Smalls SAL - December 2018

Hi all!

It's the final Friday of 2018 so it's time for the final Smalls SAL posting of 2018. I hope your Christmas / holiday season is going well.

For December I couldn't not choose something Christmassy so stitched another little Christmas Cat. Back in July, when I stitched the first one, I asked you to vote for which of the five others I should stitch in December but there wasn't a clear winner, so I chose this one:

Dangling Christmas Cat by Design Works Crafts

Stitched on 16ct Tin over-dyed aida with sparkles from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 37 high

Started - 1st December 2018

Finished - 6th December 2018

Total stitching time - 7 hours 5 minutes

And need I even bother to say how he's been finished off?!

But there's also a bonus Smalls SAL piece this month since I had a couple of days spare and wanted to stitch something quick. So, appropriately for the busy build up to Christmas, here's Mr Rush, who's been finished off as a card to match the other Mr Men I stitched a couple of years ago.

Mr Rush available at my-cross-stitch-patterns.com (free)

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

Stitch count 25 wide by 36 high

Started - 23rd December 2018

Finished - 24th December 2018

Total stitching time - 3 hours 5 minutes

So, that's it for the 2018 Smalls SAL. I stitched and fully-finished-off 13 pieces this year and look forward to being similarly successful in 2019!

Take care,
Rachel x

5 Box of Shame Finishes

Afternoon!

During 2017 I am attempting to radically reduce the number of unfinished-finishes lurking in my Box of Shame. This week I've successfully eliminated another 5.

OK, it's not as impressive as it sounds as all five pieces were simply framed in aperture cards with a little bit of wadding behind them. But at least they are finished and crossed off my list. There was really no need to embellish the cards as the finished pieces speak for themselves.


Puddle Duck and Waterlogged were stitched at the beginning of 2015. I chose bright card colours to reflect the fun element of the designs.

Mr Daydream, Mr Jelly and Mr Happy were stitched for last December's Smalls SAL. Again I chose bright cards which matched their colours (OK, Mr Jelly should be in a pink not a red card but he doesn't look too bad). I wanted to write their names on the cards but didn't trust myself to get them right or neat enough. Maybe one day.....

I've already selected the next batch of pieces of finish-finish but when I'll get around to them is another thing! Hopefully it won't be too long.

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - December 2016

Good morning all!

Here's my posting for the last Smalls SAL of 2016 run by Heather of Stitching Lotus.

Towards the beginning of the month I stitched one small project for this SAL. But after finishing my fourth Christmas Pals Ornament didn't want to start another WIP which I wouldn't be able to finish before the end of the year. So I opted for stitching two more small projects instead.

Mr Daydream, Mr Jelly and Mr Happy have been sitting in my pile of charts for quite a long time. The charts were freebies from my-cross-stitch-patterns.com There are a few Mr Men and Little Miss characters available (along with many, many other free charts!) so more may be making an appearance next year... or not... we'll see!

So on to the photos then:

Mr Daydream

Freebie from my-cross-stitch-patterns.com

Stitched on 16ct Cloud Spring Sky from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Started - 9th December 2016

Finished - 10th December 2016

Total stitching time - 4 hours 10 minutes

Mr Jelly

Freebie from my-cross-stitch-patterns.com

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

Started - 24th December 2016

Finished - 25th December 2016

Total stitching time - 4 hours 30 minutes

Mr Happy

Freebie from my-cross-stitch-patterns.com

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

Started - 26th December 2016

Finished - 30th December 2016

Total stitching time - 5 hours 15 minutes

Mr Daydream in particular has always been a favourite character, being the first Mr Men book I ever owned. The others aren't far behind.

To sum up my Smalls SAL for the year, I completed 15 projects in total and at least one per month. Out of those 15 projects, 9 (from January to August inclusive) have been made into ornaments or cards. Not bad considering I find the finishing off tedious!

I didn't stick to stitching 12 LK Tiny Tidings as planned, so next year I really have no idea what I will be stitching each month. Watch this space, as the saying goes!

Thank you to Heather for continuing to run this SAL and for everybody that contributes. I hope it continues to be just as successful next year.

Back in January then,
Rachel x