July... already?!

Well yes I am a little behind... sorry :(
But stitched a pumpkin and thought YES!! July!!  Its not spooky so not very Halloweeny.. is that a word?  

Stitched on 28 count DMC beige linen

This design is a freebie and already been added to the list, under crow and pumpkin.  The original has alphabet letters surrounding the design... I left them out.

Made it into a pillow to go in my stitching basket :)

J is for Jack-in-the-Box, Jack O'Lantern and other famous Jacks

J is for Jack-in-the-Box from A Dark Alphabet designed by Julie and Becky's Note of Friendship blog.

Here's what Becky said about this block at the time:

"Depending on the country, the story varies a bit in it's telling, but most involve a devil! In French the jack-in-the-box is called a "diable en boîte", which means "boxed devil".  One of the first jack-in-the-boxes was pictured holding a boot with a devil in it. Some believe that the name "Jack" was a reference to the devil, referred to as a jack - is this also where we get Jack-o-lantern?"

Here is the perfect little 3D Jack-in-the-Box by Susan Myers:

Acorn House Designs - Jack O in the Box

Now some people might think that looks a little tricky but I stitched Susan's Drac-in-the Box last year and thanks to some nice clear instructions it really wasn't too difficult.  Good preparation and lots of slip stitching is the key!  Here is Drac:

Serendipitous Stitching -Happy- Jump Up for Drac-in-box

On to Jack O'Lanterns, most usually a pumpkin in modern times as they are the perfect size and shape for carving into heads or more imaginative shapes.  Vegetables have been carved out and used as lanterns for centuries, from the Maori (gourds) to the English (turnips, manglewurzels or beets).  The carved pumpkin was first used at Harvest Time in America but by 1866 had become associated specifically with Hallowe'en.

There are many stories about the origin of the name "Jack O' Lantern" with some believing Jack is the Devil and others saying he was a man who tricked the Devil.  This website tells the story of Stingy Jack and the Devil.

There are so many great Jack O'Lantern cross stitch designs to choose from, here are just a few:

All Through The Night - Jolly Jack

Amy Bruecken Designs - Jackie O Lantern

Birds of a Feather - All Hallows Night

There are Pumpkin Carving Festivals all over the world and Pumpkin Carving Competitions too.  I asked my older son to choose his favourite from one website and here it is:

Extreme Pumpkins - The Joker

Another J, for the Joker!

Other famous Jacks include Jack Skellington:

Kyotiutsukushii - Jack Skellington

Jack Skellington is the main character in the Tim Burton Nightmare Before Christmas animation.  One of our favourite Hallowe'en films.  Jack visits Christmas-land and tries to explain to the inhabitants of Hallowe'en Town what it is all about.  Of course, they put a Spooky Spin on the festival and it all goes horribly wrong.

The other famous Jack is Jack Sparrow, not really very Hallowe'eny but he is a popular character for people to dress up as for the occasion so that's why he's here!!

Pattern Maker - Johnny Depp

There are lots of computer generated Jack Sparrow charts out there but this one appealed because it is based on original artwork by Brian Duey rather than a photo taken from the internet.

And finally, still on the subject of famous Js, here is Jason from the Friday 13th films:

Pixel Power - Jason

June Freebie

I started my stitching for this entry very late this month. It was a very quick stitch and I just managed to finish the stitching and assemble a pincushion. I plan to add some beaded pins later, need to visit the bead section the hobby store.

Freebie: The Primitive Hare

Stitched with DMC 3371

In Stitches,

Lili's June Ornament

Hi!!
My freebie chart ornament for this month!!

Model from Teresa Murgida - "Field of Jack".
You can ask for this free model on Teresa blog, here.

Stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Mocha Linen.
With DMC floss.

(my blog here)

Thank you so much for the nice comments on my May Ornament!

Happy stitching,

Lili

Jo's June Ornament

I hope that you are enjoying your "free" month this June, there is a whole list of links to freebie charts on their own page, see the tabs at the top of the blog.

I decided that Dr. Frankenstein's Kitty deserved a little playmate this month, so here are the lovely couple:

They are both designs from  Carand88 based on the microkitties animations designed by Hyraea

I is for Inky Darkness, Imps and Ireland

I is for Inky Darkness from A Dark Alphabet designed by Julie and Becky's Note of Friendship blog.

Inky darkness, because everything is scarier in the dark; if we can't see then our other senses take over, every sound is amplified, every creak, every echo sounds suspicious, every shadow hides - who know what?  We hide under our blankets and wait for the safety of dawn.  Shadows may be scary but they do make great silhouettes perfect for stitching, either black on white fabric or how about black on the new glow-in-the dark fabric from Sewitall?

Funk and Weber - Let There be Night Collection

Hinzeit - Dark-Shadows

But, without the dark we would not be able to appreciate the light:

Finished Piece from Quirkorium

What is an imp?  A small demon who is more mischievious than harmful.  Perfect for some trick or treating on Hallowe'en.   I found it rather difficult to find cross stitched imps but Nimue does have Mic and Mac who are rather sweet:

Nimue - Mic and Mac

Back in this post about the Origins of Hallowe'en I talked about the Celtic countries where Samhain was celebrated; Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.  The Irish emigrating to America in the 18the Century would certainly have taken their traditions and superstitions with them.  Once again, it was tricky to find Irish Hallowe'en designs, there are any number of St. Patrick's Day themed charts to choose from!  So I thought I'd share some Irish Blessings instead to preserve us from the Inky Darkness and Mischievious Imps:

The Sweetheart Tree - Irish Blessing

Moira Blackburn - Irish Blessing Sampler

And just because I liked him, and he is a kind of Imp, there is this Leprechaun Fiddler:

Lena Lawson - Fiddler

  

Another witch for June

I stitched a quickee for June.  It's Vintage Witch by Laura Rimola of the Little Stitcher.  I've had this one in my 'to do' pile for awhile.  After stitching the headless horseman in brown last month I didn't want to do this one in more brown .... yawn.  So I switched to a brighter rust color on gold fabric.

Love that nose.

H is for Headless Horseman, Haunted Houses and Hallowe'en

H is for Headless Horseman from A Dark Alphabet designed by Julie and Becky's Note of Friendship blog.

The Headless Horseman has appeared in many forms of literature throughout history and throughout the world. Many countries have their own unique version of the headless horseman.  We find versions in Texas, Ireland, Germany, India.... the most known version is probably that of Ichabod Crane and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, based on a German folktale, first written down by  Karl Musäus.  It later was used as the basis of a story by Washington Irving. 

Becky researched the various stories of the Headless Horseman in this post here

Marcy stitched a great version of this monster in May, this one is by Primitive Hare:

Wicked Night by Primitive Hare

Sleepy Hollow by Glendon Place

This features the following spooky poem:

In a grave lies the horseman

His head is at his side

Be brave enough to take it

And again by night he will ride

The next H's are for Haunted Houses, every town, village and area has a house rumoured to be haunted, whether by a grey lady or monk or just because of creepy happenings.  Some ghosts seem to be quite friendly and people are rather proud of their haunting inhabitant but others are less welcome, causing people to flee screaming in the night never to return.

While searching for information on Haunted Houses, I found a great website www.hauntedrooms.co.uk which lists their Top 21 of Haunted Places and also gives details of Haunted Hotels where you can spend the night - ghosts not guaranteed!  There's one page for the UK and another for America.  Why not have a look and let me know if you've stayed in any of those hotels?

And here is some stitching:

Widow Black's B&B by Praiseworthy Stitches

This is the fourth in a series of four different Haunted Houses!

Beware of Hallowe'en - Bobbie G Designs

When Skeletons Dance by Drawn Thread

This was such an easy topic to find designs for, just Google "Haunted House Cross Stitch" and you will find many beautiful charts and designs for you to buy.

The final H just has to be Hallowe'en, which needs no description from me!  In fact, I covered the origins in this post here

Simply Hallowe'en by Waxing Moon

Hallowe'en Party by Just Nan

Lili's May Ornament

Hi!!
My monster ornament!

Model from Praire Moon - Trick or Treat (part of the model).

Stitched on Permin Linen, 40 count Sandstone.
With DMC floss.

(my blog here)

Thanks for the sweets comments on my April ornament!
 

Happy stitching,

Lili

Debbie's May ornament finish!

For my May monster, I stitched Frank-N-Stein by Raise the Roof Designs.  The kit came with the linen, WDW floss, and JABC button!

"Frank-N-Stein"
Raise the Roof Designs
32 ct tan linen
Started 5/27/2014, Finished 5/28/2014

May Monster

Skating on thin ice again. So glad this blog and you, fellow stitchers, are here to push me to get these stitched. Here is my May Monster. Frankie another Behind the Gate motif.

In Stitches,

A ghost....

 I have finished "Haunted House" as my May piece.

I just squeezed it in under the "Monsters" theme as it has a ghost in it.

It is another freebie from Maja of The Snowflower Diaries.

I am rather please with her.

hugs, Kaye

Monsters.

free Ravelry download

★ ★

Monster Mash

I had a lot of fun stitching Monster Blue for this month.  He's from the 2012 JCS Halloween issue.  Found the perfect buttons to round out the monster ball!

Marcy's May Monster

I finished my monster yesterday.  It's Wicked Night from The Primitive Hare.  He's a bit big for a small but when I was looking for a monster pattern and came across this one, I was hooked.  I started him right away to be sure to get him finished in time.  He's stitched on 22 ct ivory hardanger with dmc 3371 and will be stained with coffee/tea to get that aged look before 'ornamentification'. 

Jo's May Ornament

I am proud to present:

Frankenstein's Kitty!!

stitched on 32 count lavender evenweave using recommended DMC.

Frankenstein's Kitty is one of a series of spooky kitties designed by Carand88 based on the microkitties animations designed by Hyraea

   

I've stitched quite a few of these now, here's a collage!!

Gypsy's May Monster

For May's Monster I found this adorable pattern from Needle Noodles. It took around 3 days to complete due to other family obligations. 

Here's some history about Cthulu for everyone! 

Cthulhu is an elder god discovered by H. P. Lovecraft, who makes his first appearance in the 1928 research article "The Call of Cthulhu". It is one of the central Great Old Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos, and is often cited for the extreme descriptions given of its hideous appearance, its gargantuan size, and the abject terror that it evokes. After its first appearance in "The Call of Cthulhu", Cthulhu makes a few minor appearances in other of Lovecraft's works.^[1] August Derleth, a correspondent of Lovecraft's, later used the creature's name to identify the system of lore employed by Lovecraft and his literary successors, the Cthulhu Mythos. Cthulhu is often referred to in science fiction and fantasy circles as a tongue-in-cheek shorthand for extreme horror or evil. - H.P. Lovecraft Wiki

When the creature finally appears, the story says that the "thing cannot be described," but it is called "the green, sticky spawn of the stars", with "flabby claws" and an "awful squid-head with writhing feelers." 

Happy Stitching Everyone! 

Final Post

I have enjoyed being part of this Sal and you are all a bunch of wonderful ladies and beautiful stitchers but because of health reasons and some other personal issues I am withdrawing from finishing out this yearly sal.

Thank you for letting me take part in this. I wish you all the very best in the coming months.

Tiffany