Gifted Gorgeousness in September

 

The 15th of each month means it's Gifted Gorgeousness time, and although I'm a day late it's time to share my 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.

This great idea is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching,  if you visit her blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts. 

My first GG is Needlecraft Haven's Summer Exchange. For this we had to stitch a mini pillow for our partner. The theme was 'something to make you smile'. I received a gorgeous mini pillow from Melanie, the design was just perfect for me.

I also received a skein of thread and an owl card, a lovely gift, thank you Melanie 

I stitched for Mary in France, because of the current restrictions it was easier to send my pillow unmade. I enclosed some fabric and a choice of ribbon for finishing. It all fitted neatly in an envelope so it wasn't classed as a parcel. 

This is Mary's photo, I think she plans on using the red ribbon. 

My final GG was a special wedding gift. Our daughter's best friend got married in early September, our daughter was one of the bridesmaids. The happy couple spend a lot of time surfing so I knew this was perfect when I saw it. 

The design is 'Let's Marry By The Sea' by Ursula Michael, I didn't do all the design, just the flip flops and lettering. I know our daughter's friend loved it, I'm hoping to have a wedding photo to share soon.

We are currently on holiday in Scotland which is why I'm a little late. We will be home in time for the first Topsy Turvy SAL Gallery ... how is your New Year crafting going? 

Fully Finished Objects - September

 

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, hosts Fully Finished Objects for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. These are the pieces I finished in time for this month's check in. 

I have caught up with my 12 Days of Christmas. I've completed both my Jardin Prive and Plum Street Sampler pieces for July and August. 

I just managed to complete them before we came away on holiday. We're on holiday with friends in Scotland, extra special today was my birthday.

Topsy Turvy SAL - off we go

 We're off - TT21 is starting with September stitching about 'New Year' 

I have started a group on Facebook - open to all if you'd like to join in.

I have found a few freebie designs online - you'll need to change the year as some are a while ago ... amazing how time flies. 

Here are my finds: 

Happy New Year

Cottage Needlecrafts

Crafttown

Cross-stitching biz

The photo is an ornament I finished in 2015 as part of Needlecraft Haven's Challenge - Gazette94

Happy New Year stitching 🤗

WIPocalypse August and a new SAL

My September plans will bring a bit of difference, I'm hosting a new SAL that you are very welcome to join in with .... Topsy Turvy SAL

Every year in January I am so enthusiastic about the new SALs and the stitching everyone is joining in with. I joined in quite a few this year, all enjoyable but mainly focused on Christmas. I often feel I have missed stitching for other events, especially seeing some designs stitched by others. So welcome to my Topsy Turvy SAL designed to help stitch a bit more than Christmas designs.

On the 20th of every month I'll be blogging my Topsy Turvy progress - I'm not sure about widgets so I'm not doing a link up - if you have a Topsy Turvy post please leave a comment on my post for that month and I'm sure other stitchers will pop by to see your stitching.

There is no sign up, no obligation to start or even complete every month, just dip in and out as you wish. There are no rules on finishing, whether the item was a gift, or the size, it is a SAL to change things around a little bit. 

Every month is a different theme based on time, seasons and celebrations but a while before the actual event. I have set it out this way so there is time to finish but it isn't long to wait to display my stitching which will hopefully mean they are not lost in a 'safe place'!

I'll be blogging about my progress and hopeful finishes following my Topsy Turvy plan: 

September - a design to celebrate New Year

October - any design for Valentine's 

November and December - springtime designs

January - Easter stitching 

February and March - summer designs

April - a little treat for myself, any small design I fancy

May and June - autumnal designs

July - a design for Halloween

August - Christmas stitching 

If you'd like to join in each month on the 20th blog about your design and how you are doing. It doesn't matter if you have only kitted up your design, made a start, finished it or made it up completely, it will be fun to see what everyone is doing. 

Here were my August plans for WIPocalypse and a little update on how I did:

• 12 Days of Christmas - Seven Swans-a-swimming: both stitched
• 12 Days of Christmas - Eight Maids-a-milking: both stitched
• JCS ornament SAL - My Big Toe Designs - Merry Christmas: kitted up
• JCS ornament SAL - Carolyn Manning Designs - Caroling Friends: stitched and finished
• JCS ornament SAL  - Lisa LeAnn Designs - O Christmas Tree: nothing
• Summer Exchange with Needlecraft Haven: stitched and sent
• Summer Challenge with Needlecraft Haven: stitched and finished

I hope you will join the Topsy Turvey SAL, here's my September plans with my TT included: 

• New Year design for TT SAL
• 12 Days of Christmas - Nine Ladies Dancing (PSS and JP designs)
• JCS ornament SAL - My Big Toe Designs - Merry Christmas
• JCS ornament SAL  - Lisa LeAnn Designs - O Christmas Tree
• JCS ornament SAL - The Little Stitcher - St. Lucy's Light
• Summer Challenge with Needlecraft Haven

August Smalls

Mary at Mary's Thread hosts 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. Mary has a link up post on her blog so we can pop over to see everyone's work. 

This month I have been focussing on catching up with my 12 Days stitching. I have nearly completed my Jardin Prive Day 8 too and I hope to have them all finished 8n time for September's Fully Finished Objects post.

It will be WIPocalypse time in a couple of days, if you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I have been a little Christmassed out this year and have been thinking about changing my stitching plans. 

Well I have decided to do my own SAL - of course anyone can join in and I will be hosting it on Needlecraft Haven. All the details will be revealed in my WIPocalypse blog on Sunday. 

Gifted Gorgeousness in August

The 15th of each month means it's Gifted Gorgeousness time, the time each month 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.

This great idea is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching,  if you visit her blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts. 

This month I have a special GG to share. It was my stitchy friend Julie's birthday at the end of July so I made her a pin box and card.

I love using boxes, I have quite a few from watches, charms and many other gifts. Using a Pandora box I added padding and covered the charm cushion. I covered the inner lid with felt yo match the colour in the design I stitched. 

The design was in one of my stitching magazine, I can't say which one because I only keep the pages I like and it doesn't have the designer or magazine number on. It caught my eye being square and stitched over one it was the perfect fit for the box. I did add an extra outer row of stitches in blue. 

I mounted, and slightly padded, the design onto card and glued it to the box. The final touch was a decorative edging. 

I have a super special gift to share next month ... I can't wait for the recipients to receive it and to be able to show everyone. 

Fully Finished Objects in August

 

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, hosts Fully Finished Objects for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. Thanks Rachel, your FFO prompt each month really helps me finish my projects instead of them still in my project folders.

My first finish is for Needlecraft Haven's Summer Challenge. It's one of the Christmas choices by Gazette 94. I decided on the Joy design and stitched it on perforated paper mounted on felt.

My second finish is for Jo's JCS Christmas Ornament SAL from the 2020 Christmas magazine. I'm a little late as this design was for July : Carolyn Manning Designs  - Caroling Friends.

I need to get stitching now as I have finished all the pieces in my box! I'm sure I will have some ready for September's post ... fingers crossed!