A trio of angels, and how to do Split Applique!

It's May 3rd, and I woke soooooo happy today.

Why?

The tropical summer in North Queensland has finally come to a close.

It actually feels like autumn. I actually slept with a sheet over me last night. My nose really, truly, actually tingled with a slight chill about 5am. 

When Mr E and I got up to listen to Michael's podcast at 6.30am I actually had to put a thin cotton robe over my sleeveless pjs. I'm telling you, it was bliss. 

And coffee tastes so much better on a cool morning, don't you agree?

The other nice thing about May is releasing my latest budget busting pattern bundle of designs due for retirement!

If you're new to my blog, I have a backlog of older Elefantz designs that I am gradually retiring over the course of 2014, so at the start of each month I bundle up a few for their last stroll down the catwalk before leaving the pattern stage forever. 

This month I decided to bring together my 'trio of angels'...

In this pattern set you will find such sweetness to stitch!

But before we look at the photos of these designs let me show you how to use my

© 2010 Split Applique Technique to add that touch of elegance to regular blanket stitch applique - because two of the patterns in the May bundle feature it!

UPDATED: Go to THIS blog post for my step by step photo tutorial.

There are two parts to Split Applique. They stand alone, or can be used together.

Firstly, in normal blanket stitch applique, when fabrics overlap to create the appliqued picture, one applique shape will sit under the edge of another before being stitched down, but back in 2010 I got the idea of butting the applique pieces up against each other, without an overlap.

 When you do this, the applique sits beautifully flat and you avoid having to stitch through layers.

See in the photo below I've completely blanket stitched around both wings, and the 'cut away' inside the heart using a single strand of thread, with no overlapping of fabric...

After I've completed the single strand applique I used two strands of cream thread to chain stitch 'in the ditch' between the appliqued wings and the heart, then around the rest of the heart. This accentuates the heart shape as though it's popping out of the block, and yet it's sitting lovely and flat and your fingers haven't had to punish themselves stitching through multiple layers of fabric and bonding medium.

This effect often softens a design, adding a subtle touch of elegance...

The second part of Split Applique is to cut away some of the fabric shape and fill it with embroidery...

A lot of my appliqued patterns feature the Split Applique finish, but you could try it with any patterns you have on hand - just cut away the extra allowance added to a shape for partially hiding an edge beneath another shape before fusing in place on your block, or cut away some of the whole shape to make a smaller number of shapes and fill the gaps with embroidery. 

It's such an easy thing to try, and you might just love the results you achieve.

Now back to the May "trio of angels" bundle! Here's what you'll be able to make from this triple pattern set...

"Shabby Roses Angels Quilt"...

"Angels Bloom" wall hanging ...

(which would also be perfect as a cushion cover or quilt centre)...

...and the "Shabby Roses Angel" cushion.

 The triple pattern set is available for one month only until May 31st, and then all three patterns will joyfully retire.

Purchase the May Bundle for $5 over HERE in my shop as an instant pdf download.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! I hope you get to stitch something pretty, cook something yummy, and find something to do that just makes you smile.

hugs

a trio of bags....

At last. Thank you for your patience.

I have finally poured myself a rather large coffee and sat down in the quiet of a not-very-often-empty home to choose which of my older designs I wanted to offer you in this month's budget busting pdf pattern bundle.

Browsing through the couple of hundred Elefantz designs I've created over the past five years it became rather obvious that I don't make many bags. 

(note to self...design more bags, Jenny!)

So you've guessed what the patterns are for April, right? Bags!

Bag One: "Buttons & Bows" ~ this is perfect for using charm squares in a two colour range, and it can be sewn up in one lazy afternoon! Gather some buttons and make some simple bows (all instructions in the pattern) and you have yourself a rather tasteful bag for gadding about the world. Mine was made using the remainder of a French General charm square pack - you'll only need  18 squares, plus some co-ordinating yardage for the lining and handles...

Bag Two: "Roses In Bloom" ~ grab a few favourite fabric lengths, matching variegated threads, and voila! - a pretty spring bag will be born. I love how the colours play off each other...it's such a happy bag to carry on your shoulder!

Bag Three: "Roses Are Red" ~ okay, confession time. I love this bag so much that I have never used it for fear of marking it. There, I said it. You have discovered my weakness. But as I lay it on my lap whilst writing this blog post I hear it calling, "use me...please don't hide me away any longer...I need to have a purpose..."

So I will.

Inside are four roomy pockets - designed with my intent of using this bag to carry my small portable sewing bits and pieces around when Mr E drives us to wonderful places of adventure. I love stitching on road trips!

So there you have it - my favourite three bags!

This set of patterns is available as a single pdf download for the rest of April only. 

Then the three patterns disappear forever.

You can purchase the April Pattern Bundle HERE for $5. 

Tomorrow I'll be back with Part 2 of "Simple Ideas for a Restful Sleep". If you missed Part 1 it was in yesterday's blog post, so just scroll down. 

See you then!

hugs

Zig Giveaway and the March Pattern Bundle...

I've released the March Pattern Bundle a day early due to the very hectic week I have ahead of me before flying down to Melbourne for Let's Get Stitched.

The stitching of the two designs I'm sharing down there are finished and the patterns sheets printed and ready to be added to the paper pattern packs - just as soon as I actually write the patterns and take the photos for the cover! GULP...just a little behind...that's all. 

Anyhow, remember that these monthly bundles are older Elefantz designs that will be permanently retired from sale in April, so you have the entire month of March to purchase the triple set HERE in my shop for just $5 US before they disappear forever. That's only $1.66 each...bargain, huh!?

The three patterns in this bundle are in a single pdf file that you can purchase and store in your Craftsy library until you need it, or download immediately to your computer.

Inside this bundle you will receive the patterns to make the three projects below. They have fully photographed steps, materials list, pattern sheets, and simply written instructions to make your sewing easier, too!

The "Cross My Heart" sewing set with carry handle...

The "Shabby Roses Bag" with applique and embroidery across a sweetly frilled front pocket...

...and the "Thoughts & Ideas" journal and bookmark set!

The sewing set and the journal set make up rather quickly, with just a small amount of embroidery to do.

The bag will take you a couple of days.

I think all three of these projects make wonderful gifts, but you may like to use the journal yourself and store it in the bag - cause that's what I did!

But the sewing set would be perfect to give a young girl just starting out on her stitching journey, don't you think?

IMPROMPTU Zig Giveaway!

 There was a lot of chit chat in the comments and via email after yesterday's blog post about the Zig Millenium pens I use to trace my designs onto fabric, SOOOOO....I thought I'd have a giveaway so some of you could try the Zig for yourselves!

I'll post worldwide, and I have 3 to give away.

Just leave one comment below, telling me what you currently use to trace designs onto fabric before stitching.

And make sure I can contact you in case you win by leaving your blog or email address too.

Three winners will be randomly drawn on March 4th. Good luck everyone!

COMMENTS and ENTRIES now closed. Winners to be announced in the March 5th blog post.

Now I'll leave you with all that, and get back to the very exciting task of pattern writing.

(did I say exciting?? maybe with some chocolate it would be....nah, not even with chocolate)

Have a marvelous day!

hugs

Safe. sound, and inspired...

The cyclone made land 200 kilometres south of us at Bowen. Please pray for those affected as they begin the big mop up of land and property. Cyclones, no matter how big or small, leave a mess behind that can take a physical and emotional toll. 

As we waited out the two days before it's approach, not knowing if it would hit our town or head south as it eventually did, I kept singing that beautiful song, "His Eye is on the Sparrow", and was inspired to create a new design...

I'll stitch it in the coming week and share it with you all sometime in February. 

Inspired designs that speak truth, build inspired hearts. 

I know that's how it's always been with me - when a quote, Scripture, or statement in a design touches my soul I just need to stitch it. It's also a lovely gift to be given. Thank you to all the lovely designers out there who share words from their heart in needle and thread. You bless us!

Lately I've been spending a few hours each week sorting through all my older patterns. I have hundreds of them now, so as well as documenting them efficiently, I'm choosing which ones to retire permanently, and which ones to keep...and then there are a few I'd like to re-do more to my current style, but whether that happens or not will depend on a future 'slow' season as right now I have quite a lot of new designs waiting to be stitched that makes my heart SING! 

But more about that exciting news another day. ;-)

I thought it may be a good idea to offer you a bundle of three older Elefantz patterns each month this year at a very low cost before they are retired. 

The bundle will be available for one month only, and then the pattern gets to disappear to the Elefantz Retirement Files where they natter away and compare their various labour intensive production line stories. Honestly, I was really nice to each of them, so it's best we don't listen at the file door because some may view this as a too-early retirement and be a bit unhappy about my decision. If only they ate chocolate...

Here are the Elefantz 'February Pattern Bundle' trio...

ROSE LINGERIE BAG

...perfect for storing your personals when you're off on a weekend getaway (or quilting trip!)...

HONEY SEWING SET

...a lovely large pincushion (that could also serve as a sewing pillow to rest your hands on as you stitch), needlebook, and scissor keep, featuring the sweetest hydrangeas.

SEWING CIRCLE

...this is one of the feature blocks from my "Circles of Life" quilt that will be discontinued this month.

The block is just right for using on bags, cushions, sewing compendiums, or even framed for a friend.

This trio of patterns is available until February 28th HERE in my shop for just $4 US. 

It's an instant pdf download, but it's also stored permanently in your Craftsy Library so you never lose it, even if your computer crashes. You have to love an online store that offers such a thing - I know I do!

DAISY DAYS UPDATE

The final block of Daisy Days was shared a month ago, and now it's time to remove the patterns from my shop.

If you have missed any of the individual Daisy Days blocks, you have until February 7th to purchase them - remember, they stay secure in your Craftsy Library once purchased, so you can access them, or download them, whenever it suits you.

From February 8th, Daisy Days will be sold as one full quilt pattern with all eight blocks included. 

The individual blocks are HERE until the 7th of February.

To see close-up photos of each individual block, visit the Daisy Days webpage HERE.

Enjoy the first February weekend of the year!

It's my favourite month...perhaps because I was born in it. 

Well, yes, it IS because I was born in it. 

hugs

Jenny