Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

I live in north Alabama and we don't get snow often.  A few threats here and there that usually don't materialize.  The first year we lived here (2010), we had four snowfalls.  One was actually a lot of snow and was very pretty.

 

We were predicted to get snow a couple of weeks ago and nothing happened.  The prediction this week was for snow last night and it did!  We have a couple of inches where we live and it is so pretty.  I know...a couple of inches is nothing to some of you, but to us, well, we will take it.  We are predicted to get more snow Wednesday night and into Thursday. 

 

Here are a few pictures of our current snowfall.

 

The first two photos were made very early this morning before it was completely daylight.  the other was taken an hour or so later.

 

~~Layne~~



Another Project

A good many years ago, I inherited a lot of cross stitch items (books, fabric, thread, etc.) in a divorce situation.  One of the items was a partially started Christmas placemat, but no chart to go with it.  I did finally, with the help of some other cross stitchers, locate the chart.  My plan all along was to finish the placemats and give them back to the person that gave me all the stash.  I had worked a little on it, but it is full of confetti stitches.  I hate confetti stitches.  I pulled it back out this weekend and made a major dent in what was left to do.  I still have just a little to add and it will be ready for the backstitching.  Then, there will only be three more to do!





Picture Promised in Previous Post

This is the piece I finished quite a few years ago.  I would forget about it until Christmas time and then it was too late to have it framed in time to use for the holiday that year.  This past year I remembered and had it framed and got to use it at Christmas.  (When I loaded the picture here, it really changed the quality.  I'll try to get a better one.)

 



Where Has the Time Gone?

The time does fly by!  Also, add the fact that I'm just not a very good blogger.  I tend to forget about it and then there are big gaps in posts.  Another problem right now is that I am having computer problems and getting the same error messages at random times.  Hubby is still looking into it and maybe it will be resolved before too long.

 

It's hard to remember back over the time that has passed for noteworthy items.  I'll try my best to find something worth reading.  I finished physical therapy following my shoulder surgery in early July.  I discovered about that same time that I had a foot problem.  Saw one doctor twice and medication did not help the problem.  He said I should see his partner and be evaluated for surgery.  I did and knew surgery was a must whenever I was ready.  Since we had already booked vacation at the beach the last week of October and first few days of November, we decided it would be best to wait until we got back from vacation.

 

The beach was very pretty during this time of the year.  Temperatures were very mild and only needed a light jacket at various times.  We love Destin, Florida!

 

 

But, all good things must come to an end!

 

Foot surgery was the next thing on the agenda.  This took place the middle of November.  Things are going well, still have a good bit of swelling and soreness, but recovering well slowly.

 

Thanksgiving happened with lots of help from various family members handing me things in the kitchen and helping with the cooking, etc. to keep me off of my foot as much as possible.  I actually started Christmas decorating before my surgery which was way early for me.  I knew I could not do it all after surgery.  I did manage to do more after the surgery with frequent stops to prop the foot up and reduce the swelling.

 

I was not able to do any Christmas shopping and did not even enter a mall or store.  Saved a lot of money!  Most all of our shopping was done on line.  We do a lot on line each year but even more so this past year.  We also found out on Christmas day that we would become grandparents in July.  Fun times ahead!

 

My cross stitching has been all over the place.  Too many projects going at once.  I did get a piece framed that I had done many years ago.  I will post a picture later of it.  I think it is still on my camera.  I'm behind on pictures, too!

 

Well, I guess that is all for now.  Will add the picture later and anything I might think of between now and then.





 

Layne



"Where Have You Been?" You Ask!

It appears that I have been gone to some exotic island, a wonderful Florida

beach, the mountains, a foreign country.

Oh, but no!

I had to have shoulder surgery!

Surgery was the middle of March and I have been

recovering and doing physical therapy.

Still doing physical therapy to get back to

where I was prior to the problems.

I did manage to make a few scissor fobs and thank you

cards while my arm was still in a sling.

Below is a picture of some of the most recent fobs

I made.

Stop back by soon and maybe my updates can be more frequent

now.

                                Layne





SCISSOR FOB BAUBLE.....

I saw some scissor fobs that were different from the most common ones

we see on the market and that I make. 
They are short and made mostly with large beads.

The ones I saw were way overpriced.  I know people want to make

a profit, but not to the extent of taking advantage of people.

Off my soapbox now!

Anyway, the first one I made is so so.  Good enough

to list in my Etsy shop, but I do hope to improve them

as I make more.

These may work for the stitchers who think the longer,

dangly fobs will get in their way.

Here is a photo of the first one I did.  Like I said,

I hope to get some prettier ones as I go along.

 

I hope to have some more made soon.  I'll show those when they

are ready.

 

                              Layne



 

SEWING MACHINE CHALLENGED AND A LITTLE DIY

Several years ago, I completed a small Christmas bellpull.  I attempted to hem

the ends to attach the hardware and never was pleased with how

it looked.  So, the little bellpull stayed in a drawer basically

forgotten.  I came across it in December while pulling

out items for Christmas decorating.  I checked at my local needlework

shop for a finisher, but that didn't work out.  I kept the bellpull

out in my craft room where I could see it and not forget to do

something about it.  After looking at it more and more, I thought that

maybe, just maybe, I would attempt it again in a different way.

 

I have a sewing machine, but have never been very handy with it.  My mother sewed

beautifully and taught me the basics of making a dress.  I could repair seams, etc., but

that was all I cared to do with my trusty Singer sewing machine. 

The poor little bellpull really needed to be fixed.  I thought about asking

my daughter-in-law to do it for me, but decided the most it needed

was four straight seams.  Come on!  So, one day last week the trusty Singer sewing machine

made its way to the kitchen table and was put into action.

The four seams may not be perfect, but the bellpull can now be used when

Christmas 2013 rolls around.

 

I also had a new cross stitch work in progress that was very close to

being too wide for the fabric.  I alwasy Fray Check my edges, but it was suggested

that I run a zig-zag seam down the right side.  Well, you guessed it!

My trusty Singer has probably never made a zig-zag seam since I purchased it!  With

manual in hand, I accomplished this also!

 

Here is a picture of the bellpull.

 

We also used this last week to remove the plate glass mirror (typical ones installed by

builders) and replace it with a framed, prettier mirror in our powder room.  We had to get the original mirror off, patch the wall where it had been glued, caulk, and paint.  Here is the final product.

 

 







Thanks for looking!

 

Layne