All Prepped and Ready to Sew....

I spent the last two days prepping some stitching and stitching.

I have my block of the month ready for stitching. These are blocks 9 and 10 of Norma Whaley's How Does Your Garden Grow. I'm running a little behind but I'm hoping to get these done before my next blocks come....that's my goal.

This table topper is all ready for stitching.... I just love this!

This is a custom order.  My customer and I worked together to come up with this design.

I love it when two minds work together so well!

Here's the fabric for my next project.  All starched just hanging to dry.

Yes I do starch my fabric before cutting into it.  I think it's easier to cut the fabric more accurately  when it is starched. 

I bought this kit along with the pattern in Chicago when I went to the Quilt Market. So cute and I get to do a little embroidery on this one.

I finished these pillows last night.  These are going to be for sale at my craft fairs. They look so great on the chair I just might have to make one for myself :-)

I'm off to do some stitching.

Enjoy your weekend,

Leanne

I've Been Busy....

I've been working on these runners.  

I love how they turned out so much that I had to share some pictures with you.

I just love how perfect it looks on my dining room table but...

It's not my runner.  

I made both of these for a very sweet customer :-). The long runner was made to match a shorter one.  I think I did a pretty good job matching the colors and style of stitching.

The runners were made using a pattern by Ginger Sanchez.  This runner I made is longer than the pattern so I just stretched the pattern a little bit and added more pears and leaves.  I followed the colors used in the smaller runner. The runner looks so different then the pattern when using a light background and red pears. 

I made this bird runner to go in the same room.  

This is my own design and I used the same wools as the long runner. 

I so want to make this with a blue bird and red accents for an Americana look. 

Maybe make the bird into a cardinal standing on a holly branch...so many ideas so little time.

I think I'll spend the evening working on some hexies.  I'm not sure what I'm making but I'll just keep adding on.

Remember this quilt?  

I bought the kit at the quilt show, its a Primitive Gatherings pattern.

I was working on it last night but I couldn't finish the wool appliqué because I need to get some gold valdani thread. Only 6 leaves away from preparing this puppy to quilt.

Take care,

Leanne

Getting Ready for a "Sew" Day.....

The snow is coming so I had to prepare for a "sew" day.  

I have to say many of you quilt bloggers have inspired me to start quilting.  

I always wanted to be a quilter.  I've done a few projects many years ago but never considered myself a quilter. 

So to get me started....

I signed up for  my very first B.O.M. through Primitive Gatherings Quilt Shop (I have my eye on another one).

 It's How Does Your Garden Grow by Norma Whaley....I love her quilts!  

It's wool appliqué triangles with homespun triangles.

I have the first two triangles done.

The third and fourth triangles are prepped and ready for stitching.  

I'm going to do the stitching tonight and tomorrow.

I'm mostly a stitcher so this project is a little out of my comfort zone.  

What I lack in knowledge I'll make up with enthusiasm.

Enjoy your day,

Leanne 

Punchneedle Finishes

It is the most beautiful fall day today.  Clear blue sky, sunny and cold enough to wear a sweater.

I just love sweater weather!

I just finished a few punchneedle pieces...getting ready for craft fairs.

I love to do punchneedle but I never know how to finish them.

The piece might sit in the finished basket for a couple of months until 

I figure out just the right way to present it.

I posted a few more punchneedle pieces on my facebook page

click here.

You'll also find a few wool applique pieces I finished recently. 

Don't forget to "like me" on facebook.

Enjoy your day...Packer Sunday,

Leanne

Just Sharing....

Some Photos of Finished Projects.

 I've been working on some cross stitch and punchneedle for my fall fairs.

 The stitching was done in February but I just wasn't sure how to finish them off. 

 So searched my favorite site....

Pintrest 

(you can follow me just click here)

for Inspiration and Ideas.

Well did that get my mind going.

 It was a lot of fun searching for unusual frames and trimming and old buttons.

I painted the frames black and aged them. The backgrounds are wool some hand dyed wools.

See I'm trying to get ready for my fairs.

I feel like I'm running behind.
You can check out my facebook page for more pictures of
what I've been working on.

Enjoy your day,

Leanne

Happy Mother's Day....

The perfect Mother's Day present....

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries.

My son Brian brought this wonderful treat for me today.

Not only did he buy these for me but he made them too!

Many mom's will be enjoying these because he made about 300 of them

today at work...who knew he was so talented.

I did receive 4 but I ate two of them before I thought of taking a picture.

These are all mine, 

I don't even have to share....

I am the only one in the family that likes strawberries.

 I thought I would show you what I've been working on.

These are wood and papier mache boxes.  

I was cleaning out some of my craft stuff and came across these.

I painted the boxes black and aged them with some shoe polish.

 The tops are all applique on black wool with hand dyed wool pieces.  

All hand stitched with blanket stitch with

a few french knots, lazy daisy and feather stitches.

I lined the bottom with black wool and I stitched a hand dyed heart in the middle.

I just love how these turned out and they were so much fun to make.

I might have to look for more boxes because I have a few more designs in mind.

I think I need to do some fall ones...sunflowers, pumpkins.

Just getting ready for my fall fairs!

These will not be on ebay but if you are interested in purchasing just email me and 

I can tell you a little more about them.

You can check what I have for sale on ebay just click here.

Happy Stitching

and 

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mom's!

Enjoy your day,

Leanne

Organizing and a Tip....

If you do any stitching you know how hard it is to keep your threads neat and organized.

I've tried so many things but nothing has worked. I always end up with a pile that looks like this.

I don't know what colors I have and what I need to buy.

 

Well I found the solution!

This has changed my life...no really!

It's called Floss-away.

Little zip lock bags with a hole punched in the top left corner and a metal ring.  They also have a place where you can write the color number.

I found these on the JoAnn's website,



 

See how nice the floss fits in. I feel so much better when things are organized.

I don't have to take time to unknot the floss before I stitch.

 TIP: This is a good one if I do say so myself.  I do this to a lot of my bags holding crafty things. 

I cut into the bag about 1/4 of in inch to let all the air out when the bag is zip locked.

This way the bag lays flat.

 See how nice a neat they all look.

It's so easy to see the colors you have.

I have a ring for hand dyed floss, one for DMC floss and one for variegated floss.

 



 

 I've been doing a little cross stitching, crocheting and stitching penny rugs.

I finished these shamrock penny rugs for St. Patty's day.

I just love the hand dyed wool shamrocks on the black wool. I think it gives the piece a lot of interest.

 

I try to think spring but with temps in the teens and snow falling every other day it's hard to imagine.

So when the snow starts to fall I start working on snowmen...just getting ready for the fall craft fairs,

 

 

 

I posted these on ebay.  I have Valentine Penny Rugs there too.

Click here if you are interested,

 

 

 

Enjoy your weekend,

Leanne

Just Stitching Away....

 

I thought I would show you some of the things I've finished this summer.

 This bird, berries and flowers runner is my favorite!

I liked how it looked on my table so much I had to make one for myself.

 I'm getting ready for fall....my favorite season!

 I just love all the hand dyed wools in this runner.

Love, Love, Love sunflowers! 

 

 

More pumpkins.

 

I hope you all are having a good summer so far.

 

Enjoy your day,

Leanne

 

If you like to see more click here.



It's Time For A Giveaway!

 

I think spring is here! 

 

The sun is out, the birds are chirping,

the grass is green, the flowers are starting to bloom!

 

This weekend has been beautiful!

 

 

So I thought to celebrate I'll have a giveaway.

 

This is the giveaway....

Wool Star and Moon Penny Rug.

 

I love how this Penny Rug turned out!

This Penny Rug is about 9 inches across at the widest points. This penny rug is made out of black treated wool. There is a star and pennies in the middle. The pennies on the outside are half moon shaped and are all different wool some are hand dyed wool. All stitching is in black. The back is black flannel.

 

I only have one rule...

I will ship to the United States only.

 

 

 Let's keep this easy....

I'll give you many chances to win.

You don't have to do all of these things

but the more you do the more times I will add your name to the basket.

 

1. Like me on facebook you'll find the link on my side bar

2. Comment on facebook

3. Follow me on this blog

4. Post my giveaway on your blog

5. Post my giveaway on your facebook

6. Comment on this post

7. Do all 6 of the above

I'll pick a winner on Sunday, May 5th.

 

Happy Spring,

Leanne

More New...

In a post I made earlier I talked about trying something new.

I guess I've been on a new kick so I thought I would try using brown wool.

 

 This first penny rug is New, New.

New shape...I love it! New color...brown. New thread color...tan.

I love how soft and muted looking this is.

 I tried brown thread in this one...I love this too!

Round and tan.

 

Today our weather has been really odd...snow in the morning along with rain(again) we saw a little sun and blue sky all with temps in the 30's.  Not your thought of spring?  Mine either. So that's why I have been trying new things...it helps keep my mind off of the cold rainy weather. 

 

I also been stitching a lot in my car.  What?  My son is on the golf team and lacrosse team so I've been driving him all over and doing a lot of waiting.  What better way to pass the time then to stitch.

 

I listed these brown penny rugs on ebay if you're intrested.

Click here to see them.

 

 

Enjoy your weekend,

Leanne

Trying Something New...kind of.....

The weather here is still winter like here so I've been stitching and stitching.

I always stitch my penny rugs with black but I thought I would try something new...to me.

 

I used beige thread to make these penny rugs.

Wow it sure makes a difference.

 I like the look of both.

 This black with beige is a winner!

 I just thought I would show some of my star penny rugs.

I just love mixing different colors together.

 

I also joined facebook as Harvest Moon by the Lake.

I thought it would be fun to post what I've been working on.

Next I think I'll try twitter.

 

 

Enjoy your day,

Leanne