It's done! I am so happy with it! For the first time in forever I have started and finished something in a timely manner, and did the "finish finish" to boot! I had a whole slew of ideas on the trim but with no stitching budget I got creative and used the rest of the GAST. I took two strands, laid them side by side, and tacked them around the middle of the edges, then used the rest of the two strands as a hangar. It matches perfectly and gives it the low-key but polished look I wanted.

I had a little bit of trouble deciding what to start next as I lost my working copy and original of "I Told You I Was Sick" tombstone by Notforgotten Farms. I had to order this from at least 4 shops before Wyndham Needleworks could finally get it for me, I had really given up on it! This was a good year ago and then I kept losing it. I finally made a working copy to keep in my stitching binder and had it up until a few weeks ago (I guess?). I know it was in there recently but when I got the fabric and threads together I couldn't find the working copy. In looking for something else to stitch I ran into the original copy and finally started it yesterday! Geesh, what a saga and I've barely started it! It's moving really quickly but I am worried about the thread on the fabric, it seems almost bright enough but maybe not...any thoughts???


Bryce went to his first prom last weekend, I managed to catch an accidental smile in with all the other shots. He wanted to ride to and from with his "friend" Crista but I reminded him that would constitute a date. He has grown his hair long to make his father and I crazy, and he loves it in his eyes like that. In church I'm sure when he passes the sacrament all of the congregation is worried he will trip and throw the tray at someone's head ;) However, we are letting it slide simply because we know his intention and really, we'd rather pick a more important battle to win. Anyone have a time machine? I wouldn't mind visiting the past now and then!! Teens can be such a pain in the patoot!

Labels: Bryce, finish, Hallow's Eve Pin Keep Trio, I Told You I was Sick, kids, Notforgotten Farms, Pinkwork Sampler 1837, prom, SNS fabric, Tombstone, WIP, Wyndham Needleworks

Oh the joy of sending off another order, I love fabric dying! And thanks to everyone that's taken a look at my pretties, more thanks to those who have tried them out :)

I had a long whiny post for you about missing the Nashville market but have decided in my benevolence to spare us all. Suffice it to say, Nashville market does not go by unnoticed around here, I'm just now able to bring myself to look at all the new goodies without lamenting that I couldn't see them in person or that I didn't have any of my own new releases this year. End whine.

My stitching mojo has been found!! It only took me herniating a disc in my back and my husband getting in a car accident the same week for me to realize if I expected to survive without my head exploding in a giant ball of frazzled nerves I'd darn well better start flossing up my needle and making therapeutic x's once more. Behold, the last picture of the fruits of my labor...
I actually finished this piece on Saturday night during a Charmed marathon with my sister. She is having the need for therapeutic x's as well so I set her up with L*K's Big Girl Panties. She insists Charmed is our next big addiction for TV and stitching...we shall see. I could just as easily do Las Vegas, Corner Gas, McLeod's Daughters...I'll stop there. Anyhoo, I realized I have to finish this piece into something, and the idea was totally unappealing. And then...it hit me...what if..no, no, I can't think it...what if...I...did...NOT...finish...it...and...instead...put...it...away...for...later? A lot of you do this. Some of you have drawers, some of you have rubbermaid tubs, and the world has not ended. And so, rebel that I am, I give myself full permission to stitch anything I want without having to actually make it into something. Thank you all for liberating me!!

And now, once again, the dilemma, what to stitch next???? I have to say The Primitive Needle seems to be channeling where Birds of a Feather left off and so this and this make me want to scream, "Get into MAH (my) belly!!" which in normal speak = Please immediately fall into my lap now now now now now :) I see they also have a Yule one which might make me break my no Xmas stitching rule. I actually was designing a sampler very similar to the Hallow one but they did it way better!! Seasonally though, I should really stitch this, it's summery and has an awesome ugly bird and BOOBS on the mermaid, I totally have a thing for stitched mermaid boobs.
Ultimately, I think I will stitch this next as I already have it plus I have the ugliest fabric of mine that I am dying to use that would be perfect. But mermaid...boobs...how can I not??

We sent our oldest minion off to San Diego yesterday for the week with his school. He will have a great time, and I have a week off!!! Feeding and walking evil puppy myself and taking out trash is a small price to pay for an attitudeless, know-it-all free week I am used to him being gone on trips since he's been doing that with scouting for awhile. Speaking of evil puppy, this is a completely unedited photo of her from last night. I always thought there was something strange about her...

Labels: birds of a feather, dogs, evil puppy, fabric, finish, kids, LHN Stars and Stripes, the primitive needle, tv shows, with thy needle and thread

Note: If you're here for the stitching/stashing, scroll down. For sarcasm, continue reading...

Yes, you know, school. That is a four six letter word in my house right now. The kids are thrilled, especially with Bryce finding out we'd allowed him to skip a grade and go to high school. I am unthrilled, and the "S" word is forbidden in my house. Apparently my distaste for the season has not halted the progress nor made the powers that be rethink their start dates, so I have been living in my car (no A/C) for the past week, driving little tweens to and fro. To pass the time I have been composing sarcastic letters in my mind:

Dear Tall, Skinny Blonde Lady with Frizzy Hair, While I applaud your desire to walk your tiny, skinny, blonde, frizzy haired bundle of delight who has just started kindergarten into the school, your freaking minivan does NOT belong parked in the drop-off only lane. In my experience, the parking lot is where you generally put your car if you are going to exit it. Perhaps the other 5 parents trapped behind your van as Timmy dropped his backpack 82.5 times and then ran back to your van for something he forgot had more patience or recent lobotomies. I can assure you, it took great restraint not to slash your tires while waiting for you to return to your vehicle. The only reason I did not was because I too would have to leave my vehicle parked and unoccupied. I learned when I was quite small, the world does not revolve around me, and I would like to respectfully point out, it does not revolve around you either. The best lesson you could teach tiny, frizzy Timmy is to respect others and treat them the way you would like to be treated. Sincerely, the Lady Behind your Minivan with the Smoke Shooting Out of Her Ears Screaming "A$$HAT!" at You This Morning

(ok, no I didn't scream anything at her, but only because I'm well-behaved and polite in the real world if not in my mind)

Ahemmm...moving on! I went to All in Stitches and showed off my fabric to Terry (owner) who has promptly ordered all my colors in as many counts as I can provide and offered to let me use her cutting table to cut fabric! While there I picked up an order:


I love love love love the LHN Strawberry House! I also got a star button for my SB Tiny Flag which still needs only 10 stitches to be completed.

Then when cleaning the living room I foun some of the stash I ordered in June (ish?) and never shared, the Charland emeries look so pretty and delicate. I should rename my blog: Tracy who stashes but never stitches.


I have bought one of the floss tag tools because Karen V. and I are having a personal exchange this month and I need to experiment with some floss tagging. I am having the hardest time deciding what to stitch for her, she and I have similar taste and there are too many things to choose from. I also signed up for the Halloween Fair & Square exchange, so excited!

Labels: kids, new stash, school

Signs you should have stayed in bed:

-You step out of bed and step onto a packet of ketchup, which promptly pops under your pixie-like weight (snort), and sprays your legs, the bed, the walls, the dog, and your nightshirt. You pause to wonder how that much ketchup could possibly be in a bitty little packet. You stagger gracefully into the bathroom to shower, dragging the dog along with you. You accuse said dog of dragging the packet into the bedroom to begin with. The accused simply smiles a doggy smile.

-You are ready for the day and sit on the couch--in dog vomit. You utter a few choice words, the dog smiles, and you stomp off to change.

-When complaining about the ketchup (there is nothing like a bit of squishy squishy between your toes to truly wake a person), your daughter corrects you--it was TACO sauce, Mooooooooommm. Oh...of course...that makes this normal and acceptable...silly me. Remind me to leave some taco sauce in her room tonight by her bed...the hot kind! Taco Bell 4th meal, here I come!



There's nothing worse than being sick enough to watch TV but too sick to stitch, it's quite torturous. On the bright side, it gave me plenty of thinking time for designing. I'm excited about all the new ideas I have and some new releases I finally have planned.

Above and below are my meager progress on my WIPS, the few lucid moments I had I stitched and frogged. I have to say I love silks, the stitches look so nice on the fabric! I only have one row to go on the SB Tiny Flag, so close! I am still fighting the LHN threads, they are determined to look gosh-awful no matter what methods I use. Speaking of gosh awful, I don't know why my camera won't photo needlework without being blurry, I will have to practice so that I can stop tormenting us all.



In an effort to shame myself into cleaning, here is a long awaited example of the disarray my office is in. I do keep my designer materials nice and tidy, it's just my personal stash that is out of control. Feel free to click for a close-up of chaos.



Lastly, my son graduated from the Teen Police Academy over the weekend. We have been after him about his hair for months but thought it was one of those battles not worth fighting. I did plan on having him cut it before school starts but he got it done himself.

Before photo from the skate park last month with the shaggy 70s hair:



After photo with him and an instructor at his Teen Police academy graduation (practicing his Tough Teen stare):



Totally different kid, right? No one recognizes him now, even his great grand-mother was confused.

Labels: kids, LHN Stars and Stripes, Shepherd's Bush, stash storage, Tiny Flag, WIP

That's how I'm feeling today after the weekend: falling asleep in my chair ;) A coworker has very kindly let us use his pool while he is out of town for the next month or so. Yes, we spent a good chunk of time there trying to cool off. I picked up Tuna (daughter) and her friends from camp (you can't imagine how happy she was we'd saved several days of unwashed dishes for her return). I got the stash weeded a bit and have quite a few leaflets and older Cross Stitch and Country Crafts (with those awesome stocking masterpieces) ready to list somewhere to sell. My brother flew into town for an hour to pick up his daughter as he has custody for a few months so we had a nice family breakfast.

No stitching to speak of...here is where I am stalled at (ok, I have actually done more than this but not much):


Had to share a photo of what my oldest son does when stuck at my work since I shared Chase's clubhouse under my desk:


I hope to get some stitching in today, so many projects that need starting!

I was asked what I wanted for my birthday...what I was hoping for was enough cash to get any of these:
-Bianca ginghers 4"
-SB exclusive 2008 fob
-SB Bianca ginghers engraved 4"

I'll have to work harder on my stash sale!

Speaking of scissors, I'd been asked for a photo of the SB engraved awhile back--I am still looking. I did buy a rubbermaid keeper for my scissor collection a few weeks back so now I need to round up my scissors. It looked like an impossibly large box but since most of my scissors are in the gingher cases still I wonder if it will fill up quickly. Not sure how to store my other 4" scissors that are not in cases, anyone have ideas?

Labels: kids, LHN Stars and Stripes, Shepherd's Bush, WIP, wishlist

I'm home! Feels so good to not have to be planning out the next trip or stress over details. I will admit now, I tote projects around every day, not a stitch was made, not during the classes they taught the boys at camp, nor the 4 hour car rides as we cruised Flagstaff, Williams, Sedona, and Phoenix, nor the quiet (rainy) evenings camping, NADA. I did manage to get a few stitches in last night though.

My 3 year blogiversary and 30-something birthday passed while I was camping. I hope you will indulge me as I whine about my birthday-no one remembered it except my DH's aunt who called and sang to me on my voicemail (what a hoot!) and my in-laws who sent me a gift and card (they are the BEST in-laws one could ask for). At first I thought they were going to surprise me but since we're almost 2 weeks past my birthday (and I've been home for 8 days!) I no longer think that's plausible. I will admit to being bummed out, I don't need gifts but it would be nice to be remembered on my special day (especially by my DH and kids, who also did not celebrate Mother's Day).

CONTEST: Anyway, to celebrate, I will be giving away two mystery gifts to anyone who comments from now till next Tuesday. I will have a drawing Wednesday morning and announce the winners then.



This would be the stash I bought myself in honor of my birthday with last year's gift certificate at All in Stitches (which has moved into a great new shop right by my house). I am lucky that here in Tucson we have 3 great LNS': The Busy Needle (Northwest side), All in Stitches (Eastside), and The West (Northeast side). I never get to the Busy Needle anymore because it take so long, a good hour with traffic, and my old clunker can barely putt around let alone handle that kind of drive in this heat. I miss seeing everyone there though, very friendly and great stuff (they're the ones that introduced me to Diane Williams way back when, and also where I finally met Sharon Crescent of Crescent Colours in person). They have always been very supportive of my designing! The West is a non-profit needlework/gift shop with proceeds going to battered women and other great causes. They have a good selection of stitching and fibers and also great staff. They hosted my first trunk show and showed me the ropes in that arena and were very good to me. All in Stitches is much newer--I applaud their bravery as so many shops are closing for her to open one. I know Terry (the owner) much better than the other shops as she's close to me and also because we've spent lots of fun time together at the Nashville market. She always has designers I've never heard of and keeps everything well stocked.



Some of my ebay stash were some JCS mags, this one I just LOVE. The Peace ornie really calls to me, I know it's simple but that's part of the beauty of it. Then as a bonus, I found this ornament (below) by Prairie Schooler which is really classic PS:



Now I need to get stitching as I have tons of projects and no time and I'm not getting anywhere fast enough!!!!!

My kids spend a lot of time at my work because the youngest are in a summer camp program that is held at my work in the mornings. My other son takes the bus to my work from summer school to keep him out of trouble. I generally only work till 1:30pm so they hang in the nursery or youth room or playground (perks of working at a large church!). Yesterday I worked much longer than usual and Chase got bored of playing by himself so he built a clubhouse:

Labels: birthday, contest, kids, lns, new stash

Here's my progress on SB 2006 fob. I have picked a pattern for the Fair & Square exchange after much research on my partner's blog and am so excited! I have gotten my working copy ready, now to find fabric and finish the edges. I don't normally do that, am wishing I had time for someone else to do it, lol. I'm so sloppy, sometimes I surprise myself. Ordered a few Diane Williams (LHN) patterns I didn't have today, her older ones from Leisure Arts.

I will camping at family camp and also have cub scout day camp this weekend/next week so I won't be blogging much nor stitching. In fact, I may not make it back alive. Leave a comment if you'd like to be included in my will for some stash ;)

Teacher gifts are a no-sew this year, not enough hours in the night/day whatever. I am thinking gift cards, too bad!



Picture from the cub scout fire station visit last weekend. We had a disturbing incident with our oldest son, his friend's parents were trying to take him to a concert when we'd already said no weeks ago. My son was honest, although more than likely because he was worried he'd get caught, but honesty is honesty, I won't worry about motivation. I always wondered who those parents were who drink and "dally" (shall we say) with their kids friends, now I know!



Memorable moment of the weekend: My 90 year old grandfather learning to bowl on the Wii (not my grandfather in the pic).

Lastly, Von asked me about the engraved gingher scissors that I bought to go along with the 2006 fob, I'll have to hunt them up so you can see! Check out her blog, she has the cutest grandbaby!

Labels: camping, cub scouts, grandpa, kids, SB 2006 fob, scissors