Thursday, August 23, 2018

Free 26 week "Alphabet Pincushions" stitchalong...


I have had the idea to do this for many months, perhaps since last Christmas, but as you know it's been a very full year thus far and spare time was at a premium.

But about a week ago this project wouldn't leave my mind so instead of pushing it aside again I have decided to jump in and do it with you because it's going to be a lot of fun!

Beginning August 31st I'll be sharing one stitchery pattern for a letter of the alphabet (starting at A and ending with Z) every Friday, with a download link both here and in my free newsletter. 

These patterns will NOT be available in my shop.

So that you don't miss a week you will need to either -

1. Subscribe to my posts by typing your email address in the box provided at the top of my blog sidebar OR...
2. Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter (HERE)

Both of these are easy and free to do and will reap you 26 sweet patterns and loads of pincushion ideas! I'm keeping all the pincushion ideas easy and you could use any one of them to display your completed alphabet stitcheries.

I'll share the first pattern, "A", next Friday (August 31st) here on my blog and also in my free newsletter.
BONUS...occasionally I'll have a giveaway of some of the pincushions I'm making!

Will you be stitching along?




Last week I told you about my intention to bake a Battenberg Cake and that's exactly what I did on Monday morning, just in time for Blossom's afternoon tea visit...



My version is lemon and chocolate with a chocolate buttercream icing (because I do not like marzipan)...




...and Cully May certainly thought it rather delicious, as did her mummy.



(No, that is not a black eye...our little dumpling had been playing in the dirt, which makes her Poppy very happy as he believes all children should play outside and enjoy the dirt)


Rafaella is too young for cake, but she certainly enjoyed herself at Nana's anyhow. 



OTHER STUFF...

I'm sitting on some news I'd like to share with you, but have decided to wait just a wee bit longer - don't want to spill the beans too early, you know?
I wonder if you can guess what it is??

For those who are new here, some links you may like -

Follow my Elefantz Designs Facebook page here
Join our online Gentle Domesticity group here
Visit my pattern store for instant PDF downloads here

Bless you heaps, and may today be the best day, a day to shake off your troubles and just for a while sit somewhere peaceful and give thanks for the blessings that may have been overlooked.
It's amazing how many I remember when I take the time to consider them...

hugs


44 comments:

Jacqueline said...

I am looking forward to this stitch along. I might not make all 26 but I will do my fair share. Thanks.

Chris said...

Your alphabet stitch-a-long looks fun. Beautiful work. Isn’t it a blessing to have grandchildren? Yours are precious. Enjoy!

Connie said...

Excited to begin! Can I get a supplies list so I can be ready?

Nanna Chel said...

Jenny the cakes turned out really well. I am sure Cully May loved it and yes, it is a good idea for children to play in the dirt :-)

Kay said...

I will be looking forward to the pincushions, I always say that you can never have too many pincushions. x

Anonymous said...

Jenny, the girls are full of joy and it's easy to see why. Nana, dirt and cake what could be better?!! ggg I'm sharing this stitch along on my Facebook page. We all need to get ready for Christmas and even Mother's Day. :)) I was thinking these would also make dear sachets!

QuiltE said...

Yes indeedy-do! Please count me in for the alphabet stitch-a-long! I've so been enjoying A Year in My Garden, and look forward to these little ones for something else to do in the slow-stitch dept. Thank you so much for sharing these patterns and your talents with us! As for guesses of your news .... a new grandbaby on the way? new home found? publishing a book of your patterns? There's a start, being that it seems no one else accepted your guessing challenge!

Freda said...

cant hardly wait for the pincushions to start as i really have a big problem wanting everyone i see ...lol thanks for sharing your ideas and talent...i enjoy all of your lovely designs

Barbara-Kay said...

What fun - thank you for sharing your pin cushion inspirations with us!

Bubba and Nana said...

What sweet pincushions...Thanks for sharing...looking forward to it

Machelle said...

Oh what fun! Hooray for grandchildren😊Just got hime from visiting mine (10 1/2 hours away ugh!)

Sherry said...

I love this idea and appreciate your efforts to make this happen. I am going to try to keep up. Such sweet pictures of your little grandchildren. Did you find a house?

Farm Quilter said...

Being a friend on facebook does have its advantages!!! Your cake looks amazing and I would agree with the buttercream frosting being the better choice. I used to make an angel food cake, cut it in half and put a 1" (or so) layer of ice cream between the layers, frost with real whipped cream and decorate the top with chocolate shavings (because you know my ice cream just had to be chocolate!). Pop it in the freezer to be pulled out 10 minutes before cutting (thawed the cake but not the ice cream), cut what I needed and put it back in the freezer. This is a hit in the summer when you need something to cool off but don't want/need a heavier cake. I covered it with plastic wrap and it was never in there long enough to get freezer burn. Love the pictures of the grands...such darling girls!! You are certainly blessed to get to spend so much time with them!!

Brenda said...

Hello Jenny; Just seeing your lovely dainty first pincushion has me all excited to get started on creating these pincushion designed projects with you and everyone who participates. I am still way behind on the BOM stitchery block project but am loving every stitch I take! Your cake looks delicious and both of your Granddaughters are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing! Have a fabulous day!

Donna P. said...

Thank you so much for your generosity! Looking forward to the stitch a long - and your good news! ;-)

SandyK said...

Jenny, did you mean September 1st for the alphabet patterns? I sure hope so because I don't remember seeing them since Aug. 1st.

SandyK said...

LOL...never mind, I just saw the 2nd email!!!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Such a cute pattern, but not as cute as your Grandkids....love the photos.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

No list, I’m just using bits and pieces from my scrap basket. Every pincushion uses different scraps.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

They’d be lovely lavender sachets!

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Actually you guessed two bits of news!

Tammy Lyons said...

Oh a new stitch along and pin cushions..Yeah we can;t ever have to many of those now can we. And embroidery too...It will be a big hit. The grand girls look so pretty dirt and all..lol...Kids need to play in the dirt it gives them better immune systems. Or so I think anyway... You cake looks so pretty and Delicious..... SO excited about the up coming pin cushions stitch along. You are always so full of pleasant surprises. . I hope you have a great weekend Jenny.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Maybe....😊

Jenny of Elefantz said...

August 31st...

Stitches said...

Yes, I hope to sew along, especially with some certain letters. I'm guessing that you have found your house,and someone is expecting a baby.

Martha Roberts said...

Whoo-hoo!! This is going to be fun. Love the pics of the grandsweeties. They are such pretty girls. Something the size of a pincushion is what I can manage right now. Thank you for being so generous!! Can't wait to hear your good news. Love to you, dear Jenny.

Susan said...

I'm glad good news is filling your cup to overflowing. =) I'll actually be ready for the alphabets on scraps from another project - just waiting for my Weaveline to arrive in the mail from Braidcraft ... and possibly a few more beautiful threads, too! The cake looks wonderful, and of course the children are precious bits of the devine.

Margaret said...

Jenny, such beautiful photos of your gorgeous, blooming grandies ... innocence of childhood. That cake looks amazing and I agree with buttercream ... can't stand marzipan! Again, dear Jenny, thank you for the generosity which just flows from you ... those are going to be the cutest little pincushions. Small is good for me atm ... achievable I'm thinking! Hmm ... exciting news ... I think we know for sure about one thing. Another baby? ... sibling for Blossom's two little ones (hence the move???) or grandchild from another daughter/son? A wedding in the family? We'll just have to wait and see!! Have a wonderful week dreaming and planning, Jenny.

Susie said...

The cake looks so delicious and I totally agree about the marzipan - yuk! Definitely an acquired taste. Thank you for sharing your alphabet. I think i will certainly find it handy. I could have done with some of your lovely letters when I embroidered my family's initial's on my latest quilt. It is the Sweet Sunday quilt and each member chose their fabrics for their hexie and I chose their thread colour. I'm about a quarter of the way through putting the final quilt together. Hoping to get some time this weekend to work on it some more. I've also used a few of your designs for quilt labels - I've posted those on IG and you've commented on them also - so thank you. Take care

Karen said...

Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute!!!!!! That would be the grandchildren, the cake!! and the alphabet pincushions!!!

Julie said...

Oh Jenny ... what I wouldn't give to be able to pop by & have a cuppa with you & share a slice of that delicious looking cake!! Shame about the darn great big ocean between us!!!

Ondrea said...

LOL Ofcourse I will be stitching along with you. How can I resist? Yummy cake there. I can't believe how much your grand daughters have grown! They are so cute. No peace here...digger next door and gutting the ground floor, gutting the house behind us too. Trying to stay sane with stitching LOL.

Lorrie said...

I hope to stitch at least a few of the alphabet pin cushions with you. And I'm anticipating hearing your bits of news! Such cute grandchildren. I've had a "date" with each of mine (3 of them) over the past 10 days and I've enjoyed it so much. Your cake looks delicious.

Susan said...

This sounds like fun...though I will have to wait a while for "S"!!! the cake looks very inviting!

HelenS said...

Thank you so much for your cake idea. I will try that this summer coming.

barcord said...

I would love to give the alphabet cushions a try Jenny. I have been downloading the block of the month, but haven't started yet. As someone else mentioned Christmas, my little grey cells are buzzing with thoughts of how to use your patterns as gifts. Your girlies are delightful as usual. Such happy faces. I love the battenburg with buttercream. This would suit my girls, but my dearly beloved likes his marzipan. Must admit I buy it rather than make myself.
The 'News'. I am making excited guesses here. Hope I am right. xxx

Allie-oops Designs said...

Love this idea, girl! I'm in! May not be stitching along, but will save for free time. Which is rather sparse at the moment, lol....oh those girls are too too darling, I just want to scoop them up and kiss those chubby cheeks! I'm with Grandpa on the dirt!!!!

grammajudyb said...

I am so glad I checked your blog about the date. The newsletter says August 1st.....and I was sad. Knew/ hoped it was a typo! See you for sure August 31st, but I’ll pop in during the week too!! I hope your news is a new forever home!!

Createology said...

Jenny Dear you continue to be the most generous and giving soul ever and I thank you very much. These alphabet pincushions look like the perfect small project to do and they will make wonderful gifts for the upcoming Crazy Christmas Crush. Cully May always has her signature happy smiling face and it brightens my day...and now it looks like Rafaella is also happy and smiling! <3

selina said...

awww sweet! can't wait to collect these too; love your designs, they're so pretty
thanx for sharing

Helen L said...

I'll be making a few of the pincushions: I need to make one for my daughter who is wanting to make a quilt. That cake looks lovely!!! Yum!!

cerato said...

I will love embroidering your alphabet. Thanks for sharing your beautiful designs.
Hugs

Unknown said...

Vou adorar bordar seu alfabeto. É lindo. Maravilhoso está este bolo com uma xícara de chá. Dá água na boca só de pensar . Abraços

Unknown said...

Seu alfabeto é um mimo e eu vou adorar borda-lo. Maravilhoso está este bolo com uma xícara de chá . Dá água na boca só de pensar. Abraços