Mr. Pumpkin

 Here is my march post, I call him Mr. Pumpkin.  He is from the PS chart Boo.  I stitched him on 32 ct. linen from my stash .  He is now in the rather large pile to be finished!!

Cheryl's March Pumpkin

This pumpkin was stitched from part of a larger pattern: "Eek!" by Michelle Lutzen of Stitch Kitty.  It was featured in the 2012 Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue.

I just love his kooky face!

Crafting Paws' Pumpkin Cupcake (March)...

The minute I saw this pattern, I couldn't wait to stitch it for March.

My pumpkin cupcake ornament...

The pattern is from the website Mini Cross Stitch and I stitched it on 14 ct. white Aida.

(The pattern is called "Halloween Cupcakes" and there are 9 different cupcakes to stitch.)

I'm planning on finishing it as a hoop and hope to have that done soon.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing all the other cute ornaments!

-Carrie-

Jo's March Finish - Pumpkins

Pumpkins is always a popular theme for this blog and there are some great designs out there.

Here is my Pumpkin Patch:

It is part of a larger design by Just Nan called Counting Bats.  I love all the crazy faces on each of the pumpkins!  The beads in the bottom border are striped orange beads and I've just noticed the end one is wonky.  Have to fix that!

Here is the whole piece so far:

I don't think I've shown you the framed Thine is The Trick and The Treat I collected from my framers the other day?   

Close-up of one corner to show the frame:

This was actually finished last April but I've only just been able to afford to get it framed professionally with my Christmas vouchers.  Here's the post where I talked about my Happy Dance.

Noni's Blue Ribbon Pumpkin

I found the perfect quick stitch for this month... "Halloween Portraits" by Blue Ribbon Designs.

This little pumpkin is one of 6 or 7 designs included in the "Halloween Portraits" set.  Besides the cute pumpkin there is also a ghost, witch, black cat, crow, owl... plus a couple more that I can't remember... I will have plenty more to stitch over the coming months for my Halloween themes!  The designs were published in the Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2015 magazine.

Once I have stitched a couple more on this piece of fabric I will turn them into little pillow ornies... but the final finish may be some time off!! :o)

Looking forward to seeing all those lovely pumpkins pop up over the next couple of weeks!

See you next month for a ghostly visit....

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

When we first started this blog I made a series of posts beginning with each letter of the alphabet starting with A.  Unfortunately, they ground to a halt after L.  So in honour of The Alphabet Club hosted by Chiara I have decided to resurrect the original posts and link up each month with the rest of the Alphabet Club posters.  To learn more about this SAL follow the Alphabet Club link to Chiara's blog.

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

Craftingpaws's January and February Ornaments...

Hello everyone!

I finally remembered to send Jo an email, so I could be added to this blog and share my monthly ornaments.

I have been stitching along each month and thought I would post what ornaments I completed for January and February.

January 2016

Theme: Winged Creatures

The piece was one of the Spooktacular Designs, found in The World of Cross Stitching magazine (October 2015 issue).

Designer: Durene Jones

stitched on 14 ct. white Aida fabric

Stitch Time: 7 hrs. 45 minutes

February 2016

Theme: Mummies and Monsters

 (I actually finish/finished him, with a mason jar lid as the frame.)

The pattern is from The World of Cross Stitching magazine (October 2015 issue) and the designer is Durene Jones.

stitched on 14 ct. white Aida fabric 

I am very excited to finish my pumpkin themed project for March and really looking forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with.

-Carrie-

Cheryl's Cute Monster Ornament for February

My Monster by Cheryl A. Smith

This month, I took some time to create my own cute little monster!  I stitched my monster on 14 count plastic canvas with 2 mis-matched buttons for eyes.  I backed the finished piece with felt and added a black satin ribbon for hanging.

I am happy to share the pattern as a freebie on my hobby site:
http://hobbyloco.com/patterns/mymonster.html

Monster

I had a bit of trouble finding a design for this month's theme.  I decided to post from a larger piece by Barbara Ana.  I think it would look great stitched as an ornament.  I think that wicked looking plant would be considered a monster!

I'm looking forward to a fun pumpkin design for March!

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!

Loretta's February Monster

Frank-in-Stitches by Frank and Judy Bielec of Mosey 'N Me (JCS Halloween Collection)

Thank you for looking!!!

Loretta

Rita's Feb. Monster

It took me a while to figure out what to stitch for this theme.  "Frank" is from Trilogy's Eekology leaflet.  (I may have looked like him this am before I had my first coffee.)

Noni's Jan & Feb Ornie Update!

Happy New Year..... I know, sorry, it's a very belated Happy New Year!!!

I have just been catching up on everyone's Jan and Feb posts... what wonderful designs you have all chosen to stitch.  It never ceases to amaze me how we all generally find something completely different to stitch for each month's theme :o)

So as you can guess by the title... I am here to show you my January finish - which is very late... and my February finish - which I am in time for!!  Not sure if being on time for February cancels out being late for January!!

January's theme was Winged Creatures (Crows, ravens etc) and I did have something planned until I saw the latest Snowflower Diaries SAL designs.... I just had to start January straight away and decided that it would be a "shoe-horned" choice for my January ornie!

I know, not very Halloween like - but it is cute.... and it does have a crow in it!!

February's choice is definitely Halloween... and a monster.  Meet "Pumpkin Man" by The Prairie Schooler.

This cute monster was published in the Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2015 magazine and only took me a couple of days to stitch! Bonus :o)

So that's me all up to date again...

See you next month

G is for Gargoyles, Ghosts and Gravestones - Revisited

When we first started this blog I made a series of posts beginning with each letter of the alphabet starting with A.  Unfortunately, they ground to a halt after L.  So in honour of The Alphabet Club hosted by Chiara I have decided to resurrect the original posts and link up each month with the rest of the Alphabet Club posters.  To learn more about this SAL follow the Alphabet Club link to Chiara's blog.

G is for Gargoyle from A Dark Alphabet designed by Julie and Becky's Note of Friendship blog.

Gargoyles are essentially stone drainpipes designed to take the water fromthe roofs of medieval buildings away from the walls.  The name comes from the old French word "gargouille" meaning throat or gullet.  The stone masons liked to make their work as fanciful as possible and enjoyed carving the most grotesque gargoyles they possibly could.  Some were even made in the image of their bosses or disliked members of the clergy!!

They were also believed to keep evil spirits away from the churches and cathedrals by frightening them away.

Some of the most famous gargoyles are found on the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and here are some I met when I was there:

Iconic photo!

In the centre of the photo you can see the little park where we had our lunch after climbing up Notre-Dame.

This fellow would make a good door guard!

Gargoyle by Bennie Harman - Crosstitch.com

Our next G - Ghosts need no introduction!  Ghosts are one of the most popular cross stitch motifs for Hallowe'en.  Usually the cute and friendly variety like our own Mr Boo

Boo - Val's Stuff JCS 2012 Hallowe'en Ornie Special

Goblins-Ghosts-and-Ghoulies- Glendon Place

(two more Gs there!)

There are even Glow-in-the Dark Ghosties (another G!)

Stitched with Glow-in-the-Dark Kreinik

Ghostie Kitty - Carand88

And the final G is for Gravestones.  I must confess, this is one symbol I am not so sure about stitching!  I don't know why.  I don't mind within a larger Haunted House picture but as a standalone stitch I am not interested.  Superstitious me.

Gravestones themselves started out as a mere pile of stones to protect the body from wild animals digging it up and to prevent the body from rising again!  They gradually evolved to become carved with the deceased's name and dates added then into the memorial stones we recognise today.  The Victorians were the masters of gravestone carving and their's were ornate and highly decorated with long verses dedicated to the person below.  Nowadays stones are not so much carved as etched with a laser.  The designs are often modern pictures with no religious significance, usually something connected with a sport or hobby.

Susanna Goose - Carriage House Samplings

Tombstone Monkeys - Ink Circles

I love Tracy's designs and the blurb on this one intrigues me - You've seen the three monkeys in the classic "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" pose. These tombstone angels make the same gestures, with the epitaphs letting us know the tomb's occupant made a fatal mistake. If you're familiar with your patron saints, you might notice the gentle folks' names were not randomly selected.

I must go Google those names now!!

Lisa's January Ornie

Here is my ornie for January, combining both the letter F and the winged theme...a Flock of Owls. :o)

The design is my own, and I stitched it on 18 count Aida painted with acrylic paint thinned with water. I haven't finished it yet, as I have room for 3 other ornies on the fabric before I cut it.

Jo's February Finish - Mummies and Monsters

This month's theme is Mummies and Monsters.  It could be anything from Dr. Frankenstein's Monster to a scary thing with tentacles.  I have gone for the traditional bandaged-wrapped mummy.

For the blog this year I am stitching a Just Nan band sampler called Counting Bats.  Each band ties in with the theme for each month and by September I will have a completed sampler ready for framing for Hallowe'en!

Here is the whole thing so far:

I am stitching it on a 32 count lilac linen using the recommended AVAS threads.

First Halloween Ornament Post

Hi , Jo from Serendipitous Stitching invited me to be part of this blog.  I really appreciate all the work she has done to make it a success! Halloween is my favorite fun holiday!! When we moved here to Washington State, the mover said he had never moved so many Halloween decorations.  We moved in Sept.  Even though we lived in an apartment until we found a  house, I wanted my Halloween decorations left out so we could enjoy them.  I like to define my collection as fun, not real scary.  So it was very natural for me to join this blog.  My Jan. stitch is an owl for winged creatures.

 This design is from Prairie Schooler Book No.140 called Pumpkin Patch. When I saw this cute fabric, I knew I had to stitch an owl.  Thanks for joining me. I'm so happy to be part of this blog group.

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

January - Winged Creatures.

I love crows.

Threadwork Primitives

Enchanted Crow

★ ★ ★