A New SAL

I join Sara's SAL Sorpresa 3 which started on April 1. This is a winter theme project, a continuation of her seasonal theme SALs. The SAL consists of 12 monthly installments and will end early next year.
Here is my part 1 of the project. Beautiful isn't it? I am looking forward to part 2 coming on May 1.

Fabric: 40ct Newcastle Lentil Linen by Nina
Thread: DMC

 Abi's HAL - A Confetti of Hardanger has just ended. She will be starting another SAL with specialty stitches. The SAL is exclusively to her group members.

I have some struggles with the last part of the HAL, the curves of the buttonhole bars did not flow smoothly. After some frustrations, I decided to leave out these bars and just do the dove eyes. Here is my completed doily! Thank you Abi for a beautiful HAL!

A closer look at the fillers!

Some hardanger smalls to show. The design is from Judy at Whitework Embroidery. She does beautiful whiteworks, please visit her blog to enjoy her gorgeous works!

The other side of the scissors fob!

I also  stitched some small designs from various cross stitch magazines. Now I must find time to do the finishing ha ha! Hopefully in my next post, I will have something to show!

I found Claudia's blog through Judy, she is doing a gorgeous Embroidery Alphabets SAL. The embroideries are so beautiful, I could not resist and started on my inital E. I have fun doing these embroidery stitches, some are new to me. Please visit her blog to see the other alphabets, the SAL is currently at letter I.

Claudia got me so enthusiastic in embroidery that I have started another project, an embroidery pincushion. Hope to show in my next update.

More on Dorothy and Summer in my next post, in the meantime Happy Stitching!

Hugs,
Ellen

Dorothy Is Back....

but progress is slow. I am stressed over the over 1 stitches. The crosses on 40ct are very tiny and I am not happy with them! I jump over and start the next band, the eyelets - lots of them ha ha!

Can you see, only a few over 1 words?

I am happy that all the satin stitch alphabets are done, they are a joy to stitch!

The other reason for Dorothy's slow progress is because I got distracted by other projects along the way ha ha!

I am at the final stage in my hardanger SAL. This last part consists of dove's eyes and buttonhole bars. They are all round the doily, between the row of klosters and the buttonholed edge. With multiple projects on going, it may take me a while to complete these!

A closer look at the little white flower, the edelweiss. Isn't it pretty?

My ornament for the month is done. I chose LHN Peppermint Twist, stitched on 32ct Amber Linen using DMC and overdyed threads.

Isn't this bag beautiful? It's a gift from my friend, Kristine. She even made a small pouch to go with the bag. I love them, thank you very much Kris!

Next update, I will show works done on Summer. Thank you for visiting my blog. All your comments are greatly appreciated!

Happy Easter!

Hugs,
Ellen

New Project

I was distracted again! Dorothy was put on temporary hold as I started another big project ha ha!  I found Sara's blog, she is doing a SAL. This current SAL is coming to an end in March and the new one will commence on April 1. Love her designs so I started Summer, a big design 280w x 263h stitches! Here is my new start!

Design: Summer by Sara Guermani
Fabric: 40ct Lakeside Linen Lentil
Thread: DMC

Another closer look, don't you just love that button?

I plan to rotate my two big projects, Dorothy and Summer, with a lot of smalls in between!

An update on my Hardanger SAL. I have one more filler to do, the  Edelweiss, a beautiful white flower!  I enjoy doing Hardanger in between cross stitch projects!

I love small projects as well, here is my recent collection of small pincushions/fob.

This piece was done on 22ct hardanger fabric many years ago, I don't stitch on Aida anymore.


I finished By The Bay Needleart's Autumn SAL. Now, I must find time to finish it into a big pincushion for my box!

Love the colors of the big leaves! I used DMC variations 4130.

I am stitching for exchange now, will show pictures later. Hope to show Dorothy's progress in my next update!

Thank you for your visits and comments, they are greatly appreciated!

Happy Stitching!

Hugs,
Ellen

Stitchy Update

I am back with the promised stitchy update. Have been stitching diligently on Dorothy. She is such a joy to stitch with all the specialty stitches. I conquered my worries over the Queen Stitches and had my row done, hooray!

Just love these satin-stitch alphabets!

Just started on the 1 over 1 verse, the crosses are so tiny on 40 ct. I only have two letters done ha ha! This section is going to be slow moving!

I had a private exchange with Margaret recently. If you are familiar with her blog, you will know that Margaret stitches and sew beautifully! Look at this gorgeous set that Margaret made for me - a drawstring bag, a needlebook and a pincushion, in my favorite colors. I just love the PS designs that she chose for me, the other side of the back is a blackbird.

The needlebook opens up with 3 pockets and a charm, isn't it gorgeous? Margaret also included a chart by Heart In Hand and a piece of fabric.

Margaret's stitching and finishing are just perfect. Please visit her blog for more beautiful pictures! Thank you, Margaret, for a wonderful exchange!

This is what I stitched for Margaret. I forgot to take a picture of the goodies I put together for her, please visit her blog to see more. Margaret takes better pictures ha ha!

Remember this in my previous post? My friend had it sew into a beautiful pouch for me, thank you Sonia.

A gift from my friend, a biscornu with two different colors fabric. The design is from the same Japanese magazine as the pouch, Idees Volume 16. Thank you, Claudia!

My new year's start was this SAL by By The Bay Needleart.  The SAL was completed last year, you can visit her blog to see the stitchers' beautiful works. Here is my progess. The finish is to be a big pincushion on top of this box.

A closer look!

Design: Autumn SAL by By The Bay Needleart
Fabric: 36ct Dried Thyme by Nina
Threads: DMC, Anchor variations

 Here is my first finish for 2013, a Christmas ornie that did not made it for last year! This design is a freebie from Jura Point de Croix for Christmas Challenge 2012. The ornie is stitched on 30ct linen using DMC threads.

I have join Lainey's Christmas Ornament SAL 2013. Hopefully with this SAL, I will have a ornie a month which I failed the last few years! This month, I am continuing with my Fairytale Advent Calendar by The Little Stitcher. I only finished 5 out of 24 ornaments last year ha ha! Will post progress pictures soon!

Thank you everyone for your visits and participation in my New Year Giveaway! All your comments are greatly appreciated!

Happy Stitching!

Hugs,
Ellen

Giveaway Winner

Thank you everyone for participating in my giveaway.

I put all the names in this hat and had my DD to pick a winner.

Congratulations Tatkis, please contact me with your mailing address!

I will be back soon with a stitchy update!

Hugs,
Ellen

New Year Giveaway

Happy New Year!

I am starting 2013 with a giveaway to thank all my blogger friends for your visits, lovely comments, inspiration and friendship. The parcel will include charts, stitching goodies and something stitched by me! Here are the charts!

No picture of the goodies and stitched piece as I have yet to decide what to include in the bag ha ha! Just be a follower and leave a comment on this post, I will draw a winner on January 19th.

Now on to the stitching stuff. I started Dorothy Walpole on Boxing Day. I love stitching with silks, they are so soft and smooth. Here is my progress posted on Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year blog on Dec 28.

Fabric: 40ct Sand Linen
Thread: AVAS silks

A closer look! I am enjoying this sampler and had made further progress. Will update when I have a chance to take some photos!

Next an update of the hardanger SAL piece hosted by Abi of The Stitch Specialists. We have progressed to part 11 of this SAL, lot of cutting and fillers.

I love these fillers!

I would like to leave this post with  pictures of my last finish for 2012. The French design is from a Japanese magazine Idees Vol 16. My friend will help me to sew it into a pouch as shown in the book.

Fabric: 28ct Blue Jubilee
Thread: DMC 803, 915

Thank you for your visits! Please remember to join my giveaway!

Happy Stitching in 2013!

Hugs,
Ellen

A Post Before Christmas

Countdown to Christmas.... I want to have a post before the actual day to show my ornaments. 

I am still stitching on my Fairytale Advent Calendar. I am very far behind and may not complete the 24 ornies on time ha ha!

And I have finished my Christmas Tree! 

The Christmas Exchange hosted by Lainey has completed with everyone receiving their Christmas packages. My partner for this exchange is Lisa V. She loves reindeer and I chose to stitch for her a design by Blue Ribbon Designs in JCS Ornament Issue 2012. I so glad that Lisa loves what I put together for her for this exchange.

I received my Christmas package from Clare from New Zealand. Clare made a flatfold for me and I love it very much! This is my very first flatfold! Look at the goodies and Clare is so sweet to send me something extra for my birthday on Nov 19th.  Thank you Clare for a wonderful exchange.

A Pouch and Stitching Keeper
for my Birthday

I have decided to stitch Dorothy Walpole for Nicola's Scarlet Letter Challenge. My chart and supplies have arrived. I am so excited and eager to start but will hold back until after Christmas. Still struggling with stitching and finishing ornies ha ha!

Thank you for your visits and lovely comments. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful 2013! I will be holding a New Year Giveaway, please visit again!

I will leave you with a picture of my Christmas Tree!

Hugs,

Ellen