Friday, January 1, 2016

Block 1 "Postcards from Heaven"...

Happy New Year!

Here in Australia we've just woken to breakfast on January 1st and like most people I'm hopeful of a very good year ahead; a year of learning, settling, refreshing, contentment, and growing deeper in my faith.

Part of this 2016 journey will be studying with focused attention the things our Heavenly Father speaks into our lives through His Word - and etching them deep into my heart and upon my mind.

"Postcards from Heaven" is a project Allie Hartom (Allie-Oops Designs) and I are going to share with you this year. Allie is a sister-of-my-heart, a sister-in-Christ and a faithful prayer partner since we met online about 7 years ago. We put plenty of prayer into this year of God-breathed promises and hope that they bless you from the top of your sweet head to the tip of your toesies.

We're tag teaming our blocks each month and I drew the January straw. My inspiration was easy...



His love for me, His love for *you* is from everlasting to everlasting...that's His promise.
As I stitched my block the truth of God's words sunk deep into my soul and I felt hope and acceptance filling the empty spaces of my heart.



I pray you let Him do a work in your heart too, as the gentle rhythm of sewing holds you captive...




A word about stitching this postcard...

 I know that some people find hand-embroidering words a trial of patience and skill, especially when they are small, so I've left a few parts of the design 'free' from thread.
The waves on the stamp, 'postcard' and Jeremiah 31:3 Scripture reference were drawn with a 0.4 brown pigma pen which won't wash out. 
"My love for you is everlasting" was sewn in backstitch with a single strand of dark brown thread, but if that is too challenging for you just draw the words and leave them un-stitched as well. 

You'll find this information and a few more tips in the pattern which can be download as a free gift HERE from my shop. This pattern will remain free all year.

Next month Allie will be sharing the February postcard.
Why don't you visit her now and say hi?
You can also bookmark her blog HERE so you don't miss next month's free pattern, plus have a look at her free 'Scrappy Harvest at the Cabin' quilt along. It's the perfect stash-busting project!




Remember that the first block of my new BOM "Gentle Domesticity" will begin on January 5th!
I'm so excited to be sharing two BOMs this year because each of them is about nourishing the soul of women, and my prayer is that we're all blessed abundantly as we stitch, ponder, and live satisfying lives.


My prayer for each of us as we embark on a new year is to laugh more, be deeply satisfied as homemakers, find each new day more blessed than the one before, have increased confidence in sharing and teaching what we know to the next generation and those who need assistance, to look for opportunities where we can continue to learn and grow, have hearts that seek Jesus more than ever before, be hearts that find Him. 

happy new year, lovely friends

hugs

41 comments:

cucki said...

Happy 1st Jan my dear..it's 11:39 here and we waiting for new year..
Such a sweet postcard ..I love it
Sending you hugs x

gracie said...

Best wishes for 2016...lovely design...

Createology said...

As I finish out 2015 by sprucing up my home I am more excited about living MY BEST GENTLE DOMESTIC LIFE ever in 2016. Thank you for the wonderful postcard stitchery. May your and yours have a very Gentle and Happy 2016. Blessings and Peace...

Little Penpen said...

I have been anxiously waiting to see your first postcard. I absolutely love it! Happy New Year!!!!

Christina said...

Happy New Year! We still have about 10 hours to go. ;) This is a lovely design. You combined two of my new years goals in one. To do more stitching and get back to studying the WORD. Thank you so much! You are always so generous with your designs.

Michelle said...

Sweet post card design, Happy New!

the girlfriend gap said...

Thank you Jenny. It is very touching to see the words it all worked in threads. I am going to try and stitch along. Happy New Year! Janita

Victoria said...

Thanks for the new designs. I find embroidery so relaxing. 4 more hours to go here...and no I will not be staying up! In my family we always celebrated on Jan. 1st. with a noon meal so friends are coming then. We have about one foot of snow. It's been a snowman type of day. Happy New Year!

Deborah said...

Happy New Year. 2016 is still 5.5 hours away here. Thanks for a new BOM. Postcards from Heaven will be a wonderful reminder of God's presence in my life each month.

shirley flavell said...

Lovely postcard Jenny. Happy New Year.

Allie-oops Designs said...

Yippee!!! Can't think of a better way to start the New Year, my dear - I hope and pray God blesses you mightily this coming year!!! Love you!

Annette said...

How brilliant is this! Haven't seen too many gorgeous verses stitched like this and to be free as well! Bless you and your wonderful 2016!

Tiny Toadstool Cottage said...

Happy New Year! Looks like my stitching is all planned out for this year! I love it so much.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Jenny. I thought I'd check before I went to bed, and there you are! This is a lovely postcard, and a wonderful thought. I'm not sure I'll actually make it into a postcard, but I'm going to be stitching it this week. It may actually wind up in a crazy quilt block each month. I kind of like that thought, and it isn't too late to change my project for CQJP. I'd love to do it all in linens!

Águeda said...

Muchas gracias. Recibimos mucho de ti siempre.Es una postal preciosa. Te deseo un bendito año. Besos.

Michelle said...

I'm looking forward to both your BOM's in 2016. Jenny, you are such a blessing to me. I see that Allie is doing her postcards in the KJV version. Is there anyway those can be made available (even for your blocks)? I would really like to do all my blocks in the KJV also. I look forward to seeing what God shows us through His promises this year. I also look forward to seeing how you and Allie design those promises for us into little postcards. These will be great reminders to all of us. Thank you for sharing with us both your beautiful designs, but especially your love for God.

Palkó said...

I wish You a Happy New Year!
Blessings: Palkó

Kate said...

Love your post card, Jenny, and thank you.
All the best for 2016!

Lorene Holbrook said...

Oh Jenny, this comforts my heart! thanks to you and Allie! this is going to be a busy year with this new BOM. thank you soooo much! Happy New Year.....

Lin said...

Thank you Jenny - and a very Happy and Blessed New Year to you. xx

Unknown said...

Jenny, You are very generous! Thank you for the pattern.

Have a Blessed New Year!

robin :-)

Kathleen said...

Happy New Year Jenny! And thank you for the first postcard. I like the idea of leaving some of the smaller areas thread-free.

Natureluvr57 said...

Happy New Year! What a beautiful way to shown your appreciation of God's gift to us through His word. I'm not sure what I will do with them, a wall hanging, a table runner, mug rugs for friends and myself....so many possibilities. Thank you.

Brenda said...

Jenny, These are going to be a fun project to work on. My lettering stitching is slowly improving; I think it just takes patience and practice; which very often is hard for me to do. Which really does not make sense in that the slow pace and discovering new ways to do stitches is the ultimate charisma of the art. Thank you for sharing and Happy New Year to you and Mr. E!

Belinda said...

I'm so excited to find you. Your designs are right up my street! Just the kind of thing I love. Thank you for sharing x

Karen said...

Amen to your prayer at the bottom of this post. Been at the beach but its raining today so outside the Library for the internet sitting in the car catching up on some posts. Can't wait - both Hannah and I love the look of the postcards! Happy New Year and to Gods blessing on it. Luv ya.

Sharon - creativity and family said...

So, so beautiful, I do hope these postcards will be blessed to many people. x

Elaine said...

Happy New Year, Jenny! Love the postcard and I will be making it. Without your skill, I'll be using the pen. So grateful to connect with you and your gracious expressions of creativity.

Debbie said...

Hello Jenny...a dear friend of mine directed me here. I am so blessed that she did. Your blog is amazing! How truly wonderful that you share your talents with us, especially using the Word to enrich our lives as we try our hands at your creative pieces.
God Bless you, and your partner in this sweet endeavor.
Debbie

gab said...

Lovely postcards! What size are you making? I don't see any dimensions given.

Nancy-Jane said...

Your blog is one of my favorites...it's simply beautiful. Thank you for all that you do for us.

Unknown said...

Love it! Thanks for sharing. We always can use a inspirational message. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Love it! Thanks for sharing. We always can use a inspirational message. Thanks for sharing.

A Bear Mountain Pattern said...

Thank you do much for this BOM. My daughter. .best friend and I have committed to each other to send s snail mail letter once a month. .I'm hoping to gift them a postcard with each letter. Perfect timing.
The happiest of new years to you and yours full of the Lord's blessings.

A Bear Mountain Pattern said...

Can you tell me if all the postcards will be the same size?
Also I couldn't find the tutorial on the small binding. .thank you

Winifred said...

Happy New Year Jenny. Just getting back to blogging after a gap.

Thanks for the link to Allie, love that table of hers!

Quiltin' Sandy said...

Thank you so much Jenny for your never ending generosity.. I made your Lord's Prayer wall hanging for my Mum for Christmas 2013, these stitcheries may make up into a small quilt for her to use in her recliner or on her bed.. she will be 92 yrs old in June and it is hard to find something special to give her, I know she would love these Biblical verses. God Bless you and yours in 2016. Hugs, Sandy.xxxx

Faith in Texas said...

Hi Jenny,
I am unable to get to Allie's site. My security system has blocked it as an unsafe WEB site. It won't even let me say I'll open anyways, like it does with some, it has shut it out completely. I don't want to miss her FEB POSTCARD.
Thanks for any help,
Faith in Texas

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Faith, I don't know why that has happened n Allie's site, so try emailing her direct, okay? allieoopsdesigns AT gmail DOT com

Cindy A. said...

I'm just a bit behind but was pondering how to display the postcards. I didn't see a size listed but it looks like they'll finish around 6"x4". Ackfeld Mfg. has some 6" hangers that would be perfect to hang these sweet stitcheries. My favorite is a 6"x6" table top stand though as I don't always want to be poking holes into the wall. They also have an 8" split bottom hanger that was designed for the Row by Row Postcard Party Swap(Item #31512) but it does have that designation stamped into the metal. Then again, it's cute and sure would go right along with this theme. It even has a little bird on it similar to some you've stitched! Decisions, decisions...

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Cindy, all that info is in the pattern. These are free stitcheries to use as you like, and Allie and I will be making ours differently. :-)