Tuesday, March 29, 2011

"Everything's coming up roses..."

Okay, quiz time. What's my favourite flower???
Correct! 
ROSES! 
How did you know?! ;-)
Last week I finished a new design with roses, but I had an ulterior motive when I sketched it. Years ago I bought this beautiful butterfly brooch at a market in Esperance and have been waiting since then for the right surface to display it in our home...
When I bought some linen off Fee last month the design just appeared in my head, and last week I finally finished stitching it...
The brooch sits perfectly in place above the colourful array of roses, all stitched with various Cottage Garden threads...
 Now my beautiful hanging, with brooch, has been sent off to Patchwork & Stitching magazine for publication later this year, along with a few other projects...
Hope it's not too long until my butterfly and roses fly back home. :-)
~~~~~
Another project that has been on the waiting list is this quilt for my 3yo grandson, Deegan. He is totally fascinated by dinosaurs, and when I saw this quilt pattern in 'Quilts & More' a few months back I knew it was calling his name. I ordered the kit from HERE in the USA, and it arrived within a couple of weeks.
It is a simply pieced quilt that allows the fabric to be the star. I did the pieceing a couple of weeks ago, but had to wait until today for the time to baste and quilt...
By early evening I had the quilting finished and the binding on. After work tomorrow I'll hand stitch the binding down, wash and dry it, add a label and post it away! He lives down in Melbourne where the winter is ready to pounce and a warm, snuggly quilt will be the best thing to wrap around a 3yo lad while he watches his Veggie Tales dvds. I'll show you a pic as soon as it's all finished. 
~~~~~
A parcel arrived in the mail today; another kit with something lovely to make!
I shared last week that I have a project published in this month's Homespun magazine. Well, Marg Low also has a featured project and it is the sweetest little bag! I saw on her blog that she was selling kits to make the bag, complete with chain and closure, wool felt and fabric - so I ordered one!
I will put this aside for the school holidays, as I want to enjoy a whole day making it with no other obligations. :-)
 (I really don't buy kits as a rule, but it seems I've bought two this year!)
~~~~~
I'll share something else about myself, shall I? 
I used to enter giveaways on blogs a lot, and then as Elefantz became bigger in my life I simply stopped. I have quite a few giveaways on my blog each year, but I just didn't feel right entering giveaways by others.
Now, it occured to me recently that was just plain stooopid! So I entered a few giveaways last week, and you know what? I won one!!
Lisa and her daughter, the girls from A Spoonful of Sugar, had a giveaway for a $50 gift voucher to spend in Sarah Flood's gorgeous Etsy Store. Sarah Flood is a Swedish jewellery maker and her store is filled with gorgeous handmade silver and gold jewellery! 
I had to pinch myself to be sure this was real! Look at what I will be receiving, all the way from Sweden...
Thank you so much Lisa, and Sarah!! 
~~~~~
But wait - there is more!
I won something else!
This was not a giveaway, though. My dear, beautiful friend, Allie, auctioned her original 'Lemon Tree' quilt on her blog to raise money for Japan. I do not have word to express the love I have for Allie. She is a prayer partner, a sister in Christ, a friend whose love and support has always, always, been given in abundance to this Aussie gal. I admire her, respect her as a woman and a mother, and have so much awe for her talent with design and fabric. She thinks outside of the square and always makes me gasp when I see a new creation on her blog pages because it's always, always, wonderful!
So I bid on her Lemon Tree quilt and decided that no-one was going to win but me. Our family were giving to the Japan appeal, and the higher the bids, the better for the appeal. 
And I won. I will have a special piece of Allie hanging in my home, and I will treasure it always, always
Thank you Allie-girl. {{{{love ya!}}}}
~~~~~
One last thing before I go. My buddy, and fellow Gum Tree Designer, Vicki, has finally opened her online store ~The Pickledish Patch~!!
No matter where you live on the globe, if you find something gorgeous in Vicki's store she'll be more than happy to pack it up and post your way. You can even pay in your own currency! Gotta love that. :-)
~~~~~
I should have warned you to brew a coffee and grab a piece of cake before I started this mammoth blog post...sorry! I'll sign off immediately and let you recover. ;-)
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

18 comments:

Susan said...

Oh - I so loved that lemon tree - you are very fortunate to have been able to get it.

Janice said...

Boy, you had lots to share today. I'm sure that your quilt will be a hit in the cold Melbourne winter. It will be a special hug from his Nan when he is wrapped in it. Weren't you lucky with the lovelies that are headed your way. Beautiful things to cherish.

Abby and Stephanie said...

So many pretty things but I have to tell you I love the dinosaurs! It's an unexpected thing from you.

Elisa (AKA scrapcat) said...

Jenny, let us know if your new rose pattern ever makes it to your Etsy shop. I have a hard time getting Australan mags here in the USA - these roses are GORGEOUS!

Unknown said...

Lucky You with your Wins...
Cute Quilt for your Grandie & a Beautiful New Project...You have been Busy..
cheers

Allie said...

Wow Jenny - what a gorgeous new design!! What a blessing you are to stitchers everywhere! I love the dinosaur fabric, Deegan will just love it, and he'll get a hug from you everytime he wraps up in it!

Your mail is just lovely - can't wait to see the purse you make.

You should enter give-aways, Jenny! Congratulations on a fabulous win - you deserve it! And I can't think of a better home for my Lemon Tree, I'm thrilled it will come to live with you - I only wish I could come too!!!

Jocelyn said...

Congratulations on your wins. I don't think you should stop entering giveaways. You are a quilter/crafter just like the rest of us, and we all enjoy new books/fabric/ threads etc.

Joy said...

Love the gawjus wallhanging ... and what a lucky chook you are with your wins too!!!! Deegan is gonna LOVE that quilt, it's just adorable ;o)!!
Love n hugs,
Joy :o)
PS ... Did you notice that we both have the same blogpost title lol??? Great minds and all that .......... ;o)

Unknown said...

Hello Jenny,
The Lemon Tree is very beautiful. Congratulations! I like all your goodies! Your hearts with butterfly quilt is simply gorgeous! Oo la la! Your little sweetheart will love his dinosaur quilt!

hugz
Pam

Stitched With Prayer said...

Oh Jenny, I think your Butterfly brooch is GORGEOUS and combined with your new design it is divine! Congratulations on winning the beautiful jewelry too, you should definitely be putting in on so of the great giveaways out there, I'm so glad you won. I was also way excited when Allie announced that you won her Lemon Tree quilt, isn't it a beautiful creation? I can imagine how excited you are to have it hanging in your home. Well done!!! Big hugs...

Sew Useful Designs said...

Ha ha! I shall go brew some coffee now Jen, and share a cup with ya!!

Lots of goings-on and I'm so happy you are entering giveaways again, the jewellery you chose is delightful!

Thanks for sharing - I enjoyed reading! Allie's quilt is sure gorgeous, and I agree with everything you say, Allie is a gorgeous person!

Hugs in abundance!!!!
Vikki xoxo :-)

Rumi said...

Love your roses and butterfly! I'm sure you can't wait to get it back!

Congrats on winning the wonderful jewelry! Very lovely.

Lucky little dino lovin' boy! He will be thrilled.

Roseanne said...

Good on you for being the lucky winner. I love your new rose pattern with the Butterfly brooch on it.

Ineke Original said...

Just love roses, just like you!

Sandra Henderson said...

Oh, oh, oh!!! I adore it ALL, but love your lemon tree! I would bring you a basket of lemons from my real tree if i could! It is now blooming again, still a few fruit hanging, hate to pick the last of them...
Your blog is delightful! I wish i could get over to see you more often, but sure do enjoy catchi g up when i can. Im spending the night in town. What a treat to lay in bed and use high speed internet! Wow! Could spoil me!
You sure do stay busy and get so much done! Great work! Xo

Fee said...

Ooooh serious drooling going on here over that beautiful jewellery. I'm a sucker for pearls!!
Love, love, LOVE Deegan's quilt. Need to do something for my boys soon!
Love and hugs, Fee x

Carrie P. said...

Oh, your roses are just lovely in the variegated threads. The butterfly is perfect on it too.
Congrats on your beautiful wins. I saw on Allie's blog that you had won her lemon quilt. Congrats.

Unknown said...

wow so much news. Lucky grandson I sure he will love it, he will feel the warmth and the love that was put in to the quilt. The butterfly was devine as was your roses. Lucky you with the swedish goodies, they are lush.