A date with a Phantom

Last Sunday my dd and i headed downtown to see Phantom of the Opera... i thought we had great seats... i have some pics for you.  

We were PRETTY disappointed in Phantom... the performance was weak.. the music was so loud that it drowned out ths singers from time to time to the point of not being able to hear and make out the words.  The person in the role if phantom had a weak voice... not one of the strength that a phantom would require... there was not this biysterous strong voice of demand... but a very unexperienced voice of what could have been a high school student at a high school talent show.  This is to be whole new design... and performance.... from listening to several people... they need to revert back to the old performance.  The word after was one of disappointment.. and that was not just from my group.  

just a piece of my weekend to share... 

keep crossing those stitches.  

Tracy

I'm late... I'm late...

For a very important post...

Oh my goodness... look at my goodies..  i hope my secret stitcher is able to see my blog and if she does....   THANK YOU!!!!   

This is the cloth covers that I place around my Q-snaps to keep the oils from my hands from getting on my projects... This is amazing that she knew I used these and needed another set in this size... 

Thank you! 

In this present was this absolutely GORGEOUS fabric... I would love to be rich enough to have one of every shade the Leslie makes... This fabric is amazing... Soft and the dye is so rich in color... I have a mermaid picked for this piece already... This is a large cut UNDER THE SEA FABRICS found at www.undertheseafabrics.com 

This is AMAZING!!!!!!

Look at all my goodies together... What an awesome secret stitcher I have... This was such a blessing to me to get these things.

I have saved my favorite for LAST... Oh my goodness... Oh my goodness... THANK YOU just doesn't feel quite enough... This is too much... I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new namaste case!!!!!  I have wanted one of these for YEARS... I love this and loaded it immediately!!! Well after I ran upstairs squealing like crazy!  

It has been such a hard few months... And this package came at the perfect time!

Thank you so much ... I hope you visit my blog from time to time... Oh my goodness thank you!!!!

Keep crossing those stitches

Tracy

Stitch and Frame... Ft Wayne, IN

Ok... So after we completed spending a wadddd of $'s at Vera Bradley... We had tons of time and my friend Debby had found a cross stitch shop... So off we went!!! This little adventure took us over the river several times and thru the woods... Stuck behind a stopped train... Singing and dancing to HAPPY... And then we arrived... 

Here is my temptations from the day...

Look at the models... The threads... The fabric...

Pics of the goodies that came home with me...

More of the shop...

The front sign... And what you will need to look for if u are in the Ft Wayne area... This was a great shop... Warm... Helpful... Comfortable to be in... Please look them up... And if you are reading Dawn... Thank you for a wonderful time! 

A Vera Bradley weekend.

This weekend was the yearly Vera Bradley sale in Ft Wayne Indiana. So Friday late in the day my best friend, my daughter, and I  with a jumbo Starbucks Chai Tea latte in hand... hit the road... Indiana bound. We arrived late in the evening to get some dinner and retire to stitch together in our room while watching the weekly dose of Grimm, and Hannabal.  What a comfortable evening.  

Of course the  5:30 alarm  screamed WAY too soon... And off we headed towards the war memorial coliseum.   The line of "Vera-ites" were already growing... And we stood watching the sun rise shivering and drinking coffee.  

The doors open and the staff welcomed us and ushered us into a room of goodies just waiting to be bought.   I had a budget ... An allowance of sorts... So I tried to stick to my budget... And I did ... For the most part... Ok a little over but still very happy with mt new treasures. 

I am having troubles getting my pics to load right... If you click them they should open so that you see the entire picture... I am sorry ... But I can't seem to get them to work. 

This is my daughter and me waiting for the doors to open on the colorful cloth world of adventure!

T

This is my best friend and I... A day of fun... And memories to add to my bank of good days! 

If you look behind the dd... Wow zeros the hoards of people with treasures in hand making their way to pay... Shew! 

This post would not be complete without showing you the many goodies I brought back ... What a fun day!!!!!

Saturday Finish!

Happy Sunday Morning to you.   I hope you are all safe from the weather elements. It snowed here Friday night around 5 inches here where i am.   Then again last nite another inch. This is the first time in YEARS i can say... i am tired of snow.  

I am so excited to show you my Saturday finish.   I have fun fabric... a totally fun chart to stitch.   (of course i believe all of Paulette's charts are FUN to stitch.  

This is ...

Stranded Jacks

Plum Street Samplers

Paulette Stewart

1 out of 5 squares

What a cut lil guy!!!!!

Look at the fabric.... 

36 count Burnt Bronze

and it is made by 

UNDER THE SEA  fabrics

One down.... now 4 more to stitch... this is sooooo fun.  And i just love the way it looks.  The facric is soft to work with and the color is just perfect!!!  I am off to start the second block!

Keep crossing those stitches... 

Tracy

I think i have a BIT of a problem...

Is there such a thing as a 12 step program for needle minders?   Giggle. 

Ok... so i have showed you all these wonderful little needle minders that Kim makes... oh my goodness.   I had to have a butterfly... and of course another dragon.. oh i am in so much trouble.  Kims work is beyond what these pictures could ever show.  She is amazing ... and talented.... and so extremely nice to work with.  Her creations are made fast....shipped and packaged safely. Please take the time to lookbat her Etsy shop and take a look at her goodies. 

The needles tuck under the base.. and are held by a strong magnet.. and the character   of the dragons show thru.  Their little eyes... i just think they are adorable. 

This is my blue dragon... and i need to think of a cute lil name for him.... i just love him. 

You can see in this picture that my daughter ordered a dragon necklace... WOW!!!  It is large and so cool looking!

I wanted to end with this picture... this is a dream of mine... i would love to have one of these hand made bowls... i have looked and looked and the prices are sooooo high.I am hoping to be able to afford one of these.... i thing it would be so cool to place this in the middle of my dining room table and place my smqll cross stitched pieces in it... maybe do seasonal pieces.  It is a dream of mine... maybe one day. 

good night all... i hope you each have a wonderful valentines day... and keep crossing those stitches... 

Tracy

Package from my Secret Stitch Pal

Today it is cold and dreary in Kentucky.  We have had snow showers off and on most of the day.  We are to have another 1-2 inches tomorrow. I am surrounded by snow and Ice from our last big snow "event".  I am very frustrated and want warmer days. 

As if that is not enough.... On the way home last Tuesday... My car just died and left me stranded on the side of the road.  After being sick for over 3 weeks with the flu.. Double ear infection... Viral bronchitis... And then walking pneumonia... I was afraid of being trapped with no heat like that.  Almost 3 hours later... The tow truck pulled away with my Clifford red Durango... Otha's been to 2 shops and finally on Friday they let us know it was sensors and the fuel pump... I should have it again Monday as long as all goes well... I am trapped with no car. 

So today I have been a bit down... In my mailbox was this fun little package from my secret pal! 

Look at the pink silks... Oh my goodness... Absolutely beaut-t-ful!!!!  Oh and the blingy needle minders... Oh my goodness... I just LOVE BLING !!!!!

I won't know who is sending me the gifts in 2014 until some time in December ... I am soooo thankful for her present it lifted my spirits on a pretty bad day!  

Just had to post my goodies!!! 

Take car... Hope all are safe and warm. 

Tracy

Update on UFO progress

I am not a part of any of the SAL's that are for UFO's this year but it is a goal of mine to finish some of the started but not finished pieces in my basket.

With me having the flu, I have not been stitching very much nor very fast.  I did in the past few days though start to work on my favorite piece.  I started this a few years back with my best kindred spirit friend.  her piece is finished... Lucky girl... My goal is to have mine hanging by years end.

This is 

PEACEFUL PARADISE

by Midsummer Nights Designs
I am having some troubles posting the pictures... It is cutting them off... You can click on them to open them. 

This was where I was at  when I pulled this out to start working on it again on Saturday night.

And... Here we are just a few minutes ago... YES!!!!!  I have my daytime sky finished... And my angel completed... I think as I heal from the flu this is some pretty good progress.   The Dr. has me off work until after Wednesday... So that gives me another day to work on this piece.  

This shows what all is completed... Now to work on the right side words... I am near complete on that side... So hopefully that will come together quickly.  I just love this piece so hopefully it will soon be completed... Pressed... Laced... And framed!  

The bottom section of this piece was wo much fun to work on... And I love the colors used in this piece.  Thank you for looking ... I will keep you posted on the progress. 

Keep crossing those stitches,

Tracy

An ornament finish

I have not been stitching much.  I have been fighting the flu for going on 2 weeks now.   I have tried and tried to stitch but have not been able to i have felt so badly i have muttled through slowly and have been able to complete this ornament. 

Herald Angels
2003 JCS Ornament Issue
The Prairie Schooler

Thank you for looking... have a great night.
Tracy

Prayers needed please.

Please all pray for recovery... i have had the flu for over a week now. Was at our local ER last Friday and left feeling like i was on the mend.  I have a good day and then a very bad day.  I have been out of work for 7 days now... and feel so bad about that.  The fever is gone... i am no longer contageous... but i can not get rid of the cough and i have an ear that is stopped and soundsnlike there is water on it.   It is so frustrating.  I just want to feel better.   I tried to go into work yesterday and my co workers said i looked like pooooo.  And was barking like a dog.  I just dont think it is right to cough this hard for 2 weeks.  I go to the dr once again today to see what he can do to help me.  I have been on an antibiotic... and several courses of sterrhoids.  I have an inhailor... and cough syrup...  i am so tired of being sick.  Please pray foe healing for me and my family they have caught it too but are bouncing back much faster.
Thank you all... stay warm.
Tracy

Look at this!!!!!! Amazing needle minders found.

Ok girls... my daughter found these on Etsy... and OH MY GOODNESS  this is more than art.. the skill the detail.... the colors.. the touches of bling... these are amazing... i am contacting her today for mine.   I want one... or 2... oh heck if i could afford them i would have one of each.  It mite be a goal... she has necklaces... and needle holder containers too... these pics do NOT do this justice at all...  oh please stop by her etsy shop and see what all she has to offer.  It is Clayworks by Kim and can get ahold of her at www.claybykim.etsy.com 
Thank you for looking ... these are amazing.
Keep crossing those stitches...
Tracy

Another quick finish...

ONE UFO FINISHED... i just loved the colors used in this ornament... i still have a few beads to apply after i press it... but i love this ornament... it is adorable... and mite even stitch it again as a present.  This is so fun...

I started this in 2013 and had just a little left to stitch.. so last night while nursing an ear infection... trying to stay warm... i finished this little cutie...
Thanks for looking... Stay warm and safe...

LizzieKate
#594 Snowman 2010

Welcome 2014!!!!

Happy New Year to everyone.. what a landslide of a year.  Since July my world has just been uprooted and re adjusted... finding out my dad died. Then... swoooooosh.. gargle... and SPIT!  Wow...   I have aunts... uncles.. cousins... BROTHERS....  nieces and nephews... new experiences to be had by all.  Wow all the new details to learn... what makes me who I am.... I had a wonderful childhood.. but it might have had a bit more adventure with everyone in it from the start.  I would have liked to have looked in my dads eye... to have told him how awesome my childhood was... to have heard his voice.

So stitching has been wanted but my mental focus has not truly been where it needs to be to stitch...

I will start out by listing some of my stitching goals for 2014...

Working on UFO's...
♥ Peaceful Paradise
♥ Grandmother Fairy - Mirabillia
♥ LK Mystery Christmas piece
♥ Mary Cotton LaDDa
♥ Moses Sampler -silver creek samplers
♥ Emma & Eliza Meet the owls of October -  Just Nan
♥  Jenny Beans Christmas Sampler - Shakespeares Peddler

NEW STARTS:
♥ Storykeep Magical Arrival  - HAED
♥  The Seven Virtues - LaDDa
♥  Away we Ride - Blackbird designs

Also several christmas ornaments to start ... stitch... and finish!

Big goals... but if just a few get done I am so happy. 

I also want to show you some of the ornaments and progress for the end of 2013....

Small update

Friday night I went to my local cross stitch shop and got fabric for the Plum Street Sunday Chirstmas piece.  Today was the release of part 2 and I have had so much fun getting this all caught up.  I am stitching this on 28 count Picture This Plus Twilight... It is a denim like blue with a lot of cloud like variations in it.  The color has presented some challenges with the colors used so I have had to change my colors.  I am using a mixture of the DMC threads called for, some Gentle Arts called for.  I even used a pretty green HDF silk for the one color... This has been so much fun working with colors... And trying to get the look that I want out of the fabric.

Almost time to build an ark....

I hope this post finds everyone doing well.   I am posting today to show you what mother nature has been giving us the past 24 hours.   It has been raining every day this week but Friday into Saturday the rains were so hard.   This is what use to be a local park... With a dog park attached.  You can see where the dog park fense is all wadded up.  What a shame the dogs seem to love this park... A safe place to run.  When we stopped yo look you could smell a somewhat sewage smell... That is not good.   As we drove around... There were several road closed  due to flooding. 

I am hoping later today to show some stitch pics... Again hope all is well with you.  Keep crossing those stitches.
Tracy

Fat Guys and Snow Belles SAL update!

Wow... Where does the time go sailing away to? It does not seem possible.  I have been having some troubles with sickness... So my stitching has Not been where it needs to be... I am a much better person when i stitch. 

I have to get a good picture of the mothers day pin cushion that i made for my mother.  I will post that as i get it.

I have made a special gift for my best friend for her birthday but she does not have it yet... So i can not post this yet.

I have been working some on my guys and belles SAL.   I have pictures of March and April... And am still finishing May even though we are a few days into June.

I hope all is going well with my fellow SAL gals.  Until next month... Happy stitching.
Hugs...
Tracy