The last two blocks and quilt assembly!

I know...I know.

I said I'd share six blocks over six days, BUT...

Mr E is full of surprises!

It's now official that we will not be moving away from Townsville next year. His work contract has been extended for another year! \o/ Thank you for your prayers. xx

It's also official that Blossom is moving out of home in October to share a house with some work chums.

So...what will Mr E and I do over the impending tropical wet season when we will be limited in safe motorbike riding opportunities?

After all, the last of our children will have left home this time next month, and it's time to begin life as empty nesters. We're still young (compared to Mr E's granny who went home to meet Jesus at 95 years of age!) and without the fun of riding our motorbike for months on end, we needed a new hobby.

A new hobby that didn't cost too much, but was something we could do together.

After our trip up the Atherton tablelands a few weeks ago, we had a hankering to head out into the country and see what she has to show us 'off the beaten track'. Our funds were low, so we prayed hard, and set our sights on one particular car.

It appeared - 1,500 kilometres away. Because its in the state capital it's almost half the price of the same model up here where we live, so we're flying out today to bring it home!

It's old, okay - in fact it's as old as Blossom! But it's been loved, and maintained, and we could afford it. It's also a bonus that Mr E was a qualified diesel mechanic before heading into teaching.

So - all that to tell you I'm sharing both the final blocks and the quilt assembly instructions for BOUQUET today! 

Block 5 poem - 'the rose'...

I wrote this poem, and then designed the quilt. 

The final corner blocks (4 of them), 'rose'...

Download the last two pdf pattern files HERE.

Please send me photos if you make this quilt, or any of the blocks. 

 Here is mine finished...

Shabby Roses BOUQUET

I have loved sharing this quilt pattern again, as it's really *me* and gave me such joy in the design and stitching back in 2009.
I've included my quilt label in the assembly pattern as well...

Just stitch your own name and the year you make the quilt under the heart bouquet.

Thank you for being a part of this 5 year Blogversary week with me. xx

I'll draw the winner of the giveaway on Monday and announce it here on the blog.

In a couple of hours we fly to Brisbane, pick up our 4WD, and begin the long and exciting road trip home!  Remember back in January I told you that my word for 2013 was ADVENTURE?

Well, I've been having them, and this is another!

Blossom and a friend will be watching over Bob-the-dog, Princess Sophie, and the house.

I have stitching prepared for the drive home - at least during the daylight hours as we'll be on the road at night too. All going to plan we'll arrive back late Saturday night...and we'll be sleeping all day Sunday. 

Prayers for safe travel most appreciated.

Have a sweet and sunshiny weekend, my friends,

hugs

jenny

xx

Block 4 of BOUQUET - and another sneak peek...

What a delight it has been to share the blocks of BOUQUET with you, almost four years after I first shared it here on my blog.

Today you can download my favourite block in this quilt...

'the cracked jug'

That sweet little bead edged skirt around the base makes me smile.

And the vintage, singed ribbon adds an air of old world charm, don't you think?

Block 4, 'the cracked jug' can be downloaded HERE.

Already I am working on the projects for the October issue of Elefantz HOME ezine.

Here's a sneak peek of the second 12" mini quilt from my 'Seasons In Redwork' set of four...

"autumn calling"

To learn more about my monthly e-zine, visit the Elefantz Home webpage HERE.

The next issue is my bumper Christmas issue -it's going to be gorgeous!

 Do you know my sweet friend, Dawn?
She has a free weekly BOM at the moment on her blog!

It's full of teeny tiny stitcheries - so cute!
You can visit Dawn and start following along with her BOM over HERE.

Till tomorrow and the next Bouquet block,
hugs

jenny

xx

Block 3 and that sneak peek...

Block 3 today!

How are you going so far? Are you saving the patterns each day to make in the future, or have you begun stitching them? I'd love to see photos as you stitch your blocks!

"the girl"

...'the girl' wears pearls in her hair, and offers you her bouquet...

Download block 3 HERE

I promised you a sneak peek of a new Christian stitchery I've finished...

It's a mini quilt with the sweetest little zig zag border across the top...

I'll be sharing this next week. 

My greatest joy is to share God's word in needle and thread. xx

 

Yesterday I baked a fresh loaf of sour dough! This has become Mr E's favourite bread so I bake a few loaves each week...

 If you want to read more about my adventures in the kitchen, I share over HERE on my foodie blog.

Whilst I cooked and stitched today, Princess Sophie was fast asleep on our bed.

She lives up to her name!

See you tomorrow with Block 4. 

hugs

jenny

xx

Day two, block two!

Today you'll be downloading block two of BOUQUET!

~the bucket~

Wouldn't you love a bucket of roses? 

I love roses (okay, no surprise there!), and if I could have a bucket full of them everyday I'd be most content.

'the bucket' can be downloaded HERE

I finished a new design yesterday. A mini quilt with a Scripture verse.

A peek will be on the blog tomorrow.

 For now though, my pretty roses...

hugs

jenny

xx

A week of celebrations - block one of Bouquet and a giveaway!

Five years ago this month I began blogging as Jenny of Elefantz.

At the time I was a homeschool mum whose life was about to change; I thought I'd be sharing things I'd made as a recent newbie to stitching and quilting and nothing more.

But I love to write, and as a side-line I discovered I could design too.

So here we are, five years later, and so much has changed from that first post!

I'm celebrating the blessing that God has given me:

... the sharing of a tiny portion of His creative self in my life

... allowing me to draw what  my mind sees

... to stitch those sketches so they make pretty eye candy

... and to write and publish my own online magazine!

God is good!

In 2010 I shared a special Shabby Roses quilt over six months on this blog, and I called it "Bouquet".

This week I am going to share those quilt blocks once more - over six days!

This is the full quilt...

 ...all stitched and pieced in pastel. The fabrics I used were Robyn Pandolph's 'Somerset Cottage'.

Today I am sharing Block 1 with you...

'the chair'

The pattern for this block will be available until September 30th.

You can download it free HERE in my shop.

 GIVEAWAY!!

What's a celebration without a giveaway!?

Leave one comment on this blog post with a valid email address or blog link where I contact you if you win.

The prize is...

* a sweet bundle of fat quarters and fat eighths from Helen Stubbings new fabrics, 'Nice People Nice Things'

* a 27" square of white hanky linen - my favourite fabric to embroider on!

* a Zig Millenium pen - the only pen I use to trace my designs onto fabric!

 I'll draw a winner on Monday 16th September!

See you tomorrow with block 2...

hugs

jenny

xx

A week of celebrating my 5th Blogversary!!

It's been 5 years since I began the 'Jenny of Elefantz' blog - can you believe it?!!

At that time I was still learning about stitching and quilting and applique and piecing.

It's been a wild and exciting ride since that first blog post, but I wouldn't change a thing!

You know when someone celebrates a big milestone and you just want to give them the sweetest gift?

Well, I thought through this long and hard because I want to give *you* a gift. After all, I wouldn't be here writin' and stitchin' five years down the track without your very sweet selves!

Thinking of what *I* love best - a bouquet of roses - it seemed a perfect gift to give every one of you.

Back in 2010 I shared a six month BOM. It was gorgeous. It even featured my own original poem, 'The Rose'. 

It was called Shabby Roses 'Bouquet'.

Starting on Monday September 9th, and running through to Saturday 15th, I am going to share one free block of Bouquet *every* day!

It will only be available for a short time, so be sure to drop by the blog every day next week, from Monday to Saturday to download a free block each day!

It's also important that we have a giveaway to celebrate, but I'll announce that on Monday when I share the first block of Shabby Roses 'Bouquet'.

Bless your friends and share the news! I'm sure many of them would love to stitch this quilt with you. 

So until Monday, have a blessed and refreshing weekend,

hugs

Jenny

xx