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!!!

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.
~~~~~

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. :-)
~~~~~

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

Giving in so many ways....

One of the BEST things about being able to design lovely things is bringing joy and gifts to those we care about, and those who need joy and care. Most of the time we make things for our loved ones, a child's teacher, a swap, or ourselves...but not everyone has a friend who can sew. Not everyone has access to something that isn't just beautiful to look at and hold, but bears the evidence of someone's time and care woven into it.

Can I ask you to do something special this month?
Would you make just one lovely gift and donate it? Perhaps a local charity have a Christmas Drive to collect new gifts for underprivileged families? Maybe your church does a similar thing, or there is a group you are involved with that might be looking for a way of giving at Christmas? What about your local patchwork group - perhaps all of you could stitch an item from our Gum Tree Designers Monday freebies and raffle them off in a basket? The money could help the local soup kitchen perhaps.

And don't forget the aged care facilities...I used to work in one and I think that was where I was able to give the most joy. So many wonderful men and women live out their last years in such places and never see a visitor. That used to bring me home in tears most days. Being a warm hand to hold and arms to embrace them was such a small gesture to me, but mighty to them. Why not get together now and begin putting together gifts for your local nursing home? Visit them with carols and presents, but mostly with your heart.
~~~~~

Today is my turn to be the bearer of the Gum Tree Designers Monday Christmas Freebie!
This is my scrummy, yummy, "Festive Jenny-Pocket"!!

Okay, I know the real term is penny-pocket, but, a penny-pocket is small - just big enough to fill with sweets or a small gift. My "Festive Jenny-Pocket" is BIG and able to hold larger gifts, or a lot of small ones at once! The added advantage with this project is that if you like to machine piece, but don't hand embroider, you can still make the Jenny-Pocket and hang a bought charm or ornament on the button! :-)

It is 18 inches long, and 13 inches wide, and you'll need 3 fat quarters to make it. Do you like the little button ornament?

You could make a few of these little ornaments and give them as gifts to hang on Christmas trees. In my Christmas Package In Stitches I have included 4 small designs that would be perfect for these button on ornaments. Many of you bought that set of designs in my recent sale so why not consider using them on this as well.
The pattern for the Jenny-Pocket can be downloaded HERE, or follow the link on the Gum Tree Designers blog!
~~~~~

Now I must go. I have another idea for that cotton tape Challenge for November!
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

November Challenge!

I'd like to say thank you to all who enjoyed my 48 hour Etsy sale! Wasn't that so much fun?!! I enjoyed chatting with so many of you who bought pattern packs - it was encouraging from a designing stand-point to hear of your enthusiasm for them!

Now what are you going to make with your Seasons stitcheries I wonder?? Today I used my Winter one to make a Winter Recipe book...

...it's seemed like such a clever idea to have all my favourite winter recipes in one book.

Now I will be making a Summer, Spring and Autumn recipe book as well! And I think a Christmas one would be a good idea...hmmm...I feel a design coming on. Remind me about that next week will you? ;-)

~~~~~
Now, the Challenge for October is over. There were no giveaways because it was a very personal challenge - to look with fresh eyes at out houses and see what we could do to make them feel more of a home. If you've been following my blog you will have seen a number of projects I completed around the home, but I intend to keep challenging myself for the rest of the year to keep working on those touches here and there to beautify our living environment. What about you? How did you go with this challenge in your home?

It's November now, and a new Challenge to be had! Remember when I showed you these?

I have been 'collecting' them every time I buy a fat quarter bundle, a layer cake, a Jelly Roll...they just pile up and I hate wastage so I pop them in a zip-lock bag for one day.
Well, girls, one day has arrived. It's the 1st of November and I have used them in a project to kick start the Challenge!
Finally, I did something with my original Garden Set designs...don't they look so cute as a bunting!? If you click on the photos you can see a much larger view of them.

But look at what is threaded through the little blocks!

Yes...it is the Moda cotton tape!

I put little hanging sleeves behind them and threaded it through. It's fantastic for this purpose because they do not slide along - the cotton has grip so you can separate the blocks as far apart as you like and they do not slip.
I have more ideas for using the rest. What about you? Do you have any of this lying around that needs to be used? Or perhaps you've already had your brainwave and given them a purpose - would you share with us what you did?
Now I'm not restricting this Challenge to cotton tape! I think the Challenge should be about using all that trimming we seem to accumulate - ribbons, lace, other cotton tapes etc. So lets call it the NOVEMBER "TRIM MY TRIMMINGS" CHALLENGE!
Let's see if we can lower that surplus we've got stored away and make some cute things along the way.

Righto! I'm off now to watch Blossom in the school Play-off...the six school houses all have a 12 minute play and the teacher vote at the end for the winner! Exciting stuff.

Hugs
Jenny
xxx

SHABBY ROSES ~~ Blocks 11 and 12 ~~

This is quite a big day for me - today I share with you the final blocks in my Shabby Roses Quilt BOM!
I was only going to share block 11 this month, but I know many of you are struggling to keep up with swap commitments and Christmas gift sewing, as well as your own. By sharing both blocks today I hope to give you that little bit of extra time to finish the quilt if you are making it as gift.

I also have another reason!
Next month I will share the complete quilt assembly instructions, AND a gorgeous Shabby Roses quilt label to stitch to the back of your quilt when you're done. :-)

But enough news, I think you'd like to see the blocks? The colours have turned out very pink in the photos, but you can see the true colours in the full quilt photos below them.

Block 11 ~ INSPIRE ~

Block 12 ~ ROSES ~

Do you like them? Inspire became my favourite block in the quilt, because I find so many wonderfully inspirational things to nourish my soul between the pages of a book.
~~~~~
And what does the finished quilt look like?
If you click on the photos below you will get a much larger view of the completed quilt.

~INSPIRE~ can be downloaded HERE
~ ROSES ~ can be downloaded HERE

Remember that we have a Shabby Roses Flickr Group, and there are many completed blocks by other stitchers already shared for you to look through. Perhaps you'd like to upload your own? Go on, we'd love to see them!
~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't forget to sign up through either Vicki or myself for the "Very Quick Christmas Fabric, Buttons & Trim Swap"! You must have registered with us by November 6th, and have your swap parcel containing *2 fat quarters of cotton quilting quality Christmas fabric * 2 Christmas buttons OR sew on decorations * 1 metre (yard) ribbon or trim, ready to post by November 13th!
You can email me by clicking on my profile in the sidebar and using my email button.

~~~~~

Have you caught up with the news from The Gum Tree Designers? Our November newsletter post is on the blog now, and tomorrow you'll be able to download the next Monday Christmas Freebie!
~~~~~

Have a joyous day my friends ~ remember to enjoy the process of weaving your time into the lives of those who love you, and stop occasionally to count your blessings one by one....

Hugs
Jenny
xxx

About needles and backstitch...

Dearest friends, as indeed you are, thank you for the lovely emails and comments over the last few months with regards to my neat backstitch. Many of you have asked "how" do I keep my stitches so tiny and tidy, and what needles do I use, so I thought we could chat about that today.

When I first began stitching in 2005 it was like being bitten by a mosquito...I just couldn't ignore the itch the stitch! My husband had a temporary teaching position in Armidale and because it was only for a few months we moved into a tiny cabin at the local caravan park. I was homeschooling the children (aged 11 and 12 at the time) and it was mid-winter - icily cold in the Southern Highlands! We would crack the ice off the inside walls of the cabin each morning, and wait until about 10am for the water in the taps to thaw so we could shower and cook. Lots of fun! ;-)
To keep myself occupied after their lessons I had taken up sewing small blocks and embroideries. My sewing machine, previously only ever used for hemming curtains or skirts, was packed in storage with most of what we owned, so everything I made was hand-stitched while living in that cabin. This was all new to me and I loved the beauty created by my fingers through the designs I stitched from craft magazines bought, or borrowed from the local library. Mostly this was backstitch, and my stitches were simply exquisite.

When we eventually moved away and into a house again I was able to use the sewing machine at last, and discovered how quickly I could make items without hand sewing all those seams! This was wonderful, BUT, over time I began to rush through projects, wanting to do more and more faster and faster...and those lovely backstitches weren't so lovely any more. My applique stitches were getting larger and larger in my attempt to finish items quicker in order to start on new ones. How sad.

Last year I decided it was time to slow down and enjoy the journey with needle and thread once more, and soak in every stitch. I began to breathe slower and to relax my shoulders...I looked with new eyes at my work and was not afraid to unpick a row of hand-stitching to re-do over again. I started to take pride in my workmanship in a way I had not done previously.

I experimented with different needles, and found I loved the long slim ones but they bent easily and some would even break in my fingers. Eventually I found myself returning again and again to these ones...

...easily found, the lovely Birch Size 9 embroidery needle. They never let me down.

Added note: Kim asked if I used a hoop when I stitch, and I appreciate her prompt because I have been asked that before and forgot to answer on the blog.
No, I never use a hoop. When I was rushing through my embroideries I had to use a hoop because when you rush you pull, then you pucker the fabric...but I have not used a hoop for the last year. Since I took care with the stitching and slowed down to enjoy the process and rhythm of the needle and thread working together with the fabric I have had no need of a hoop. The stitches are gently woven into the fabric and I can see that I have no need to pull or tighten. As I relaxed, the stitches relaxed with me.
~~~~~

Diane asked, "Do you only use one thread for letters?"
No, Diane. I use one thread for certain things like the string of lights on this Christmas tree, where I'd like the finish to look as though I drew it.

On these stitcheries I used two threads...

...but on these stitcheries I used 3 threads.

I find that the fabric used has a lot to do with how many strands I use - the two photos above where I used 3 strands were stitched on Osnaburg which has a very open weave and needs to have a thicker embroidery line.
I hope that has helped?

And finally, this was the thought of the day for October 29th, but I can't turn the page yet because it is speaking to me, right where I'm at, so I need to read it often during the day.

It also speaks into this little lesson about stitching...don't hurry the stitches. Enjoy the process, love what you do, and be at peace as you sew.

Love and hugs
Jenny
xxx

Only 30 hours left for the sale, and do you feel like a SWAP?

Are you enjoying the ELEFANTZ sale on Etsy?! It has been such a busy shop these last 18 hours! Thank you for shopping with me. :-)
I have been joyfully emailing your designs all over the world - I feel a bit like cyber-Santa, even have some cookies and chocolate milk sitting here at my 'parcel' station to fuel my fingers on this keyboard. So much fun!!
Only 30 more hours till the sale is over....remember all patterns in my Etsy Store just $5 or less right now - and that's a saving of up to $8 on some sets!!
~~~~~

The mail is delivered to our pigeon-hole at the school office every morning, and after I'd done the grocery shopping for the Home Ec Dept I rushed over to see if any goodies had arrived (I'm excitedly waiting for a parcel from my Secret Angel)...well, that parcel was not there, BUT, another one was!
The gorgeous and talented Barb, from Barb's Creations, had sent me one of her beautiful journal covers!

Isn't it scrummy!!?? It holds an A5 sketch pad, perfect to keep by my bed for those midnight design ideas!
The stitchery is Barb's very own design and I LOVE it!!
I *think* she may just share it with you if you pop over to her blog and ask nicely....
Thank you darling Barb!! {{{hugs}}}

~~~~~

Now - are you finding all those swaps you've signed up for are keeping your stitching fingers working overtime??
How about a Swap where you don't have to stitch a single thing?
A Swap that is small, can be posted cheaply, and will add something new to your stash?

Well, Vicki and I are hosting it!

This is the "Very Quick Christmas Fabric, Buttons and Trim" Swap!

All you have to send are these:

*TWO fat quarters of Christmas themed 100% cotton quilting quality fabric,
*TWO Christmas buttons OR sew-on decorations,
*and ONE METRE (yard) of Christmassey ribbon or trim!

If you'd like to participate email Vicki or I with your details BEFORE Friday 6th November. As I said, this is a quick Swap...7 days to sign up!
Once we have your names we will email you your partner's details - then you have just 7 days to post your little package!!

Yes, 7 days to sign up, then 7 days to post. There is no stitching involved so this will be a quick Swap to do before Christmas. :-)

To email me simply click on the sidebar for my profile - my email address is on that page.

Hugs,
Jenny
xxx

My Stitchers Angel got her parcel!!

It's so exciting when your swap partner contacts you to say they have received their parcel!
My partner was Nannette in Salt Lake City, and these are the gifts I made her.....

...a bag to hold all her patterns with my Country Roses Heart embroidered on the front, a notepad holder with my Country Roses Blessings Basket to pretty it, a set of my Roses coasters (free Roses design available here), some Australian wildflower fabric, and an Australian wildflower stationary set, with matching writing pad inside the notebook cover.
Nannette was very pleased with her parcel of stitched goodies, and THAT is the most beautiful thing - putting a smile on someone's face. :-)
~~~~~

Both my Country Roses designs used in these gifts are on sale right now in my Etsy Store.
Only 36 hours left till the prices go back up to normal! :-)
~~~~~

Drop by later today....Vicki and I have cooked up something quick and fun for you to be a part of. ;-)
I wonder what it could be????
For now though, I need another warm tea as I am still fighting this head cold....

Hugs
Jenny
xxx

I'm having a 48 hour sale on Etsy!!!

It's almost the end of October - where has this year gone!?
I wondered today what I could do for you, as an end of year gift...and I thought, have a really GOOD sale!!!
So I am!

Every gorgeous PDF download design set in my Etsy Store is only $5 for the next 48 hours!!!
(and there's a couple of designs that are even cheaper than that!)

$5 - now that would buy me a coffee and a cookie - gone in 5 minutes.

But $5 for any of these design packs....

... well, they'll last longer than a coffee and cookie! And there are MORE design sets in my Store too!!!

I even have my triple packs of Shabby Roses designs at $5! If you haven't started this quilt yet, now is the time to start!

Remember, this is only for the next 48 hours and then all sets revert to their original prices of between $8.95 and $12.95!
You can start shopping just by clicking HERE!

~~~~~
One of the pattern sets in my Etsy Shop that you can purchase is the In My Garden/Window To My Garden design pack. Allie has just completed her own version of my designs in these really funky colours and I LOVE them!!!
Remember, this design pack is a staggering low and affordable $5 for the next 48 hours - that's less than 1/2 price!

Happy days stitching!
(and shopping)
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

Sneak peeks, Blossom designs, and the possums...

My week began with the 12th Graders Home Ec class, making Beef Roulade. These young women are just gorgeous and I feel so blessed to spend time with them each week - they embrace me with their hearts and that makes the lesson an ever richer experience for me.
I'm helping teach the same recipe to Blossom's 10th grade class tomorrow, so as bonus practice for her we made it together this evening for our family meal - it was simply wonderful. She is slowly adding recipes to her repertoire for making over the December/January summer holidays. Last week it was Chicken Parmigiana, and next week it's Coconut Chicken Curry, so we're going to have a REALLY good menu plan for those two months! :-)

Speaking of food, Maggie and her baby, Charli, feasted on tomatoes and grapes tonight. You can't see in the photo, but my husband calls the time they arrive for dinner "bat o'clock', because the sky above is almost black with a blanket of bats, flying from their caves in the hills to eat the fruit from the hundreds and hundreds of mango trees that fill the streets and yards of our little town. I wish my camera were good enough to get them on film for you - it's an amazing sight!

Blossom has been creating.
She designed these little embroideries a few weeks back. After she stitched them they were passed along to me to 'do something with'. Ah, she has such confidence in her mother!! ;-)
Tonight I began working on that 'something', and it's quite cute, but I have a few more things to add to it before I can show you the finished project. Aren't they the sweetest little designs?

And of course, I've been creating myself....

...I hope to finish it tomorrow.
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I'm discovering that I really need 'time out' sewing. That's sewing things that are not my designs - things that are just totally stress-free and thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish, things that I am not questioning myself 'will they like this?'.
At the moment that special time-out is the "Sewing Circle" BOM from Robyn Allen-Waters that I've mentioned before. Here's what I did last night on the first block...

What are you sewing at the moment?
Do you give away most of what you make, or do you make sure you keep most of your work in your home?
I thought I'd ask because Blossom mentioned that I give too much away and she wants me to make more things that stay at home - things she can cherish when she's older and has children of her own to tell stories to about her sewing-crazy mother. Gosh, I love that child.

I think she makes a good point,though...what do you think?

Hugs
Jenny
xxx

PS: Don't forget to visit the Gum Tree Designers blog every Monday for our free Christmas designs! Today the 4th design was uploaded and it's gorgeous!

When a house becomes a home....

Challenging myself to makeover our new lodgings this month has been wonderful. We've officially been here 14 weeks tomorrow, but I was pretty slow to make this fairly run-down, generic, school-supplied accommodation *ours*. So much was happening in our life that I kept pushing it to the back of my mind, having that 'one day' conversation with myself.
Fortunately, I began reading a beautiful book that encouraged my mind to imagine the home of my dreams...not the house of my dreams, the *home*. There's a huge difference, and it's becoming evident with each day of October passing that this house is transforming, finally, into a place of welcome, rest, and nourishment of the soul. I still have a ways to go, but the journey has begun and it brings me such joy to traverse it. :-)

After I stitched the 'Life Is Special' door hanger there was quite a bit of Osnaburg leftover so I stitched Vikki's 'House In The Country' design on a piece, and today it too has become a sweet lavender filled hanger!

I added some cute prairie points to the bottom - very country! :-)

We do live in the country, so the sentiment is quite appropriate.
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Tomorrow I hope to be making some more door stoppers. A few people have asked for a tutorial on a number of projects I've made recently, so over the next month I hope to do them - but first up I'll do the door stopper because I need them! :-)

I also sketched more designs today, which means I'm going to have another BOM to share with you in 2010! Hope you're excited about that - I am!

It's Saturday night so I think I'll run along now and enjoy it with my darling man. He's caught my head cold and nasty throat and I'm keeping him supplied with honey & lemon teas, jelly and custard, and cold drinks - but he doesn't want to try the brandy/milk/honey remedy (I don't blame him!).

Happy stitching days!
Hugs
Jenny
xxx