Each month I change the little display of cross-stitch smalls on the sideboard. Usually I choose things relative to that month, but in August I decided to do a bee theme – I have lots of smalls with bees on…

This month I decided to continue with a theme, so for September the theme is birds. Fortunately the September small I have from The Joyful World SAL has two barn owls on, so it fitted nicely. The autumn cross-stitch also has a blackbird on, though the Faby Reilly autumn leaf one doesn’t but the colours fitted beautifully…

I’ve stitched quite a few birds this year, they’re nearly all from Fido Stitch Studio on Etsy. I think they’re gorgeous designs and the kits are very reasonably priced, at around £9. There’s still a few I fancy making, but so far I’ve stitched the robin, kingfisher, wren, nuthatch and the kookaburra.

I’ve turned the two cross-stitched boxes round to their autumn side and I think all the colours work well together, there’s a definite autumn feel to the smalls this month. I think I’ll continue with a theme next month, maybe animals or flowers…