Cute Animal Calendar - finished

Good afternoon all!

Those of you who have been following the Smalls SAL during 2017 will have noticed that I have been stitching part of a calendar each month. I am very pleased to report that I succeeded in completing the whole project during the year and on schedule! And here it is:

Cute Animal Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket over-dyed aida from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 184 wide by 176 high

Started - 1st January 2017

Finished - 9th December 2017

Total stitching time - 97 hours 5 minutes

Obviously there are some months that I enjoyed stitching more than others - I think July has to be my favourite and November my least favourite - and some which were more straight-forward than others - the backstitching on September's Hedgehog took ages!

I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with it. I doubt I'll frame it or make it into a wall hanging, so I might cut it up and mount each month onto a card which can be displayed at the appropriate time. I've not left much space between them but it's doable - if I'm careful and if I've got the willpower to take a pair of scissors to it! Better that than have it sitting in my Box of Shame!

So, that's my last finish of the year to show you. I was hoping to have finished one more but fitting about 20 hours of stitching into the last two days of the year is simply not going to happen!

I've got my really boring Year End Summary to post tomorrow and then it's on to my 2018 projects. I must say I'm rather looking forward to it!

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - December 2017

Hello again!

I'm back to being on time for this month's Smalls SAL posting. Thanks as always to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing the stitch along.

So, here's the final month of the calendar I've been stitching specifically for this SAL; a cute little penguin to round off the year:

December Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st December 2017

Finished - 9th December 2017

Total stitching time - 7 hours 20 minutes

And here's the completed calendar after a year's worth of stitching. I shall be writing a separate more detailed post about it on my blog tomorrow.

I have already signed up for next year's Smalls SAL and will be stitching a variety of projects. I have 12 all kitted up and ready to go so, apart from the four which are month-specific, I will be doing a lucky dip to see which gets stitched. I'm really looking forward to it!

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - November 2017

Hello again!

I'm really really annoyed with myself for not making November's Small SAL posting in time. Argh! Oh well, I'll still say thanks as always to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing the stitch along and I'll have to ensure I'm on time next month.

For November we had fireworks, of course, with a frog(!)

November Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st November 2017

Finished -8th November 2017

Total stitching time - 6 hours 35 minutes

We have a real cutie for the final month of the year. I really can't wait to stitch him and then show the whole completed piece.

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - October 2017

Hello again!

I've been a bad blogger for the last couple of months but have returned for this month's Smalls SAL posting. Thanks as always to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing the stitch along.

I wasn't originally keen on October's animal but in the end did enjoy stitching him. He's a cheeky little fella; I wonder if he ate the inside of the pumpkin first?!

October Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st October 2017

Finished - 12th October 2017

Total stitching time - 7 hours

Only two more months to go! See you at the end of November for the next check-in.

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - September 2017

Hello again!

I'm a bit later than usual for this month Smalls SAL posting (and I haven't even posted last month's finish or progress reports either). Must be old age catching up with me! Thanks as always to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing the stitch along.

Oh boy, did I enjoy this month's little cutie even if it did include 3.5 - yes, 3.5 - hours of backstitching! It's certainly not a recommended chart for the backstitch loather! I don't usually have to cross off the backstitching as I go but for this chart I definitely did!

September Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st September 2017

Finished - 11th September 2017

Total stitching time - 10 hours 20 minutes

I won't be showing the whole calendar again now until it's completed.

I'm not keen on October's animal but I do like the remainder of the chart, which includes a lot less backstitching and some lovely clumps of colours. See you around Halloween for the next check-in.

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - August 2017

Hello again!

Another month has zoomed by so it's time once again to post the Smalls SAL project. As usual, thanks go to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

I mentioned last month that we would be going to the seaside for this month's calendar and whilst I suspect some of you may have envisaged buckets and spades we actually have a lion in a dinosaur rubber ring. Of course!

August Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st August 2017

Finished - 6th August 2017

Total stitching time - 7 hours 55 minutes

Here's how the whole calendar now looks after two full rows:

I didn't much take to the lion until I stared stitching him and then found him to be rather fun - probably because yellow is my favourite colour and I'm not stitching much in the way of yellow at the moment.

September's picture is really cute and definitely another one of my favourites. Good job I don't mind backstitching as there's rather a lot for such a small chart. See you at the end of September!

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - July 2017

Good afternoon!

Goodness me, it's the last Friday of the month AGAIN so time to post this month's Smalls SAL project. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

July meant Wimbledon and Wimbledon meant strawberries so this cutie is completely apt. Despite the french knots (which were done when I wasn't feeling in the mood for french knots and consequently all over the place!) he is probably my favourite month so far. I may re-do the french knots but I actually quite like their irregularity. Afterall, nature isn't perfect. Well, that's my excuse anyway. I suppose it depends how much my fussiness wins out.

July Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st July 2017

Finished - 7th July 2017

Total stitching time - 7 hours 55 minutes

And another progress picture of the whole calendar:

August takes us to the seaside. See you then!

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - June 2017

Good afternoon!

As it's the last Friday of the month it's time to post my project for this month's Smalls SAL. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

So, this month brings us to the halfway point of the year (already?!!!) and therefore the halfway point of my calendar. For June we had a family of cute tortoises:

June Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st June 2017

Finished - 17th June 2017

Total stitching time - 7 hours

They were lovely to stitch, although I can't say I've ever come across tortoises this colour before, or wearing top-hats for that matter!

And another progress picture of the whole calendar:

As the months go past it's clear how the colours each month carry themselves through the whole calendar. Very subtle and very clever.

For July I'll be stitching some yummy looking strawberries so I guess we'll get another splash of red. See you then!

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - May 2017

Good morning!

As it's (just gone past) the last Friday of the month it's time to post my project for this month's Smalls SAL. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

I continued with my calendar and had great fun stitching up this lovely little dog:

May Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st May 2017

Finished - 15th May 2017

Total stitching time - 10 hours 50 minutes

Yes, there were a million pink french knots in the flowers, no I don't like doing french knots and yes, they are really scruffy. But it doesn't bother me in the slightest... let's call it my "feature"! I did enjoy the backstitching though and watching each little flower come to life.

Here's the whole calendar so far:

.

I'll be back at end of June with a cute tortoise family.

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - April 2017

Good morning!

As it's the last Friday of the month it's time to post my project for this month's Smalls SAL. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

I continued to carry on with he Durene Jones cute animal calendar and, boy, did I thoroughly enjoy stitching the little mouse and daffodil this month!

April Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st April 2017

Finished - 13th April 2017

Total stitching time - 7 hours 45 minutes

And the whole calendar so far:

Now that I've finished the first row I'm not sure if I'll keep showing the whole calendar each month. Maybe I show it again at the end of August and December when the second and third rows have been completed.

May's chart is very pretty so should be a lot fun to stitch.

See you at the end of May then.
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - March 2017

Good afternoon,

As it's the last Friday of the month it's time to post my project for this month's Smalls SAL. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

This month I carried on with my Durene Jones cute animal calendar. The cake is supposed to have "best mum" written on it, but seeing as Mother's Day is not really an occasion in our house I decided to change it to simply "yum!".

March Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st March 2017

Finished - 17th March 2017

Total stitching time - 8 hours 5 minutes

And the whole calendar so far:

I have to admit I'm really looking forward to starting April's animal tomorrow. I think it's going to be one of my favourites!

See you with that next month.
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - February 2017

Good afternoon!

As it's the last Friday of the month it's time to post my project for this month's Smalls SAL. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

Continuing on from January, this month's small is Durene Jones' February Calendar animal.

February Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st February 2017

Finished - 7th February 2017

Total stitching time - 8 hours 10 minutes

I have to admit the panda this month was not as enjoyable to stitch as the little squirrel last month, but with 12 different animals in total there are bound to be some I enjoy more than others. Here are the two together:

I expect I'll carry on with the calendar and do March next month.

See you then!
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - January 2017

Good afternoon!

As it's the last Friday of the month it's time to post my project for this month's Smalls SAL. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

My first project for 2017 is from a Facebook challenge run by Durene Jones in 2015. I don't belong to FB but after enquiring about the charts she emailed them to me! So thanks go to Durene for being such a good egg!!

January Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st January 2017

Finished - 6th January 2017

Total stitching time - 7 hours 10 minutes

This little squirrel was an absolute joy to stitch, especially his big swirly bushy tail! And how cute is the little robin? I hope the other months are as much fun to do. The only change I made (after deciding I was actually going to keep the months in) was to use two strands of black for backstitching the month instead of one; one just didn't look thick enough.

The whole calendar is going to be stitched on one piece of fabric so if I decide to make this my 12 Small SAL projects for the year I'll have only one project to finish-finish at the end. Result!

See you at the end of February with the next one.
Rachel x