Smalls SAL - June 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.

For June I returned to the designer of last month's Seahorses to stitch another of her cute little Aussie birds. This is one of the four designs on her bookmark, and is the Rainbow Lorikeet. I bet he can't wait to join all his other little Aussie friends!

Rainbow Lorikeet by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Clover over-dyed aida

Started - 1st June 2022

Finished - 8th June 2022

Total stitching time - 4 hours 50 minutes

Next month I'm focusing on Christmas In July, so the Small will be Christmas-themed. I thought I'd decided which Small to stitch, but now I'm not so sure. At least I have a while to decide.

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - June 2021

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.

In June I managed to stitch another of the Little Bird collection by Rachel James:

Galah (Little Aussie Parrot) by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitch Count 37 wide by 27 high

Stitched on 16ct Sorbet over-dyed aida by sewitall.com

Started - 1st June 2021

Finished - 17th June 2021

Total stitching time - 4 hours 20 minutes

This poor little bird might have taken only 4 hours 20 minutes to stitch, but that was spread over a total of 17 days! As you may have guessed, stitching really isn't happening at the moment.  :(

Next month will be something for Christmas In July.

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - June 2020

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.

For June I decided to return to Rachel James' Little Birds series, and stitch the kakapo. As you'll find out below though, these are native to New Zealand, not Australia as I said last month, so apologies for the error.

Cute Kakapo by FuzzyFoxDesigns

Stitch Count 41 wide by 31 high

Stitched on 16ct Kelp over-dyed aida by sewitall.com

Started - 3rd June 2020

Finished - 5th June 2020

Total stitching time - 6 hours 5 minutes

I'd never heard of the kakapo so did a bit of research. This is from, or has been paraphrased from, good old wikipeadia:

The kakapo, also called owl parrot, is a species of large, flightless, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot endemic to New Zealand. It has finely blotched yellow-green plumage, a distinct facial disc, a large grey beak, short legs, large feet, and relatively short wings and tail, There are only about 210 remaining, up from around just 50-60 in the 1980s and 1990s, all of which have been tagged and live on four islands cleared of predators. They weigh about 2-4kg and can live up to 95 yeas.

Here's one with Davic Attenborough during his filming of the 'Life of Birds' series:

And if you want to see a real male in its habitat and getting amorous with a human, here's a YouTube clip from Stephen Fry's 'Last Chance To See' series. It's really sweet and good for a giggle!


In this Smalls SAL I'm also re-showing other qualifying small projects I've stitched during the month. This month it's just my Monarch, the never-crowned Edward V:

Next month I will be stitching another little Mouseloft kit. But which one?

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - June 2019

Hello all!

It's the last Friday of the month so time for the Smalls SAL. Thank you, Mary, for continuing to run 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. For June I've added another little Australian bird to add to my flock: 

Eastern Rosella by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitch Count 38 wide by 25 high

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

Started - 4th June 2019

Finished - 7th June 2019

Total stitching time - 4 hours 30 minutes

From looking on the internet it seems there are about 15-20 types of Rosella, all with beautiful bright markings. I believe this is the Eastern Rosella, but please correct me if I am wrong.

Have I said before how much I love these this collection of Little Aussie Birds?! I won't be stitching any more this year so thought I'd show my small flock to date:

Interestingly, the charts are provided with the birds facing both left and right but I have unwittingly stitched them all the same way. What an excuse to stitch more and even things out a bit!


For this Smalls SAL I'm also re-showing other qualifying small projects I've stitched during the month.

My birthstone of the month, June in Alexandrite:

And my monarch of the month, Richard I (who turned out not to be quite as interesting a monarch as had been hoped):

Next month I'm celebrating Christmas in July!

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - May 2019

Hello all!

It's the last Friday of the month so time for the Smalls SAL. Thank you, Mary, for continuing to run 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. For May, this was another little Australian Bird from a series out of which I have already stitched three but still have many, many more to go. Here's the latest one: 

Kookaburra by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitch Count 43 wide by 35 high

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

Started - 3rd May 2019

Finished - 7th May 2019

Total stitching time - 5 hours 25 minutes

I love stitching the birds in this series. They're basically all the same shape but that's so easy to overlook when they've all got such different colourings. Here's the link to FuzzyFoxDesigns' Little Birds in case you feel tempted!


For this Smalls SAL I'm also re-showing other qualifying projects I've stitched during the month.

My birthstone of the month, May in Emerald:

And my monarch of the month, Henry II:

In June I'll be stitching another colourful little Australian bird from this collection. See you then!

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - April 2018

Good afternoon everybody!

It's the last Friday of the month again (well, Saturday really) so time to check in with the Smalls SAL run by Heather of Stitching Lotus.

This month I stitched a second Australian bird to match the Gouldian Finch I stitched in February:

Cute Little Cockatiel by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Stormy Sea over-dyed aida from sewitall.com 2 over 1
Stitch count - 38 wide by 30 high
Started - 1st April 2018
Finished - 4th April 2018
Total stitching time - 4 hours 35 minutes

For the time being he's the only other Australian Bird I will be stitching but as a tease here's the link if you want to see the other birds in the series.

And, yet again, he's been finished off into a little hanging ornie:

I think he turned out rather well.

For next month's Smalls SAL I'm going to have a hoot!

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - February 2018

Good afternoon everybody!

It's the last Friday of the month again so time to check in with the Smalls SAL run by Heather of Stitching Lotus.

I have a colourful Australian tweety for you this month:

Gouldian Finch by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Summer Sky over-dyed aida from sewitall.com 2 over 1
Stitch count - 39 wide by 30 high
Started - 1st February 2018
Finished - 3rd February 2018
Total stitching time - 4 hours 50 minutes

He's one of a number of little Australian (and other) birds available from FuzzyFoxDesigns. I have a few of the charts but only one more is planned for stitching during 2018.

And, in the hope of adding no more pieces to my Box of Shame, he's been finished off too with really bright completely over-the-top backing fabric and coordinating barley twist cord. Talk about the perfect match!

As a fun fact my finished ornament weighs 16g - 4g more than the little tiny finch himself!

I hope you like him.

Next month... a second piece of cheeky fruit.
Rachel x