WORK IN PROGRESS--SLOW BUT FUN

Time and Seasons Sampler Designed by Moira Blackburn

Yes, very slow progress! I try to be very careful when working on a large project as far as managing the larger size of fabric, etc. I definitely prefer smaller ones that are more manageable, but I believe this is working up to be a very nice piece.        

Thank you for stopping by.

~~Layne~~

A FINISH!

 SCAREDY CATS! 

A Lizzie Kate Pattern

This project was an old Work In Progress that I decided to pull out and finish. I'm giving it to my daughter-in-law. She will be using it to make a Halloween pillow. The pattern calls for 26 count Black Heatherfield using two ply overdyed sampler threads. I'm fairly certain that I did use the same fabric. I definitely used the overdyed sampler threads. Stitch count is 128W x 75H. Approximate design size is 10 inches x 6.5 inches. Below is a photo of the finished piece (prior to giving it to my DIL.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Layne~~

Where Have I Been?

 Sometimes I wonder myself. Where am I? What have I been doing? Have I accomplished anything? Maybe others feel the same way and I'm not alone.

We had an unexpected death in our family. I was appointed Administrator of their estate. I never dreamed there could be so much involved in handling a very small estate.

On to the two latest craft accomplishments. I was asked by my daughter-in-law if I would cross stitch something Christmas that she could make into a pillow. She didn't have any Christmas pillows. I chose two to stitch for her. I have finished one and very close on the second one.

This is Seasons Greetings from Christmas Samplers II by Prairie Schooler. Stitched on 32 count Lambs Wool Linen.

I also painted  something for a new friend who has been a wonderful addition to our lives. Please keep in mind I have had no formal art training. I took tole painting classes as an adult but no art classes in school.

I should be back soon with the second Christmas cross stitch to be made into a pillow. See you soon

~~Layne~~

Reindeer Games WIP Photos

Here are a few photos of the Reindeer Games WIP. Still need to finish the bottom reindeer's scarf, add a few eyes, a few rosy cheeks, etc. I had it rolled up for so long as I worked on it that I forgotten how long the fabric actually is. It is a fun stitch!

~~Layne~~

 Reindeer Games

The Reindeer Games piece (pictured in post below) is close to being complete. I don't have an updated photo yet as I still have it rolled up and pinned so I can manage it while I'm stitching. I'll try to take a new photo this weekend and post it. I'm currently doing the last reindeer at the bottom. I will have a few things left like their eyes or noses, maybe some hooves to go back and put in. They are really cute and once it is framed I'm sure it will be even better.

Check back for updated photo later this weekend.

~~Layne~~

Another Stitching Update

For anyone that stumbles upon this blog, I have to tell you that I am not a real blogger. Writing is probably one of the things or the thing I hate the most in life. Always have and I don't foresee it getting any better. Doing this blog does help me to keep a record of the pieces I am working on or have finished. I like to look at other's stitching and see what the finished pieces look like. Maybe others will like to see the photos I post.

The first piece is a small one named Snow by The Trilogy. It's good to have a simple project for those times you are too tired to concentrate a lot but still want to stitch.

The last project for today is Reindeer Games by Sue Hillis Designs. This one is just a cute piece. I still have more to do as some of the little guys don't have their winter apparel on yet. Fun stitching watching them come to life.

Thanks for stopping in!

~~Layne~~

Cross Stitch Update

 My cross stitch projects have definitely been neglected the last couple of years. It's been a busy couple of years with the birth of our second grandson, selling our house in Huntsville, Alabama, and moving a couple of hours South of Huntsville to Pelham, Alabama. Let me tell you that moving is not for the faint of heart. When the moving van arrived at our new home, I had my husband take a couple of photos of the truck for our then four year old grandson. All little boys like big trucks, you know. When I saw the photo and saw how long the moving van was, I just nearly died right then and there. I could not believe how much stuff I had to unpack and find places for, etc. Not to mention that there was still a lot in storage in Huntsville!  

I decided a few months back to really try to concentrate on finishing some of the unfinished cross stitch projects. After all the packing, unpacking, painting various rooms, etc., I really needed the stress relief that cross stitch provides for me. I thought I would share a couple of projects with you. The first photo is the massive moving van!

                

Can you believe this? And the moving guys said it was full!

I have been working the most on Christmas Eve by The Prairie Schooler, Book No. 158. I've always liked a lot of the Prairie Schoolers and saw this one stitched by someone else and knew I wanted to do it. I did have to make a couple of substitutions in thread because I didn't have some, but I think it will be just fine. Here's a few photos of this piece.

Check back later and I will have more photos of other projects.

Thanks for stoping by!

~~Layne~~

Good Tidings by The Drawn Thread

I started this piece a while back and was in the mood this week to do something holiday related. Maybe because it was still 90 degrees where I live! We had our first fall temps last night and today. Finally! I decided to work on Good Tidings by Drawn Thread. I had seen a photo of this one stitched and really liked it. It's not a hard piece as long as you keep up with your number of stitches while doing the branch. I've only had to take out one small section where I got off a stitch or two. I would be lost without my highlighters to mark my pattern as I go! Hopefully, I can finish this one in the next couple of weeks.

Excuse the wrinkled fabric in the picture. I usually stitch in hand and it's really wrinkled by the time I finish.

Photo courtesy of The Drawn Thread

~~Layne~~

Paint Project

I recently completed a fairly large paint project that I volunteered to do.  Girl Power 2 Cure is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families with a child or family member who has Rhett Syndrome.  They are very instrumental in raising money for research for a cure.  I wanted to share what I painted for the local fundraiser.  Their theme and decorations for the evening was Alice in Wonderland.  I had the privilege of painting two Alice pieces and White Rabbit.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Layne~~

A Couple of Sold Etsy Items

I thought I would try to start posting photos of items that sell in my Etsy shop. Maybe I can get in the habit of doing this with future sales.

This small plaque was fun to do. I used three different colors for the background to make it look similar to old barn wood. One of my regular customers purchased this one and placed an order for four more for gifts.

These scissor fobs were a custom order to coordinate with the new Eleanor Gingher scissors.

I should be in my craft room working on more items for my shop. Check it out sometime at

www.fobsandcraftsbylayne.etsy.com

~~Layne~~

Boo Club Update

Making progress!!  The major stitching is complete.  I'm working on finishing up the border and then there are small details to do.  Little buttons for eyes, stems on pumpkins, some confetti stitches here and there.  I would have been further along but had to do some adjusting in the lower section.  Had to remove a good portion of the lower border and move it over to correct my error.  It wasn't too bad to fix; could have been much worse.  Here's a few pictures of the progress.

           ~~Layne~~

Fun Project

I worked a little harder this past year trying to have enough ornaments and items in my Etsy shop for the 2017 Christmas season shoppers.  I'm not a big name painter and it has taken a while for people to stumble on my Etsy shop and painted goods.  I've had a good following for several years for the scissor fobs I make and sell but still working on building a following for painted items.  Said all of that to say this...I wanted to paint something for myself that was fun and enjoyable.  I was looking through my books and came to this one and really thought it was cute.  It actually made me chuckle.  In addition, it incorporated painting techniques that I had not used  or been taught before.  I decided to give it a try.  The worst that could happen would be to toss it in the trash can.  Here's the finished product.

I think these little guys are hilarious!

Thanks for stopping by!


~~Layne~~

Boo Club

I started Boo Club by Lizzie Kate a good while back.  I'm really close to finishing!  Only one more section after the one I'm working on.  Then I'll finish up the border and add some little details like buttons for eyes, etc.

Thanks for stopping by.

     ~~Layne~~

Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle

I posted a photo of this piece when I finished it, but never posted one of it framed.  So, when I unearthed Christmas decorations, I knew I had better get it then.  For those that did not see the original post, this is a Lizzie Kate pattern and a fun stitch.

~~Layne~~

Update on Spell Bound by Glendon Place

Here's a short update on my progress of Spell Bound by Glendon Place.  Happy to have this section complete and move on to the next.

Cross Stitch Update

I'm still plugging away at the reindeer.  I had to wait quite a while for one of the charts to come in and that delayed things somewhat.  The name of each reindeer will be below each one and there are more details to be added to the antlers along with the crystals that will be added last.  I really hope to have this one completed and framed in time for Christmas 2017.

I have several other projects going too.  When one piece becomes tiring or too stressing, I switch to another one for a time.  Cross stitching is supposed to be relaxing, right?  I recently started Spell Bound by Glendon Place.  The Happy Halloween in the corner has been a little difficult, but I'm almost finished with it.  The remainder will be easier.  I'm working on 32 count linen and my eyes start crossing and have to stop and let them rest.  Photo courtesy of www.glendonplace.net

Thanks for stopping by!

Reindeer Upate

A small amount of progress since the last update.  One more reindeer done, still waiting on one pattern from the cross stitch store, and then on to the last two reindeer.  There is a lot of detail work that I save until the end like backstitching and attaching the crystals to the antlers.  The end is closer than it has been!

Cross Stitch Work in Progress Updates

I have made more progress on the Crystal  Reindeer by Hinzeit. 

I'm also trying to consistently work on Reindeer Games by Sue Hillis Designs.  This one is little more fun to stitch!

Hope to have both completed by Christmas!

~Layne~

Breast Cancer Fobs

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, a friend of mine asked me to make her a breast cancer fob that she could clip on her purse in my honor.  Little did I know that it is still clipped to whatever purse she is carrying to this day.

In the early summer of 2015, this same friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She asked me if I could make more fobs so she could give one to her female family members.  I worked on these this week and have them ready to get to her (we now live 100 miles apart). 

Layne
Alabama Cross Stitcher

Snow Day, Though Small

Our local weather people were forecasting snow for Friday, January 22.  Since moving to Huntsville, Alabama, I have been impressed with the meteorologists on our local NBC channel.  They seem to almost always be spot on whether it is storms, tornadoes, snow, or just the temps.  I wasn't so sure they were going to get it right this time.  The temperature had been in the 50's and we had a lot of rain the night before and even that morning.  I should have known not to doubt this team of weather experts.  At 12:45 pm Friday, it began to snow really heavy with big flakes.  It did seem to be melting though as it hit the wet, soggy ground.  As it continued to snow, we started to see a dusting on the grass and then a little more coverage and a little more.  By dark we had a solid covering of the white stuff!  All in all, we ended up with about 1 1/2 inches.  Now I know to some of you folks reading this, you are laughing.  Ha!  We don't get a lot of snow in the southern United States, so we take whatever we can get.  I will tell you that I have only lived in the northern part of the state for 5 1/2 years and have had more snow (even a couple of large ones) than we ever had in the central area of the state.  I leave you with a few pictures of our small snow.