Easter Blog Hop

Its Good Friday here in Australia, and I am following Jo's instructions for the Easter Blog Hop (check it out here).

My letter is:

Find your next letter at http://www.littlestitchesart.com/




But before you move on to the next blog, I would like to show you one of my favourite framed cross stitches.  It sort of meets Jo's instruction for inclusion, as it always makes me think of Spring.  This piece was a round robin effort, and it has been half way around the world, having been worked on by stitchers in California USA, Ontario Canada, Victoria BC Canada, and Australia.  It hangs in my study, right near my desk, so I enjoy it every day.  It is one of only four artworks that keep their place in my house all year (the other three are L&L Angels).  All of the other framed works get packed away each year for the Christmas season, but my Baltimore Album Quilt stays put.

Enjoy the rest of the Easter Blog Hop!

Smalls Report for March

This month has just slipped by when I wasn't watching. I have been working on rehab for my L knee, which I had replaced at the end of January,  and preparing for my R knee replacement which is just 2 weeks away now. I have managed to find some stitching time, and I do have some Smalls finishes to show.

I stitched an Angel Tree for my third sister, who has a thing for angels and cherubs, and likes a bit of Christmas bling. It will be her Christmas gift this year. I used a pretty piece of pink linen (pink being my sister's favourite colour).  The base chart is by JBW Designs (Book 10, 'O, Christmas Tree'). I changed all the colours and filled in the areas of the skirts and faces that the chart left unstitched.

I found a small pre-loved wooden frame which was almost the perfect size, and I framed it today. I say almost the perfect size because it cuts off the candles at the edges of the bottom row of angels. I decided I can live with that. My sister is unlikely to worry about it.

I stitched gingerbread girl ornaments for two little great-nieces (first cousins). I used part of a Barbara Mock design printed in 'Christmas Quickies II' booklet.

I stitched a special Feather Tree ornament for my oldest great-nephew.  The actual tree design and star on top is a design by Dale Burdett, from DB#132, A Mini Christmas booklet.  I chose my own floss colours, and replaced the charted ornaments with ornaments of my own design.

I also stitched two little ornaments for siblings who will, I hope, visit me this Christmas. They are my own designs.

That brings me to the end of my March Smalls report. 

Gifted Gorgeousness Report for March

So, here we are again - the 15th of the month means it is time for Gifted Gorgeousness, hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching. All my stitching in the past month is eligible for inclusion in the GG report, as it will all be given as gifts.

I finished up all the ornaments I had stitched for the February report, but I'm not putting in the pics in this report because they are there in the February Smalls report just below this post.

I made two little stocking Christmas ornaments for the English grandsons of an old friend (and first cousins of the Kiwi sisters for whom I stitched stocking Christmas ornaments in February). The Santa is adapted from a Kooler Design Studio chart in LA's Christmas Ornament book.

And a button and bead decorated Christmas tree ornament for my youngest sister, who has a fondness for little buttons.

I made two smaller bead decorated Christmas tree ornaments for sisters who will come to my house for a Christmas visit this year.

These four candy cane ornaments will be Christmas gifts for neighbour children. The chart for the candy cane was in a very old American magazine ( Just Cross Stitch, I think) as part of a monthly seasonal calendar. I changed floss colours and omitted the holly.

I also stitched and finished up a Baby's First Christmas ornament for a new greatnephew.  The teddy is adapted from a DMC on-line freebie chart.

And I have stitched little gingerbread girls for two little greatnieces. I adapted the gingerbread from a design in Barbara Mock's Christmas Quickies II.

That's it for me. I'll be popping by to see all the GG reports.