Three French Hens – Bothy Threads – 12 Days of Christmas

 On the third day of Christmas my truelove gave to me……..

Three French Hens

While stitching this square, I was reminded me of something I read a while back.

It was letters from Emily to Edward, thanking him for her Christmas gifts.

I will share the first three here and then will add her following letters  after completing the stitching each month and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

 

So here are Emily’s first three letters…..

Dec 25 (1^st day of Christmas)

My dearest darling Edward,
What a wonderful surprise has just greeted me! That sweet partridge, in that lovely little pear-tree; what an enchanting, romantic, poetic present! Bless you, and thank you.
Your deeply loving
Emily.

 

Dec 26 (2^nd day of Christmas)

Beloved Edward,
The two turtle-doves arrived this morning, and are cooing away in the pear-tree as I write. I'm so touched and grateful!

With undying love, as always,
Emily.

 

Dec 27  3^rd day of Christmas)

My darling Edward,
You do think of the most original presents! Who ever thought of sending anybody three French hens? Do they really come all the way from France? It's a pity we have no chicken coops, but I expect we'll find some. Anyway, thank you so much; they're lovely.
Your devoted Emily.

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Another project I have stitched on recently was  ‘Mary Allcorn 1764’ from Hobby House Press

This was a 2024 New Year’s Day start  and it’s the first time I’ve pulled it out this year.

I have completed the alphabet stitched with Algerian Eyes over four linen threads,

and also the double row of tiny Algerian Eyes, stitched over two threads.. 

 I’m not great at planning project in advance but here I am contradicting myself.

I already have two more  new starts lined up, that I’m hoping to work on and finish and  of course there’s my Christmas stitching on the 25^th and 26^th, so there’s still lots of stitching to come before the end of the month.  I also have some summer stitching ready to go, because this little lot arrived from Megan at Coffee Crafts  this morning.

  

Happy  Stitching!

Sue

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 12 Days of Christmas

Designed – Bothy Threads - Kit

Fabric – 14ct Zweigart Aida - White

Threads – Standard Cotton, Pearl Cotton and Gold Thread

Mary Allcorn 1764

Designer – Hobby House Press

Fabric – 36ct

Threads –Gloriana Silks and Classic Color Works Belle Soie Silks

 

All Year Round Stitch-a-Long – May

 Just four more segments to go on the ‘All Year Round’ Sal and May is the final one for Spring.

This features the common blue butterfly as it feeds on the nectar of Anemone Blanda which is better know as the Winter Windflower.

I also stitched on Mary Allcorn 1764.

I completed the band of flower vases and the band of Satin Stitch.

 I used two strands of threads for this because I wasn’t happy with the coverage of just one and was much happier with the results.

Finally I made a start on the most prominent alphabet on the sampler, stitched in Algerian Eyelets over four threads and also the band of tiny Algerian Eyelets below it, stitched over two threads.

That’s about it for now.

I still have to sort out what I plan to stitch for the virtual  ‘Cross Stitch Camp’ this year and get the latest badge stitched, as well as stitch my May ornament for 12 in 25, so enough to keep me going until the end of the month, so until then,

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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 Project Details

All Year Round Sal - from Cross Stitcher Magazine

Designer - Amanda Butler

Fabric - 18ct Aida - White Zweigart

Threads - Anchor and DMC's Standard Cotton Threads

Mary Allcorn 1764

Designer – Hobby House Press

Fabric – 36ct

Threads –Gloriana Silks and Classic Color Works Belle Soie Silks

You’ve Been Framed!

And about time too, when it comes to ‘Faith’ from Cottage Garden Samplings.

This is my 8th finished piece from the series ‘The Song Bird’s Garden’ and I stitched it back in June 2021.

Since then it’s sat in the box of doom waiting for me to order the frame for it.

As usual, when I’m framing something myself, I ordered the frame from Picture Frames Express and while I was at it I ordered a second one for another finished project and then spent an afternoon FFO’ing them.

So here’s ‘Faith’

And this is ‘Santa’s House’, another piece from Cottage Garden Samplings.  

I’m not sure if I went a little OTT with this frame, but I really love the moulding and went for it.  

What do you think?

Also during the last week I managed to put some stitches into ‘Mary Allcorn 1764, the reproduction sampler.

I managed to finish the alphabet and number band

and the two bands of Algerian Eyelets, which I really loved working on.

and made a start on the flower vases on the next band.

 Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Mary Allcorn 1764

Designer – Hobby House Press

Fabric – 36ct

Threads –Gloriana Silks and Classic Color Works Belle Soie Silks

My Quaker Sampler Book - Pages 7 & 8 (Askworth Collection)– The Cross Stitch Guild

 I’m two more little pages closer to my finish this week.

There are just  four more of these cute little motifs to stitch and then I get to the bit I’ve been dreading, because the finishing involves hem stitching all seven of the double pages before constructing the book.

Also this past week I’ve put some more stitches into Mary Allcorn 1764, the exclusive reproduction sampler from Hobby House Press.

This was my New Years Day start and this is where I was the last time I shared it.

I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a lover of stitching alphabets, I just find them boring, especially when there are more than one in a sampler.  But I have to be honest, so far this one has been fun, so may be I’m becoming a convert, Lol!

Here’s where I am now.

There’s just something about the ghost letters that I find particularly intriguing.

I think it's also helped that the upper and lower case letters are stitched side by side, instead of stitching one full uppercase alphabet before going on to the lowercase one.  I know I'm still stitching the same number of letters but it seems quicker somehow..........well that's what I'm telling myself.

That border is no joke either.  There are so many colour changes and the frog has already been to visit on a few occasions, but at least it keeps me on my toes.  

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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 My Quaker Sampler Book -  Kit

Designer – The Cross Stitch Guild / Ackworth Collection

Fabric – 32ct Belfast Linen – Raw

Threads – 6 stranded cotton

Silk Lining fabric

 

Mary Allcorn 1764

Designer – Hobby House Press

Fabric – 36ct ‘Thornfield’ – Needle & Flax

Threads – Gloriana Silks & Classic Color Works Belle Soie Silks