Where has December gone?

It happens at the same time every year but I still get caught out by how little time there is to fit in everything that needs to be done in December.

This blog has been a victim of my prioritising what must be done compared to what I would like to do.  And alas very little stitching has been achieved.

I did finish my card for the exchange

It was also my Smalls piece for November.  It's a lovely design by Sue Hillis.

This is the fabulous card I received in exchange

Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice as it includes sparkly thread and beads.  It is just gorgeous and has pride of place among my Christmas decorations.

I've made a little bit of progress on Christmas Village by Prairie Schooler but not as much as I would have liked.  My goal is to finish it during the Christmas break so that it can be framed for display next year.

I shouldn't really have started another Christmas design but I just couldn't resist Let's Find Rudolph

It's a design by Ursula Michaels and is stitched on some sparkly evenweave with DMC threads from my stash.

Which leads me nicely to the fact that I have signed up for the 2015 Stitch from Stash SAL.   There is a limit of $25 per month to spend on stash (excluding subscriptions of which I have a few - some magazines, one fabric and one threads).

The Stitch from Stash is run by Mel via her Epic Stitching blog and I hope the discipline will help me to do exactly what it says - stitch from stash instead of buying more.

I have already have plans for 2015 which will take up most if not all of my stitching time.

I am joining the Mirabilia SAL organised by MrsMilkyBarKid and I have chosen to stitch At the Met which is one of the newest designs.   I've collected the various supplies, some from stash, some purchased, and am ready to go on 1st January.    I had almost decided on one of the mermaids but when this new design appeared I fell in love with it.   Also looking back on which Mirabilia/Nora Corbett designs I've stitched in the past, I've done mermaids, fairies, queens, angels and fairy tales but not the elegant ladies.

The fabric I've chosen is "Leo" 32 count Belfast hand dyed by Sparklies.   Other than that I am using the recommended DMC, Caron Waterlillies and Mill Hill beads.

Love Quilts UK start and bag of goodies

There wasn't much time for stitching this weekend due to family gatherings and a bit of gardening - both very enjoyable.

I did work out the design for my Love Quilts UK square which I have signed up to stitch.  The theme is superheroes and I am using a Superheroes alphabet design I bought from Etsy and used for a nameplate.   The great thing about Etsy downloadable designs is that you can print them out when you like so I printed a new copy and cut out the 5 superheroes I wanted to stitch.  I then cut off the letters and played around with the layout until I was happy and glued the 5 pieces to make one overall design.  

Then I cut the fabric to size (standard white 14 cont aida as requested) and pulled the DMC threads.  All of this took time so I was only able to make the first few stitches.   This will be The Incredible Hulk in the centre.

I also fitted in time to go through a bag of stitching goodies given to me on Friday by a friend who said she had had a sort out and had a few bits and bobs of cross stitching stuff for me.   It turned out to be a wonderful assortment of threads, fabric bits, charts, a couple of kits, buttons, charms, needles and to my amazement some UFOs.  I plan to finish at least 3 of them and one of them has already been added to my current WiP list as I love the design, lots of it has already been completed and it was easy to find in my stash the DMC threads needed to complete it.  It is called Christmas Village by The Prairie Schooler and is stitched on evenweave.