Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

A while back Minij (I think this was where I got this one )had some sepia charts up for grabs. One of them was a John Wayne pattern and when I saw it I thought that would make a great gift for my 2 BIL. For 2 very different reasons (very long stories ) Anyway it was a great idea for 2 gifts so I made the swap and the pattern arrived. I got out some material from the stash I recieved for being a chatterbox and set-up 2 WIPs. I thought they would be fun to work on both of them at the same time, 1 from the top working down and 1 from the bottom working up. Now the start was a bit of a shaky thing as most ALL of my patterns are started from the middle and working out. But after counting at least 30 times each I decided that I got the correct spot and off I went. I decided that I would use this design as a between project. When the Angel and Pooh and the Tree Skirt had me going bonkers I would pull this out and work on John. Since it is a sepia there are very few colors and less chance of screwing things up.

So this has been going along for a few months. And here are the finished pictures
Top to bottom light tan material 14 ct aida, Bottom to top dark oatmeal brown 14 ct aida.
Day 1


Day 2


Day 3


Day 4

Day 5


Day 6


Day 7


Day 8


Day 9


Day 10


I am going to finish one off wih a quote and the other off with his name and birth and death stats. Then frame them and have them ready for Christmas this year. Oh no did I say the C word I am sorry. I didn't mean to say it so early in the year but I am happy I have 2 finished gifts already.

Very nice and how different they look being started the way you have!! They are going to make fabulous Christmas presents and it's never too early to get started on those!!

Looking at the pictures after posting them on Day 6 and 7 on the lighter colored fabric it doesn't seem like much of a progress picture. Actually there was quite a bit it was just that the thread was so light (ecru) it did not show well. Oh well that is ok I know how much progress was worked and they both look great on the different colors. Of course they look better in real life then they do in the pictures.

Thanks Karen it was really fun to stitch them together and see how they developed next to each other.

Sometimes it is so very hard to see the progress when working on fabric that is so near to some of the threads. I'm curious---is that a chart that was from one of the cross stitch magazines?? I have one that minij sent me of Michael Jackson--am aiming to stitch it up as a gift for an unsuspecting UK non stitching friend.

Rose these are great, a very young looking Wayne. What quote are you going to use.

Wow looks great

This looks great, Rose, and I like the way you made it more interesting for yourself.



But how could you keep it from us for so long?????

Fantastic work - I'm certain these gifts will be the big hits of Xmas this year!

Fantastic! I can't believe how much definition these designs get with just four or five colours. I would like to try the Obama one, sooner or later!

These have come up beautifully.

These are great and it must be a good feeling knowing that you already have 2 presents for December (I didn't use the C word you notice)

Great work on these, Rose!

They are both great Rose and a very good likeness.

Well done Rose. Must be great knowing you can cross off two presents of your 'C' list of pressies. (ssshhh... musn't mention the C word )

beautiful!!

Karen yes this was a pattern from CrossStitchers Stitch a Star series.

Agi I was not sure how long it was going to take and so I just kept the pictures on the camera.....It was fun putting all of the pictures up at the same time.

Maggs One of my BIL's always tell this story about my dad. He was an old time cowboy(my dad) and we always had horses and once Lance went out to help gather the horses up and clean and trim their feet and get them ready for a pack trip that the 4-H and Boy Scouts were going to take together. Well with all of the kids running around and all the extra horses being together in such close quarters it was a bit of a wild time. My oldest sisters horse could be a princess at the best of times and she was really acting up that day, Margaret could not get her to mind no matter what she did. She finally ran off with Margaret screaming because she was riding bareback at the time. Note my sister was raised on a horse and was an excellant rider and that was the only thing that kept her on and not thrown when the horse started to run. Dad grabbed another of the horses and took off after the two of them and caught up in a short time but of course he was scared and pissed. When they got back to the corrals, he and the horse went in together and when they came out the horse was calm and could be handled just with a look. Lance was in awe of how easy dad had gotten the horse to do exactly what he wanted. He then said and still does say. "I thought to myself I am standing next to the Duke himself" It has always been a bit of a joke with the family, but of course a good one.

Thanks for the info on the chart---I'm amazed how nicely it stitched up coming from a magazine one--and hope to start on the MJ one soon.
Love the story about your family!! Sounds like quite an experience!!!

Well done, Rose!