Halloween Fairy

Just a short post to show progress.. It has been a terrible day with the arm...  So i am not getting as far as i would like...  But i am LOVING the way it is turning out.  Oh i had hoped to get this finished before my surgery... But it is one week away.. I doubt i will finish her. I will continue to try though! 😊

Pay close attention to the hands in the above pic... Playedoh under the nails and all... This is the adorable hands of my sweet lil grand baby.   She is 3 1/2 years old.   She climbed into my chair with me and as the needle came thru the fabric... She would grab and pull... And giggle and say that is fun!!!!  

My dd said it brought a tear to her eyes to watch... A early start to our lil stitcher.

Have a great day and keep crossing those stitches.  

Tracy

The Lion King

Last year my dd gave me tickets for me and her to go to see The Lion King when it came to Cincinnati.  We went on Opening night... This was the best performance i have ever seen.. It was magical... It was breath taking and it was so emotional for me.    In the opening and the circle of life formed and the larger animals assembled onto the stage thru the audience... Tears formed and i was near a full cry it was just amazing.  I would gladly go again and again... To see this show.  Amazing voices ... Humor well played... I just had the very best time. Some of the pics u may have to click to open... For some reason they are not auto correcting like they usually do. 

For opening night the local Zoo had animals from Africa to show us and they had them walking around with us.... Wow it was fun. 

This lil girl was amazingly friendly... I wanted to take her home with me.  

You can never go wrong witb an owl.. This one was a lil spazzy... But wow those eyes.  

This was such a special thing to do for opening night.  We just had a blast. 

Thank you Meghan for taking me out of life's troubles  for such a nice evening.  What a great birthday gift.  Tha k you baby girl! 

A long time for a post.... Update

I dont even know where to begin ... The night of Super Bowl the DH watched the game and felt odd... He was sick from around 11 and by 6 am we were headed to the ER.  Around 1 that day a dr came into our room to tell us he had a blockage in his intestines where the small and large connect.  They had also found a suspicious places in the CT scan on his liver.   They had suspected cancer.   By 7 pm he was in surgery had a bowl resection and a liver biopsy.  The surgeon stated that it was cancerous as far as she could see.  Two days later her knowledge was confirmed... He has a carcinoid cancer that has metastasized to his liver.  We now have been to Columbus Oh at the James Cancer research center to see a Carcinoid cancer specialist.  It is a slow moving cancer but is not curable.  We have to see what pace this cancer is at so the tests have started.  Wow... Over night... And with no warning life changes.  I stay scared these day... Fear of what they will find that has not been detected yet... Fear of what it will mean for us.  Fear of losing more than i am ready to lose.

On top of this.. I have been out of work since December 23rd.  I had a procedure PRP done on my right elbow.  This is done for Tennis Elbow.  I have been suffering from this for around 2 years now AND have  been told that my daily dose of CONSTANT Key punch at work has damaged my elbow.  The MRI completed a few weeks back shows a piece of my tendon hanging down and laying in the back side of my elbow...  I have been told this is a workers comp issue but is hard to get the treatment i need if i go the route of workers comp so i just went with it on my own.  But something must have gone wrong in this procedure... My arm became worse and has not healed.  I am now set for surgery on my elbow for April 29th.  Crazy huh... With the pain in that elbow there has not been a lot of finishes.  Stitching hurts.  I have been able to train myself to keep my elbow tucked to my side and to watch for a certain feeling of pain... That is my stopping point.  So i am not getting very far with any of my projects.  And there has been no finish work at all.  Once i am healed i want to have a finishing weekend and just clear out my container of finished work.   I have several i need framed too... But with no money coming in for that... It will have to wait.  For now. 

So i dont know how much i will be posting.. I am still looking and reading and keeping up with the amazing finishes posted each day..  But life has just imploded around me for right now. 

There has not been the extra cash flow with being off for this length of time to purchase all the new goodies that were released at Market.   Although my wish list grows as i look around.  I have stopped looking for fear of what i   may find that i just can not purchase right now.  Saved for another day.   Hopefully once my arm heals .. I will still have a job and can afford to get some new stash.  I worry about my job with all of this...but it is a matter of what path God has planned for me.  I am just riding on the coat tails and hoping the ride is a long and steady one.  

Any and all prayers for me and the DH are welcomed, and GREATLY appreciated.  Thank you... Thank you. 

Finishes:  BOAF Cold as a Lizzard..this is stitched with the dmc floses called for and on a mystery cut of fabric that i bought at the Keepsake retreat in January.  

The next one i have shown the in process pics before it is on fun fabric.  It was an extra charts from Lizzie Kate Mystery from a few years back... It is very cute stitched.  I 

Really like both of them.  I believe i showed the other one i. Previous post. 

This is PSS turkey sausage... Ohhhhhhh i sooooooo want the new release of the bunny sausage dogs.  So bad. This is fun and looks amazing. 

This is my in process project now... It is Nora Corbett Halloween Fairy and is stitched on PTP Carnaval fabric with dmc and metalics that are called for.  I had this chart ready to stitch for a bit... It was in my Sept 2008 Cross stitch & needlework magazine.  I love the way she is looking. 

Another finish.....

BOAF cute as a bug

Again DMC floss on a mystery cut

These both were so fun... I have several others kitted up to stitch but am missing the lamb and heard there was a bat too... Has anyone seen the Bat? 

That is going to be it for today and with my arm it has taken me every bit of 2 days just to get the words on this page.  Please keep posting and i will try as often as i can.  I will try to post before April 29th the surgery.  

Keep crossing those stitches...

Tracy

A Finish... and a new start.

Happy Saturday! 

I will start off showing a new start.  

We went to a retreat last week with our local shop... i found 3 cuts of fabric for the cubes that i am making out of the small charts from the Lizzi☆Kate Mystery Sampler club chart.  They are such fantastic colors.  

The new start is for the HAUNTED small....i am stitching it on 32 count Relic with Weeks dye works Kohl floss.  

Then this is my finish... it is the SCAREY small chart from that same Mystery Sampler Club charts.  

This is stitched on 32 count linen and the color is SWAMP ... isnt that just so perfect... like a scooby doo movie.. Swamp!    I love it.  It is stitched with Weeks Dye Works ... Kohl floss. 

This is a major accomplishment for me with the elbow... i am tryi g to stitch to get that tendon moving but the stitching is slow going. 

Have a great Saturday.  

Enjoy your stitch time. 

Tracy

Hinzeit charts

My daughter scraps from mom is looking for a series of charts.  She is wanting charts only and I believe she is wanting to see if someone would have them used for sale.  She is starting to get on a roll with cross stitch.  She just completed her LPN degree and starts back to school in the fall for her RN/BSN degree.   She was trying to get these started and kitted before she goes back to classes and clinicals again!   If anyone has these and are done with them... And would like to sell them....  Please let either of us know...

Thank you for looking for these for us... and for helping us with this. 

Tracy

Mail brings a new chart... and a stitch update

The mail today brought this chart for me... i broke down and ordered it straight from Scarlet Letter's site.  I just can not wait to kit this and get started on it.  

Update on the PSS Turkey Sausage

This is starting to come together... and i am loving how it looks.  I love the colors and i think we chose a perfect down by the sea fabric.  I just love this piece.  Even with my arm still healing... i am making some progress.  

Thank you for stopping by to see what i am working on. 

Tracy  

PSS - Turkey Sausage progress

I am moving so slow... i am using this as a type of therapy.  My dr has told me to use my last fingers 3 fingers on that arm a little more and more each day to try to strengthen that tendon.. but when it starts to burn too much to stop.  So... i am trying to stitch and use those fingers.  It is going slow but at least i am working on it.   Hopefully i can finish this while i am off work.  Just wanted to update you. 

Thank you for looking. 

Plum street samplers

Turkey Sausage

Stitched on 32 count mystery cut of Down By the Sea Fabrics. 

A question for everyone....

i saw last year on some of the blogs a stitch along where each month a small kit was sent to each person involved with the supplies to complete the entire small project.  Does anyone know what this was... or if theyare doing again for 2015.. and if so where i can find the details out about it at?  

Thank you for helping. 

Keep crossing those stitches. 

Tracy

A few charts for sale

These are the chart portion only of these kits.  They were used and stitched.  Dont even know how much to ask for them... please email me if u are interested and we can work it out.  Will need to collect for shipping for them also.  Please message me if u are interested.. they are only the chart portion of these kits.

A little bit of stitching...

I had a precedure done on my elbow the day after Christmas... oh my goodness... the dr warned of the pain involved.. but Wow...wow.  i am still unable to straighten my arm.  I am trying to stitch some but it is going sooooo slow... and then that tendon heats up and not much gets done.  But i am trying.   I am out of work for a bit... to heal.  I see the dr on the 20 th to see if it is Ok to return to work.  I wish i could take a few months off.. i like being home and out os this nasty cold snowy weather. I will show you what i have been slowly working on.

On another note... a question for all of you who subscribe to the JCS mag... have you recieved you renewal yet?  I got mine today in the mail and was SHOCKED.  I am use to spending about $25 a year.. and at that price have had several issues that i have not exactly been happy with.  The renewal arrived today and 1 year.. 7 issues... $74.80.  This is crazy... and mite be time to go back to buying only the ones i want from my LNS.  I dont understand that price and can not justify spending this much on the subscription. Does anyone have any news on this... was this a mistake or a joke or something? 

Thank you for stopping in.. 

Tracy

A HORNBOOK BESTIARY

Would anyone have a used copy of this chart for sale?

If you would have this chart to sell please message me with pricing.  I have wanted this chart for so long but have problems finding in USA at a price i can afford. 

Thank you all for looking for me.

Some finishes.. cross stitch and craft.

Hello all... i want to start by showing a pic of this years ornament exchange for my family Christmas Party.   This will be my second Christmas party with my dads family and it is still pretty awesome.  I just like being around them.  I have made this christmas tree out of felt... what do you all think?  Do you think they will like it?  

Then second... i wanted to show you my Just Nan mouse.  My dd and i both stitched these little mice... and i finished both of them for us.. i added beads to the lil broom.  They are complcated to finish but worth it... they are adorable. 

 Thank you for stopping to look.   

Have a great week... 

Keep crossing those stitches.  

Tracy

New charts bought!!!!!

I had sooooo much fun.   Last Friday evening... my DD, my bestie(my sister from another family )  and myself headed to our local cross stitch shop for her fall sale and cookout night.    Oh my goodness what fun... what fun.   We wend to Keepsakes in Sharonville, OH.   What a good time... wine... food... charts... stitching... talking... and laughing.   It was such a good time but it almost always is when i am with my bestie and my dd.   She has free chart buckets... and they are a blast to go through and get some goodies... that is always a treat.  The shop owners  bith cater to us that nite.  Barb welcomes and gets us settles.. keeps everyone cared for and glasses full.   Her husband grills the best grilled chicken known to man... omg it is so good.   All i can say to both of them is that they are way more than shop owners... and treating people to this type of evening is just amazing.   Of course then there is the %off of everything in stock... so i do have to end this post wih a pic of my goodies. 
Thank you for stopping by and looking...
Tract

Did i miss the release???

Did i miss this release???    I haven been trying to watch for it.   I really like this one..    it is a Plum Street Sampler chart... and i believe it is called either Jacks place or Jacks Bash.  If anyone has ths chart used for sale or knows of a shop i can get this at please let me know... i would love any details i can get.   
Thank you girls..
Tracy

THE BEST HAND MADE PROJECT BAGS

Look what my mail brought.... oh i am like a fat cat laying next to a bowl of warm milk.  My friend Barbara makes the very best project bags... she sells them at her oine needlework blog.  

http://theneedleworkstore.blogspot.com

these bags are made by Barbara ... and her blog is....

http://tostitchornottostitch.blogspot.com

She is soooo easy to work with and will find the fabric you have in mind... her work is so amazing... neat... clean... finished edges... quality fabric... amazing threads and designs... i am adicted to thes bags.  My daughter is too. 

I have tried so many times to get this one to rotate... but i can get it to do it... please excuse this... i will try to attach another at the end.   This is my second batch of project bags... and i am just so simply in love.    

This is the little small bag to go with it... to hold my extras... BUT itbis just PERFECT for my fob kit or an ornament project... and and this is sooooo pretty. 

I had to show you the embrodery in the cat... the pattern is amazing.  This is a smaller bag... and is about 6 1/2 X 8 1/2

Look at the finished edges... thes bags are fully lined... she has taken all into consideration and gives you such a good quality and well made bag.  

And this is sooooo adorable... his was made for my birthday.... isnt he adorable... my lil stitching turkey... she showed me a couple patterns... and this was by far my favorite... and he is made just as wonderful as the others.  

My birthday turkey is just adorable... and is about 9 1/2 X 15 ... isnt he adorable????

This is my tribal halloween cat.  He is about a 20 X 20 bag for a larger project and couldnt be more perfect.  

A few months back my daughter and i ordered a bag a piece... and i wanted to show you guys those bags too

This is m daughters bag... look at how the fabric matches the colors in her steam punk dragon.  His bag s made with quilted fabric and is just lovely.  

It is about a 13 x 13 and is made so nicely.  

This is my first bag she made for me ... it is about the 13 x 13 size and the swirlys in the fabric match perfectly with the scroll work in he owl... itbis my favorite color of green and no matter how many pics i take it does not even begin to show how nice it is... 

If you have not ordered from Barbara ... please touch base with her... you will not be disappointed with the bags she makes.  She makes several other things too... and she mailed our bags on monday and they arrived today... that was FAST.    Please take a look and if there is a certai. Design u want that you dont see ... please message her.   She makes it all so easy... and wow you will be wanting more and more of them.  

Tha k you for looki g and keep crossing those stitches

Tracy

FOB SO FAR... STATUS UPDATE WIP

On my birthday i took the day off work and started a special me project.. it was fun... and this is how far i was able to get.  

Autumn's Fright pin cushion kit

Shepherds Bush kit

bought at the finishing touch the weekend we were out of town.  

This is SUCH a fun kit and i am going to love finishing it... i am stitching it over 2 with 2 threads .  I will warn you if you do 2 threads u will need to get more green there is not enough to do all it calls for.  

This is the new store for The Finishing Touch in Louisville.  It was not hard to find.. but if you have gone to the old store this will be a bit disappointing to you ... my walk in closet is larger than this store... and there was not alot of available things to choose from.   For me this was not worth the 1 hour drive from Danvillle to Louisville.  But the ladies that were in there working were from the old store...and they were so nice and helpful you couldnt ask for better ladies.    I went to spend a ton of money and walked out with just a few things in a small bag. 

This is what i worked on while on the weekend trip to Danville..  this is the New Lizzie Kate Halloween series.  And it is a BLAST to stitch.   I am stitching it in the threads i calls for on a special cut of Down by the Sea Fabrics... is this not SOOOOO fun. 

I have another post to show you some very fun things so i hope to get it finished soon too.   Thank you for looking and keep crossing those stitches. 

Tracy

A New Car...

Hello readers... a few weeks back the hubby helped my daughter get a new little Hyunda Accent... the DH was so impressed with the way it handles and of course the 38 mpg and then on ECO mode it is more like 42 mpg.   soo... back to the dealorship we went.. for mine... here it is.. white 2014 accent with all the bells and whistles... hands free blue tooth.. sun roof... moon roof.  i just love it.   Going from the big engine in my Durango.. down to this itty bitty car has been a challenge but buying gas has been a breeze.  I was paying about $100 / week for gas... now.. $32... at most.  That is amazing.  It is a wonderful little car.   I love it.

Happy Mothers day!!!

It has been such a relaxed and happy mothers day for me...
My daughter brought me a chai tea.. and doughuts for breakfast...she brought me choc covered strawberries with coconut on them... yum!!!!!   then i sat watching movies with the kids... and stitching.  Dinner was made by my dh, dd, and ds, and it was a dinner fit for Kings...
Steak... crab legs... butter garlic shrimp.. baked potato, corn on the cob, and a dinner roll.   I ate way too much.  

I pulled out a UFO to work on today... Fairy Grandmother by Lavender & Lace

This is where i started... and after a lot of lavender thread.... 

this is where i was at the end of the day.  I believe i am going to save the beads for last... and going to work on the stitches alone for right now.  I am loving the way the colors are blending. 

Happy Mothers day to alk the mothers out there... 

keep crossing those stitches. 

Tracy