May Smalls

Rachel at Ten Hour Stitcher is the host of Smalls SAL 2024 and this month my Smalls are small, I have just two Santas.

I have been concentrating on my tablecloth and finishing my embroidery. I did stitch two Santas and I hope to do a few more in June although we are away. 

I have received some lovely Santas for my tree, thank you. I'm hoping to get the fully finished for June's FFO.

WIPocalypse May

Well it's WIPocalypse check in day, which means a month has passed since our holiday. I was planning to work on my tablecloth, did I? Oh yes, on the plane both flights, on our balcony overlooking The Rock of Gibraltar and in the Lounge on board our cruise ship Marella Explorer. 

I have also been stitching on it since we came home and whoo hoo the border is stitched. 

I am not ironing it yet so it looks very creased, the reason is as it is my holiday piece it is golded ready for our next vacation which is coming up soon. I am now working on the satin stitch around the cross stitch, I'm not adding anything to the working or in the centre. After which there's a lot of nervy cutting to do, always a worry and it hurts my hand to hold the scissors too long. This will be my next holiday project. 

WIPocalypse is hosted by Mel at Measi's Mutterings  you will find everyone's post links on her blog.

This month's question is how do I distinguish between a Work in Progress and an Unfinished Object?

For me a WIP is something I am working on but is not my main focus and can often be left for long lengths of time, as with my tablecloth.

A UFO is something I have started, maybe stitched but not fully finished, that I am unlikely to complete but it's kept in a drawer somewhere. This year I have looked at my drawer of unfinished projects and might do a few once my current projects are complete.

ISHW May 2024

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend is based on Facebook, hosted by Jo, Joyce, Ee Koon and Bonnie IHSW on Facebook. 

I've had an extended stitching time as I took my tablecloth on our cruise. You can read about our travels on my other blog: 

Wine, food and travel with Clare 

I have done quite a bit on my tablecloth, just one corner to go and I've done the outer edge. 4

We are away for most of June, I will be taking my tablecloth but I can't stitch just one project for a whole month.

I have a couple of kits I could take and I will do a few Santas. I wonder if I'll manage to stitch every day. 

Gifted Gorgeousness May 2024

 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.

It seems to be a quiet time in my stitching and therefore on my blog. We've been away and are still busy with my Mum being unwell so I haven't stitched so much and missed a few posts.

I don't have as many visitors as before or comments being left, I did wonder if the comment box wasn't working hee hee. My blog (and my non-stitchy blog) is my diary but I love reading everyone's thoughts too.

So I only have one gift to show this month, a wedding card for my friends' son and his wife. It was a kit that had been in my stash. I didn't know if the wedding had a colour theme so this pastel rose was perfect. They had a lovely day and liked the card.

Thanks Jo for hosting another month of Gifted Gorgeousness, it is always nice to see everyone's stitching.

May's Fully Finished Objects

With us being away on our cruise I only have a couple of fully finished items. Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, is the super host of Fully Finished Objects which is a great opportunity to show and tell about our crafty items that are completely finished. It is lovely to see everyone's finishes.

Last year I helped a friend at church finish her Lavender and Lace Angel. Being in her late 80s she was struggling to put the beading on. All that was left was the long stitches for the instrument strings. A few weeks ago I went to see her as she was struggling to add these in. It didn't take long and she carefully rolled the piece to take to the framers.

The other week she sent a photo of it back from the framers, it's beautiful. I'm so pleased it is now finished and she can give it to her daughter.

My own FFO is a upcycled project. Many years ago in an exchange I was gifted a winter mini cushion. Sincere apologies as I cannot remember who stitched it but it is beautiful. 

However I wasn't using it as a cushion so I took it apart and have used drawn thread techniques to make a tablecloth for my flower vases.

I do have another finished item but it's a gift which will not be opened until tomorrow so I'll share next time.