Ambition...

May the Lord's blessing be upon you,

Download the free printable Scripture card HERE until December 31st.

Barb's birthday...

My dear friend Barbra turned 40 this week, and today she and Heather came over for a few hours of stitching and feasting!

I think Barb has the most beautiful smile. She lights up the room...

I baked a moist chocolate cake...

...and served it with vanilla cream, berry coulis and cappuccinos.

Tastebuds satisfied, we sat back and watched a couple of episodes of Kirstie's Handmade Britain while trying to stitch - I say trying because when our eyes weren't glued to the screen we were pausing the DVD to chat about all the ideas that were running through our three minds.

I think next year we're all going to have a wonderfully 'domestic' crafting adventure - but more about that when it happens!

I designed a little stitchery for Barb and embroidered it with variegated Cottage Garden Threads on cream hanky linen. With some pretty Tilda fabric for backing this became a lavender sachet. Barb spent most of today holding this near her cheek, inhaling the relaxing scent - in fact my living room smelled amazing...

One can never have enough lavender sachets, and they make lovely gifts, especially if you add a small stitchery to the front. 

 Perhaps you have some orphan blocks you could use to make some sachets as Christmas gifts?

Hope you have a lovely weekend,

hugs

January, February, and baking...

I've completed the first two blocks for *A Year in the Garden*...

...and have just begun the third.

These will be keeping me busy for a while, but definitely worth the effort as they're a joy to stitch.

If you're interested in stitching A Year in the Garden with me all the information is over HERE.

While I stitch each afternoon I've been watching old episodes of The Great British Bake Off...

...which gets me so inspired to cook tasty things for Mr E!

Thing is, I can't stitch and bake at the same time so I schedule an hour between each episode to gather a recipe or two and pop something in the oven to bake while I continue my hand sewing and watch the next episode.

This is working very well for me and Mr E's rather impressed with the results too!

Yesterday I made a Zucchini, Bacon & Cheese Slice, plus a Corn & Avocado Salsa (both for his work lunch the next day) and as a real treat some Buttermilk Sultana Scones...

We haven't had our favourite scones in a very long time because we rarely have wheat anymore, but I made an exception yesterday as occasional treats that fill your heart with warm and fuzzy 'feel good' emotions are rather important in life.

This morning we're back to grain free, but it's still delicious fare - gluten free toast smothered with fresh ground 100% peanut butter, local bananas and local raw honey...served at sunrise with a pot of just-brewed black coffee because Mr E had a very early start and I always like for him to have a substantial and healthy meal before his work day begins...

Today I'll be doing a spot of dusting in the living room and that may mean emptying all my bookcases to get at cobwebs and polish the shelves - but I can still watch the telly so it's going to be a toss-up between more Great British Bake Off or Kirstie Allsopp's "Homemade Home".

Hard decision.

Hope you have a lovely productive day too!

hugs,

Crochet Organizer pattern...

I shared this idea a couple of years ago, but as my *Homemade Stitched With Heartstrings* theme this week is organizers it seemed a good idea to show you again and this time add the downloadable pattern for you to save.

My inspiration for making this vintage-style hook organizer back in 2012 were two beautiful handkerchiefs sent to me a year or two earlier by Vicki in Canada...

...but the project lay dormant until the right fabric presented itself.

Once found, it was full steam ahead. This organizer became a decoration for my home as well as having a very useful purpose!

Perhaps you have a crochet enthusiast to make for?

Or would you make it for yourself?

Download the free pattern HERE.

bless you heaps,

Organizer tutorials in *HSWH* ideas...

I've been a little quiet recently due to a string of weather-triggered-migraines, and now there's a 'girlie' health issue that's giving me some discomfort. 

Yesterday Mr E drove me to the beach at dawn, bought me a delicious soy mocha, and gave me a beautiful view to help me relax and unwind...then he drove me home and insisted I stay immobile and rested for the remainder of the weekend. Seriously, that man blesses me as I truly needed the rest.

With the laptop balanced on my knees and sitting comfortably on our bed, I went browsing for more *Homemade Stitched With Heartstrings* ideas we may find useful for our homes, gifts, or to save for future inspiration. 

Hope you find one or two of the organizer ideas below catch your interest...

Kerryanne at  Shabby Art Boutique shares a simple tutorial HERE on her blog for a shabby chic style handbag roll (I am making this for me!)...

THIS sewing organizer tutorial by HandMadiya is the cutest thing!

 

Fancy making a useful Shower Organizer Caddy?

Head over HERE to So Sew Easy for the tutorial...

What about THIS first aid supplies organizer from Positively Splendid?!

I think this would be a great 'new car' gift for a teen or twenty-something to keep in the glove-box...

If you have little ones in your family that are easily bored on car trips consider making THIS Busy Bag from Infarrantly Creative...

Stuck for a gift you can make the young women in your family?

THIS tutorial by We All Sew for storing makeup brushes is pretty and useful...

 

Are you finding these *Homemade Stitched With Heartstrings* blog posts helpful for gift giving ideas?

Personally, my list of gifts to sew has lengthened and I intend spending next week making as many of them as I can in time to post away to family and friends who live far away. 

Most of them are simple and quick to sew, like the makeup brush roll. Once made I can purchase an inexpensive set of brushes from a chain store to fill it, and then it's ready to go!

The same with the First Aid organizer. I'll head to the discount chemist and gather some first aid essentials to fill it - so easy, and very useful. 

Have a blessed and crafty week,

What truly endures...

Have a blessed Sabbath,

Download the free printable Scripture cards HERE until December 31st.

Free books...

E-books are a wonderful resource for almost any subject and I was thinking that it would be a lovely gift to print one up for a friend and have it bound at your local Officeworks (or similar office supply store).

Once done you could cover it in pretty fabric and sew a label across the front!

Here are a few free crafting e-books I found on the web to get you started.

"Inspired by Tilda" has five quick projects to make.

Download page is HERE...

A precious 1910 book of sewing instruction for young ones, "When Mother Let's Us Sew" can be downloaded HERE...

What about "65 Amish Recipes"?

The download is on THIS page with a few other books you can choose from...

Still looking for Christmas ideas?

"Homemade Christmas Gifts" can be downloaded HERE...

(you don't need to put your email in the box that pops up - just close that box and the book will begin to download)

Want to learn a new craft?

Download "Learn How to Knit" HERE...

(you don't need to put your email in the box that pops up - just close that box and the book will begin to download) 

Always a good resource to have on hand, "Children's Sewing Patterns" can be downloaded HERE...

And of course, if you have a book you need a bookmark!

Download this free stitchery pattern set over HERE in my shop.

It will be available until December 18th...

hugs