A week at Elefantz...

Monday...

Traced out the blocks I drew last week for a brand new BOM to be released after Easter, 'Daisy Days', and started stitching block one. If you love this new design half as much as I do then it will be very popular! 

Eight days of the week in eight blocks -  I started with 'mondaisy'...

Tuesday...

Last week I was out window shopping with Blossom and I bought this beautifully vibrant card just for the colours and the quote. I adore colour, and it makes me happy to have bright things around me...

When I bought it I had a plan to frame it. Inside was a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, and it so touched my soul that I wanted it in the frame as well. I wrote it on a piece of the silver envelope and placed it in the corner.

"Intense love...it does not measure, it just gives."

A piece of inspiration, in colour and word, to inspire me in my sewing room.

Wednesday...

Blossom's day off work, so we went out for coffee, and to browse the new Myer in Townsville. A good twenty minutes was spent drooling over the Royal Albert display...

(lots of birthday hints were dropped by me)

 

...and some innocent childish fun tickling Elmo in the toy department...

 ...before a long, slow walk through Blossom's favourite place, the shoe department!

We thought some new thongs (flip flops to our American friends) were in order, so why not go for bling and bows?

Thursday...

Woke up with a fresh idea for using the Shabby Roses Angels blocks I designed and stitched last year. My creative self had hit a wall with the final layout so I packed it away for a few months, praying inspiration would arise one day. On Thursday it did!

I drew up a small quilt plan, and trimmed the finished blocks to suit...

 

 

....then realised I needed a verse for the centre. An hour was spent doodling some sentiments, until I felt sure I had said exactly what I wanted the quilt to say.

"...angels are all around ~ blooming in the hearts of our friends..." 

 (© 2013 Jenny of Elefantz)

 

 Another week and this should be finished and  ready for the pattern to be written. \o/

Friday...

Sunshine and Sophie in the Sink...

 

...she still drinks her water from a coffee mug in the sink. 

 

And the rest of the day? Finish some stitching, and plan the menu for our housewarming dinner tomorrow night. 

~~~~~

I have received many emails asking where the pre-printed linen and pattern for my new 'Shabby Roses' stitchery can be purchased.

Your local quilt shop (if they have ordered it) will only now be getting this pattern delivered, but if you cannot wait that long, Under The Mulberry Tree have them in stock, ready to purchase.

Visit HERE.

NOTE: If you own a quilt shop, work in one, or frequent a favourite shop, AND the shop stocks any of my designs, please leave a comment below with your shop name and website. I will add it under my 'Pattern Stockists' button here on my blog so those who want to purchase my designs can click straight to your store. :-)

If you want your store to order this in for you, have them email Creative Abundance at 
nel@creativeabundance.com.au
 

Have a wonderful weekend! May you smile, laugh, and gather armfuls of joy!

Oh, and drop by next week for something sweet that I'll be sharing....

Secret's out!

As I shared HERE last year, being a one-woman show is incredibly wearing time-wise, and the final acceptance of that truth brought about my decision to publishing the final issue of my e-zine, Elefantz HOME last November.

At the time I thought I may continue it as a quarterly, but you know, when you close a door, God gently presses another key into your palm and a new door appears, beckoning you on to a new adventure.

So, did I walk through, or turn and flee?

Being an adventurer at heart, I turned the key, swung wide the door, and ran with arms wide open along a new and exciting path!

You see, I love designing. I really, really do. I get such a kick out of seeing something that has formed in my coffee saturated thoughts come to life on paper. But time to allow those ideas to properly flourish was not available last year, with the constancy of a monthly magazine to write and publish, as well as projects for other publications.

I felt drained, rushed, and unable to give the time needed to breathe real life into my sketches.

Enter the lovely Jacques & Nel of Creative Abundance.

They flew to the opposite end of the country to spend time with Mr E and I last November, and I saw the hand of God with that very special key I needed to open the next door of my career. Prayers answered, new friends made, a way to design and stitch to my heart's content...blessed.

So guess what came next!?

My sweet Shabby Roses Stitchery was made ready for you!

 

 

 

We know how time consuming tracing a stitchery of this size can be, so the clever folk at Creative Abundance have released my design on pre-printed linen!

I can hear those sighs of relief, ladies. ;-)

 

For the many, many blog readers, and Facebook followers, who have patiently waited for the release of this pattern, I can now say, "It's ready!".

If your local quilt shop already stock patterns by Rosalie Quinlan, Ric Rac, May Blossom, Melly & Me (or any of the many wonderfully talented designers in the Creative Abundance family) they may already have it ordered or in stock. If they don't, then kindly ask them to order it in for you.

The pattern is JE006.

Creative Abundance distribute worldwide, so wherever you are, you can find a way to purchase it. \o/

*****

Next design on my finished project list is another large stitchery, and during that great tennis match between Li Na and Vika Azarenka last night,  I made the final stitches...

~Romeo Roses~

 

Next week I'll write the stitchery instructions, and sometime in February it will be ready for purchase. Hmmm, just in time for Valentines Day. Seems quite appropriate! 

*****

Yesterday was Australia Day and our family celebrated with lamb and pavlova. Perfect Aussie foods!

It was too hot in the tropics to do anything much, so I fine-tuned the sketches of my new BOM, while Mr E and Sam repaired Sam's car and Blossom went to work for the day. Well, at least the food was good and well received after their hard labour!

What did you do on Australia Day?