.excited.

Well, it has been wonderful to hear from so many of you who are participating in the Homespun 'Give Thanks' Stitch-a-long! How exciting! I'm looking forward to seeing photos of the stitcheries as they progress along. If you have any photos, and want to share them, please feel free to email them to me.

Now, I had a lady ask if each week I could put up the finished size of each stitchery. There has been a bit of confusion over whether the stitcheries are printing out at the correct size. So, just to make it clear, the stitcheries are actually quite small, and the fabric allowance is generous to allow for ease of sewing in a hoop.

If you would prefer to save on some fabric, maybe try using a large piece of muslin or homespun, and don't chop it up for each individual stitchery. Instead, just draw and stitch each stitchery on the fabric, allowing some room between each one of course.

Below is the finished block size of the stitcheries that have been released so far:

Week 1.
Butterfly. Finished block size is 3" square.

Week 2.

Love Heart. Finished block size is 1.5" square.

Week 3.

5 Hearts. Finished block size is 1.5 x 3."

Hope that is of some help ladies!

Oh, if you are doing the stitch-a-long, please let me know in a comment on this post, and I'll add your name to a sidebar on my blog.

In other news, I am leaving for Indonesia tomorrow! Yes, tomorrow! Talk about exciting. And my other exciting news - we have 170 items of clothing for the orphans!! How awesome is that?! And that doesn't include other bits of donated goodies, like a soccer ball, hair clips, pens and paper etc etc. So I am really looking forward to going back to West Papua and blessing the kids with all these goodies! I have just spent the morning rolling up each item and packing them into the bag. I have so many photos to share with you, but just not the time at the moment - sorry!

So, I will be back on board after Easter, so if you don't hear from me for awhile - that's why!

Till then, happy stitching!

...Give Thanks...

So, did you see it? Did you see it?

*jumps up and down excitedly*

Yup, the new Homespun magazine came out, and guess what was in it? My quilt!

Talk about exciting!

So, the Stitch-a-long has begun, and you can check out and download the instructions on the Homespun website. I've already had ladies sending me an email to let me know they are doing the stitch-a-long - yay!

Well, I'm glad at least someone likes my quilt!! I must say, there is quite a bit of nervous apprehension when you do something like this. Must be to do with my fear or failure or something like that.

Anyway, I will be doing some of the Stitch-a-long myself and coming up with some new ways to use the stitcheries, and I'll be sure to share it all with you.

Till then, happy stitching!

Little bit of this and that..

Well, it's a wee bit hard taking pretty and creative photos when it's rather windy and dark outside. And drizzling with rain. Not that I'm complaining about the rain mind you. I'm so grateful for the rain that we have been having lately.

But I wanted to show you all what's been keeping me busy for the past little while. See, I am heading over to Papua in Indonesia in 16 days time (eek!) to deliver the clothes for my Sew Blessed mission. So I have been madly trying to sew as many things as possible, and that has been taking up any and all of my free time.

Once I'm back I'm determined to get back into the swing of sewing quilts again. I have so many designs running through my head that I want to create!

So yes, I'm getting pretty excited about going back to Indonesia, but also pretty nervous and anxious. There just seems so much to do in so little time! I have no idea how I'm going to be ready in time.

Anyway, just to finish off this post with a little something I have been working on (when I needed a slight break from sewing clothes!) I absolutely love the Patisserie range of fabric by Moda, so this little quilt is made using a Turnover, and some co-ordinating fabric for the strips.

As I said, it's a bit windy outside, so excuse the pics, but I just had to share the yumminess. I think I will leave it at this small size, as it will be perfect to hang on the wall of my future dream house. *sigh* Someday!

.wow.

Gosh, thank you for all the lovely comments on my previous post! You're all so nice and sweet! I must say, there is a bit of apprehension when your own design comes out in a magazine. The doubts and questions start running through your head - "Did I write everything down correctly? Were there any mistakes? Will anyone actually like it?!!"

My mum is, of course, extremely proud and carries a copy of the magazine around with her at all times. Gotta love a proud mum!

Well, I was going to write up a post earlier on this week, but I lost my camera! *gasp* Well, to be honest, I forgot it and left it behind at my brothers house on sunday. Must be something about forgetfulness and getting old.

Anyway, last saturday I had the immense pleasure of teaching 5 of my young cousins (8-14yo) how to make a patchwork quilt! And what a day we had. They all arrived at 9am, and I had 4 sewing machines set up. My aunty bought with her another machine, and soon we were stuck into it. And the girls took to it like ducks to water. I had already cut all the material up, and decided to go with simple 8" square blocks.

So after a quick lesson on how to use the machines, (most of the girls had never used one before,) they were soon motoring along and having a wonderful time! Each girl sewed their own quilt top, and then helped my aunty and I put them together with the quilting and binding.

So, one very busy day later, we managed to complete 3 quilts, with the 4th one only needing the binding sewn on, and the 5th one a complete quilt top. The girls were wrapt and then wanted more fabric to create bits and pieces with. So, they sewed bags and dolls and let their imagination run wild! It was so wonderful to see their creativity blossom. And of course, they all wanted to come back next week!

When they all went home at 5:30, I think I sunk into a chair and didn't move for an hour or two!

Homespun Brag

Yup, 'tis time for a shameless brag.


Almost this time last year I had the immense pleasure of receiving an email from Catherine Sanchez, the editor of Homespun magazine. Having seen my blog, she asked if I would be interested in designing something for the magazine. Um, YES!

Well, I had the latest issue (Vol 11.2) arrive on my doorstep the other day, and lookie what I found on page 133.



The quilt is titled "For these I give thanks," and features a number of stitcheries all based on things to be thankful for. I won't give too much away, as this is just a 'pre-release' sort of thing, as the quilt comes out next issue. It will be a web based project and Homespun is releasing it as a Stitch-a-long for 23 weeks.

So, it is all rather exciting!!

The Pinny Brigade...

Well, that's what we are calling ourselves at work. All the staff have been making aprons to wear to work. Not only do they protect our clothes from all the fabric fluff (chenille...I'm talking about you!) but they look awfully cute, and inspire the customers to make them too.

So this is my cute apron that I wear to work. Please excuse it looking a tad wrinkly. I just gave it a wash and only a quick iron. *tut tut* Shows off my poor ironing skills, doesn't it??

But, never mind. I just love the fabric, which has threads and pins and needles all over it. Too cute.

Well, of course when my mum saw my apron - she wanted one too! She chose a fabric from the same range as mine, and it just suits her perfectly. Very feminine.

Oh, and she's been wearing hers to do the food shopping!! I was a bit stunned when I heard, but apparently she has recieved plenty of admiring comments. She's always been one for starting new trends.

By the way, the pattern for this apron comes from the book, "A is for Apron," by Nathalie Mornu. Which is a fabulous book full of apron patterns. I highly recomend having a flick through it sometime.

It's definately time for an apron revival - so come on girls! Drag out those pinnies or make a new one!

Oh, and before I forget - check out my Sew Blessed blog for an update. Some exciting developments are happening!

Catch up.

Thought I would share what's been keeping me a bit busy the past month or so. Well, actually, I can't really show it to you. Infact, this is all I can, and will show you.


You'll just have to trust me on this, and wait for August.
But, I can show you a bit of the back. I used a Signature varigated thread to stipple quilt this quilt, and I love it. Am so happy with how it turned out.


I've also been doing a bit of spending of late. We had a new range of fabric come in at work, Boutique by Chez Moi for Moda. Devine fabrics. Just devine. So I snapped up a few fat quarters, though I could easily have bought a Layer Cake. I may still do.

I've also been doing some random purchases of things that have caught my eye.



What am I going to do with it all? No idea yet. Just had to have it.

And by the way, how adorably cute are these turtles?!!

We had an end of year break up party for work a few weeks back. We went bowling, and I am most pleased to report that I came 3rd out of the staff! And I won a prize!

Don't you just love that the prize for a patchwork shop break up party is fabric?!!

This is the 'Animal Alphabet' range by Moda. And it's so cute!

So, I am going to be making a playmat for my new neice/nephew in June. Can't wait to be an aunty!

Stringybark Farm BOM

Well, here are 3 very overdue and long awaited blocks for the Stringybark Farm BOM. Once again, my apologies for not getting around to this sooner. Thank you to those who have emailed me regarding the BOM as you kept reminding me to 'hurry up!'

So, here we have 3 more blocks for the BOM - Blocks 6, 7 and 8. I haven't actually sewn them yet as I just don't have the time at the moment unfortunately. But hopefully these drawings will do. Please feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have any questions at all regarding the blocks and design. There are two more final blocks, and I'll finish drawing them over the next week or so.

So, Block 6 is Harold and Susie, two sheepish residents of the farm. They like nothing better than to stand under the old windmill and watch the world go by, whilst snatching a few mouthfuls of lush grass of course! Then we have Miles and Pepper, two very cheeky, and very naughty barn cats. They never stray far from the bales of hay where the field mice play and hide.

And finally, we have Farmer Jack and Betty in Block 8. Their little wooden house is a simple affair, but a very happy home indeed. And whilst Farmer Jack tends his farm, his doting wife Betty is very happy in her garden.

Once again, I'm really sorry! I'm really quite annoyed at myself that I haven't been able to give this the time and attention it deserves. But life has gotten in the way quite a bit over the last few months, and that takes precedence over sewing luxuries!

Anyway, till next time - happy sewing!

Download the patterns here.

Edited to add: Just to answer some questions I have been asked. Blocks 6 and 7 need a 4.5 x 6.5" piece of cream homespun. Block 8 needs a 4.5 x 10.5in piece. Unfortunately the pictures did not scan in at the correct size (technology these days... *sigh*) but I tried to get the designs as close to the correct size as possible. Hopefully it will work out fine. :)

Cheers!

Whew!

Well, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas season, and a great New Year!

I have been away on holidays recently over in Berri, South Australia, visiting family. It was very hot over there, so we went swimming in the beautiful Murray River, which was just devine! I love swimming in rivers and lakes!

Murray River, Berri.

I unfortunately got sick with the flu whilst I was over there and celebrated New Years Eve by going to bed at 10pm, and sleeping all of New Years Day!

Me, at Mildura Airport, waiting for my brother and sister in law to pick me up.

Thankfully I am better now, though I badly injured my ankle last saturday, whilst skiing up at Lake Eildon. I accidently rolled my ankle down a rut in the ground, and an old piece of timber jabbed into my ankle. Well, I won't give you the gory details, but alot of blood and a tetanus shot later, and I'm finally starting to walk on it without too much pain!

So yes, things have been rather busy of late!


This pretty little doll was one project I was madly trying to finish before the end of the year. A friend, Julie, had comissioned it for a friends daughter and I needed to have it done before I went on holidays. Please excuse the shocking photos, but I ran out of time to take any good ones.


And now, time for a well deserved Stringybark Farm BOM update! *hangs head in shame* Gosh, things have just been so busy I haven't been able to give this the time and attention it deserved. I do apologise to those who have been so patiently waiting for the next blocks. I'm so sorry!

What I will do is finish the drawings for the final blocks, and put them online asap. That way you can all complete your blocks if and when you want to. I will eventually finish the BOM quilt, but it is unfortunately a bit far down on my 'To Do' list at the moment.

So, as soon as I finish this post, I will get out the drawings and finish them off. Hopefully I can have them all scanned in by the end of the week. Sorry again girls! *smacks hand*

Merry Christmas!

Well December has just flown by.

Talk about an extremely busy month.

Anyway, just a quick post to wish you all a wonderful, happy and blessed Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a lovely season with your family, friends and loved ones - and stay safe on the roads!
I have lots of exciting things to share with you, but it will have to wait till I have some spare time in the new year unfortunately. I'm sure you are all just as busy as I am!

Till then, check out this spunky little pony. I made him as a chrissy present for my Godson, Zac, and I just adore this little pony!

He is actually meant to be a Reindeer, and is a pattern by Melly and Me. But since my friend Emma and Zac love ponies, I decided to alter him slightly.

I especially love his ric rac mane, and I put elastic in his tail so it stretches.


Too cute.

Merry Christmas everyone!