December Smalls

 

Mary at Mary's Thread is the lovely host of the Smalls SAL. On the last Friday of the month we share our small stitching items that we have completed but not necessarily fully finished. As today is Saturday you can see I'm a day late in posting and as it's 31st December this is the final Smalks SAL of 2022.

Thank you Mary for hosting this great SAL, it's a super way to see everyone's little stitching. 

My two little stitchings are for two little people, our friend's young grandchildren. I stitched these on plastic canvas and backed them with felt, they are both designs by Durene Jones.

My other Small is not stitching as such. I made 13 felt puddings for friends near and far, they fitted nicely in a card and therefore did not increase the postage which is getting very expensive especially overseas. They were great fun to do, I have a robin design too which is a little more fiddly.

I'm not sure how many Smalls I will stitch in 2023 as I have some large projects to do. I am not stitching new items for the church tree, more details in the new year. 

I am quite surprised at how many items I did do in 2022, all the details are in my previous blog post My 2022 Crafting Year.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year - love and blessings in 2023. 

My 2022 Crafting Year

My 2022 year included a variety of crafts: stitching, card making, sewing and felt work. Here's the highlights.

I made thirteen Christmas Puddings for my Needlecraft Haven and other friends.

I also stitched five other Christmas gifts. 

Throughout the year I stitched eight gifts, two were very special: our son's degree and a special 90th birthday. I've hidden one gift as although I've made it it will not given until January.

I've taken part in five exchanges with the lovely members of Needlecraft Haven and have completed two of the seasonal challenges.

I joined Jo's JCS Stitchalong on Facebook and completed four months. I stitched six ornaments with Topsy Turvy SAL which is also on Facebook.

I stitched five items for myself, including a travelling chart with the Needlecraft Haven members.

I have been stitching a Temperature SAL making two cake bands; my summer one is complete covering April to September and I have nearly finished my winter band covering January to March and October to December.

This year my church tree was full of letters: The Alphabet Tree. I stitched and finished 32 ornaments. 

I am so very grateful and extremely touched by everyone's generosity. I received 36 letters which I finished to match mine, thank you.

I didn't realise how much stitching I have done - 

51 items made .... plus ...

52 flowers stitched on my Temperature SAL ... plus ...

68 letters finished for The Alphabet Tree 

2023 will soon be here, for us it's an exciting year as we have two weddings in the family, one being our lovely daughter's. Special stitching plus a few other special occasions and birthdays. That said I am not doing another Temperature SAL nor am I stitching for the church tree, however there will be a tree and I'll post the details soon. 

I wish you all a very happy New Year with plenty of flying needles and no frogs in 2023.

Merry Christmas

 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 

Gifted Gorgeousness in December

 

Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching. GG, on the 15th of each month, is when we share our latest gifts. These can be gifts given or received, or any item made using fabric, threads, buttons, ribbon, chart, backing fabric that has been gifted. If you visit Jo's blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts.

This is the final GG of 2022, thank you Jo for hosting this super blog sharing every month. 

My first GG is from Mary at Mary's Thread  who sent these gorgeous letters for the Alphabet Tree. Thank you Mary, you are very kind to stitch for the tree.

My second GG is also for the Alphabet Tree. Barbara of The Flashing Scissors  sent these lovely letters, although they arrived after the tree was up I managed to finish them and add them when we visited the church. Thank you Barbara, you are very kind to stitch for the tree. 

Here are all the letters (not including Barbara's) I have received. I am so touched by everyone's generosity and kindness. There are detailed photos of the tree in my Alphabet Tree post, I have tried to take photos to show everyone's letter. 

Hubby and I visited the church last Saturday, it looks amazing. Pop back to my post St Lawrence's Christmas Tree Festival  to see all the beautiful trees with such a variety of decorations.

December is the Christmas Ornament Exchange at Needlecraft Haven, always a fun exchange. We open our gifts on 1st December so our ornaments can be included in our decorations. 

I stitched this cute owl by Durene Jones. My gift was for Christine of The Alchymyst's Study, I included a little treat and one of my upcycled cards. 

Christine sent to me, I received this lovely snowman ornament and card. My jingly ornament is hanging on our tree, thank you Christine.

Although for Christmas I can share these humbugs. I stitched two, one for our daughter and her fiance, and one for our son and his girlfriend. I gave them along with their advent calendars so they can hang them on their trees. 

The humbugs are by Faby Reilly and are part of a set of four, she has individual charts too. Her designs are lovely and come as downloads so instant purchases. Her prices are very good and occassionally she has a massive sale. 

I have a few more GG pieces but as with my Fully Finished Objects they will have to wait until January's posts to share. 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄

St Lawrence's Christmas Tree Festival

Hubby and I visited church on Saturday for the Christmas Tree  Festival - what an amazing sight to see the church filled with 60 real trees with shiny tinsel, decorations and lights.

It is superb how businesses, individuals, social groups and schools all help make it such a special place. 

I cannot thank you enough for stitching and sending letters to adorn the Alphabet Tree, it has been receiving a lot of admiration and praise. Detailed photos are in my previous post - The Alphabet Tree 

I took many photos and have tried to show views of the church as well as individual trees. I have added the tree name where I can remember which one it was, the names are very clever.

The Alphabet Tree - pride of place

Forestree

A Taste of Christmas 

Peace in Ukraine 

The Poppy Tree - always part of the Festival

Longevity by the church bell ringers
A very special tribute to our Royal Family

Allotmentree

A Christmas Pudding Tree

Remembrance Tree 
filled with stars in memory of loved ones

Our very special stars 

It is so moving yet peaceful to be in the church with all the trees, even with other visitors admiring everyone's work there is an air of calm. 

The trees do make it a special place, I wish you were all near enough to visit but hopefully my photos will portray the Christmas joy.

🎄🎄Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 🎄🎄