Smalls SAL - July 2016

Good afternoon everybody,

It's the end of the month so time for another Smalls SAL post hosted by Heather of Stitching Lotus.

This month I opted for something completely different. When I saw a set of seven Dolphin Beach Buddies charts I knew I had to start at least one of them straight away. So the Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings ornaments I usually stitch for this SAL got pushed to one side and these cuties stitched in their place!

To my delight, I was able to complete two within the month, both finished off as little padded tri-fold cards using card and bling from my scrapbooking stash:

Heart Dolphins by Dureen Jones from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 218

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

Stitch count 38 wide by 38 high

Started - 15th June 2016

Finished - 16th July 2016

Total stitching time - 5 hours 55 minutes

Dolphin in Hammock by Dureen Jones from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 218

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

Stitch count 38 wide by 38 high

Started - 17th July 2016

Finished - 20th July 2016

Total stitching time - 8 hours 5 minutes

With the two-day heatwave we had here in the UK last week I expect a lot of people would have been dreaming about contentedly laying in a hammock in the sunshine like this lucky dolphin!

As I can't wait to stitch the remaining five in the set, I expect another one (or two) may follow next month. See you then.

Happy stitching,
Rachel x

Playful Puss 3 - DUCJC 2016 Finish 14/31

Hello all,

Just a quick post today to show you another finish from my myriad of January 2016 new starts. This is number 3 of the 4 Playful Puss designs I have stitched or am stitching. Here are reminders of number 1 and number 2 (if you're interested) which were finished 15 months ago.

This is where I left number 3 back on 30th January after 4 hours of work:

And here she is completed:

Featured in ???

Designed by Lucie Heaton

Stitched on 16ct White aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 57 wide by 59 high

Started - 30th January 2016

Finished - 22nd July 2016

Total stitching time - 15 hours

(estimated 17 hours)

The final Playful Puss is already on my frames with the aim of completing her before the end of the month. Somehow I don't think that will be a problem!

Back soon, hopefully!

Rachel x

Ocean Critters Dolphin - finished

Hello all,

Well, another finish has been a long time coming but I can finally show you my latest completed project. It's the Dolphin from the Ocean Critters series and a companion for the Seahorse I completed last month.

I haven't taken or shown any progress pictures, so all you get to see is the finished piece:

Ocean Critters - Dolphin by Janet Morningstar for Moonlight Inspirations

Stitched on 16ct Sea Glass over-dyed aida by sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 92 wide by 114 high
Started - 14th June 2016
Finished - 16th July 2016
Total stitching time - 22 hours 25 minutes

As usual, I loved stitching this piece. The dolphin's so cute the way it's peeping through the seaweed!

With the 7 week school summer holiday about to start I'm hoping to sneak in some additional stitching time and a few more finishes before another new start jumps onto my frames!

Take care everyone,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - June 2016

Good afternoon everybody,

I can't believe another month has flown by and it's time for the Smalls SAL again, hosted by Heather of Stitching Lotus. As you are probably aware by now I am trying to complete a Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings Christmas Ornament each month. My success continues in June with Mistletoe.

Here are the usual photographs:

 Mistletoe from Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings XIV

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

Stitch count 50 wide by 50 high

Started - 6th June 2016

Finished -  21st June 2016

Total stitching time - 7 hours 5 minutes

plus a couple of hours to finish

I'm not getting fed up with these Tiny Tidings ornaments but I'm planning on stitching something different for next month's check-in, just for a change. see you then!

Take care everyone,
Rachel x

Ocean Critters Seahorse - finished

Good morning all!

Yep, the finishes for June are continuing. I started Seahorse back in the middle of May, showing you this progress picture after just under 7 hours of stitching:

Well, I'm proud to announce that Mrs. Seahorse is now finished:

Ocean Critters - Seahorse by Janet Morningstar for Moonlight Inspirations

Stitched on 16ct Ocean over-dyed aida by sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 98 wide by 122 high
Started - 15th May 2016
Finished - 13th June 2016
Total stitching time - 25 hours

I can honestly say I enjoyed every single stitch in this project, probably because both the threads and fabric colours were so bright and gorgeous to work with.

As soon as I had taken Mrs. Seahorse off the scroll bars another piece of fabric went straight on. It's for the Dolphin in the same Ocean Critters series and will no doubt be started tonight. There are also some rather cute and playful dolphins in this month's Cross Stitch Crazy issue 218 which I just HAVE to stitch. I know I shouldn't have any more new starts, but what the heck? If the newstartitus bug is calling, I'm answering!!

Take care,
Rachel x

PS I still haven't read any blogs for about 6 weeks now. I will catch up one day - promise!

Toby Fox - DUCJC 2016 Finish 13/31

Hello again!

Here's my second finish for June and my 13th finish of the 31 projects started back in January for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge. This is Toby Fox, another character in the Woodland Folk collection by DMC.

I hadn't made much of a start when I put him down on 14th January 2016:

But now he's a fully completed very happy little chappy:

DMC Woodland Folk

Stitched on 16ct Kelp over-dyed aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Stitch count 56 wide by 54 high

Started - 14th January 2016

Finished - 8th June 2016

Total stitching time - 14 hours 50 minutes

(estimated 15 hours)

He'll join his friends in my Box of Shame until all six Woodland Folk have been completed and can be framed together.


Seeing as I'm on a roll, I'm going to continue with another Woodland Folk WIP. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I'm daring to think I may even finish the remaining two (Molly Mouse and Ollie Owl) in June. Definitely a goal worth aiming for.

Back soon I expect,
Rachel x

Frankie Hedgehog - DUCJC 2016 Finish 12/31

Hello everyone!

As hoped, I'm back to working on my 2015/2016 Challenge pieces and am pleased to show my first finish for June. This is, of course, Frankie Hedgehog.

Here's how he looked when I left him back on 1st January this year:

And here he is now, completely finished and looking utterly adorable (and with the correct fabric colour):

DMC Woodland Folk

Stitched on 16ct Kelp over-dyed aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Stitch count 52 wide by 52 high

Started - 1st January 2016

Finished - 2nd June 2016

Total stitching time - 13 hours

(estimated 14 hours)

This means I've now finished three of the six Woodland Folk characters. I'm not sure if I'll move on to number four or choose something else to work on. Decisions, decisions.....

Until next time,
Rachel x