A big week...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American followers!!
I'm sure you've all been enjoying good food and family reunions over the last couple of days, and will no doubt already be preparing for the celebration of Christ's birth, along with the rest of the world, in just four weeks time. I hope we all remember to savour every moment of these celebrations with loved ones as the years seem to pass by too quickly now, the children grow and change before our eyes, and so many of our loved ones move away and are no longer there to share a coffee or a meal with us.
Whether you have a large family, just a few, or perhaps you're spending the day with friends, may you remember to be a blessing as well as be blessed at Christmas, and tell each one how much you love them.
~~~~~
I've been quiet this week because I'm making plans to be more organised in 2010 - to balance my roles of wife, mother, housekeeper, designer, teacher's aide, and 'just Jenny'. However, something else happened to slow down the week - Blossom had a small accident.

This was the last week of the school year and the students had spent all Tuesday in the school pool playing water sports. A large water slide was constructed and during the very last slide of the day dear Blossom took a tumble and slammed her head into the ground - this resulted in her putting her top tooth right through the bottom lip and out the other side...

The staff at the local hospital informed us that they no longer stitch inside the mouth as it is vascular and heals quickly. The opening in her chin however needed to be glued together - something they do to avoid scarring from stitches. An anaesthetic gel on the inner lip, painkillers and a tetanus shot later, we came back home armed with the largest chocolate thickshake we could find. Straws and thickshakes were her best friend for the next 24 hours.
The swelling subsided a lot overnight and to brighten her up again I took her to the hairdresser's for a new summer hairstyle. Isn't she gorgeous?

~~~~~

Katrin has finished her Shabby Roses quilt, and it's beautiful!!! I love the scalloped edge!

How are you going with your Shabby Roses quilt blocks?
Don't forget on December 1st I will share the quilt label with you, as well as the final assembly instructions if you'd like to finish it like mine.

I'll share some photos tomorrow of what's being stitched by Blossom and myself - yes, she's got her stitching mojo back now that school is over. It's lovely!

Hugs
Jenny
xxx

A day in a life...

What did Jenny do today?

She oohed and aahed over Fiona's Christmas Cheer apron.

She oohed and aahed over the packages her husband brought home from the school office for her.
From Stephanie she got lots and lots of dots and spots,

and from Sandi she was wrapped in Christmas Cheer!

She took time out to read about New Zealand's finest quilters, and various women who inspire.
These magazines were included in a care package flown over from her sweet friend Deb, 'across the ditch' in New Zealand, last Friday. I'm sure there was chocolate in this package...NO IDEA where that got to? Jenny must have gobbled it!

She finally got to organise her fabric shelf in colours...

....and don't they look so pretty?

She finished sorting through all her tubs of odds and bods, and now has only three instead of six!

She set aside small pieces of fabrics she found in her clean-up and put them aside to cut into charm squares and strips over the holidays for that 'one day' scrappy quilt she'll make.

She read through all the lovely cards she has been sent this year. She keeps them all in a pink cane bowl by the window. There's about 40 so far.

And she put the latest one in the little antique stand she found at a market many years ago. She changes the cards every few days, and prays for the sender each day the card is displayed.

She tried to have a conversation with Blossom but Blossom's mind was nowhere to be found. It seems she lost it somewhere in a Tilda book.

Now she's updating her blog before she makes a late supper for her husband and trips off to bed to read her *newest* country home-decorating book.

We'll just tiptoe out softly shall we?
Would you mind turning off the bedside light before you close the door?
Thanks.

xxxxxx

Prayers, and a declutter for the summer holidays...

Where I live, hot weather is a day to day thing. You accept it and you learn to live with it. You also learn to respect the conditions, and the danger such temperatures have the capacity to bring about to the surrounding countryside. But we are in the very top end of Australia.
Right now, down in the southern states where a cooler and moderate climate is the 'norm', Australians are sweltering under the highest recorded temperatures for November, and that makes a lot of us concerned that a repeat of the horrific bushfires from early this year could be repeated. Already there are out of control fires burning, and some of them deliberately lit! How does a person become so unconscious to the horror of what they are about to unleash?
Pray that our country is spared such tragedy, please, and that all potential arsonists are caught before they strike that match.
~~~~~
The school year here at All Souls has wound down with all lessons and exams over. With only four more school days left the students are free to enjoy a variety of morning and afternoon activities until they leave the boarding dormitories and return home to their families for the long summer break.
Blossom spent all yesterday (with Slicer's help) sorting through her room - tossing out, rearranging, refreshing - giving it a holiday feel. Once the boarding students have left there will only be a handful of teaching staff, like us, who live on campus and can take full advantage of the swimming pool, tennis courts and large green grounds for dawn and sunset walks.
So like Blossom I decided to clean out my sewing space, but this time rather than tidying or rearranging, I have boxed up all the fabrics and 'things' that have sat in plastic tubs or on shelves for a year or more and put them aside to drop at the local charity store in the morning. It's time I used what I have or give it to someone else to play with.
It was hard, but very freeing at the same time! I still have my large bookshelf of fat quarters to sort through, but once that is done I know I will only have fabric I want to use.
Do you have lots of fabric you bought because you loved it at the time and now it sits unhappily in your craft space with no chance of a better life? Perhaps you can be brave and sort through it - I'm sure there is somewhere your fabric would be welcomed with open arms.
~~~~~
While my husband and I watched the V8 car racing today on telly, I stitched up the blocks for the Natalie Lymer bag pattern in this month's Homespun magazine. I used different thread colours than she did because I'm using my Snippets honey-bun, so brighter colours were in order.
Hopefully I'll have the bag finished by the end of the week, ready to be used through summer.

And what's this? Another sneak peek of something new in the Shabby Roses range...I promise, you'll love it!


Fiona at Mother's Cupboard has finished her version of my Shabby Roses quilt, in fact she finished it a couple of months ago because she graciously agreed to be my pattern tester.
She loved the design so much that she has made available a number of KITS to make the Shabby Roses quilt! The kit includes the complete paper pattern, and ALL fabrics for the quilt top! The photo below shows the fabrics she has chosen, and you can see her completed quilt top HERE on her blog.

If you aren't sure what fabrics to use, or you prefer to purchase kits to make quilts, then Fiona's shop is the place to shop. Don't forget to check the Gum Tree Designers blog in the morning for your 8th Monday Christmas Freebie! This week the surprise design is from Fiona!
~~~~~
It's Sunday night and the sun is just beginning to set, so I'm off to make some poached eggs on Vegemite toast for the family...lovely and simple, like us. :-)
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

Two new designs released AND A FREE OFFER!!

Thanks to all of you for your lovely comments about my design, "Hearts For Peg", published this month is Australia's "Creating Country Threads"!

For those who are not in Australia and are unable to purchase the magazine I have made up a PDF pattern pack for you to purchase. Included are a list of the materials needed, cutting instructions, photographic tutorial throughout, design template and comprehensive step-by-step written instructions.

PEG'S HEARTS - a PDF download pattern
$7.95 USD

Last month my design, "Peg Me!", an apron with detachable peg pocket, was published in Patchwork & Stitching magazine.

As this is also an Australian magazine, I am offering this pattern, too, for my non-Australian friends to purchase from today.

PEG ME! Apron ~ a PDF download pattern
$5.95

Both patterns are also available to purchase through my Etsy Shop.
~~~~~

SPECIAL weekend OFFER!!

Just until 10.30pm Sunday night, eastern Australian time, if you purchase PEG'S HEARTS, I will give you the pattern for the Peg Me! apron FREE!!

Just click on the PEG'S HEARTS 'Buy Now' button near the top of this blog post, and when your payment is made I will email BOTH patterns to you within 24 hours!
After 10.30pm Sunday this offer will no longer be available.

Now I need to get back to my stitching...something pretty and new for you in December!
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

Questions and Answers

Many questions arrive in my email box, or in comments, each morning. I thought it would be better to answer a number of them in one blog post, a sort of question & answer segment for the day, so no photos today, just words. ;-)

How many stitches per inch in your backstitch?

I had never thought to look until this question was posed, so I counted and measured a number of embroideries I've done and depending on whether I use 1, 2 or 3 strands of thread the number varies from 14 - 16 backstitches per inch.

What thread do you use for embroidery? Yours seem to have a lovely sheen.

I always use DMC Stranded Embroidery Threads, though recently I used Cosmo threads for the Milk Jug cover. The sheen comes from stitching slowly, not pulling the threads tight, and no gaps between stitches or lines of satin stitch.

What pencil or marker do you use to trace designs onto the fabric?

I have experimented with a number of pencils and pigma pens. The only one I use now is the Micron 01 in brown. Pencils will always slightly alter the colour of the thread as you stitch on the line because fine dust from the graphite (lead) is loosened into the thread as you pull it through the fabric, and I don't like that.
The Micron 01 is permanent, does not run, and is very fine, so no marks can be seen afterward if you stitch on the line.

What backing do you use on your stitcheries?
It all depends on how I intend to display the stitchery.
If it is for a quilt, like the Shabby Roses blocks, I use Whisperweft - it drapes beautifully, is soft and thin, and doesn't fluff when you bring the needle through. When the batting is added for quilting the Whisperweft won't add to the bulk making it excellent for pieced quilts.
If it is for a small wall-hanging, a cushion front or something small I may use cotton quilt batting - it's a dream to stitch through, and adds that 3D effect to the design, or I'll choose a medium weight iron-on Pellon if the item will be laundered regularly such as with a table runner.
Recently I trialled Parlan, which is incredibly lovely to stitch through but I haven't washed with it yet so am not sure how I will use it. I'll let you know when I've played a bit more.

How do you use variegated threads?
I do not use it as it comes off the skein. Variegated threads are gorgeous to work with, but there can be long lengths of thread that are almost one colour and may be too pale or too dark for the purpose I am using them, so I lay out the thread and cut my lengths about 14 inches long making sure I have a good progression of light to dark in each length. With the long lengths that are too light (or dark) I put them away and use them for other projects where a true variegation is not required.

~~~~~
I hope that helped with your queries.

Thank you for your concerns about Blossom. She ended up with a nasty migraine all day but woke this morning back to her old self again and able to attend the award assembly! It's lovely to see young ones bounce back so quickly.

Now, I must finish some redwork...and work on something new...and organise dinner...
Hugs
Jenny
xxxx

'Shabby' sneak peek, published again, and mail...

Look what arrived in the mail!
It's my box of Advent presents from Jeanette!
Now I have to sit and look at this bright and bubbly box in my sewing room, unopened, for the next two weeks! I knew there would be a down side to this Swap.
Jeanette's parcel from me has arrived at her door too, so we're both bursting with anticipation at the daily treats from each other through December. Thanks to Jo and Fiona for hosting the Advent Swap - wonderful idea!

Speaking of Swaps ~ earlier this year I signed up for Maree's Paper Bag Swap. The idea was to post off some fabric, threads and trimmings in a paper bag (with some chocolate!) to your swap partner and they were to make you something from them, then post the finished item back to you.
My partner was Peg, and she is a real sweetheart (look at her blog, she does gorgeous work)...I designed this for her, stitched it up and posted it off just as we were leaving Esperance to move across country.

Creating Country Threads magazine showed an interest in it, so I decided to remake it for them to publish but I altered it slightly so that Peg's was her very own 'original'. :-)
The latest issue of Creating Country Threads arrived in the mail this week and now you too can make 'Hearts for Peg"...

If those outside of Australia, or unable to purchase this issue of Creating Country Threads, would like to purchase this design please let me know in the comments and I'll do up a pattern pack this week for my Etsy Store. :-)
~~~~~
What are you going to make for yourself in the coming months? Are you like me and send most of what you make off to friends and family as gifts?
In the current issue of Homespun there is a gorgeous bag design from Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches, and when I saw it I knew I wanted my own version. At the end of the pattern instructions there is the supplier details for the lovely leather handles Natalie used - so guess what else arrived in the mail for me this week?
Yep, those leather handles!

I bought them from Studio Mio, and in the package they had added a little pack of fabrics - so cute!
I'll be using Snippets from Moda for my bag, because I love the fabrics, and also because the bag is made using a honey bun and I have one sitting on my shelf waiting for a purpose. It must have been destined for this. ;-)

Hmmm...can you guess which DMC thread is my favourite colour???

More mail goodies! Dawn, a fellow Gum Tree Designer, knows how much I *love* DMC 99.
News has been buzzing around that this is one of the colours DMC will be discontinuing so within hours of learning how frantic I was at being denied my precious #99 she planned her strike on the local Spotlight Store and armed with purse and babies she gathered 10 skeins off the rack, packed them with military precision and sent them off through the post to the opposite side of the country and into my waiting hands. Now, is that a friend or what?!

And of course, when one receives a gift like that one decides a new stitchery must be had to display the lovely and soon to be rare thread. So to my sketch pad I turned, then to tracing and fusing applique pieces...

...all ready to stitch now. Thank you darling Dawn!

And look at this sweet teaspoon another of my Gum Tree Designer sisters sent me! Vikki is a tea lover too, and when she saw this she knew it would bless me. It's too pretty to use of course so I have it in a gorgeous china bowl of lavender petals. Thank you darling Vikki!
(Vikki has a giveaway on her blog right now to celebrate her new designs!! You should hurry on over and enter because there are 3 double pattern packs to win!)

~~~~~

How are you going with your Shabby Roses quilt blocks? Have you caught up? All the blocks, 1 - 12, have been released, and if you haven't begun this quilt I really hope you do soon. It was a true labour of love to design and make, and an experience that I will always cherish.
On December 1st I will release the free quilt label design for you to download, as well as the quilt assembly instructions. Today, however, I'll give you a sneak peek of the label....

Blocks 10, 11, and 12 are available for free download until December 31st.

Blocks 1 - 9 are available to purchase in sets of three as PDF downloads I will email to you, through my Etsy Store.
Perhaps you prefer a paper pattern set? You can choose to purchase the complete printed pattern set with all instructions and photograph for free postage worldwide through my Etsy Store as well.

If you are Scandinavian, you can purchase the complete printed pattern set with all instructions and photograph, in your own language, from Maggi's Handmade in Sweden. Just click on the photo below to visit her store!
Maggi's Handmade
~~~~~

Today Blossom has been sent home from school with a very sick stomach so she's back in bed with the fan on to keep her cool. I pray she recovers quickly as she is going to receive an Academic Excellence award at the end of year Speech Day on Friday, so if you could offer a pray for her that would be most welcome. :-)

It's very hot here every day, but Bob-the-dog sits by the door at dawn when it's cool enough to have it open, and watches me as I sew through the sunrise...

...and the sun is rising high in the sky now, so I'll go make my Blossom a cool drink and sit close by and stitch while she rests. Bob-the-dog will be by our side, of course. My little shadow.

I'll do another post later today as there have been some questions asked that need answering.

Hugs
Jenny
xxx

Angel Swap received, Advent Swap posted, and some help with stitches...

Thank you sweet friends for all your lovely emails and comments over my recent bout of illness. I'm much better today, almost back to my old self again, but I am taking your advice and will be slowing down a bit from now on - I went through a bit of a silly season for a few months, and it was all for a good reason, but it's not the way to live all the time.
~~~~~
On Friday I received the parcel from my Stitchers Angel partner! It came all the way from Portugal and contained some extra surprises - a box of cappuccino mixes (all gone now!), Belgian chocolates (all gone too!), and lovely pyramid tea bags that Blossom and I are saving for our special afternoon teas.
Guarding my parcel of presents was this beautiful angel ornament!

My lovely Angel was Noemia, and you can see more of her work on her blog!
Inside the parcels were lovely handmade gifts ....

Thank you so much Noemia!! She has been reading my blog and knew how much I loved tea parties, cappuccinos, and Belgian chocolates so she spoiled me with a sweet tea cosy, and a tea pot mat, as well as the other goodies.
I love them all! :-)
~~~~~
I have been busy with some secret things things this week - more swap presents, and a special gift for a dear friend, but I've also begun a new set of designs. I did a lot of sketching early in November and now that I am almost caught up with the 'have-to' projects I can make time for my 'want-to' projects! This means all my lovely sketches can come to life in needle and thread at last.
As I was stitching this morning it occured to me that this is an opportunity to answer a question I receive regularly in emails and comments. We have chatted before about backstitch and the importance to take your time and not be afraid to unpick and re-do - the most recent blog post on this topic is HERE if you would like to read it - but today I thought it would be good to discuss satin stitch.
I love satin stitch, and for exactly the reason the stitch is so named - the satiny sheen it displays when done well.

Like a simple backstitch, satin stitch should be undertaken slowly and gracefully, too.
Rushing through your stitcheries will always give the project a less than pleasing appearance - and many of you have told me that is how you feel when you look at your finished work.
I talked about the gentle rhythm of stitching a good backstitch, taking time, not pulling the threads tightly but allowing the thread to always feel relaxed in your hands in the fabric - the same applies with satin stitch. Never 'pull' the thread, but guide it through the fabric and allow it to stop of it's own accord rather than tugging it at the end (which will cause puckering).

Make sure that every stitch is sitting right next to the one before - remember, don't do spaced stitches just to finish faster. If the stitches are all nestled together they take on that lovely satin sheen. It is better to take your time and do a lovely piece of work than to finish twice as many projects poorly. Stop after each stitch and look at it. If it does not look even or smooth, pull it out and do it again.

Just as there are no gaps between a good set of backstitches, there should be no gaps between your set of satin stitches. I hope I have encouraged you to slow down as you stitch. It is so worth it at the end.
I am not the best hand-stitcher in the world, but my goal with every project is to improve my skills. It's a good goal to have. :-)
~~~~~
My Advent Swap parcels are now winging their way to my partner, Jeanette, and hers are on their way to me. We chose to post our parcels a week later as we both live in the same state and looking at a parcel of surprises for almost a month before we could open them would have been torturous!
I didn't number her parcels, but wanted her to choose them as a daily lucky dip - and there is an extra one in there in case she has a rough day in December and needs an extra special surprise.
The main present is wrapped in Christmas fabric...you can never have enough Christmas fabric, can you!?

I'd better get back to my stitching. Blossom is sitting nearby studying for her end of year science exam tomorrow, so perhaps I'll make her a bowl of freshly sliced nectarines and some cheese squares before I sew...
Have a beautiful Sunday, and may God bless the work of your hands!
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

A bit unwell, buttons, and some things to tell you...

I've been feeling a bit poorly lately, or as my darling grandfather used to say "she was a bit crook", so I've been spending quiet time winding down and recuperating. My husband waved his finger at me and declared I needed time out, bless his heart, and that's the real reason I rested. He knows I will push till I drop so he steps in before I crumple.
In the middle of this week our sweet Slicer had his 17th birthday but he's such an easy going lad that the day's celebrations were also simple and slow - a good movie to watch, popcorn, chocolates, and his favourite dinner - my Lasagne. He didn't want a birthday cake, just a huge bowl of jelly (jello), peaches, and ice-cream, which was handled easily and enjoyed by all. How did that little waddling boy turn into this tall, gangly, hairy man so fast? Hold onto those boys of yours tonight and give them an extra cuddle - in the blink of an eye it seems they morph into men.

I'm responding to the easier pace of the days and feeling much better today. The downtime began on Sunday when Blossom and I decided we'd finally sort out the button bags...

All done! Now I just need to make pretty covers for the colour-filled bottles and jars, but I'm keeping all the blues and reds in slide out stackable draws.

What else have I been up to?
Here are a couple of gorgeous fabrics that are destined for a bag design...

...and I discovered another way to use my Moda Twill trim! This is on the pocket of a Christmas gift I finished stitching this morning.

What have you been doing for the November Trims Challenge? Have you found some interesting uses for your trims? If you have, please leave a comment and let me know - photograph it for your blog and I can share the link!
~~~~~

All the parcels for the Very Quick Christmas Fabrics, Buttons & Trim Swap should be posted no later than tomorrow, November 13th.
I have received a couple of emails from swappers who did not receive notification of their partner - I did send all my list, as did Vicki, but it seems some of my emails have gone astray! If you signed up and have not heard from me with your swap partner's details please email me immediately so I can re-send the information for you.
~~~~~

I would also like to clarify about orders for my design packs made through Etsy. Occasionally I receive emails from customers who have ordered a pattern wondering why they have not received it. Usually it is a simple mis-communication with the Etsy process - ordering through Etsy is not paying through Paypal. That is a separate transaction and you must do that 'after' you make your Etsy purchase. Paypal will send you an email receipt once the payment is made, which they also send me. As soon as I receive that receipt I email the pattern to the customer.
If you have ordered a pattern from me through Etsy, but have not received an email receipt from Paypal, then you'll need to revisit your Etsy account and follow through with the Paypal side of the transaction.

The other reason a customer may not think they have received their pattern from me is that it has been dumped in their Junk email box and is not noticed. This has happened many times, and always the dear customer feels foolish after sending me a reprimanding email about tardiness of delivery. Please, if you order from me make sure you check your Junk email box if the pattern has not arrived within the promised 24 hour period.
~~~~~

Robin asked about the Hummingbird Cake that I had the other day when out with Blossom. I made one a few years back and they are lovely, but do not have the recipe handy so I'm sharing this link with you, Robin.
Hummingbird Cake Recipe
It's made with banana, pineapple and coconut, and I have no idea why it's called that! :-)
~~~~~

And lastly, have you been loading photos of your finished Shabby Roses blocks onto the Shabby Roses Flickr Group?
Please do! It's lovely to see all the different fabrics being used - it completely changes the blocks and I find it so inspiring to look at what you have made!

Happy stitching days
hugs,
Jenny
xxxx

600th follower giveaway WINNER!!!

Who was the lucky winner of my 600th follower giveaway!?

Congratulations Jytte!!!!
I cannot access your profile so could you please email me with your address and this lovely parcel of delights will be winging your way!

The gorgeous tea cup and saucer from *that* shop...

...and a pretty tea bag wallet I made you this morning!

After all, you'll want to brew a nice cup of tea when the tea cup arrives!!

Thank you to all those who left comments and congratulations - you are the sweetest bunch of bloggers and I am blessed that you like to come visit and chat with me.
Now, I wish I had lots of these cups of tea to send your way but how about we all toddle off right now and brew our own favourite hot drink, then sit quietly for a minute or two and imagine we're all together under that big Fig Tree in my backyard? I'll be the one carrying trays of Rock Cakes for you to sample with your tea...

Lots of happy hugs
Jenny
xxx

Some pretties for next year, the Challenge, and some tea anyone?

Some gorgeous fabrics arrived in the mail this week. I took advantage of Fiona's sale and bought some Clementine for Blossom (she loves it so we're using it in a new bed quilt for her), and the rest of them will find homes displayed in lovely things for around the house, and in new projects from my 'Secrets" folder.

I also bought lots of gorgeous "Somerset Cottage" by Robyn Pandolph...I am totally in love with this line of fabric, and this is the second parcel of it I have bought in the last month. Of course, I'm in my blue phase right now so I bought the blues pack and some yardage, but Blossom was horrified when the first order arrived in the mail and it didn't contain any green for her...

...so this time I bought a greens fat quarter pack just for her!

The "Somerset Cottage" will be used in one of my Block of the Month designs for 2010. Has that aroused your interest??
~~~~~

Blossom and I had a lovely morning. We went for coffee and cake in a quaint little coffee shop that has wooden farmhouse-style tables and chairs in a breezeway between itself and various book and gift stores. I had Hummingbird Cake and she chose the Ebony and Ivory Cheesecake. We got to sit in the cool setting and catch up on those girl things we love to gush over without the boys at home butting in with guffawing male responses. It was wonderful! :-)

Afterwards we visited *that* shop to choose a gift for whomever wins my 600th follower giveaway on Monday. Now seeing as I tend to love having afternoon teas and Blossom and I only drink tea from a pretty tea cup, we decided on this as one of the prizes in the gift box....

It's beautiful, isn't it!? We thought you'd like it. It looks especially nice resting on some of my Somerset Cottage fabric.

I'll also make a little something to go with it, so if you haven't entered the giveaway yet, you'd best leave a comment quickly on THIS post.

While we were at *that* shop I also found something new for me. I know, I have no self-restraint in that shop!! But I think you'll agree it's just so lovely.

~~~~~

Now, how are you going with the November Trims Challenge!?
I discovered another way to use more of my Moda trim...

...how cute is that? And doesn't Blossom's pretty watch-modeling bring out that beautiful blue in the Somerset Cottage fabric. Sorry - I just really love this fabric!!

Oh dear, I am looking around my sewing room and it needs to be re-organised again! I'd best leave you to your cuppa and go do the right thing so I can play in here again tomorrow. I have bags of buttons in a rainbow of colours waiting to be sorted into little drawers. I think a little girl would enjoy that chore, don't you?

Oops, forgot to mention - ~thank you~ to the men who follow my blog!! I am so sorry I have not acknowledged you before. I am so excited that sewing and quilting is enjoyed not only across the globe, but across genders! If you are a guy who quilts please leave a comment here for me so I can enjoy your blog with my morning cuppa. I'd love to see your own creative works! :-)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

Paula's having a sale in her new blog shop!

My fellow Gum Nut Designer, Paula, has just started a blog-shop and is having a sale on her patterns! She's also just released a new pattern which is so funky and cute - and for those who don't hand stitch you'll be thrilled to know it's all machine sewn! You could whip up a few of these for Christmas gifts.
What is it? Well, you'll have to go visit Paula to see for yourself... ;-)

And have you visited Joy today? She's another Gum Nut Designer whose designs are beeeoootiful! She has just shared a photo of her latest creation and will be having a giveaway of the pattern very soon, so go visit her blog and don't miss out.

I'll be back later with some other things I've been doing...

Hugs
Jenny
xxx

Oh my gosh - 600 followers!!!

GIVEAWAY ENTRIES CLOSED!!



Ladies, you are AMAZING!!!

The counter just ticked over to 600 followers!
I have been watching all week as the number rose through the 590's...waiting and waiting...because as soon as it did I was going to surprise you all with a GIVEAWAY!!!

Paulette just asked me if the balloons would be decorating the blog and where are the whistles and confetti?!
Well, they're up now, Paulette! :-)

Leave ONE comment on this post and on Monday morning Australian East Coast time (Sunday night Northern Hemisphere) I will draw a winner.
The giveaway prize is a surprise, but let me just give you a hint and say ~ it is something from *that shop*!~

Now, let's partay!!!!!!
Pass the chocolate round, and fill those punch glasses everyone...
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

New version of recipe for US friends, mixed spice, and colouring...

Good morning all! :-)
This is just a quick little post to answer some questions, and to help you all make those Rock Cakes of mine.
Due to Aussies and Americans using different measures - we using Metric and you using Imperial - I made an extra copy of the recipe that includes Imperial measurements. It's listed in the Sidebar under "Cook With Me", or you can download from here - recipe for Rock Cakes with US Imperial measures
In case you like to make some recipes that appear in metric measure I thought I'd add this mini conversion list for you.
90g butter = 3 oz US
1 Metric cup = 1 1/4 cups US
1 Metric tablespoon = 4 teaspoons US

Many of you have asked what is Mixed Spice?
It is bought prepackaged in the spices section of your grocery store, and is a mixture generally containing cinnamon, coriander, ginger, cassia, pimento, cloves and nutmeg - however some brands may contain allspice, caraway and cumin as well. It is used with fruit and in cakes.


Our Caster Sugar is not confectioners sugar. Dear Stephanie let me know that it is your granulated sugar - Confectioners sugar is what we Aussies call Icing Sugar; it's very powdery and used, of course, for icing.
Caster sugar is very finely ground white sugar granules used for baking cakes, cookies etc. It dissolves faster than regular white sugar granules when you cream it with the butter in cake making.

Added NOTE: Just received an email from Sarah to tell me that our Caster Sugar is *extra fine sugar* in the US! Thanks Sarah!!
~~~~~
Thank you to the ladies who emailed me to warn about the danger of giving chocolate to dogs. I have heard that before, and wanted to assure you that our Bob only enjoys tiny morsels of Choc-chip cookies, and that's probably no more than once a month...however, to err on the side of caution is best, is it not? From now on I shall hide them from him and offer him some cookie crumbs without the choc-chips. Thank you for watching out for our Bob-dog!
~~~~~
I noticed a comment was left on our Gum Tree Designers blog asking for a tutorial showing how to colour-in on fabric, and one of us (probably very colouring-savvy Cheryl) will do a tutorial for you next year, but in the meantime I think you'll find Carrie has a good colouring tutorial if you're using crayons to colour. Cheryl uses Derwent colouring pencils, and I use Prismacolor, so perhaps we'll do two tutorials next year as her way needs a little more involvement from you than mine.

I'm off to shop for next week's Home Ec classes now, and then I have a secret project to return to...
Have a lovely day wherever you are,
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

Some days....

...when you've been working at something intensely for a while, you need to stop, go away, and do something completely different.
It's been pretty full-on here in the sewing room since last Friday when I agreed to supply 8-10 new projects for the magazine profile. I have loved putting my creative hat on and bringing my stitcheries to life as actual items, but today, with just two patterns left to write, I just needed a change of scenery.

I went to the kitchen.
It seems that with the amount of stitching being done lately, and the high temperatures inside certain areas of the house, my time in the kitchen has been less than satisfying. This morning, with a hour till Blossom and hubby popped in for their morning tea between classes, I put the oven on to heat and pulled ingredients for Rock Cakes from the pantry. Rock Cakes are a family favourite and so quick to make.
The one thing I had run out of though, was the vanilla sugar I sprinkle on top of the little cakes before I bake them! What could I do!?
With a twirl of my ponytail, Super Jenny appeared and got to work making her sweet Rock Cake veil!

Some caster sugar (I think its called confectioners sugar in the US?), and an organic vanilla bean...

...make a slit down the length of the vanilla bean, and scrape out the luscious vanilla paste from inside...

...drop it into the food processor with 2 cups of the caster sugar, and whizz like crazy!

The vanilla paste spreads through the sugar and the aroma is amazing!! Can you see the tiny dots of vanilla in the sugar now?

Fill the Vanilla Sugar jar...

...making sure you put the empty vanilla bean pod inside for extra flavour to spread through the sugar. I cut my bean in 3 pieces before I dropped it in.

If you leave it for a few weeks before using it again you will be intoxicated by the smell and taste when you open the jar!

All this time Bob-the-dog sat and watched me...no doubt wishing I were rustling up something yummy for him. (he's rather partial to triple choc cookies actually) When everyone is at school or work he does not leave my side, but sits at my feet wherever I am in the house. I call him my shadow. :-)

And here are my Rock Cakes, glistening with their vanilla sugar sparkles! From start to finish, the vanilla sugar and the Rock Cakes took me 40 minutes for two batches.

The best thing was having nice cuppa waiting for hubby and watching his and Blossom's wide grins when they saw what I'd made them.
By next week all my have-to's in the sewing room should be done and I can spend time making more lovely treats for the ones I love.

If you'd like to make my Rock Cakes you can download the recipe HERE.
~~~~~

It's been many months now since I did my last bit of cross-stitch, and I'd like to do another one over New Year, so I just bought this lovely design! Cindy Mae's Quaker Sampler - it's so pretty and I love that it's all one colour. I've never done a cross-stitch in just one colour, but as my kitchen is very retro red I thought I could frame it when I finish and hang it above my kitchen bench.
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On our Gum Tree Designers blog we've asked you what sort of tutorials you'd like to see us offer you next year. Have you left a comment yet? If there is something specific you'd like to see taught please leave a comment on THIS post and we'll see what we can do.
In the meantime, I found a wonderful blog that has a number of terrific tutorials that may be of help to some of you- Crazy Mom Quilts.
~~~~~

All my projects for the profile are now in the mail, and I have to admit I felt pretty nervous sending them all away from me, especially as one of them was my completed Shabby Roses quilt. It's a bit like sharing your babies...

Tomorrow I'll show you something new I've done with that Moda cotton twill tape!
Have you made anything with your trims yet? Remember the November Challenge is about using your stash of trims...
Hugs
Jenny
xxxx

A surprise, pretty projects, and another published design!

I've had a hard time coming up for air the past few days.
On Friday I was surprised by a phone call from Danielle, the editor of Creating Country Threads, asking me to be their Profile designer for an upcoming issue (you'll know if you read our Among The Gum Trees blog that Cheryl is the profiled designer in the current issue, and it's a wonderful read, plus you get to see lots of lovely things she's made!)...I was a bit shocked about being asked, but also I felt so incredibly blessed and humbled.
I love Creating Country Threads - it's always packed with lovely projects and not an issue goes un-bought in this house! It's quite goose-bumpy to find ones own name captured within the pages, and projects borne of my own imagination so beautifully photographed and presented. :-)
I appreciate Danielle having faith in me to be a regular amongst the other contributing designers.

Of course, there IS more to this story.
I need to make a number of original items for the photo shoot that goes with the profile article, and I need to have them posted this week. Have I ever told you how I work much better under pressure, and I design my best stuff when I have a migraine?? Odd, I know.

Fortunately I've always got a number of embroideries patiently waiting to find a home in an actual project so I rounded them up over the weekend and had a play! You already saw a few things HERE, but now there are some more.
This is the tree block from In My Garden, my favourite of the set! I have made it the feature in a pocket for a bag. The pocket is the perfect size for a small cutting board so I have a feeling this will be my new sewing tote. I call it "Save The Trees!" just because I totally love trees, especially those gnarly old ones that from a distance could be a 100 year old man, all bent over and withery. The green spot fabric has also been patiently waiting to be used. I adore it, and often just pull it off the shelf to stroke - it's from Tanya Whelan's 'Barefoot Roses' range and matched the fabric in the applique block beautifully.

And then I decided it was time to display the original Oopsie Daisies blocks! I used one on a cushion for Blossom's birthday back in May, but the rest have been peeping at me ever since, expectantly squealing with anticipation every time I walk by. Poor loves, it's been a long wait for them, but it was worth it I think you'll say!

Do you hand sew with a little pillow on your lap, where you can rest your hands while you stitch? I have ever since I stopped using a hoop. It also bring the embroidery up closer to me and makes it easier to see without my bending over my work. I used one of the Oopsie Daisy blocks to make a new sewing pillow for myself - it has lavender sprinkled all through the pillow stuffing so the warmth of my hands as I sew releases the lavender fragrance. Now, that will add to my calmness as I stitch! Then I used another of the blocks to make a matching pin cushion, and the third block I used to make a pouch for my sewing glasses!

They are so much prettier close-up but I think you'll agree they look lovely in their new display. :-)
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After three months of gracing the pages of Creating Country Threads this month I have a project in another Express Publications magazine - Patchwork & Stitching!
I'm a bit of a retro girl when it comes to the kitchen or the laundry, so I made this fun peg apron, aptly named Peg Me!
You can wear the apron in the kitchen because the peg bag unbuttons!
When you need to go out and hang up your washing you simply button on the peg bag full of pegs and you'll never need to bend over, or reach up to, that peg basket again. You see, that's where the idea came from - it's SO much easier having the pegs right there in front of you, and when you finish pegging up the clean clothes you can unbutton the bag from the apron and go back to work mixing up those chocolate brownies for afternoon tea!

Well, now you know what I've been up to the past few days....and I'd better get back to it! I still have a few more things to get done. I also have three swaps to post off over the next two weeks - where DID the time go?!

How are going with the November Challenge?
I'll have something cute I made to show you in the next day or so...

Hugs
Jenny
xxx