World of Cross Stitching magazine and other musings

I must confess to being somewhat underwhelmed by the latest issue of The World of Cross Stitching

However when my sister in law picked it up she instantly fell in love with the Gorjuss design and has put out loads of hints about me stitching it for her.   She did try cross stitching a couple of years ago but we don't live close and she picked something totally unsuitable for a beginner and so she got disheartened and has decided it isn't for her.

I do like the Gorjuss design so perhaps in the new year I may add it to my WiPs.

I've even got a suitable piece of very pale blue/grey evenweave which would be ideal so it could happen.

My Smalls finish for the SAL is French Country Witch by JBW Designs

I stitched it on a piece of hand dyed opalescent from a grab bag from Polstitches Designs using Nevermore which is a hand dyed thread by Jodyri Designs. You can't really see the variegation in either the fabric or thread in the photo which is a shame.

I loved stitching this but haven't managed to finish it, in spite of having a suitable piece of Halloween style fabric.  I haven't had the sewing  machine out for ages.

Also on the Halloween theme I am stitching Beware by Shepherd's Bush

I am delighted that this will be entirely stitched from stash.  I've had the chart for a while, the fabric is 20 count lurex evenweave which I tea dyed and the #5 perle threads are all from stash.  I don't have a complete set of #5 perle but do have a lot of bits left over from SB stockings I have stitched so I subbed a couple of the colours.    I haven't decided which button from my stash I will use instead of the one called for.

Having just about decided that I would be stitching Shimmering Mermaid for Mira2015 SAL organised by MrsMilkyBarKid I have totally fallen in love with the latest Mirabilia design and may be tempted by this one instead

I've printed off the supplies list so will check whether I have the required Waterlillies and beads (I know I have the DMC)   It doesn't call for lots of MillHill Treasures which can really add to the cost. And I think that the design is so detailed that the fabric doesn't need to be anything too distracting so I will probably have something suitable in my stash .........

This month's (very) small finish

As apart of the Small SAL I finished this little coaster for a friend of mine who is a collector of scissors

The design is taken from a needlecase kit I bought from Itching to Stitch at the Craft Show I attended last week.

I used DMC on some tea dyed linen.

It wasn't the smalls project I intended to stitch for September but the piece I started is for me and of course the gift for my friend took priority.    I will be passing it over tomorrow - hope she likes it.

2014 Smalls SAL

I know it's August but I only just found this SAL for Smalls so I have asked to join in

I'm not the sort of stitcher who likes to stitch on just one project at a time so I love to intersperse some of my bigger projects with little items that can be finished more quickly.
I also love to have little stitched items around the house - some to use such as scissor fobs, pincushions and needlecases and some just for display.  And of course they make lovely little gifts.
So the only thing to decide is which design to stitch for August.  I have a large collection of small freebie designs so will be looking through these at the weekend.  I keep small pieces of fabric in a separate box so will also be going through that.  It make take some time but I know I will enjoy it and will end up with more projects on my TO STITCH list.
My To Stitch list and my Stash suggest that I have found the secret of eternal life as I need to live to about 400 to stitch everything.