Last year on pinterest I saw a collection of little cross-stitch designs, one for each month of the year. They were very pretty and I eventually traced them back to the Snowflower Diaries the designer is Maja Matyas. The series is called Joyful World and they are designed to either be stitched separately or as one big calendar. Further investigation led me to a facebook page called Joyful World SAL, all the patterns are free and downloadable from the facebook page, if you fancy joining the facebook page, just be patient as they seem to add new members every couple of weeks or so.
I’m planning to stitch them all as individual ‘smalls’, ideally I need to get a month a head so I can have the appropriate month on display!
Maja uses The Gentle Art thread which are probably very slightly variegated, however she kindly gives the DMC alternative too, so I’m using that.
Of course despite having a large collection of DMC threads, I still needed to buy a few more, whilst I was at Hobbycraft I was tempted by yet another pair of embroidery scissors, well they are such a pretty colour! The design includes some white flowers so to make them stand out I decided to stitch it on Permin ‘rain’ evenweave linen, I bought it for my etui box, it’s a lovely soft green/grey shade, perfect for a wintery scene.
I managed to stitch January over the last week or so. The bottom row of stitches are eyelet stitches in alternate shades of green, the rest is in cross-stitch. The design includes a border too but I decided it was big enough without adding another 1″ of border for what I wanted. I just need to make it up into a pillow or mount it on cardboard.
I think they’re lovely designs, simple and cute without being twee! They are also a perfect size for popping in my handbag to stitch whilst I’m visiting my mum. Next months is gorgeous, two ducks, I’m looking forward to stitching it.
I’m linking up with Kathy’s Quilts tomorrow for Slow Stitching Sunday, a celebration of all things hand sewn, why not follow the link and see what everyone else has been creating.
thecraftycreek 
How charming!
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That is so cute. I look forward to seeing the other months as you complete them
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Thank you for talking about this pattern. I want to make the whole calendar! I also like how you used DMC so I can decide which look I prefer.
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Thanks Tony, it looks great made up as a whole calendar, both with or without the borders.
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That’s so cute, the background is spot on 😊
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Love these! I have been doing a little cross-stitching myself, but I get so busy I don’t always get to it. This inspires me to pick up my project again.
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What a cute little scene, off to check this out!
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Enchanting little design, endearing without being twee or too cutesy. What a lovely year’s project.
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Oh that is quite sweet!
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Thanks for the facebook link. That design is very pretty. I really like that eyelet border.
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Because I travel so much I have been thinking about taking up a “take-along” craft- these are so cute! I think I would like cross-stitch!
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I think cross-stitch is perfect for travelling, I always have one in my bag on long journeys or anytime I think I’ll be hanging around somewhere such as hospital appointments, they’re quite addictive when you get going 🙂
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Cute fox for January! Can’t wait to see February!
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I love these! I think the USA is the last country to convert to the metric system. I am guessing these are about 3×4 inches. Thanks for the link. I believe I will sign up.
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Thanks Pam, with a small edge all round they will be about 4″ x 6″. Here in the UK we’re officially metric, but I still buy in pounds and ounces on the market and at the butchers, I think of fabric widths in inches and lengths in metres, I know, all mixed up 🙂
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Wow this is beautiful! Thank you for introducing me to this new stitchalong! These designs are gorgeous!
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Sooo cute!
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How enchanting! I look forward to seeing your future months!
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Such a sweet little design. I don’t blame you for tracking it down so you could stitch it up.
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These may well be the designs to get me back to cross stitching – they’re delightful!
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beautiful! I love these designs, I saved them all a year or two ago when she released them – never got round to stitching them though!
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