. Read about her ideas towards the end of this post. Anyway, I said I'd submit some letters and these are my first two - C for Clare or Christmas or Church, and H for her surname. I hope she likes them!

Letters C and H from Lizzie Kate's A-B-Crazy
Stitch count 33 wide by 33 high
Stitched on 16ct Margarita over-dyed aida 2 over 2
Stitched with ThreadworX 1046 Lemon Grass
Started - (C) 16th January 2022 (H) 18th January 2022
Finished - (C) 17th January 2022 (H) 19th January 2022
Total stitching time - 3 hours 25 minutes each


And finally I have my monarch of the month, George I:



For next month's Smalls SAL, a character who's just too cute to breathe fire!

Take care,
Rachel x

11 comments:

Clare-Aimetu said...

I'm sorry, not sorry, that you broke your no unplanned starts pledge - I love the letters, thank you. Cute cactus and I love King George, your Monarchs is a super stitch.

Mary said...

Very cute finishes. I just love the cactus; he looks like is enjoying the cold. The letters are really pretty.

Cathy said...

Cute cactus! Too bad you had to break your no new unplanned starts rule, but as you said it's for a good cause!

Astrids dragon said...

Awe, he's a cutie, especially in the snow! That reminds me that I still need to stitch the one you gave me with my namesake!
The ornaments for Clare look lovely, such pretty greens.

Katie said...

Great smalls for January.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Lovely Smalls and those letters are a gift so they totally don't count!

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

A lovely selection of small stitching Rachel.

Faith... said...

What a cute cacti! I rarely see one with snow on it though :)

Love the letters and just remember; we all have to break the rules every now and then especially for a good cause!

FlashinScissors said...

Life’s too short not to break rules 🤣😂🤣😂 no matter how helpful they are!
Hi Rachel, I’m back to blogging at last. I’ve missed seeing your monarchs so I will be back to catch up. Such a clever way of genning up on history!
The cactus is so cute, of course you had to stitch him and your changes were just perfect. Love the letters for Clare too! And George is fabulous! Well done!
Hugs,
Barbara xx

Mary's Thread said...

Your chilly cactus made me smile! In Arizona when we have a projected freezing night (maybe 7-10 nights in the winter) we do actually put a covering on the tops of our pillar cacti to protect the growing part. Many people do use those Santa hats! Or foam cups! But the Santa hats are cuter! I love seeing another king, and of the course so sweet of you to contribute to the alphabet tree!

Leonore Winterer said...

Aw, snowflake really is super cute! Love the thread on the letters. I think these are a type of unplanned start that can be totally excused!