Thursday, December 2, 2010

Merry Christmas from me to you!

You must be thinking that I'm on holiday!? Blog posts are almost a week apart these days, but let me assure you that I am home, happily ensconced in my favourite chair with a pile of stitching by my side for Christmas gifts and a few wonderful new designs for 2011!

Mr E has finished the school year and is now home for the next 2 months over our summer break. I can't tell you how happy I am having him home all day! With both Sam and Blossom off to work during the week we are enjoying being home alone during their working hours. Of course every day it rains...and rains...and rains! We have discovered that last summer's wet season was in fact a DRY season. This year however, the rainfall is well over and above the average already and there will be no end in sight for at least 3 months. 
The gardens are vividly green, but the ground is mud and slush everywhere. We even have the beginnings of our own lake!
 
~~~~~
I have a couple of quilts on the go. This is a sneak peek of one of the blocks in my new 2011 Shabby Roses quilt, 'Circles of Life'...
...I think you'll love it! :-)
~~~~~
What is Christmas if it's not a time a give? God gave mankind the gift of His precious Son, Jesus, and that is a gift that no-one can replicate.
I do however, give all the glory to God for my own ability to create. In His image I am made, and a mere trickle of His creativity I have been blessed with, so following His example I am giving you a Christmas gift...
 
~ O Holy Night ~ is my Shabby Roses themed nativity design, and would be gorgeous as a framed stitchery, in a wallhanging, or enlarge for a quilt centre. 
I stitched a darker version earlier this year and framed it in a very heavy antique frame I found at the op shop. 
 It was winter at the time and the darker colours suited, but as we're in summer now I wanted to lighten the block to show you how different it can look in either colour scheme. 
Which one do you prefer?
 ~~~~~
Blossom is busy tonight wrapping presents to post off to my eldest daughter Kezzie and her family. I am praying this is the last time we all spend Christmas apart. I cannot wait to have a Christmas where my children and grandchildren are gathered around our table and celebrating the birth of our Saviour together! :-)
What is your deepest wish this Christmas? Tell me your heart's desire in your comment and I will be praying for you to be blessed. 
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

32 comments:

Debbie said...

Love your "puddle" pictures, Jenny. Send us some of that rain! We have a severe shortage here. Happy holidays to all those in Elefantz.

Susan said...

Yes Jenny I think we are in for a very wet summer - all over Qld! Hopefullly it will keep the temperatures down as well.
Love the look of your sneak peak - but will need to be patient.
My immediate wish is for one extra week between now and next Saturday to organise a BIG party we are having and for a few days of dry weather at the end of the week. I know you can't help with the exta time - but maybe put in a good word about the rain??
Thanks - love your generosity

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Good to see you here. Your"o Holy Night is just beautiful!! Wishing you well! Cathy

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Good to see you here. Your"o Holy Night is just beautiful!! Wishing you well! Cathy

By Hoki Quilts said...

Merry Christmas to you too Jenny. Send some of that rain over the ditch will you. We live on the wettest coast of NZ and really need the rain. Our water tanks are almost dry : ((
take care
hugs
Miche'le

Ulla said...

What a glorius pattern.
Ulla

BubzRugz said...

A lovely little pattern.... thank you for it..... I hope I get a chance to make it for this Christmas.....looks like perfect weather for stitching.....
Hugz

natalia Carlota vallejos said...

aqui tambien es épocas de lluvias aunque estan siendo escasas, hoy comienzan mis vacaciones y estoy descansando para mañana poder iniciar mis quilts y bordados, regalitos de navidad para los seres queridos.
Tus palabras sobre la navidad muy bellas, Jenny, muchos cariños para ti.
natalia

vernagrace said...

So good to hear from you and that you are well and stitching to your heart's content with hubby by your side.
We have had our first snow and the next few days it is to turn to rain and we will lose it all again for the second time. I love the first snows, everything is so beautiful and the sun on the snow makes it shine like crystals. When I look out over the fields as the seasons change it reminds me of God's creative paint brush and all the beauty that he provides.
I love hearing about what Australia is like, so different from Canada.
Thank you for your generosity, and for sharing your gifts with the rest of us!
O Holy Night is so beautiful, I think I like the bright colors best, it reminds me of the promise of things to come.
Stay dry!!

Abby and Stephanie said...

You are so generous to share your unique talents with everyone. What a very sweet stitchery. I'm from a military family and my son is enlisting--due to leave March next year for training. It is always my hope that these fine men and women will come home safe.

Maggey and Jim said...

Wow,yes it does look a bit wet?? Hope it stops soon..Love the new project and sure it will be a treasure..The holiday is our blessing with the Christ child and our family, just being together.. To us that is our gifts.. Have a blessed one,
Hugs,
Maggey

KaHolly said...

Thanks once again for your generousity, Jenny. You do manage to keep so busy and productive. I keep busy all day, too, but don't accomplish even a fraction of what you do, and I'm not designing and making up patterns!! I'm just trying to keep up with yours!! Have a great day, karen

Dolores said...

Ah Jenny, the design is wonderful. I do prefer the first version you showed.
I had been praying for a grand child and on my birthday I found out that my eldest daughter is expecting at the end of April. I care not if it's a boy or girl - just that the little one is healthy.
You may have a lot of rain but it "Could be worse." That is a favourite children's book by James Stevenson and sums up a lot. Take care and be well.

Anonymous said...

Awe! I love them both...I can't decide...
I do hope your rain stops soon so you aren't living in a lake! :)
I can't wait for the Circles stitching next year - your teasers look divine!
My prayer...largest & most heart felt is for a baby. The hubby & I are praying to have good news before our 4th anniversary in May. We've been praying for a little one since the wedding day!
Hope you family has a wonderful Holiday! :)

Pam said...

You are so kind Jenny. Thank you for the pattern. I would like to have a peaceful Christmas with no stress. We were planning to move house last month but it fell through at the last minute and we felt very down. We also have some family problems so things are very unsettled at the moment. I'm hoping things get better in 2011.

Jeanne said...

Thank you for sharing the Christmas pattern. Your other project looks wonderful, too. I hope you get some dry weather soon.

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Jenny,
Oh, nice sneak peaks. Thank you for the gorgeous, generous pattern.

Well, what will Mr E do with two months off and all that rain~he can't be off riding his motorbike. Does he sew?
Have a great weekend,
Hugs,
Anna

Di said...

THe best part of Christmas - being able to freely celebrate the birth of a Saviour at our church. I am a worhsip host and my hubby is a car park attendant. Our church has four services on Christmas Eve.
Second best, having friends and family around me.
Thanks for the gorgeous design

Kezzy said...

I pray that this too will be our last christmas apart mum:)
I just love the brighter design of "O Holy Night" it is just gorgeous. The "sneek peek" is such a tease, is looking fantastic!!
Maybe if you get that lake, we could build a little houseboat and live real close then:)

Rita said...

thank you very much for the sweet baby Jesus pattern - he looks so peaceful and calm, and snuggly! that's my wish -- that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could be resolved, and all our soldiers could come home to their families. Peace!

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

What a beautiful stitchy Jenny. So glad you and Mr. E can spend some time together even if it is raining. My wish...hmm... let me see. Well, I think I would like to wish that your fingers and hands are healthy and allow you to continue making all the beautiful things you do. I wish for your family to have a glorious and wonderful new year and for God to shine on you even more for the loving and beautiful person that you are.
Merry Christmas dear one.
xx, shell

Kate said...

Jenny, thank you for all of the freebies you've provided us with this year. Your generosity is only exceeded by your talent. I wish you and your family, albeit early, a wonderful Christmas and a new year full of love, luck, and laughs.

Barb said...

Well Jenny I don't think I want all your rain, but a bit of warmer weather would be welcome. It has been in the low 30's here in Wisconsin and we are under a snowstorm watch for the next 24 hours. This will be our first snow fall and they are predicting 3 to 9 inches in our area by Saturday. Snow is pretty, but terrible to drive in! I understand your headaches. I get them in the winter everytime it is going to snow. I have had one the past 2 days so I think the snow is really coming. Thank you for the sweet Christmas pattern. I think it is important to remember the meaning of Christmas and keeping Christ in Christmas. I proudly proclaim "Merry Christmas" not "Happy Holidays". My wish is to spend Christmas with my family. Take care and I'll try to send you pics of the snow!

Allie said...

2 Months off - that's part of the reason I used to want to be a teacher, lol. I'm so glad you're enjoying having him home! My gosh Jenny, you DO have a lake out there, good thing your home is elevated.

Circles of Life will be your biggest hit yet, I just know it - SO beautiful! And thank you darling girl for O Holy Night, it's gorgeous and I know my mum will love it - I must make it for her. If I can bear to give it to her. *G*

My deepest wish - for some family members to come to Christ. To understand the joy and security in His presence. I think that would be the best gift of all.

Anne-Lise at Rag, Tag, Bobtail said...

hi Jenny, nice to hear from you. That rain certainly means indoors activities! We don't have any rain /snow - it's just COLD (-10).
Love the little pattern - really cute!

Rumi said...

I think it looks lovely in both color schemes.

Hope the rain lets up soon!

Joy McD said...

Thank you Jenny! I just love "O Holy Night". I love crafts that reflect the TRUE meaning of Chrismtas :)
May God bless you and yours this Christmas season...
lv,
Joy

Anonymous said...

Both colorways are lovely and, in different moods I would choose a different one. In today's mood, I like your summer version. Thank you so much for sharing the pattern and your talent.

Deepest wish? Probably for all the military men around the world to be able to be home safely with their families. I know how hard it is for them to be apart every day of the year.

Carrie P. said...

sweet post and love the sneak peek.
Yes, God has definitely given you a gift.

Dot said...

Jenny, thank you so much for sharing your talents and at the same time honoring our Savior! I can't want to make this piece, especially! Will add your prayer request to our prayer list, and at the same time thank God for women like you who teach us to "work willingly with our hands" while witnessing for our Lord. Many blessings be yours at this Christmastime!

Dot

Nancy in IN said...

Thank you so much for the new embroidery. We are getting snow, had rain finally in November and very little precipitation this summer.
Nancy in IN

Joan said...

Beautiful pattern! Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays!