POSIES block 3...

 

It's March 1st and we're up to block three in this year's free block of the month, "Posies".

Have you completed the first two blocks?

Just as a refresher, here's what the completed Posies wall quilt looks like...

You can join in at any time between now and December. The previous and current links to download each new block, which I share on the first day of each month, are HERE

The March block is a cutie because I fussy cut a bee onto the vase...

There are two parts to the applique this time. The rounded vase behind, and the fussy cut panel appliqued over the top. 

You don't need to do this but I love how it adds depth, texture and interest to the little block. 

UPDATE...

POSIES was free until January 1st 2022.

The complete 2021 POSIES quilt is now available from my ETSY Shop.

For those who may have just joined in, here's pics of blocks 1 and 2.

All twelve blocks finish at 6.5" square before being pieced into the quilt at the end of the year.

If you've completed the first few blocks already be sure to tag me on Instagram with #posiesblockofthemonth or #posiesbom or #jennyofelefantz so I can come see them. 

On Saturday I finally found some time to make my eighth handmade tag for this year in Anne's 52tags project. The theme this time was bullion, French knot and pistil stitches.

The little rosebuds are bullion, lavender flowers in French knots and the pistil stitch was used as decoration around the lower half of the applique and button.

Unfortunately it's still raining cats and dogs here so there's not much light for photos, but I tried.

Other than this I have some secret sewing beside my chair, a home to tend, family to  love, pets to care for, and a business to run, so time seems a bit squeezed right now. I'm almost over the head cold but after the parade of ills and spills last month I'm lagging behind on most things and struggling for energy after about 11am. I know this will pick up soon and I am ever so grateful for all your kind words and prayers.

A cyclone is brewing just off the coast north of here and this is the reason we have so much rain right now, so as the week progresses we shall see how strong it grows and how close to us it will come. It's Rafaella's 3rd birthday on Thursday and we'd dearly love to all catch up and celebrate that day but this cyclone may deter us...still, you never know with cyclones. Sometimes they take a different path than predicted.

I'll sign off now so I can get back to writing and compiling the final pieces for the next issue of The Homemakers Heart, which I shall probably share with you on Wednesday. 

If you missed Issue 1 it's a free download over HERE.

Bless your lovely hearts and may you be joyous each day as you serve your loved ones within the sanctuary of home...

Hugs

Sewing chatter, a new dress, Rosie and bread...

 Yesterday Rosie came over for the morning and between cups of Earl Grey and nibbles of banana bread and matrimony slice we solved all the world's problems. Ha ha! Okay, not exactly, but we did talk each other's ears off about sewing and our favourite fabric show, The Great British Sewing Bee.

We both have a Britbox (Australia) subscription and slowly they are adding the series so we are soaking everything in and being immensely inspired to forgo the cheap clothing imports which have swamped the stores here over the past decade or more, and set our machines to work on more than just patchwork and quilting.

Rosie is ahead of me in having already completed two new summer tops this month, but also in experience with sewing for oneself (I sewed for my children but never for me, apart from my wedding dress which was a miracle in more ways than one) so I was able to glean from that as she helped me along with a few sensible rules to follow which will hopefully curtail any avoidable mistakes.

This morning I cut out the pattern pieces for a sleeveless top with pin-tucks along the front because I own a few pin-tucked tops and dresses and on consideration realised its my favourite style. 

It's a rainy day here in the tropics of North Queensland which makes it 'just right' for brewing cuppas and hiding away in the sewing room with an audio book while my machine hopefully makes magic.

Rosie launched her new blog recently and it's wonderful. Her latest two posts gave us much to chat about as we sipped our tea yesterday - sewing of course, but also a quote her father-in-law would often repeat and which is made relevant in almost every aspect of a homemakers life. Pop over HERE and say hi, read and be inspired. 

I've not rushed my weekly tag challenge of late, but sat with the theme of the week simmering in my thoughts before embarking on the process of bringing scrappy pieces of lace, linen, ribbon, buttons and thread together. The theme this week was 'a bevy of buttons' and after a few alterations to my initial idea it came together beautifully just before dinner yesterday.

Flower gardens are a delight to the senses aren't they? So why not create one on the tag I thought to myself.

Now I'm wondering what the next theme could be, but it won't be shared until Saturday morning my time (Friday evening in the UK) so I must be patient. Besides I have a pin-tucked top to sew and that will keep me busy - especially making my own binding. Glad I have enough of that fabric. 

Blossom has been sewing again and begun to add beautiful new dresses to her Etsy Shop. This time she's made toddler sizes (12-24 months) and will be sewing some 3yo dresses in future as well. You can have a look at her new wares over HERE at Lucy & May.

But there's one very special dress I'd like to show you today. A little while back Bloss and I were chatting about the dress she wanted to make for Rafaella's 3rd birthday in early March and I suggested adding a little something myself, a hand embroidered bodice. She was thrilled with that idea and so I drew up a little circular posey and added R in the centre. Well, you know that was the easy part. 

I handed the embroidered bodice fabric over to her and then the real magic happened. What my daughter can sew impeccably never ceases to swell my heart in pride for her diligence to the God-given craft she loves. 

Our little Rafaella, aka Shirley Temple, had no intention of waiting for her birthday to wear mummy's creation, and let's face it who can deny that smile?

Do you remember two years ago when I made a bodice for Rafaella's 1st birthday dress? You can have a look back at that post HERE.

Hasn't she grown up!

The pattern is still available HERE in my shop if you like to hand embroider bodices, and comes in sizes 1-2 and 3-4.

BREAD...

I was asked recently about my bread recipes because I have quite a few favourites that I make over and over again. Back in 2017 I shared three good recipes I bake often so for those who kindly asked me to share them again feel free to use THIS link to download the file.

There's also a sweet little bread stitchery inside the file so while it bakes you get to stitch. 

I suppose I'd best depart from the computer keyboard now and head back to my sewing room to cut out the fabric for that pin-tucked top. Firstly I'll need to brew a pot of Earl Grey and then sample a bit more of the matrimony slice which I made with blackberry jam this time. And if you've never made this slice let me encourage you to try it - delicious!

You can download the recipe HERE, which just like the bread recipes has a little stitchery you can play around with while it bakes. 

May the Lord bless your days with peace and laughter, healing and hope, grace and truth - and may you always feel His mighty loving hand upon your shoulder.

hugs

Recovery and storing vintage lace...

 It turns out I had a very nasty case of salmonella poisoning through almost all last week which explains my long absence. I truly never want to go through that again - it was my first time with salmonella and the doctor tells me it's much harder on children and those over 60. I believe her. Just a smidgin' over 60 and I felt the full brunt.

The relief when you turn that corner and know the worst is behind you - well, it's pure joy, hope renewed and a reminder that life will return to normal again after all.

By Friday I was able to play around in the sewing room and make another handmade tag (number 5 of 52), this one with the theme of kisses and cross-stitch...

It's been many years since I did a counted cross stitch but admit it was quite enjoyable sewing this little heart. I tea dyed the Aida fabric after stitching the heart so it had more of a vintage look about it. 

Whilst rummaging through my two boxes of vintage and new laces it occurred to me that they need some organising, especially the smaller pieces which tend to float around the boxes after I've delved within for a scrap or two lately whilst making these tags.

As I pulled out piece by piece and set aside the shorter lengths I got thinking about spools, the pretty cardboard kind that will hold a metre or two of my 'ends' in an orderly and lovely fashion.

A quick search online and I was quickly redirected by google to a few digital ones which caught my eye on Etsy. After deciding to try just one at first, it was purchased, downloaded and one sheet of lace spools printed all in five minutes. 

Intending to cut them out and begin winding lace around them later on Friday my plans came to a sudden halt when a 24-hour migraine knocked me off my feet. I'm fairly sure this was triggered by lack of food for six days, though I was drinking electrolytes by the gallon.

Simple scrambled eggs, well one egg at first, helped - then I baked some bread and for the next two days feasted on thick slices with banana and almond butter, with a side serving of Yakult. More scrambled eggs rounded out my tummy's return to three meals a day. 

Happy to say that I'm doing very well now, and in fact spent all this morning writing a complicated pattern wearing the necklace Cully May made me yesterday when Blossom and the children visited for the day. They had missed me terribly while I was ill, and I had certainly missed them. 

Charlie David is two months old today and he's got the most engaging smile. Such a cuddly little man, loves to be wrapped up and held close.

I bought him the Vegemite romper when Blossom was pregnant. Our family LOVE our vegemite and we're pretty sure he will too.

I caught Cully May deep in thought, and if I haven't told you before, she is a very deep thinker. Her mind never stops...

I tried to get a photo of Rafaella, but she was far more interested in playing outside in the "poppy house" (cubby house that Poppy made her) and chasing the chickens around the yard. She's quite the adventurer and a little dynamo so its hard to catch her sitting still. 

While I was ill and off my feet (and not racing to the little girl's room) I caught up on reading. Some good audio books helped on the days my eyes wouldn't focus, but once things settled I pulled out my treasured old copies of Australian Home Journal and read for hours.

There's so much I want to share with you from the many volumes I have and hopefully that will begin next month. I had so many "aha" moments re-learning recipes and treatments and household tips that Nana followed when I was a little girl that it became a beautiful stroll down memory lane and simpler times. When ladies were really ladies. That stood out, and has given me food for thought.

You know by now that Blossom and I are avid groupies of The Great British Sewing Bee and now that it's on Britbox Australia my friend Rosie has caught the bug too. We've been having some wonderful chats about making clothes and already she has made two tops in the past week whilst I am still at the stage of choosing my first pattern from the number I collected over the past six years but which have never been made.

My first will hopefully come to life tomorrow. It's a swing top because I don't like clothes that are very fitted. In our heat you need air around your body.

But first I need to finish repairing the three dresses I found hidden away in a mending basket which I'm sure has not seen the light of day in two years at least. They are quick fixes, which lends the thought "why haven't I mended them before now??" No answer forthcoming, just a bit of guilt mixed with determination to tick them off my to-do list asap.

Anyhow, I see my husband has just arrived home so I'd best be away to cook the rice we need to serve with dinner. 

God bless you, thank you for your most appreciated prayers, and I shall be back soon with a simple and fun freebie. 

blessings and hugs

End of a full and satisfying week...

 Considering Tuesday was Australia Day holiday and we genuinely took it easy, the rest of the week seemed like an overflowing barrel of apples as I tried to keep life running smoothly and not topple anything over.

But the thing is I really enjoy weeks like this because there is not a moment to be bored and when I look back over the previous days and what was accomplished there is a deep satisfaction to be had...much like the satisfaction of eating thick slices of juicy apple pie. Which reminds me I need to bake one, or perhaps apple rolls as I saw a friend had made the other day and which caused me to salivate just looking at her photo. 

In the last post I showed the fabric and doilies I intended using to sew a new "miracle apron" and now that it's made I can show you how it turned out.

It did do my head in again, but as I was very aware of what to expect things managed to go smoothly. Those doilies became pockets and honest, they just make the apron even lovelier than I'd hoped. When you look at the photo you'll notice I did not cut the top off the doilies but turned over one end for the straight edge these pockets needed.

All the edgings are made with bias binding which gives the apron a really nice finish. I had enough cream bias binding (you need around 5 yards/4.5 metres) and though I would rather have used a soft blue you can't see the binding so I'm rather chuffed.

Blossom has decided to make me another in gorgeous blue 'houses' fabric for my birthday next month which has me very happy indeed. I just LOVE full aprons like these! 

I know now that the original link for this free pattern had disappeared from my original 2015 blog post but a dear reader found another so I have updated it and you'll have no problems downloading this time. Pop over HERE to that original post. 

A new apron means it needs to be broken in and yesterday this was done by scrubbing the bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry from top to bottom. Actually I did such a thorough job that every muscle aches today. Not complaining though...deep cleans are fun to me. I just need chocolate afterwards as an energy boost, which I'm sure you understand, yes?

One appliance that gets a deep clean every 8 weeks or so is the washing machine. We have a front loader and the gasket can get a build up of grime which requires lots of 'miracle spray' and grit to remove. Also a slightly contortionist movement of the hands and arms to get inside the rubbery bits. 

BEFORE...

I pulled out the soap dispenser and scrubbed that, washed out where the dispenser is housed in the machine and polished the glass and everywhere else. I use a paper towel (above) to clean the gasket as it needs to be thrown away, but for everything else I use the washable cleaning rags I made last year and more of the miracle spray.

Once everything is clean I run the machine on an empty cycle with a cup of vinegar as this is great for cleaning the inside of the hoses and removing the remnants of the miracle spray before I add clothes to the next load.

Lastly I tidied up the laundry and scrubbed it down as well, which is when I noticed the window outside needed a clean too. 

I'm a shorty at just 5'1" (155cm) so I needed a high stool to get up and clean it, and then I found it necessary to wash all the windows along the back of the house - do you do that? Start one chore and find it leads you on to many others? I'm renowned for it. Sigh. But as I said before - there's satisfaction and chocolate once it's done. 

I cooled off in the pool after about three hours of non stop scrubbing and climbing and then went out to run some errands. Feeling the need for some floral cheeriness on my desk I came home with groceries AND a bunch of gorgeous pink carnations and the prettiest yellow chrysanthemums. 

It was only as I popped the vase on my desk that I noticed their colours matched my favourite computer wallpaper. 

I was never much for yellow, you know. I still only own five yellow fabrics. Though my car is yellow, nothing much else at home is. 

But things change, people's likes and dislikes change, styles change - and one day you discover a love growing for yellow and suddenly you want to add a splash of it everywhere. That's how my mind is running these days as I "walk the room" and write notes on what I'd like to do or change or repair in each room of the house.

My afternoon was spent cleaning floors and repotting house plants, folding washing and doing the ironing. A long productive day is always a good day.

That handmade tag challenge...

I didn't get to make the fourth handmade gift tag last weekend as I spent the day with beautiful Blossom instead and it wasn't until this morning that I was able to settle into relaxed pottering mode in the sewing room and see what I could come up with. 

HOPE kept swimming through my mind, which in reality was not at all related to the theme for week 4 - Fly Stitch. But there's nothing to stop a girl from combining both so I did just that. 

Very simplistic this one, yet it resonates in my heart. That need to always HOPE, to hold fast to God in all circumstances and never lose hope. 

Now I have the first four tags completed I can start planning week 5's tag theme which is crosses and cross stitch. Here's my first four (I changed some of week 3's scrappy tag today as I hadn't been happy with it initially and now I am)...

The week 3 tag is scrappy lace simply because I love it and have so many pieces.

If you need more info on anything I shared in the post today here's a list of links -

recipe for Miracle Spray  (or read it in my free Homemakers Heart magazine here)

free Miracle Apron pattern

Walk the Room downloadable sheets inside the Homemakers Heart

What is Walk the Room about?  (or read about it and download the latest walk the room sheets in the Homemakers Heart)

#52tagshannemade challenge (or read about it here)

I bought a bag of ten huge mangos at the market last Sunday for $10 and they are still not ripe so today I'm going to make a Green Mango Salad for hubby when he gets home from work. It's full of delicious Asian flavours (our favourite) and I will shred a little chicken through it as well. 

HERE's the recipe I'm going to use if you'd like to try it yourself. We like rice vermicelli noodles so I'll toss them through as well. 

I do hope your own weekend is a joyful one, overflowing with goodness, kindness and renewed HOPE. May the Lord bless you and keep you ever so close to His loving heart.

Hugs 

PS: Memberships to Let's Stitch Again close at midnight Sunday if you'd like to receive the February set of patterns. Pop over HERE to take a look.