Tracy Porter Blog… be inspired!

I have a tidbit to share- a movie. My children received the DVD Fairy Tale, A True Story for Christmas from Santa. We all sat down and watched it this weekend and I have to tell you, I was in eye candy heaven!

I don’t know who did the set design for this movie but I promise you, it’s spectacular! The story is good too, (my kids are 10,8 and 4, all girls) but the sets- OMG!

Peter O’Toole and Harvey Keitel are in it as well, Keitel plays Harry Houdini. (Spoiler Alert- opening scene is a little dramatic for kids, fwd past it a little if yours are sensitive) Movie came out in 1997 and it’s well worth putting on your list!

Oh Tracy…
Could this be any more perfect to begin my day?… I LOVE it! (I too love those little Valentine heart boxes, and have such sweet memories of my Dad bringing one each home after work on Valentine’s day for my sister and I so many years ago.(My Mom always got the BIG beautifully decorated one of course!)…

It is another snowy day here today and I am going to play with this idea… in my studio later. Also continue working on my Valentine cards.
I was in the mood for chocolate when I woke up this morning, as I discovered this scrumptious sounding coffee called “German Chocolate Cake” and ordered it online from amazon.. and it arrived on our doorstep yesterday. And, although I am much more of a tea drinker, I just could not resist trying this coffee! (and I am sipping it as I type this looking out at the snow… and looking for more bluebirds in the backyard!)
Creatively your’s,
(bluebird)Sandi on Cape Cod

Hi Tracy,
This is such a great idea! I’ve been wanting to do this and you’ve got my creativity off and running. I’m going to make some and put homemade Espresso Caramels inside!

Tracy, it’s been a year plus now that the core bloggers mentioned this…but it’s time to think seriously! Please hold a Tracy Festival!!!! We will all come up; visit the studio; then you can have cooking & crafting lessons. I am so there.

You inspire such creativity – my glue gun has never been happier. Thank you for sharing your joie de vivre – it’s contagious!

I have never been to Wisconsin and would love an excuse to get there…cooking, crafting, decorating, fashion…what more could a girl want??
Sandi…I grew up on the Cape and now live up the road in Duxbury..where abouts on the Cape are you?? Don’t you just love all this snow

Tracy, I could hardly look at the valentine candy box, your bracelet caught my attention and I could not take my eyes off of it. Wow!!!! I am so ready for you to post more new things and to see the new catalogs.
BTW, my dad used to bring those heart candy boxes home to us girls too. It was so special. Remembering that is a gift as precious as the box.

Soooo simple, yet sooooo lovely! Tracy, this is why we NEED you dear!…. Artist…. you and I are sooo on the same page…..I have to know more about the knock-out, earthy looking BRACELET! ( It would look super with the Scottish Cardigan). Virginia and Pam, what a splendid idea!!! Let me know when, and I’ll book my flight!… Have a great day ladies.

Hi Pam… I am here in beautiful Harwich Port… and it is still snowing here this morning… what part of the Cape did you grow up?… My mom lives in Yarmouth, and my sister in Falmouth. How long have you been in Duxbury?…. going back to my art studio now… Have a beautiful day! Sandi

Tracy, what is it about this holiday that inspires so much creativity? I can’t think of any gift more special than one that is created personally for me or vice versa. I have been holed up in the studio the last few days working away! I just sent my first batch of Valentine Cards yesterday…Have a great day! Shawn

Cameo, did you get my email? Looking forward to a reply.
Tracy, you also promised more antlers. We are so ready for the new “stuff”. Love the price point as well as the goodies.

Hello to my Massachusetts sisters on the Cape – I’m snowed-in here on the OTHER Cape – Cape Ann, that is – about 40 miles north of Boston! You know, Gloucester, Rockport…

Anyway, hi Shawn! I’m hard at work on my Vision for my new blog thanks to you, but needed a creativity break! Tracy, the chocolate box is such a great idea, and the rich patterns prompt me to ask where you get the beautiful backgrounds on your website? All those animals, patterns, florals… are simply divine! They look like some scrapbooking papers I’ve seen, but they must be digital – you and your team really have a flair for design, but then we knew that, didn’t we? Such a treat to the eye, heart, and design sensibilities!

I have not seen the fairy tale movie… must add that to my list… thanks Jen… the kids will love it! (The sound of music is our family favorite!) Girls, I will be posting the loveliest photos that Sandi shared with us… she has bluebirds already… gorgeous little winged angels that they are!! Hopefully this week you will get to see those as well!! Thanks again Sandi!
OK, Tanya… espresso caramels… those sound insane. Makes me think…. Do you guys ever eat hagen Daz coffee ice cream? It is our favorite to eat after we tuck the kids into bed… We watch a movie or something we’ve Tivo’d with an nice bowl of that rich goodness… ohhhh! Must try! The bracelet is old, sorry girls… a beauty though, have had it forever. I know a retreat of some kind with you fabulous lovelies would be too much fun… I will think on this. Summer would be better no doubt! I am delighted that you like some of the VERY simple ideas too… you know five minutes to bliss and inspiration can sometimes be all a girl needs! I love long projects too, but this sort of thing is too much fun. We are shooting videos today, I am in between shots and wanted to pop over and say hello!! Sarah is blowing kisses as well!!
xo
T.

Jennifer – I have that video about the fairies -I loved it and will have to re-visit it again since I watched it last when it first came out.
I will take a closer look at the settings – I do remember loving the girl’s bedroom when the fairies would come out, and the woods. . . magical! I am enchanted with fairies. Do you believe?!
Love hearing the weather news from the Cape areas and picturing you all cozied in with your Valentine projects and Tracy’s videos. They do get the creativity going!
I am from Minnesota and we’re in the deep freeze again. I was working on my ribbon tags in a sunny window on Sunday. Thanks for the idea Tracy!
I am so there for the Tracy Festival – just have to hop next door to Wisconsin!
Hearts & ribbons of light all! Bless you Tracy!
~Pamela

Tracy, Sarah & Gang – y’all are SO good for the soul. Five minutes of bliss indeed! So…those that have not visited Shawn’s blog (Life at Buttercup Farm) better scoot right on over. Talk about lifestyle gurus – she’s one too. The internet CAN be such a good thing. Hugs to all. TTFN.

What a perfect French accent and what a beautiful chocolate box !
Yael

Girls, I am posting this for all to see. It is a reply to a private request from Cameo for a good Lebanese cookbook. My family is Lebanese/American. This book is just like my grandmother and mother cook. It’s the best I’ve seen. It is called Lebanese Cuisine. It is by Madelain Farah, ph.d.
It can be obtained from Lebanese Cuisine
po box 66395
Portland, Oregon
97266
Tracy you are a doll for letting us go on and on like this. Thanks so much!

Artist…… Lebanese is some of my ALL TIME favorite food! When I lived in France some of my dearest friends were lebanese and their families would cook and i would just die with happiness. I have a favorite rest… in NYC, AL BUSTAN… if you ever… fantastic. A bit too bright they need some dimmers and ambiance is not great but food is perfection… just tops!
Too funny… so do cook as well?

I love your little crafty ideas, mostly because they are not so “crafty” looking. As I watched your “craftiness”, I must admit, my eyes were wandering all around. Love your wrapping paper holder and your steel magnet board. I am drooling over your craft room!

Also, loved the outfit in this video!!!! Is that shirt yours?

Loved the candy box, Tracy! such a great idea. BTW, I was looking at wrapping paper tonight online….and bingo…the light went on(off?) in my head, and I thought Tracy Porter wrapping paper?!! ya think? I would love to see your color choices and design on wrapping paper.
just “food for thought!”

Artist-thanks for that cookbook title. Sounds like a book I’d really enjoy. I’ll look it up for sure.

thx for another great idea!

jenny

Tracy, another great idea! Thank you! I have to comment on the art print in the book behind the displayed valentine. It is my favorite Italian Renaissance painting. In this painting Mary is portrayed much prettier than usual, baby Jesus looks like a healthy baby unlike alot of Renaissance art, and the angel holding baby Jesus up is so sweet. I know you blogged about art prints recently, I would love a print of this one. I think its by Fra Fillipo Lippi. Not sure I spelled his name correctly.

Tracy, so glad you appreciate our food and culture. Come on over and my mom will roll you some grape leaves! LOL

ARTIST… I’ll be there… tell your mom I’m coming and you know I have a BIG appetite!!!
xo

Hagen Daz coffee ice cream WAS my favorite until I tried their Reserve Fleur de Sel. It only comes in the small (pint?) container, but it is heaven. It is carmel flavored ice cream (not too, too sweet) with small fleur de sel carmels throughout. Unbelievable! I also enjoy Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. Yum!

Oh Tracy…
I have gone through about three glue guns in the past several years… each had its good points (and not so good)… WHAT kind of glue gun do you use? The one in this video looks great… I can’t tell if it is cordless or not.. or what the brand or make.
Please.. if you can, let us know what kind it is. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Thank you~
Sandi

Sandi…I grew up in Sandwich and my husband is from Centerville…we just moved here to Duxbury a few months back after living all over the place! We missed the ocean and New England terribly. I’m loving all of this snow we’ve been getting!
Glad to know there is another Tracy Porter addict close by! Have a great day all…looking forward to this mornings video!

well…I have not seen the reserve fleur de sel…but oh…..that sounds AMAZING!! I really hope our grocery store carries it as i already have it written down!
Sandi, i just buy the cheap ones from the craft store, I’m sure there are good ones…..I tend not to spend much on mine to be really honest.
Maybe try different glue sticks and be sure if you have a high heat gun you buy high heat sticks…etc.

Tracy ~
Thank you for your suggestions for the glue gun. Nice to know you also use the ‘cheap ones from the craft store’ too! Liked your tip on today’s video for the ‘priming’ or setting the glue first before adding another layer for certain things. Will try that!
Pam ~
Glad you are back living near the water once again. It really is quite a gift isn’t it? The beach is just a 10 minute walk from our front porch… and I LOVE it in the ‘off season’ when Clancy (our 10 year old Tibetan Terrier) and I walk it alone… with my camera of course. Last January while walking the beach, we came upon a baby seal basking in the sun on the beach! And… JUST before my camera battery died, I was able to snap his (her?) picture looking straight at me! I still get goosebumps of excitement when I think of it! It is framed in a tiny frame with some shells and sea stones I have collected from our beach walks too…Last Sunday my husband and I (and Clancy too of course) walked along Marconi’s beach in Wellfleet collecting smooth Sea Stones (I calligraph words on them and sell them in a wonderful store in Vermont called “Peace of Mind Emporium”, along with lots of greeting cards and bookmarks and such). Oh… isn’t life just delicious when you part your heart in it?
And.. I too smile, knowing there is another Tracy fan in my ‘neck of the woods’.

Sandi…you sound like a true Cape Cod artist! I would love to see your work…do share online with us! Have you tried the shop in Dennis..The Barn and Co? They also feature a local artist, Caroline Ellis who handpaints charming scenes onto oyster shells. My Father in law starting giving them to me a few years back and we now have quite a collection for our Christmas tree..you should bring your stones there!
Looking forward to warmer weather this weekend. You can bet I’ll be walking the beach!

Hi Pam,
Thanks. I do have quite a few things that I create here at my at-home studio…
With everything that I create, I donate a generous amount (at least 20% of proceeds) to cancer research.
I create laminated bookmarks with assorted calligraphed nurturing verses on them along with pressed flowers from our garden, adding satin ribbon and beads,…also notecards with the pressed flowers too. Such a joy to be able to work with ‘God’s pallette’ of beautiful and colorful flowers. (LOVE the faces on the pansies!)
There was a lovely little shop in Harwich Port this summer that sold my creations.. espescially the little notecard sets, (“Love Notes from Cape Cod”), with tiny cape cod drawings of the sea, dunegrass, sandpails and such (all wrapped up in cellophane with organza ribbon and a tiny ‘jewel’).
Also create “Love Notes from the Heart” greeting cards, with soft drawings of heart designs embellished with tiny jewels…
The sea stones are something new I am ‘playing with’ and loving it! There is a lovely vibrational energy that is in the stones…And of course collecting them on the beach is soothing to the soul.
Then there is my little angel “Angel Ariane” that came to me in a dream one night many years ago on note cards, bookmarks, etc! Thank you for suggesting the Barn & Co…. I may just package up a few things and see if they would be interested in carrying some. Enjoy your time on the beach!