Smalls SAL - August 2024

Hi all!

It's the last Friday of the month, so time for the Smalls SAL.

Entries can be anything Small you have cross stitched during the month, be it an individual piece, part of a set, a portion of a big design, or even an unfinished Small if you haven't been able to complete it. All Smalls, or part(s) thereof, are welcome!

This month I actually have a finish! It's the front of the April Biscornu shown last month as a WIP. And it's literally hot off the press as it was finished yesterday (although as I finished it I noticed a tiny error in scroll in the top left which needs fixing).

Started 27th March 2024

Finished 29th August 2024

Total stitching time - 8 hours

I do love how these colours remind me of some of the first flowers of spring.

Now it's over to you.

Please link up using the URL of your Smalls SAL post, with a title (usually your name) and a thumbnail. The link will stay open for 10 days.

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Seeing as the fronts of both the March and April Biscornu have been stitched, I suppose I ought to think about the backs, so one of those will probably be my next project. I guess you'll find out which one it is next month!

Take care,

Rachel x

Mischievous March New Start #4 - April Biscornu

Morning all!

Yet another week when I couldn't decide what to start, so took the easy way out with another biscornu.

This is April's biscornu which I chose to stitch in bright spring colours. I've altered the design very slightly to account for it being stitched on aida instead of evenweave, but it doesn't look much different.

April Biscornu by Magical Quilts And More

Stitched on 16ct Rhododendron overdyed aida with Jodyri thread Passionberry Cake

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

Next weekend will be the final Mischievous March new start, a Snuffles in traditional grey/coral colours chosen by Leonore. All I have to do is find the right fabric.

Take care,

Rachel x

Mischievous March New Start #3 - March Biscornu

Morning all!

So having looked through a list of potential new starts, I decided that they were all too big if I wanted to keep to the idea that all Mischievous March new starts should be small. So what to do?

Well, I went back to an old friend - variegated thread - so that I could stitch another biscornu.

It wasn't my intention to stitch the months in order, nor to stitch them as birthstones (as the designer intended) nor in colours relevant to the month. However, having done a lovely-dovey coloured theme for February, and starting this on St Patrick's Day, I thought why not?

So here is the start of March's biscornu. The thread sort of resembles the green of Ireland with the yellow being the Leprechaun's gold and the brown being the pot. And it's stitched on a fabric called Clover, so there are the Irish connections!

March Biscornu by Magical Quilts And More

Stitched on 16ct Clover overdyed aida with Jodyri thread 194 Toxic Banana

Stitching time to date - 2 hours 35 minutes

I love how it's looking so far.

No idea what start number 4 will be yet!

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL link-up - February 2024

Good morning one and all,

Here we are again - the last Friday of the month - so it's time for the Smalls SAL. Entries can be anything Small you have cross stitched during the month, be it an individual piece, part of a set, a portion of a big design, or even an unfinished Small if you haven't been able to complete it. All Smalls, or part(s) thereof, are welcome!

I have three Smalls this month - a Christmas piece, a new start, and a monarch.

Here is this month's Nordic Christmas Sampler. This is the Star which was charted as Day 1. I swapped some of the colours and am not that taken with my interpretation but am not going to frog and restitch:

Nordic Christmas Sampler Day 1 - star by ZindagiDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct White with iridescent pearl/opal flecks

Started - 1st February 2024

Finished - 5th February 2024

Total stitching time - 8 hours 15 minutes

Second is a new start and finish. After a break from stitching for eight days (yes, I know.... shocking... but rather forced upon me than by choice!) I wanted to stitch something simple so started the February Geometric Square by Magical Quilts And More which will be finished as a biscornu. The back is not as detailed as the front because... well... what's the point?! I thought it apt that I should start this on St. Valentine's Day with appropriately coloured love-themed fabric and thread:

February Geometric Square by Magical Quilts And More

Stitched on 16ct Cloud Pink aida with Jodyri thread #53 Tropical Bay

Started - 14th February 2024

Finished - 19th February 2024

Total stitching time - 10 hours 25 minutes

Finally, at the end of last month I was at a bit of a loose end so stitched the next monarch, Victoria. Goodness knows when her actual 'A Monarch A Month' post will appear but at least she's ready to go!) I'm not sure I like her features and expression, but she was rather haughty so they kind of work:

Victoria from Kings and Queens by Bothy Threads

Stitched on 32ct Vintage Grey murano

Started - 27th January 2024

Finished - 30th January 2024

Total stitching time - 6 hours 45 minutes

Now it's your turn.

You know the format - please link up using the URL of your Smalls SAL post, with a title (usually your name) and a thumbnail. The link will stay open for 10 days.

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Thumb-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
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I look forward to seeing your Small accomplishments this month!

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - September 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.

But this month, for the first time in nearly eight years, I didn't :(

So the only small thing I have to show is the recently-finished biscornu by Magicalquilts, stitched on Bermuda aida using Jodyri thread Flowering Cactus:

It's already been FFOd, so you'll see it soon as an actual biscornu!

Next month's Small will be something spooky for Dark October - and I know that for a fact as it's already been stitched (but not shown as it's a gift).

Take care,
Rachel x

'January' Biscornu - started and finished!

Hi all,

Whilst life means I still can't stitch for long each night, and my plans for the last few months (and probably the remainder of the year) have long since flown away, I thought I'd stitch something I've wanted to try for a while - a biscornu.

With thanks to Leonore for providing the link, I armed myself with bright fabric and a Jodyri variegated thread and stitched the January Biscornu by Magicalquilts. The front is stitched as charted but the back is a simplified version containing only the cross-stitch elements.

January Biscornu by Magicalquilts

Stitched on 16ct Bermuda over-dyed aida with Jodyri thread 'Flowering Cactus'

Started - 19th August 2022

Finished - 7th September 2022

Total stitching time - 9 hours 40 minutes

I think it's going to look quite sweet once FFOd.

Now I've done one, I doubt this will be my last biscornu, especially as they're simple to stitch and aren't finished as one of my usual ornies! And since this is the 'January' biscornu by Magicalquilts, I still have another 11 months to choose from.

Take care,

Rachel x