There is a change a'comin'...

The December issue of Elefantz Home has now been emailed to all subscribers. On a wing and a prayer this was, thanks to the help of my trusted proof readers and daughter Kezzie. xxx

It is also available HERE as a single purchase.

As a Christmas gift from me to you, this issue is priced lower than usual at just $6 USD, and contains 7 projects. xx 

This is only a short blog post, as I still need a few more days break to get things sorted out for our impending house move on December 16th.

It seems we're not leaving Townsville after all - Mr E and I made an 11th hour decision to stay here for another year. Blossom will be again be living with us for this next year and is thrilled to have her own little granny flat under our new rental. Good news all round. 

In this new issue of Elefantz Home I've put my heart on the line sharing personal reasons for the new direction my magazine and designs will head in 2014. These last twelve months have seen some of the hardest times my family has had to face, and the weight of that has taken its toll.

I've prayed a lot, and I've searched my soul.

I think next year you will see the true depth of who I am as a woman, wife, mother, nana, and friend - as well as designer.

I pray next year brings me back to my roots; my home. I pray I bless you along the way.

Today Blossom and I had an early morning breakfast at a cafe in the city, and reminded ourselves what was most important in life. God, family, friends, joy, love. She is a blessing.

The coffee was good too.

See you next week,

Jenny

Absent to breathe...

Princess Sophie kept me company during my quiet time this morning...

I am hanging on with all my heart to these dawn quiet times with the Lord. As we enter this Advent season, my life is pushing and pulling me from all sides and I am weary of body, mind and soul. I see so many changes around me, so many deadlines - and it takes all I have within me to lift my eyes up to Him and His strength, and not down to my lack of it.

And He is faithful.

I've decided to be absent from the blog for a week whilst I ponder what's important and nourish my soul.

I have the new e-zine still to write, but with a clear mind and rest I can do it by Friday, 'God willing', as Nana used to say. If not, it may be a couple of days late, but I think you will forgive me...

If you need a breather this week too, find a way to take it.

Say 'no' to external things that really are not necessary, and say yes to time out for a re-gathering of your thoughts; time to set life aside and remember what is truly good and nourishing to your soul.

Fill your empty spaces with the peace that surpasses all understanding, and don't feel guilty. I'm praying for you...

till next week

Jenny

We've got a lovely bunch of coconuts....

Earlier this week Mr E and Blossom set to relieving the coconuts from the palm tree at our front door.

We use the coconut water for our vegetable blasts (juices) each day, and whilst we're still in this house we're making the most of our coconut bounty!

Mr E drilled the holes and Blossom extracted the water...

After a while, with still so many coconuts on hand, Blossom decided she'd strip the outer husk on some and keep the hard shelled coconuts for later...

 

She had quite a workout!

And finally success!

One coconut later...

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts with our venturing off to look for a new rental home.

We found one!

Actually, we looked at the outside of the house on Wednesday, and went back today for a tour inside. It's small, and it's just right for Mr E and I. 

It's 150 kilometres south west of here, back in Charters Towers where we used to live from 2009-2011.

You see, we're small town people at heart, and going back to the slower country life suits us.

The house even has rose bushes, and two raised beds in the back yard for a vegetable garden!

We've put in an application and as long as the owners are okay with us having a cat (a dog is fine) we can sign a lease and move in before Christmas.

This will be our 20th move in 22 years.

That's 20 houses in 12 towns and 4 states. Just thinking about packing up again has me exhausted!

But, we're ready to stay put this time. Praying God has that plan too.

hugs

Jenny

Coming in the December 6th Elefantz Home e-zine...

The next issue of Elefantz Home is geared for the boys and men in your life!

That may be sons, grandsons, husbands, fathers, brothers - or just a guy who means a lot and you'd like to bless him with something hand-made that isn't girlie.
I've tried to keep things simpler this month, so you'll find interesting use of quilt blocks, basic hand quilting,  the use of small ties in place of some machine quilting, and gifts that can be put together in a day.

"Peppermint Aero Cushion"

(Blossom named it because the fabrics reminded her of a peppermint chocolate Aero bar!)

"Dee's Trinket Pouch"

(perfect for little boys who like to carry tiny toys in the pockets!)

"A Gift from Heaven"

(simple heirloom baby quilt - could be made in any colour scheme for boys or girls)

"Goblins" quilt

(teenage boys, especially gamers, would love this!)

"Dinnertime" placemats

(simple gifts for any age ~ perfect to make for a family you love!)

"Winter's Fellow"

(he thinks he's the star of the magazine this month, and though I've made him as a mini quilt, you could stitch him onto a larger quilt, or a cushion)

And just because I can't resist having something flowery and girlie in my magazine, there is also the pattern for my new "Hidden Bow Tie" runner...

Also in this issue we'll have our very first "Kezzie's Corner"!

My daughter Kezzie is chatting with us about raising boys, and being the only female in her male dominated home...

If you've ever wanted to dig deeper and get to know what makes me tick, you're going to love my reverse interview this issue!

My gorgeous and quirky friend Vikki of Sew Useful Designs sat on the opposite side of my interview table this month and threw some curly questions my way. She's got hidden interviewing skills indeed...

This issue will be published on December 6th.

All information about purchasing this or any of the previous issues can be found HERE.

We're back to house hunting...
...have a marvellous weekend!

hugs

Jenny

"Sundaisy" - the next Daisy Days block!

It's time for the seventh block in my Daisy Days BOM!

...SUNDAISY...

The block has been emailed to all subscribers.

It's also available HERE in my Craftsy Shop as an instant pdf download, or HERE in my Etsy Shop as a paper pattern purchase.

Wow, this BOM has moved along so quickly! There is only one more block after this one.

If you haven't started this block of the month yet, but would like to, there is still time. All the blocks are available in either pdf format HERE or paper format HERE.

The finished quilt has eight stitchery blocks, and ten pieced quilt blocks...

Every day is a daisy day!

Have fun stitching!

hugs

Jenny

A little boy and a fellow...

This week I've kept busy finishing the projects for the December issue of Elefantz Home.

Today I stitched down the binding on "Winter's Fellow", my final mini quilt in the 'Seasons in Rework' set...

...and turned these lovely cotton drill fat quarters...

...into a little trinket bag for my grandson Deegan!

There are three little pockets across the front, and an easy velcro closure so his sweet 5 year old fingers can open and close the bag without help from mum Kezzie...

The handles are made from soft cotton twill, reinforced with a red striped canvas ribbon.

Perfect for tough 5yo boy use!

On Friday I'll share pics of all the projects you'll find inside the December 6th issue!

Tomorrow Mr E and I will spend the day looking for a new rental we can move to in the New Year.

We'd love it if you'd pray for us to find the 'right' house. Tomorrow is also the release of the next block in my Daisy Days BOM - "Sundaisy". I'll have it emailed out to all subscribers, and in the shop for single purchase, by Thursday evening. 

Big day ahead so I might just pop off to bed early tonight.

sweet dreams, my friends

Jenny

a "bow tie" block tutorial...

I love making small, simply pieced quilt blocks, and using them in my projects.

Today I made four 6.5 inch 'bow tie' blocks for a pattern that will feature in my next e-zine.

I thought you may like to see just how simple this block is!

I began with three fabrics from my Tilda stash...

To make one 6.5 inch bow tie block, you will need to cut...

 

Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other across the back of the four, 2" blocks...

Lay the 2" blocks face down on the right top corner of the four, 3 1/2" squares...

Sew a seam along the traced lines with your machine...

Measure out a 1/4" from the sewn line and with your rotary cutter remove the excess from the corner square...

Press the triangular flap back and you've made a new square...

Make another three squares the same way, and position them to make your block as shown below...

Sew all four squares together and you have one 'bow tie' block!

Make as many as you like, and by turning them different ways you'll see there are a few different settings for your quilt or project.

I made four 'bow tie' blocks, and here are the three layouts I played with...

These four blocks took me about 45 minutes to cut, photograph each step, and put together.

Imagine how many blocks you could make in a day!? Choose some favourite fabrics from your stash and you'll have a quilt top by evening. 

But me? I'm doing something a little different...

 

hugs

Jenny

Friends and daughters...

Today was sewing day with the girls, and our foursome grew to six because two daughters joined in and made it even more fun! 

My girl Blossom and Heather's girl Barb...

Blossom and Barb both had days off work and to make it even better, it was Barb's birthday!

See the set of three little baskets in front of her? Wendy made them! Aren't they the cutest things?

It must have been the day for baskets because I made one for Barb too!

(tutorial HERE)

 Michelle had been busy baking and for morning tea she served us Eccles Cakes. I had never tried them before and have always wanted to - truly, they were delicious!

But Michelle did not stop there!

Now you might think all we did was party and eat, but we really did sew for a while...in between the continual laughing and talking, that is.

 I guess it all looked fun from outside because Michelle's dogs, Missy and Nikki seemed anxious to come inside and get involved...

To prove we really did achieve some stitching here is a run down of everyone's individual projects...

Another day of sore sides from laughing so hard, and full bellies from Michelle's kitchen -  but the photo of the day has to be this one!

There is nothing quite like a day spent with good friends and beautiful daughters.

hugs

Jenny