Beautiful people...

I hope you enjoy these photos of my Sunday at Let's Get Stitched in Melbourne.

The function room at Rydges Bell City was packed with women from all over Australia and New Zealand...

There were seven designers on the day.

Dawn Hay, Joy Coey, Vickie Tucek, Fiona Ransley, Marilyn Duncan, myself, Vikki Collumbine and Rosalie Quinlan...

And so many gorgeous gals ready to stitch!

 

Meeting so many readers of my blog face-to-face and hug-to-hug, was incredible!

I was bowled over by their kindness, exuberance, fun, and individual talents. I prayed with some, listened to others, laughed with many, and shared my own life with a few who simply stole my heart.

Everyone was 'authentic' and full of excitement about everything!

I had fun. Really had fun.

Most of the other designers who tutored and shared new designs on the day are personal friends of mine, but apart from two (Rosalie and Joy) I'd never met them face to face before!

Rosalie and I met back in 2012 on holiday in Cairns (it was so good to catch up with this gorgeous gal once more), and Joy and her sweet man Darryl met up with Mr E and I last year for the best pub dinner when we travelled down to Brisbane to pick up Luigi and begin our road trip home with him.

But though I've been friends with Dawn and Fee and Vikki and Vickie for over five years, this was the first time we'd ever 'met' for real. I was in happy heaven, but I think you can tell that from this photo of Dawn, Fee, Rosalie and me...

 

 Sunday afternoon we had a bit of a photo shoot session - what wonderful memories of these girls that I love!

Years ago I 'adopted' Vikki as my little sis, and finally getting to spend time with her was a dream come true for both of us - in fact we even shared a room so there were a couple of 3am mornings spent chatting away with our other lovely roomie Wendy over cups of tea before literally forcing ourselves to get some shut-eye!

Vikki and I...

Dawn and I...

Fee and Dawn...

Joy and Dawn...

 

Joy and Vikki...

Vicki and I...

We six were all part of the Gum Tree Designers back in 2009-2011, knowing each other only via emails. Over the years a few would meet up at various times BUT at last, we all met face to face at the same time! We've waited a while for this and a huge blessing it was for each of us.

Love these girls so darn much. They made my time in Melbourne a memory for life. xxx

 Fee, Vickie, Joy and Dawn have organised 'Let's Get Stitched' on the long weekend in March for three years now, and next year they will hold it in Brisbane with Joy as the 'host'.

For more information follow their LGS page HERE and when the time is getting closer information will be available. You'll have the time of your life, I promise.

 

 Later in the week I'll show you photos of the gorgeous designs each of us shared with the ladies on the Sunday, but right now I'm still trying to catch up on all that missed sleep...see you soon.

....zzzzzzzzzzz...

hugs

Home again, home again, jiggity jig....

This is just a quick post to say I'm back from the BEST weekend in Melbourne at Let's Get Stitched!

My sides are still aching from the laughter; my legs are aching from running (soooo funny); and my heart is bursting with love for every single gorgeous heart I met 'for real'.

Putting faces to names that I only know through my blog comments or emails was 'incredible', and never have I been made to feel so welcome. 

Truly, truly, this time away was a gift.

Today I'm going to do the washing, shop for food, prepare food, and then collapse on the couch with some stitching...everything else can wait for another day. 

Right now, exhaustion is upon me in the very nicest of ways. Life is good.

Over the rest of the week I'll share photos of the fun, the faces, the projects. 

So much WOW, you'll love it!

hugs

Sunday Scripture ~ Jeremiah 33:3

This should give you goosebumps.

How great is our God?!

hugs

Ginger Slice - my gluten free version...

A couple of weeks ago I was back in the kitchen again playing around with recipe modifications to turn a family favourite from wheat based, to gluten free.

I'm pleased to say that it was huge success, and not just by Mr E, Blossom and my standards, but Heather also gave it the thumbs up when she dropped by and offered to taste-test as well!

Let me share this beauty with you...

GINGER SLICE with dates and lemon

This GF version has more of a cake-ish texture than the original wheat recipe, but it's still rather delish.

Download my recipe HERE.

If you like thinkers, why don't you drop by Mr E's blog over HERE for a visit. He has 'real' food for thought'.

Two more sleeps and I'll be flying home to Mr E, Blossom, Princess Sophie and Bob-the-dog.

I miss them. xxx

I have mentioned that I'm a homebody, haven't I?

hugs 

Show & Tell from my readers...

It's a real blessing to receive photos of my designs that others have made, so please enjoy the work of their hands...

Gunn Vage is quite prolific in getting her Elefantz projects finished and photos emailed off to me!

Judy Blauer finished the "Give Thanks" BOM I shared through my blog in 2011. 

It was a set of small Scripture stitcheries, a new one shared each month, that were hung on a wall hanging.

Jenny Schulz has made a Framed Calendar Display from my tutorial HERE...

Thank you for sending me these photos, Gunn, Judy and Jenny!

Do you have a photo of your completed Elefantz project that you'd like me to share on my blog?

You can send them HERE. 

I'd love to see your work!

Kathy Shaw would like me to let you know that she is freely sharing a very sweet set of stitcheries for scissor covers HERE on her webpage.

You'd never be stuck for a gift idea for a fellow stitcher with these.

Thanks Kathy!

 By now it is day 2 of my Melbourne trip. I wonder what I'm up to?

I guess we'll all have to wait and see... ;-)

hugs

 

Michelle May - a designer I admire...

I admire designers with integrity.

Like Michelle May from the Raspberry Rabbits. 

Have you been following along with her "Fellowship of the Flowers"?

Michelle is a friend, a mentor, an encourager, a very talented artist, a bunny lover and rescuer, and someone who teaches me about kindness and compassion through the example she lives out daily. Her love of life is worn on her sleeve, and if ever a woman deserves to succeed, it's Michelle.

Enjoy this eye candy from Fellowship of the Flowers; the work of her hands...

Michelle's work with felt, applique and embroidery is sublime.

I have her latest book, and a kit to make one of the projects - waiting patiently for me to return from Melbourne and begin...

 Michelle teaches classes with a delight that is totally authentic, liberally sprinkling her joy-filled attitude onto others. She has even appeared on television in the US, demonstrating her Folk Art Fusion techniques - what a treat for those watching!

If you've not been blessed to 'meet' this sweet friend of mine, take some time out today and visit her blog HERE. You'll come away smiling...

hugs

A sneak peek of something soooooo sweet.....

Tomorrow is the day I hitch a ride with my buddy Wendy on a big plane and travel waaaaaaaay down south where the air is cooler, much cooler than here.

I will get to hug in real life my truly special friends-of-the-heart Vikki and Fee, as well as girls I've known and loved for years like Dawn, Joy and Vicki. And as well as those precious gals I'll have almost fifty new faces to meet at Let's Get Stitched!

I will also be incredibly blessed to spend the whole day on Saturday with my daughter Kezzie, and my two grandsons, Cal and Dee! I haven't seen them since December 2012 so this will be a much anticipated reunion. \o/

I won't show any pics of the two projects I'm sharing with the troops at the Sunday Stitching Day, but I will show you a sneak peek of something new I'm releasing as soon as I return home....

Wednesday...be here next Wednesday, March 12th, for the biggest Elefantz reveal of the year so far...

I'm so excited!

 The three winners of my Zig Millenium pen giveaway were drawn yesterday, so let's shout a hearty

CONGRATULATIONS!

to Lisa, Shari, and Renea!

I've been busy in the kitchen again, nourishing my body with good foods that I probably won't be able to access from a motel in Melbourne.

Raw Pecan and Oat Porridge with Dates...

(recipe from Kemi's dvd here)

Bliss Balls...

(free recipe here)

 

Raw macadamia nuts, orange zest, raw cacao, and medjool dates... 

 ...blitzed to a paste in the food processor, and rolled into little balls with a dried cranberry hidden in the centre.

Store on a bed of coconut, if you think they'll last. They didn't last in my house.

 

While I'm away I've scheduled some blog posts for you, and I hope you enjoy them.

If you have some spare prayers, pray for our safe travel as fifty women are flying in to Melbourne from all over the country. Pray that our families are fine while we're absent. 

And pray that I get to share Jesus.

Bless you heaps!