Sharing my life and love of cross stitch. Thoughts about this and that.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Jim McMillen's Big Band/Jazz arrangement for Let It Snow

a new single, recorded by Laura Dickenson this past week at Capital Records. Outstanding and fun. Some of the top studio and other musicians in LA,.

Let It Snow (LA version)

Let Laura know how much you like it on FB and/orYou Tube and share the link Freely!!

Question?  I've recently been unable to get south on You Tuve and some, but not other videos. When this first post to Laura's page on FB I had terrific audio. Now silence even on FB. Any one have any clue?


LindaMc

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Newest (and past) Permin Freebies

December 2015 - Santa with Goose  (cute)
November 2015 - Candles with Poinsettia (nice)

Most are small, simple and quick-stitch designs that will fit a 2" or 3" frame (depends on your fabric count and shape of the design). Perfect for a greeting card insert or glue-on and  quick Christmas ornies, etc. Also some button covers and at least one placemat or corner design for something. Nice mostly quick stitch designs when you want to set aside that BAP or do a quick project. The chart sheet includes any special stitching or instructions along with the shape of the appropriate small frame.

Best yet: Explore freebies back to May 2011 by changing the year and month at the end of the url.  July 2012 would be 2012_07 for example. HOWEVER, not all months are still available (I only spot checked primarily for December).. While May 2011 was still there, the next one was November. I found at lesast one duplicate. But if this sort of design/stitching interests you, it might be worth a bit of exploration. Without a photo on the chart sheet, sometimes it's a little hard to tell what the design is. My favorite has been the 2015_01  Deer in Forest scene. Wished I had used evenweave.


Note I'm thinking and talking about cross-stitching again! I'm waiting on my new glasses to come in but I'm so used to reading blur that while these Walmart readers are definitely not perfect, they are better than nothing,- even if I sometimes have to wear a second pair on top of the first to read - and stitch?

Update:  I've gone through and d/l all the freebies I back to the partial 2011. IF I still have the motivation, I MAY lst them by month, but only IF THERE IS SIGNIFICANT INTEREST.. A LOT of flowers, only a few of which I've indicate the colors when I saved.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

My Brother's New Christmas Album!!



Skin & Bones Christmas

For anyone interested in a new take on Christmas classics, my professional  musician/arranger brother, Jim, and professional percussionist friend, Johnny Sandoval, have put out a new Christmas Album called Skin & Bones Christmas. Skin = the conga drums and apx. 50 other percussion instruments played by Johnny with a couple of others on a couple of tracks. Bones = the 6 trombone and 2 bass trombone parts my brother Jim plays. You can hear clips of the individual tracks at the cdbaby links. Different but definitely ENJOYABLE Christmas music. It's also available through The Horn Guys, which has a better cover photo and a short video of Jim demonstrating trombone techniques for a locally produced internet program, but no clips. The album is also supposed to be on Amazon, but I haven't seen it there yet.

I know. With celebrating trombone and drum playing skeletons on the cover, it definitely strikes me as more Halloween than Christmas, but really it is jazzy and mellow brass traditional Christmas music with a Latin and other percussion beats behind it. The graphic on the cover is based on similar medieval artwork and with added elements by their art director. Ok, it's really strange, but it sure gets one's attention! 

The album features Jim playing 6 trombone and 2 bass trombone parts, and Johnny on around 50 percussion instruments all layered and synced together into the Master and individual tracks.  The styles range from R&B, Samba, Latin Jazz, and several others.

Not trying to sell albums for him (well maybe a couple) but just like to share my brother's talent and sense of humor. Jim sent me the album last week, which is when I discovered the DVD player on my computer isn't working. So far all I can hear is the clips online. :O  The album is supposed to be on Amazon shortly. 

BTW, the album would make a great Christmas exchange gift with a surprisingly nice surprise for the lucky recipient. Just sayin' .. Wonder if *I* ordered one for that purpose it'd get here by Thursday?

Merry Christmas Everyone

LindaMc - happy that after almost a full year that I've FINALLY been given a prescription for a new pair of glasses - just hoping they will actually work!
Photobucket