Rita's Nov. 2016 Skeletons/Skulls theme

Next month will be pretty busy (in addition to Thanksgiving, I'll be traveling again) so I thought I'd try to get a bit ahead.

I've been seeing a lot of sugar skulls in the cross stitch world lately and thought I should get into the act.  It works out perfectly for November's theme.

This is in the 2015 JCS Halloween special issue.  It stitched up pretty quickly and was fun to stitch.

While I'm thinking of Halloween, I'd like to tell you a little story.  My sister was born when I was 16.  I can remember my mom sewing her pumpkin suit.  It was so cute, she hung onto it.  Fast forward to when my kids were of trick or treating age.  All 4 of them wore it when it fit them for Halloween.  Later, my bil took the individual pictures and merged them into one and made a shirt for me.  Here's the picture:

My mom didn't have any idea that pumpkin suit would get that much "mileage".  Fast forward to present time...my daughter who just gave us our first grandchild this year wants us to find the costume for her daughter to wear when she's a little older.

Lili's September Ornament

Hello!
This is my stitching piece for this month.
I know that don't fit well on the month theme, but I made a mistake on my notes for this month.

Designer: Nikyscreations – Witch Needlebook (JCS Halloween Collection Book 2015)
Fabric/Threads: 35 count flax linen / DMC

Thanks for visiting!
Happy stitching,
Lili

Noni's Spider

Incy wincy spider went up the web to the trick or treat bag......

A very quick stitch... two colours! Stitched on plain 28ct linen with DMC - nothing too fancy!  The chart was featured in the Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2015 issue.

Now next month is free choice.... and I have no idea what to stitch!  Actually I have lots of ideas just can't make up my mind :o)

Til then... happy Halloween stitching
Hugs xx

Lili's April Ornament

Hello everyone!!
My April ornie!!

Design by Teresa Murgida (Primitive Acorns) - Spells
(JCS2015 - Halloween Collection Book 2015)

Fabric: 40 count Sand Linen
Threads: DMC

Hugs,
Lili

Kaye's February Monster....

... I was really struggling this month to choose a design but then I saw the very "sweet" Pumpkin Man stitched by my dear friend, Noni, for this SAL and I was hooked.

So, may I introduce you to a second Pumpkin Man?

Pumpkin Man

Prairie Schooler

JCS Halloween Ornie Mag 2015

28 ct linen

Assorted DMC and specialty threads

I am quite taken with him, thanks again, Noni, for the inspiration.

Now to hunt up my March design - oh, more pumpkins - lol!

hugs, Kaye

P.S. Of course, as this is a PS design - it counts as a finish for the Prairie Schooler SAL as well - yay!

Lili's January Ornament

Hello!

My January ornie!!

Design: Samplers Not Forgotten - Crown on a Pumpkin

(JCS2015 - Halloween Collection Book 2015)

Fabric/Threads: 40 count Sand Linen / DMC floss

Hugs,
Lili
(my blog: Stitching Basket)

Loretta's January Winged Creature

Black Crow by Maria Warmke of The Stitcherhood (JCS 2015 Halloween Issue)

Happy Stitching!!!!

Loretta

Cheryl's December Ornament

Itsy Bitsy

by Charlette Dockens

I chose this chart to stitch for December as it is just so darn cute!  I stitched it on 14 count plastic canvas and backed it with felt.  A quick and easy finish to end the year.

"Itsy Bitsy" by Charlette Dockens of Charlette's Collectibles is featured in the 2015 Just Cross Stitch Halloween Issue.

Jo's November Ornament

It's a little one but I have big plans for it!  This Creepy Tree is by Blue Ribbon Designs from the latest Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en magazine.

There is a series of 8 small designs, each one only 27x27 stitches.  I'm planning to stitch all of them on this piece of random 32 count blue linen and make them into something.  Watch this space!

Some of the other designs:

Thanks for all your suggestions for themes for next year.  I'll be going through the emails and comments and making the final list soon.

September and October Ornies....

Hi fellow Spooktacular Stitchers,

I actually have two Hallowe'en finishes for you today.  The first is my September "Ornie"  for "Words" and I use the term "ornie" carefully as it is probably too big to actually be an ornie but when I saw this design stitched on someone else's blog, I knew I just had to stitch it!

Moon and Cider Apple Cider

Needlework Press

28 ct overdyed fabric

Floss: as per designer

My October ornie for "Ghosts" is from this years JCS Hallowe'en Ornie Mag.  Again, when I saw this cute row of tipsy houses, I just knew that I had to stitch this one, too!

Bump in the Night

Tempting Tangles Designs

JCS Hallowe'en Ornie Mag 2015

28 ct overdyed blue fabric

Floss: I chose my own overdyed threads from my stash

I must admit that I am thrilled with both of these finished pieces - each have their own special brand of spookiness.

Now, Jo, I have a confession to make, despite having some lovely Hallowe'en pieces finished now, I have not decorated for Hallowe'en!   Aaagghh!

Why, you may ask?  Well, I have been super busy both at work and at home.  Work has been crazy busy with me having two prepare and present TWO full Business Cases for new projects in Eight weeks (you normally have about three months to prepare one!) and then my social life has been super busy because of my birthday this month - lots of fun outings and weeekends away and we are going away this coming (Hallowe'en) weekend, too - lovely!

So, there you have it, Jo, and everyone, my confession!  If I get a chance tonight I will try to pull out my Hallowe'en ornies and take a pic for you all.

Off to work now, 

love to you all, 

Kaye

Kaye's July and August ornies....

Here is my current Hallowe'en stitching.  I am just scraping in for my July Hallowe'en ornie for the Haunted House theme but I am a day early for my August Hallowe'en ornie for the theme Black Cats, although my cats are not quite black but there is a ghost cat! lol!

July: Haunted House from the Side Panel of  "Halloween Days sewing basket" by Simona Bussiglieri of Mani Di Donna on page 89 from JCS Halloween Ornament Magazine 2015.

August: Halloween Cats - freebie from Kreinik, which you can find here.

I am very pleased with my finishing on both of these cushions.  I think that maybe I am finally getting the hang of creating a nice finish.

TraderVic keeps asking me why there is so much stuff in my sewing room but, of course it is full of my stash so that I can always put my hand on the perfect fabbie or ribbons or buttons or beads for finishing.  For my haunted house I found some gorgeous reproduction fabric in different shades of lilac and the perfect ribbon - do you like the pretty little purple bow underneath the haunted house?

Furio approves....

I love the ghost kitty and do you see how Furio has snuck onto the top of the right column and Milo has crept underneath the ghost cat?

I finished it with little black cats on a ribbon.

And the bottom and backing fabric is black kitties on black!

For both of these designs I used overdyed 28 count fabric from my stash, plus various DMC and specialty threads which I chose myself.

I hope that you like them.  I love them both - I am very pleased with my Halloween stitching this month!

hugs,