Jack Frost's Tree Farm

It's December 1st ....not many days ahead and so much to do until Christmas!  I know many of you feel like that.  I don't "blog" like I used to but I thought now was a good time to create a post for a number of reasons.

First, thank you all for sharing your inspired finishes throughout the year in the LHN/CCN stitching group on FB and Instagram.  The Hometown Holiday finishes never cease to amaze me.  So much fun!!!  Many of you have finished Farmhouse Christmas differently too....again...very inspirational and wonderful to see.

So you may have seen the new series that will come out in early February.  We are busy printing the first chart in the series.  I am determined to be more prepared this year than I was when Farmhouse Christmas released!!  Let's hope!!

Jack Frost is a kindly old man who runs a little business where folks like us can shop for their favorite tree, have a cup of cocoa and a cookie (baked by Mrs. Frost).  There are seven designs in all with the first being the wide design at the top.  You can see Jack waving from his little house, welcoming one and all to the farm.

Below the large design sit six more that will sit in two rows if stitching them on one piece of fabric.

For the first time since creating series many years ago, I will be showing a likeness of the designs once the first one releases so you can get a better idea of all of the charts along with placement.

The supply list is slowly making it's way to the LHN web site.  If you want trims, they are listed there along with the fabric used.  Threads will show up in a few weeks.

I have one more big holiday design planned for 2019 and then I'm not sure which direction I'll take but maybe something different (unless I hear otherwise!)

Our sweet girl, Gracie just celebrated her 9th birthday!  Her frosty face says she is getting up there but she still has a lot of spunk.  Unfortunately she has had a real tough time with Valley Fever and now Cushings Disease but we are taking really good care of her!!

Gracie

As always, I appreciate your comments and the time you take to spend with me.

Happy Stitching,

Diane

2016 .....a new year

Happy New Year to all of you.  It's never too late, is it?

All is well at the Williams house....

Ron and I are doing well and looking forward to a healthy year ahead.

We released some patterns in December that can be seen on our web site.  

There are two new ones that will be at our distributors soon.

First, Sing to the LORD.  It is the second release in our "These Are My Sheep." line of designs.

I love sheep.

Probably why I design so many of them.

The second design uses a fun deep pink fabric called Red Pear from Weeks Dye Works.  

The design is Loving You and if you would like, you could switch the fabric out easily.  

This design and one from December revive the "All Dolled Up" line of designs that use optional buttons and beads.  It's your choice should you wish to use them.

Vonna has this finished into a sweet pillow.  

Our release last month, Snowy Winter uses the same finish.

The twine tacked at the corners hangs beautifully from a peg or handle.

There are a few of you that have followed Gracie for her entire life.......here she is this Christmas......picture perfect for momma so I could get this shot.

Thanks for visiting,

Diane

A few updates . . . . . . . .

Last week we released new patterns.

"Peace" is the newest ornament in The Sampler Tree

line of patterns.

"Pretty as a Peacock"

"Thread Keeper"

A simple pocket for your current project stitching threads.

All three are available in shops now.

It's a VERY gloomy day in Arizona so there is no such thing as a chipper looking photo right now.  This is my progress on the cancer design. 

 I know I am slow but radiation is soooo tiring I just can't seem to get much done on it.  

And too, I am trying to stitch smaller models and work on other areas of the business. 

 It will get done but I feel my treatment will be finished before the design!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Diane

Running out of wall space????

If you are one of the many who have run out of wall space but are not handy with a sewing machine to finish projects, I have something for you.  You'll have to be brave though. . . . . it involves, Mod Podge, a glue gun and scissors. . . . . . .the first two being real no-no's in the needlework industry.

I started with a paper mache book box from the craft store.  A box with a lid would work too.  The "page" portion of the box was painted with a gold metallic using a sponge brush.

It's nice and shiny.  :)

Measure and cut a piece of fabric that will completely cover the outside of the book.  With the RIGHT side of the fabric up, coat with Mod Podge.  I used a sponge brush for this step too.  Allow to dry completely.

Trim much of the excess fabric away from the design you plan to mount.  Coat the EXCESS edge on the back side of the design, not the design itself.  You are doing this to stop any fraying and stabilize the fabric.   This is the strawberry gameboard (http://www.littlehouseneedleworks.com/garden.html).

Once this piece dries, trim closely to the last stitches.  I left about 1/8".  The Mod Podge allowed the fabric to stiffen and there was no raveling.  This is scary stuff!!!  Cutting. . . . gluing. . . . . . eek!

Next, measure the width and length of the book.  I used a ruler and rotary cutter to trim the fabric to fit, allowing for 1/4" turns to the inside.  So whatever your measurements are, add 1/2" to each measurement.

Next step, coat the outside of the box with Mod Podge and go to work centering and pressing the fabric.  Once it's in place, sponge more Mod Podge onto the inside areas.  Don't worry about perfectionism.  The product dries clear.  It takes a while to get it all to stick.  I continued dabbing my fingers into a puddle of the MP to get it all to lay down but it did.  After the glue dried I antiqued the pages a bit with black paint and rubbed a bit of the gold in dry-brush fashion over the fabric.  I forgot to photograph that step.  Oops.

Now it's time to take your stitched piece and adhere it to the book.  Again using Mod Podge, brush the edges a bit heavily but the inside of the design lightly.  Center on the box and press.  The MP dries rather quickly so move along with determination!

This is the last step.  It includes a glue gun, probably the scariest part.  Squeeze gently with a thin bead of really hot glue and trim the edge of the design with twine or other pliable trim.  I left a long tail and started at the center/top so I could tie a bow.  If the glue is hot it spreads nicely.  If you rush it blobs out.

So here it is finished.  Because this book stands, it's perfect for a bookcase.  I know there are other ways of finishing a project like this.  You could skip applying fabric and just paint the box or antique it.  The design could be mounted to foam core to make the center more dimensional.  Ahhhhh. . .  .then there is the inside.  Maybe we'll tackle that another day.

So many ideas. . . . so little time.

Happy Stitching,

 Diane

Sleigh Bells Ring

Oh goodness. . . .this ornament might be my favorite of the year.  "Sleigh Bells Ring" is one of those miniature designs that says so much in such a small space.  

My finish was super simple, in large part because I am not that great at finishing!  But anyway, it's one you all can do.  The finished design was first anchored to the top piece of wool, then the front and back were sewn together with a blanket stitch.  Fill with a small amount of stuffing before closing.  It's primitive, homemade, and the simplicity makes the design stand out.  The supply list is already on our web site.  Shipment to distributors is scheduled for next week.

I'll have one other design to show you this week so keep watching!

Now I have to tell you something sweet.  Many of you have come to know my mom by way of this blog and the stitching she has done for me.  Anyway, just last week she taught someone to cross stitch.  Mom, who is 80, is still stitching models and came across someone who was interested in what she was stitching.  Next thing I knew she was on the phone with me telling me her news.  I remember when mom taught me to stitch using a graph rather than stamped cloth.  I was a new mom and stitched a sweet little Bambi design from a Disney book.  What special memories for all of us, remembering our first stitches.

Diane

New Patterns!

This little bluebird is "Singing the Blues" in one of our newest releases.  I had it stitched in Belle Soie from Crescent Colours and the silk just pops off of the fabric.  Mom had a lot of fun shading the design with the silk. She found it to be an enjoyable challenge to place the dark and light colors here and there on the bird as she went along. 

Notice the swirls on the frame?  A perfect match to the song he is singing!  It's from Crescent Colours also.

"Liberty Belles" is a wonderful Americana project you can finish on the go.  If you don't sew, have your shop owner contact Impie, Hattie and Bea to order the little pillow for your finish.  If you live outside the U.S., remove the flags and you have a design that works wherever you live!  I love the little "belles"!

And last but not least is the newest ornament, "Frosty Flakes".  You have probably already seen him on the sidebar where I snuck him in a week or so ago.  I L-O-V-E the fabric he is stitched on and it has become one of my favorites.  It's Straw linen from Weeks Dye Works and white threads contrast really well with it.

The three new patterns featured above will begin the cross country journey tomorrow to our distributors.  So that's all for now. . . . . . we have an original girl's sampler releasing next month along with a pines/cabin design. Our ornament that releases at the same time is "Peppermint Twist" and will be a lot of fun to stitch.