Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Daisy Days - the piecing begins!


It seems that I have been stitching these eight blocks forever, but in reality it's only been about 4 months.
Still, fitting them in between all my other design work wasn't as easy as I hoped but this week the final block was stitched!
Block 8 ~ Every Day is a Daisy Day ~...
 

Today I began piecing the blocks together...

This is the top row...

Block 1 ~ Mondaisy ~ is in the second row...
 
 
I wanted to keep going, but I've caught Blossom and Mr E's head cold, and as the day wore on I started feeling worse and worse, so I have closed the door on my sewing room until I can stand upright without the room spinning and think straight once again. It's rather dangerous leaving me in charge of a rotary cutter at the moment.
I'm filling up on this watermelon as it is so soothing on my throat and helping to keep me hydrated...and it has lovely vitamins too.
Hopefully by Friday I will be improving because I want to share with you the various ways you can become a part of the Daisy Days BOM.
Until then, I shall duck under the covers and attempt to be quiet and read lots. 
 
not-too-close hugs, 
Jenny
xx


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

show and tell, knitting, and guilt free chocolate brownies...


How about we have a bit of Show & Tell today?

My gorgeous sister-in-Christ, Allie, has been stitching some of my designs, and like she always does, she added her Allie-magic to them.
She has stitched "Lord Bless You", and added the sweetest fabric and layout...

 
Free pattern available HERE in my Shop.

Allie also stitched "All Things Bright", and once again I love her fabric and colour choice!
 
The pattern can be found HERE in my Shop.
~ ~ ~
Last year I shared "Promises & Borders" as my free BOM, and Lyn emailed last week to show me her finished quilt!
Wow - isn't this beautiful!? She used her own friendship sayings within my border designs...
The free blocks and quilt pattern for "Promises & Borders" is still free to download HERE


I'm really hanging out to knit or crochet again. I'm a good knitter, but a lousy crotcheter.
A few weeks ago in 'Gathered' I read a bit about THIS blogger - "One Sheepish Girl".
I spent a good while browsing her blog and got so inspired that I have dusted off the knitting needles and intend to do something when the almost-here winter finally knocks on the door.
She also embroiders simple stitcheries onto paper. Hooked...I am so hooked.
(Photo from the blog 'One Sheepish Girl')


I will leave you today with a chocolate brownie recipe that has just 37 calories per piece.
That's correct - 37 gorgeous calories.
It's going to make an appearance at the morning tea table today!
You can get the recipe HERE on the Broma Bakery blog!
(the photo is also from the blog)


Have a lovely day, or evening if you're on top of the world!
I have about one hour's stitching ahead of me before something amazing happens.
I will have finally finished all eight feature blocks in my almost-ready-to-reveal "Daisy Days' BOM!
Excited?

hugs, Jenny
xx

Monday, May 20, 2013

P...and who I used to be.


As the week for *P* was approaching in Monogram Monday, I couldn't help but think of who I was before my husband shared his surname with me at our wedding.
You see, I was born a Parkinson, and though it's not been my name in well over two decades, I'm still rather fond of it.
So, this Monday, as I was stitching *P* onto my Sampler...
...I thought how nice it would be to stitch another P, in celebration of who I was before Mr E whisked me away in matrimony. And I do mean 'whisked' as we had only known each other five months before we exchanged vows at the altar!
Anyhow, I thought about myself as a person, and what reflects me best in my role as 'Mrs Reynolds nee Parkinson'. 
The kitchen. 
That's the truest answer. 
It's what I loved before marriage, and what I still love. Being in my kitchen and cooking.
So I took a new, freshly laundered red checked tea towel, and added my *P*...

For a touch of the girl I once was, I also used red spotted ribbon, adding a bow and a white vintage button.
This tea towel will never see a dish, believe me.
Better displayed hanging over my red mixer...
...to protect it from the dust that blows in through the kitchen window.
So quick, so simple, so wonderfully nostalgic.
I stitched the *P* with my last little length of red Perle #12 thread. 
I love Perle #12! It glides through fabrics like the linen of my tea towel.
These tiny strands were all I had left once I'd finished...
But I do have a few other colours...
 
...and I do have more new tea towels, freshly laundered. 
They'd be perfect gifts, don't you think?


I'll leave you today with a photo of the flowers Mr E gave me for Mother's Day on Sunday 12th.
Pretty.

My beloved is full up with Blossom's cold this week.
It seems I escaped it. 

Have a wonderful week,
Hugs
Jenny
xx

Friday, May 17, 2013

Kits, fabric bundles, and hanky linen in my shop today! Be quick!


Ever since I began using white hanky linen to embroider my designs upon, I've had many emails asking *where* can you get this wonderful fabric!?

Well, an answer has arrived because I've decided to stock it myself.
I use it all the time, I LOVE stitching on it, and I want it to be readily available to you, no matter where in the world you are.

HERE in my Etsy shop today, you can purchase 27" squares of this lovely linen...


Also in the shop today are very limited quantities of Gumboot Garden fat 1/4 bundles...

 

...plus kits to make the "It's Raining" Dolls Quilt and Carry Bag project (pattern inside the June 7th issue of my Elefantz HOME e-zine HERE)...


 The kit includes all fabrics, lace, thread, Whisperweft, and hanky linen.
The kit does not include the pattern. You will need the next issue of Elefantz HOME e-zine for that.
 

I've also got two different kits to make the "English Country Garden" project that will feature in the same issue of Elefantz HOME...
 
 Again, there is no pattern with the kit. The pattern is inside the June 7th magazine.

Don't forget that all new Elefantz HOME subscribers will receive a free pattern!
This month I will email you the pdf pattern for "Love Is All You Need" so you have something to stitch while you wait for your first Elefantz HOME issue!
Subscription information is HERE on the magazine webpage. 

I've been so busy cutting linen and kits this week that I think I have earned some time out this weekend, just to sit and stitch. What about you?
I'll leave you with a sneak peek of a new design...

Dream your dreams, my friends.

Hugs
Jenny
xx



Wednesday, May 15, 2013

A project for little girls, your work, and my friend Vikki...


Do you have little girls in your family?
I have grown up girls, and little grandsons. But, that doesn't mean I won't design little girl projects!
I *love* little girl projects.

In the June 7th issue of my magazine, Elefantz HOME, I have a gorgeous little girl project for you to make...

"It's Raining"
...a doll quilt and matching bag...

The quilt measures 14.5" square, and fits perfectly inside the sweet matching bag!

There is also room for dolly...

...and look at the raindrop fabric I used as the quilt backing.

The little umbrellas-in-the-rain blocks are so easy to stitch...
 ...and the entire project is quick to finish.

In Friday's free weekly newsletter (you can sign up HERE) I will have some kits for sale to make this project, as well as some fat quarter bundles of the Gumboot Garden fabric ready to purchase.

BUT if you want the kit you must be an Elefantz HOME subscriber. The pattern  will only be found inside the next issue of Elefantz HOME magazine, which will be emailed out on Friday, June 7th. Follow THIS link for all subscription information. You're going to love the patterns in this coming issue!


(Oh, and as a new subscriber I will send you a free Elefantz pattern as a welcome gift!)



Have you made any Elefantz projects that you'd like to show my blog readers?
Please email me with photos or a link to your blog post.
 Here are some I received recently.

Preetha has used one of my free Promises & Borders blocks and added her own verse. 
I love that she added a part of herself to the project!

 Heather purchased my "All Things Bright" pattern and stitched it up immediately!
Isn't it gorgeous?

Thanks for showing your work, ladies. I'm so humbled that you have stitched my designs. xxx


Last thing to leave you with today, is the most beautiful free design that my adopted little sis, Vikki from Sew Useful Designs shared for Mothers Day, but I think it would also be perfect for birthdays and Christmas...

The pattern is HERE in her Craftsy shop.

Take some time today to visit Vikki's blog HERE. It's a place you'll want to dwell in time and again. You'll see me there too...we can both swoon over her talent. 

Our Blossom is full up with her first almost-winter head cold, so she'll be home from work convalescing with something warm and nourishing from my kitchen. I'd best get there right now...have a corker of a day, won't you!?

Hugs
Jenny
xxx