May's A lovely year of finishes

It's the first week of May, which means it is time to check in for the A Lovely Year of Finishes.  Hosted by Fibre of All Sorts and Sew BitterSweet Designs, the idea is to nominate a project each month that you aim to finish before the end of the month.  You link up to their blog at the beginning of the month to share your goal, and then at the end to share your finish (I hope!).  

May's project is Advance Australia, from Jill Oxton's Cross Stitch and Bead Weaving magazine (issue 87 to be specific).  This was the only time I've bought a copy of this magazine, and I bought it specifically for this pattern!  There are two versions of the pattern: one featuring a sailor's hat, and one featuring the traditional slouch hat, which is the one I'm stitching.

My progress so far

A picture of the pattern from the magazine.

The finished piece is going to become part of an Anzac-themed wall-hanging that my mother OzzyPip and I are putting together to enter in the local Agricultural Show.  The Show is having an Anzac-themed section this year to celebrate 100 years since the initial landing at Gallipoli during WWI.

For those who don't know, Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corp, and is the name given to the Australian and New Zealand combined armed forces, specifically during the two World Wars.  On 25 April we (Aus and NZ) have Anzac Day where we remember all those who have served for our countries - our Remembrance Day.  In particular, we remember the Gallipoli landing.  This website explains it all a lot better than I can.

The Show is on the 2nd and 3rd June, and entries need to be dropped off by 31st May, so it better be completely finished by the end of May!

Happy stitching!!