I’m just coming to the end of over three weeks off work, two weeks annual leave and then days off either end. It’s been lovely! I didn’t have anything planned, just sewing, gardening, walking, a bit of socialising, just enjoying myself! I’ve been pretty productive on the sewing front, I haven’t managed to get everything on my list done, but I’ve not done bad!

I’m keeping up with my two cross-stitch SAL’s, in fact I’m a week a head now! Faby Reilly’s SAL, the Zoe box, released the latest pattern last Monday. We’re stitching the side of the lid now, it’s outlined with back-stitch which is used during the construction, though I haven’t finished outlining the bottom of this section so I really need to get on with it. This week consists of a very pretty row of leaves in autumn and summer colours. It was fairly quick to sew and for the first time I think I’ve managed a section with no mistakes!! The squirrel and the butterfly above are on the inside of the box, you can see how the seasonal theme is being developed.

I’m really enjoying this SAL, the design is beautiful, I love the way a variety of stitches are used, here we have spider-web stitch, tied cross-stitch and a woven one to make the rose whose name escapes me! The beads and the sequins add a bit of texture too.

My second SAL was released on Friday (they’re both once a fortnight) and I’d finished it by Sunday! This one is by Tempting Tangles, it’s called Enlightenment and there is a bit of a tree theme – the leaf border round the edge is gorgeous.

We’re up to section 5 of 16, so we’ve just started the second row. I do get a bit frustrated stitching in strict blocks – the large green ‘trees’ have one extra stitch to be added on the bottom corners, it would have been so much easier to stitch it with the rest. I’m still a bit undecided on this one, I love the colours, especially the variegated one, the border is beautiful, I’m just not 100% on the rest of the design. I’m sure it will grow on me as it develops.

I’ve got a whole week before Faby releases the next installment – time to work on the Finery of Nature!