Pruning, free pattern, and the $2 dress...

 

I originally planned for June to be a month of focusing on friendship - with others, but mostly growing deeper in my friendship with Jesus. 

We all make our plans at one time or another, and often they are well thought through, good and productive, but have you found that sometimes God will take our plan and widen it's scope to grow us, or to make us aware of extra things that need to be included or perhaps discarded?

June has turned out to be a rather insightful God-widening, lovingly pruned, friendship walk between me and my Lord, and I believe, as always with the lessons God brings us, that it has been for my good, for His glory, and to help me flourish and bear fruit in these latter years of life.

As I reflect on the first half of 2024, His pruning shears have been in regular use within the garden of my heart and mind - it's just been a tad more evident this month. 

My friends, if you're undergoing a holy pruning season right now, do not resist it, but surrender to the work of God within you, for only He can remove the things which stifle our fruitfulness for the Kingdom, and flourish us in His blessed gift of life for the years still before us. 

JUNE at home...

We have lived here in the tropics for fifteen years now, and this is the coldest June we have experienced. Many of you will give a chuckle when I tell you the average night temperatures lately as your own winters are fraught with snow, ice and blizzards...but for us, who have barely more than a pair of jeans, some socks and a couple of cardigans to complete a winter wardrobe, it's definitely been a surprise.  For the past three weeks it's hovered around 11-14C overnight (51-57F) and with no heating in the house we've had to pull out both quilted coverlets and a polar fleece blanket for the bed. Hubby is wearing socks to bed as well. 

I was still swimming my laps in the cold pool at 6am every morning until Monday this week when it was so black outside that I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. Hence, swimming is now around lunchtime when the weather is a rather glorious 25-26C (78F) though the water is still extremely cold. The winter solstice is just days away so by my calculations I may be back to 6am swims the second week of July. God willing. 

We have had no rain since March, other than one morning of good showers in May, so the ground is dry and crunchy...

We've done a heap of tree pruning lately, and are still working on building up better soil in the small raised beds which we hope to use next autumn for growing the normal 'summer' vegetables we've raised every winter since buying our small home on a quarter acre. But it was a wise decision to not grow them this winter as the past few years they have been hammered by pests and bugs. By resting the soil (isn't God wise about resting the soil every seventh year?!) this year we have been able to work on other areas of the gardens - removing some trees, plants and shrubs; moving and re-moving fences; replenishing soil in raised beds and the front yard; making use of large pots for flowers and herbs; and tending to the fruiting trees and shrubs currently producing, such as blueberries and passionfruit. I am also just about to lift the ginger as the tops are dying and it's risen out of the soil and looking luscious. I get very excited about the ginger because every year it has been a success. 

Even our huge Poinciana had a prune, before hubby installed the birdhouse he made whilst teaching back in 2020. This tree is a real bird attracter and it's such a joy to sit underneath and look up at all the different types of avian visitors. 

Hot meals are on the menu at last, and soups rank high, such as this curried roast pumpkin & garlic soup with coconut cream and sauteed minced chicken. 

Many herbs are flourishing in the cooler temps, and I'm enjoying the surplus of coriander leaves (cilantro) because I can only grow it here in winter as the weather is too hot and humid the rest of the year. 

Blossom and the children visit every week, or we meet somewhere for a treat. They love to see what I have been baking and end up taking home a few containers full, so I've been trying a few different recipes lately, such as these sourdough choc-chip biscuits (cookies). You can find the recipe HERE

 Some cooking of a different kind has also been taking place. Magnesium lotion is very good for aches and pains and sleep, but it's quite expensive, so I made my own for a tiny fraction of the cost. The instructions are HERE and the result is lovely. My eldest daughter Kezzie has requested some, and I gave a tin to Blossom yesterday. It makes a great item for the gift cupboard!

I'm still working my way through each series of The Great British Sewing Bee, which definitely ignited the desire to sew my own clothes, so I recently bought a couple of patterns from Spotlight to try (along with more yarn to finish the trim on my new kitchen curtains)...

I also bought a bunch of reduced chrysanthemums as my roses are not faring well in the blooming department this winter and have been duly pruned back. 

I think in my last post I mentioned buying $2 sheets at the op shop in order to make some dresses because I don't want to use 'good' fabric until my skills are better honed. Well, I made my first dress from a $2 sheet and I quite like it so it's being added to my spring/summer/autumn 'housedress' wardrobe. There was even enough fabric left to make a top, which I'll be sure to do in the future.

I watch GBSB on the iPad Britbox app while I cut and sew...

(all done except the top stitching and hem)

(final fitting...and such a serious face as I put a hand in the pocket and assess the fit.  LOVE a side-pocket and was happy to learn how to include two)

(top stitching done)

Not bad for $2, and this inspired me even more to keep sewing my own clothes. 

Using up my quilting fabric for purposeful items around home is another sewing avenue of late. These are for my linen cupboard and each buttoned square contains a set of sheets. So easy to make, as well as being pleasing to the eye on the shelf. I will be thinking of many more ways to use fabric for organising and storage in future. Do you have any ideas to share??

Yesterday Blossom, the children and I went to the playground and as the kids played for three whole hours, we chatted about life, God, health, pruning, sewing and homeschool. After lunch we headed to a few op-shops as I wanted more cheap sheets for sewing, and Blossom needed clothes for Cully May. 

First stop was the RSPCA op-shop which proved wonderful as all the children's clothes were $2 each, and she found a huge bundle of unused homeschool books for Charlie David's first years. I found a lovely top for myself and a nice huge $2 sheet which could easily make two dresses. The kids loved this new-to-us op-shop as they also have cats for adoption that children are allowed to pet (if they prove to be calm and responsible around animals, which Blossom's children are). Blossom went in with the kids and they played with two lovely one-year-old cats for about 15 minutes...and then Blossom called Ross to ask if they could adopt them. He was in agreement, and she came home with the paperwork. They need to get permission from the owner of their rental home first, so we have prayed and asked God's will be done and shall wait to hear the outcome.

Blossom and I prayed openly about this in the op-shop, just as we'd prayed openly about other things when we sat in the playground with other people around. I'm very proud of my daughter for being so open about her faith in Christ, because I do not see much of this around...in fact I don't remember seeing people just praying together in shops or parks or playgrounds unconcerned about those nearby. This is what we want the children to learn, and I was blessed to have Cully May openly pray with me about something that mattered greatly to her while we were having lunch. 

Children learn by our example. In these last days, when it seems that the return of Jesus is possible in my lifetime, Blossom wants her children to know the Lord, turning to Him before any other, and able to share about Him to those they meet along life's path. That's a lesson for all of us, regardless of age...

2 Timothy 4:2...

"...be ready in season and out of season..."

I thought I would leave you with a few really good videos that have encouraged Blossom and I recently.

FREE GIFT 

Last thing for today is a free download for you to stitch - "Hope in the Lord". I believe that many of you have struggles or trials right now - it could be health, finances, relationships, or a decision which must be made. Dear ones, never forget that the Lord is right there for you. Never lose HOPE, never let the enemy tell you He does not care for that is a lie. 

Stand firm in your faith, in HOPE, in the truth of our Saviour's sacrifice and eternal love which will stand the test of eternity. He is for you, never against you. His will for your life is greater than your own will for it. Surrender to God and let Him carry you. xxxx

Use the link below to download this free pattern

DOWNLOAD Hope in the Lord pattern 

God bless dear friends, and may you find the delight of pruning to be worth the challenge it initially brings. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called, according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

Hugs and prayers,

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

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Tutorial - make this simple Stitcher's Friend gift card!

We have moved house 20 times in 23 years.

We have moved towns 11 times in 23 years.

We have moved states 5 times in 23 years.

And we're fairly sure we may move again in 2015.

One thing I like to do is send a Christmas card each year to the far away friends who made an indelible mark on my heart over those 23 years.

Last Tuesday when Mr E and I spent 8 hours driving to and from Cooktown I thought how nice to add something small and useful inside the Christmas cards that will be posted to sewing friends, and as the hours passed by and I stitched carefully on my knee over every bump the old outback road offered up, this idea came to pass.

With 2015 just over the hill, a useful gift for Christmas is a set of fresh sewing needles! 

This little 'Stitcher's Friend' card will fit easily inside your regular Christmas cards, or would be a great addition to swap parcels.

I've made up these pretty labels for the cards...

 There are six on the sheet, which you can download HERE as a free gift.

Gather some supplies. 

I've raided Blossom's papercraft box and found that a pack of 6½” square papers will allow me to make two cards per sheet.

 You'll also need:

* a roll of double sided tape (or glue)

* rotary cutter (use an old blade, not the one you're currently using for your fabrics)

* cutting board and ruler

* some scraps of cotton or wool quilt wadding/batting

* an assortment of needles - both hand sewing and machine are a good choice

Use your rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting board to accurately cut out the six Stitcher's Friend labels from the free sheet you have printed.

Cut the 6½” square of scrapbooking paper in half.

Place strips of double sided tape across the back of a label, covering the four side edges. Peel the backing from the tape and position the label inside the right hand half of your scrapbook paper...

Fold the paper in half to create a card...

 Machine sew a line just inside the folded edge of the card. This helps to keep the card closed when you have finished it...

Gather your assortment of needles. Three or four needles will be enough...

Sew a scrap piece of cotton or wool quilt wadding/batting inside the card. A straight line across the top edge is all you need. Place the needles in the wadding...

A nice touch is to write what size needles you've added...

How easy was that!?

I've made two, only four more to go! 

But, maybe I'll keep making them, after all they will be lovely additions in birthday cards too, don't you think?

If you'd like to stitch a sewing set for a more substantial gift I've just re-released my pretty "Linen Rose" sewing set as a pdf pattern...

The embroidery is quick and easy - simple backstitch and two strands of red thread!

It's also an easy pattern to machine sew once the hand work is complete, and can be made up in an afternoon...

The 'Linen Rose' pattern and your free  'Stitcher's Friend' labels are HERE in the shop now as instant pdf downloads.

Enjoy your day!

I have secret stitching to attend to...

hugs

Free Christmas design for you!

It's a double blessing Monday for all my Elefantz readers!

Each year I love to create designs that bring glory and honour to my Lord, and in 2014 there have been many Scripture based embroideries and projects shared here on Elefantz, the largest endeavour being the 26 week-long Lord's Prayer Quilt.

Today I have the first Monday blessing to give you - block 21 of the Lord's Prayer Quilt...

 This block completes the sixth row of the quilt. Coming along nicely....

Download Block 21 (as well as the first free 20 blocks) HERE.

How are you coming along with stitching this quilt? 

Mine is quilted and waiting for the binding, so very soon I can show you!

The second Monday blessing is a sweet set of Christmas stitcheries that celebrate the true gift and meaning of this wonderful time of celebration...

 

 This set is my free Christmas gift to *you* dear reader.

You can download it HERE and may I ask that if you are on Facebook or Instagram that you share this free link as well? I'll have it posted on those pages for you to do so. 

To share on Pinterest just hover over the photos on this page and a 'pin it' button will appear.

By sharing like this it becomes a gift that keeps giving and giving...xx

Email me your photos when you stitch them so I can share them here on the blog, ok?

Have a blessed and stitchy week everyone,

hugs

(Elefantz on FB here, on Instagram look for @jennyofelefantz, and you'll find Elefantz on Pinterest here)

The final block, and a new design...

Can you believe it, we've come to the end of our 12-week Shabby Roses Churn Dash Stitchalong!

Today I have the final block ready for downloading -

"SHABBY"

I have seriously *loved* this project, from start to finish it brought me immense joy and satisfaction.

The pattern for "Shabby" is HERE in my shop.

Next Friday I will share the finishing instructions to bring all twelve blocks together into a quilt!

Will you have all your blocks ready by then?

This week I have been working on four designs for publication in an Australian magazine next year. 

All of them feature hand quilting so I have officially decided that I am hooked on it!

Here's a peek at one of them. It's a very small wall hanging called "Birdy" and I've used the prettiest of Valdani Overdyed thread to stitch the block...

The sweet Birdy is surrounded by one inch squares of fabrics that blend beautifully with the thread...

I also used a single strand of the same Valdani thread for the hand quilting...

The finished hanger measures just 8" x 10". 

Perfectly small and sweet I think.

The 1st month of the Jenny of Elefantz STITCHERY CLUB has been emailed to all subscribers, and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has joined in! 

The response was overwhelming and I'm so excited about what's in store for everyone in the months ahead!

 Subscriptions are now closed until November 9th when they will open again for one week before the 2nd month's patterns are emailed out.

If you missed out this time around you can join then and never miss a month!

In the meantime non-subscribers can now purchase the 1st month's pattern set HERE in the shop.

Two subscriptions bounced when I emailed out this month's pattern set, apparently due to an incorrect email address supplied during the subscription process.
If you are a subscriber and have not received your Stitchery Club email would you first check your 'spam' or 'junk' box in case it slipped in there, and if you do not find it please email me HERE. 

Enjoy your Friday, my friends!

I have plenty of stitching ahead of me, and another grain-free / sugar-free banana & date loaf to bake for my precious husband...cake and sewing, who can ask for more?

hugs