Welcome to the Grow Your Blog party!

Greetings and Salutations! I'd like to welcome all of my visitors to my little corner of the internet. My name is Tazzy aka Ladynero and I am a cross stitcher, a novice crocheter, and a beginning belly dancer. This little blog, while focusing more on my stitchery and crochetting, also occasionally features my belly dancing experiences. There is going to be a lot of pictures in this (sorry, I enjoy showing off a bit) but I hope you enjoy your little stop in my corner.

As I have irregularly participated in the WIPockalypse in the past two years, let me snag a challenge from the WIPockalypse creator, Measi: "This month’s topic is a proper one for the beginning of any adventure: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year."

My name is Tazzy as I said. I was born and raised in the Midwest United States. I'm happily married with one daughter and two cats (who enjoy seeing what Momma's stitching as well as playing chase the string!). I'm a beginning belly dancer, and hopefully things will work out between home life and my work where I'll be able to get back to shimmying and shaking. I work at a little mom'n'pop craft store that specializes in a little bit of everything and where I get a majority of my needlework supplies and crochetting things. I'd like to get all of my current projects finished this year and distributed to their recipients before starting anything else new. I am an irregular blogger, but I try to update once a month (emphasis on try). I'm not one to talk about what happens to me personally, mainly because I started this blog for my needlework and belly dancing to share with everyone else, but I enjoy reading the various comments left on my posts.



This picture is a couple of years old (I was actually in my first trimester of pregnancy when this was taken. It was my last performance. For now). It was for Memorial Day when the troupe went to perform at the local Veteran's Center. We had one older gentleman in a wheel chair that kept moving closer and closer for our performance. Claimed he couldn't hear the music. I doubt any of us believed that excuse but we didn't call him on it.

As to why I'm not getting more crafty projects done or doing belly dancing much anymore, well, here's my excuse:



Meet my daughter, Genevieve. She's 13 months old, active as all get out, and only gives me a few hours at night to get anything done, but there are times when I'm just worn out after a day of playing and chasing her around, that I can't summon the energy to pull out a needle and thread.However! I have managed to get some things started and worked on. I won't go through and show you everything that I have started because that will take a lot of pictures. Yeah, I'm a bit of a serial starter, but a few of my projects only have a few stitches in them (Persephone, a few HAEDs, and a few things that are aimed for the UFO piles for now).



First up is a blanket I'm crochetting for Genevieve. Been working on it a while, but it's a nice relaxing project that I don't have to think too much about in the evening. It's a modified ripple blanket to shrink it down from full sized to a lap blanket. When it is done, it will also be the perfect size for her crib.



This is HAED QS CLara by Hannah Lynn. I'm doing all the black first and then going to go back and color it. A friend of mine saw this when I was showing it off at work, and she fell in love with it. So I promised her I'd stitch it for her if she followed her dreams (She had a habit of letting a few things hold her back). I haven't had a chance to work on it lately as it's 1x1 on 28 ct Monaco and that gets a bit hard on the eyes in the evening, but it will be worked on.



The start of Joan Elliott's Fairy Godmother on Silent Night by Under the Sea Fabrics (wonderful lady who does hand dyed fabrics. Highly recommend her!). This is going to be hung up in Genevieve's room when it's done and I get it framed. I'm also debating on changing the hair color of the Godmother from blond to black, just to be different. Ah well, I'll get to that when I get to that.



This is the start of a sailing ship sampler from Cross Stitch and Country Crafts issue Jan/Feb 1989 which tells how old this is. The water's green and I offered to change the colors for my dad, whom is the giftee of this one, but he liked the water as green. So, green water it is.



This is Barbara Baatz's December Fairy on 14 ct Aida, dyed by Color Cascade Fabrics based out of Australia (another great lady who does gorgeous work). The fabric is an odd size, but there is some beautiful marbling on one corner that I'm doing my best to get involved in this. I'm making this into a baby announcement for Genevieve with her name at the top and her birth information at the bottom. The border that is going to be done around the fairy will be repeated at both top and bottom but turned at 90 degrees to be more horizontal than vertical. The fairy herself is almost completely done. There's just some back stitching in the garlands that need to be done and then I can focus seriously on the borders.



This one is actually for me. It's Joan Elliott's Goddess of the Sea from the Design Craft kit. I do wish they had included 28 ct fabric instead of 14 ct, but if wishes were horses then beggars would ride. Ah well. If I decide I don't like this as it is, I may just get the pattern from Joan's website and redo it. But we'll see.



Here is my jar of ORTs for the TUSAL that Daffycat runs for the fun of it. This is a bit over a years worth of thread ends and leftover threads from kits. I never know what to do with the extra threads from kits, and I can't exactly add them to the skeins of DMC I have due to color differences at times, so I throw them in here to be used later or to be tossed out for the birds to use in their nests come springtime. I think I'm going to wait until this is full before dumping it out this time. Last time, there wasn't really that much to make a difference.



I had a lot of fun making this with my dad. It's my stitching chest where I keep almost all of my cross stitching WIPs. I designed it, and together, over the course of a couple of weekends, we put it together. My mom picked out the handles and the pull knobs, surprising me when they brought it over. I use it constantly and am starting to get a few drawers that still stick to loosen up due to the constant use *laughs*. Now I just need to get small boxes made to hold my bead containers and my kreniks.

I'm giving away two prizes this time. You don't have to be a follower of my blog to win, just have to be comfortable giving your address to a complete stranger *laughs*. First, I don't have a picture of (sorry, my phone's battery died), but it is "Jane Pattison 1806" by Shakespeare's Peddler. It's a sampler reproduction, and while it looks nice, I'm not one for this sort of sampler. So, I thought I'd pass it along to whomever is interested in winning it. The second winner, by random drawing, will receive a copy of Mirabilla's Persephone. My boss knows I enjoy Mirabillas so she went to a needle show and bought a copy of Persephone for me. Only I had already ordered it with fabric from another supplier, thus giving me two. So, one will go to a lucky person.



How to enter: Just leave your name and address in the comments and if you want to be in the drawing for either of the patterns or both. I'll draw a random person on February 15th to give everyone plenty of time to enter as I know there are a lot of blogs in this little party, and I don't want to exclude anyone.

And finally, I'll leave everyone with a picture of Genevieve in her CEO position, sitting in her daddy's chair at his computer.



Happy Blog Hopping!

All sorts of postings

Here are the promised pictures but they have a bit more stitching on them than the last time. Consider this my WIPockalypse and my TUSAL post as well. Pardon the pictures. I had to take them with my cellphone as my computer doesn't acknowledge my camera at this time. I think I may need a new camera and memory card as the computer wants to format that whenever it's slotted into the computer.

First up is the December Fairy that is going to be the birth announcement for the daughter:



There is a sleeve, a wing, and most of her skirt. I changed one of the colors in the wing from Very Light Turquoise to Light Turquoise because I had originally misread the color number on it. I rather like it that way instead of lighter.

Then Oak Island Mystery, the one with the least amount done:



Have most of the rick in the upper left done and did a bit on the ocean at the bottom of the "beard".

And finally, Goddess of the Sea:



She now has a waist, part of her back, and I'm working on the shadows around the bust line. After that, I'm going to fill in the highlight because then it's just filling the whole thing in with a single color.

And finally, my TUSAL jar:



Very little stitching done since I emptied the jar back in March I think. Hopefully I'll be able to get more done in the future as there is now a nice nightly routine in the house. I get Genevieve down for the night and then stay up until around 11:30 (unless I'm wiped and then I go to bed with her) doing stitchery things or screwing around on the computer to unwind from the day before heading to bed. That's usually the latest she will wake up for a second time, not counting the stray middle of the night grumps due to a wet diaper and a bit of hunger. The middle of the night feedings are getting fewer and farther between and she's sleeping more through the night. Doesn't mean she won't get me up before the sun and keep me up however.

And speaking of the Diapered Diva (as a girlfriend nicknamed her), here's a few more pics of her at 5 months old for your enjoyment.

Snow Day!

This is the current view out my back window



And the view to my right. *grins* The local base closed today so Hubby's getting a snow day.

I've managed to get a little bit of stitching done during the brief naps, so this is also sort of a Wipockalypse update as well.



Oak Island Mystery has a bit more of the gray stone in the upper let corner.



And Sea Goddess has another shade of purple added to her cloak.

Also, I got this absolutely beautiful bit of fabric from Color Cascade Fabrics in Austrailia. She's also introduced a new fabric called Lucky Dips where she uses ice to dye the fabric. The process is facinating and the results are absolutely gorgeous. Between her and Under the Sea Fabrics here in the US, I have all the affoardable, hand dyed fabric I could ever want for my stitchery projects.

A February Update

Yes, I'm a bad blogger. I apologize to everyone who follows my blog about the lack of updates and posts, but I feel kinda silly updating when there's very little progress. As to why there's little progress, well...



Let's just say someone's favorite napping spot is on Momma, and it's kinda hard to stitch with a Sharp Pointy Needle when there's a sleeping baby on your chest.

But I have had a little progress.



Four Heavenly Beasts has a few more stitches in it. SOrry 'bout the blurry photo.



Oak Island Mystery is slowly progressing. Got a bit more of the stone done.

And my TUSAL Jar...



Again, not much in there, and I decided to smash the threads down to see how much I could build it back up again.

Last post of 2012

Well, I have to confess that I'm impressed with myself for keeping up with this blog for an entire year. I normally can't keep up with a diary so for me, this is impressive.

As this is the last post of the year, I first thought about doing a review of all my stitchery, but didn't want to flood this post with pictures. So here's just the latest that I have along wtih a few new starts.



First up is my ORT jar. It looks only partially full but it's a years worth of stitchery in there along with memories of each project finished, frustrated with, and started with a smile.



This is a new start that I began before I went into the hospital to be induced. It's Joan Elliot's "Sea Goddess" and I'm looking forward to completing this one as it's for me and not anyone else!



Oak Island Mystery has some more color added to it and it will be (hopefuly) completed this upcoming year so I can send it out to the intended recipient.



I signed up for a SAL on one of my facebook groups and this is my SAL project. I have all the floss and the fabric and I look forward to starting this one as well. *grins* Being a Yami no Matsuei (Descendants of Darkness) fan, I'm going to really enjoy stitching the Four Heavenly Beasts.



This is the new stitchery box my hubby bought me for Christmas as Bacchus managed to pop the lid off my old one. It's actually larger than my old one and I really like it.



The inside of my box, all ready to use.



and finally, this is my attempt at getting organized this year with my WIP. Each drawer, minus the very bottom one, is a WIP. In descending order: QS Claira, Kwan Yin by Jessica Galbrath, Four Heavenly Beasts, Map of Middle Earth, and Oak Island Mystery. The bottom drawer has my beads, blending threads, and a couple of hoops right now.

Half a brain...

If I had half a brain, I think I'd be dangerous right now. *laughs* It's about two weeks before the baby's due and if I can think without lists, I'd be surprised. So once more, a combined WIPockalypse post (two days early) and a TUSAL post (two weeks late).



First up is Pirate Treasure: Oak Island Mystery, and that touch of red in the green is part of the date there. I'm doing all of one color (or as much as I can right now) because all of that is getting stitched over in a half stitch of glow in the dark blending filament.



Next is a bit more of QS CLaire. It's a bit more slow going because despite stitching entirely in black, it's 1x1 on 28 ct and there are days I just don't need the headache even if I want the stress break.



Not much more has been done with the Haunted Mansion, but it's a fun thing to poke at.



And finally, my TUSAL jar. I know you can't see much of the green that is Oak Island and only a bit of black that is Claire, but it's going to start growing again. I promise!!!

TUSAL and WIPockalypse

Yeah, I'm behind on my TUSAL post, but considering this month just vanished on me plus I'm getting things ready for the baby, I'm slightly distracted.

So, here's the TUSAL picture:



All that pink and green is the last of the commission piece and the slightly darker bits on top of that, is the little bit of the Haunted Mansion that I've been working on:



There's now part of a tree next to the house with some clouds above it. *grins* I'm going to enjoy working on that. I also put about ten stitches in Clara, but I didn't feel it was enough to take a picture of. Mayber next time.

August WIPockalypse Take Two & return to Belly Dancing

First up is my WIPockalypse/IHAS report. *hangs head* Yeah, I've been bad about not posting it, but in my defense, my computer decided to self destruct via virus and I had to get a new one.

So first up is Moonlit Kitties:



Didn't get a whole lot done that weekend and things have been up in the air enough that I haven't had a chance to do any more stitching on these since that weekend. Mostly because I've had a hard time concentraiting due to pregnancy and exhaustion.

Now that commission that I'm wondering is jinxed at this point. It seems like for every three stitches I put in, I'm tearing out five.



Here it is as of today. *sighs and shakes head* I haven't even started on the nitty gritty flowers or even charted the names and date.

On a better note (for me at least), my work schedule has let me return to my belly dancing class, and last night I had a blast! I was the only one in the Beginning Technique class, which was fine as my teacher decided to drill with zills. *laughs* My arms were tired by the end, and we only did a little bit of veil work. The veil I have is a bit heavier than a chiffon so that didn't help the arm soreness either.

It will be fun to get back into that again.

Another Three in One Post

Yes, I'm lousy at blogging. Or at least keeping up to date. *laughs* First off, is a combination of the WIPockalypse and IHAS since I haven't touched this since IHAS: This is the commission piece. As you can see, I've added some beading to it to give it a bit more bling than the blending filament would have since it was only suppose to be one strand of filament to two strands of thread. And my TUSAL jar for July with the pattern in the background to show how much I've gotten done on it. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep track of my blog a bit more and write a bit more, but it's easy to lose track of the days anymore. *Grins* I confess I'm normally a flutter-brain, but toss in a pregnancy and I'm lucky I can function most days without a detailed list.

WIPockalypse and TUSAL update in one

Can summer slow down a bit please? I'm having a hard enough time trying to hold on to my stitching mojo as it is without the month's vanishing on me! Okay for my WIPockalypse, I just have the commission Wedding piece to show: It's on 28 count antique white evenweave (my first time doing this small of a count) and it's over 2 which makes it even more fun. That's how much of the pattern I have done, marked off with orange highlighter. *grins* as to what the pattern's on, that's an old "magnetic poetry board" which stands up really nicely and I don't have to worry about felines laying on the pattern, thus forcing me to either move them or put the stitching up for a while. And now my traveling TUSAL jar: As you can see, not much, but that's all the wedding pattern there. Hopefully, I'll get the days to slow down, but I am really looking forward to this weekend when my only plan is going to a Circle of rhiannon Hafla down by Cincy to meet up with my dancing friends. *rolls eyes* My boss apparently took my announcement that I'm expecting to mean that I'm not dancing anymore so she's been scheduling me late on Thursdays. Frankly, the only class I was going to drop was the Intermediate Choreography since I wouldn't be able to perform with any of the ladies until after the baby's born, but working as late as I am on Thursdays means I'm missing my Beginner Technique class. Major Bummer.

No WIPockalypse update

I'm afraid that not only am I late on the WIPockalypse update, but I don't have anything to report. *sighs and shakes head* May and June have vanished when I blinked, but hopefully I'll have something to report when July comes along. *crosses fingers* It would be nice if things in my life would settle down a bit, but I don't forsee that happening any time soon. Especially with my cats helping me stitch. *laughs*

WIPockalypse check in

Yes, I'm late, but I've got good news as to why:

1. My dad managed to rescue my files for me

and

2. I found out yesterday that I'm pregnant. So there's a future stitcher/belly dancer coming along in 9 months.

So for the WIPockalypse check in!


First up is Oak Island Mystery. Not much has gotten done on this, but I just recently picked it up as I finished "Zombies". I hope my nephew enjoys this.


Have a row finished in Royalty and am working on a second row. I'm one of those people who has to work from either the center or the bottom right corner 'cause of the way I stitch.


Not a great picture, but it's going to be a kaleidascope for my littlest neice with her name on it. I'm hoping she enjoys it.