Smalls SAL - May 2016

Good morning all!

It's the last Thursday of the month so time to post about my piece of work for the Smalls SAL, run by Heather of Stitching Lotus. My aim during 2016 is to complete a Christmas Ornament each month. So far it's all going according to plan. I chose another Lizzie Kate piece this month.

Here's the finished piece before being made up:

..... and after:

 Noel

Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings XIV

Stitched on 16ct Cloud Brown over-dyed aida from sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch Count 51 wide by 48 high

Started - 12th May 2016

Finished - 16th May 2016
Total stitching time - 4 hours 45 minutes
Plus a couple of hours to finish off

I omitted the yellow border around the design as I knew I would be using the gold-coloured cord. I also changed the bauble slightly and added gold beads to compliment the backing fabric. Nice and simple, yet very effective.


I also said I would show you the finish-finished cow piece from last month which Ingrid very kindly and very beautifully made into a pin keep:

 photos courtesy of and with permission from Mii Stitch

The finishing off really is perfect. Thank you, Ingrid, you did a fantastic job!


See you next month with another Christmas Ornament.
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - April 2016

Good morning everyone!

It's just gone past the last Thursday of the month so is time to check in with the Smalls SAL run by Heather of Stitching Lotus. I'm a little later than usual as I did not want to interrupt the flow of my A-Z postings. But now they're all over the world's my oyster!!

This month's piece is another Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings I'm afraid, not the CCN I thought I would be stitching. It's been finished in the usual way with matching Christmas fabric and ribbon; I said I had no imagination!

This time I remembered to take a photo of the finished piece before making it up.....

... and after:

 Berry Christmas

Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings XIII

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

Stitch Count 50 wide by 50 high

Started - 18th April 2016

Finished - 22nd April 2016
Total stitching time - 5 hours
Plus a couple of hours to finish off

I'm so happy that my finishing off is getting easier and neater each month. It makes tackling these smalls so much less stressful!

I also stitched a small piece as a gift for the lady who runs the Dairy Cottage where Justine, Ingrid and I have our stitching retreat breaks. Everything in the cottage is cow related so we thought we would each add a small cow to her collection. Ingrid will kindly be finishing all three into matching pin keeps ready for our next break in just under a fortnight! This is my effort:

Friesian Cow (magazine chart)

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

Stitch Count 55 wide by 37 high

Started - 2nd April 2016

Finished - 8th April 2016
Total stitching time - 8 hours 20 minutes

I'll show the completed pin keep next month, along with my next Christmas ornie!

Happy stitching :)
Rachel x