Simple ideas...

I find quite often that simple ideas are used far more readily than those that take a great deal of planning and time. Over the weekend I found some tutorials that you may like to have a play with, and especially with Easter so close I had to include the simplest of bunny ears!

Craft Passion have shared step by step instructions to make these so-sweet-and-incredibly-small bunny ears. You can gift them 'as is' or fill with lavender and use as shoe stuffers or to fragrance your delicates drawer.

You'll find it here.

 If you have some decorative stitches on your sewing machine, you'll love Kerryanne's 'faux' patchwork cushion! The easy tutorial is here.

Are you dabbling in the crochet resurgence across blogdom?

If so, you will love this tutorial for crocheting around an embroidery hoop!

Do you collect doilies and old lace like I do?

Spend an afternoon making some gorgeous napkin rings from this tute! I think they'd also be gorgeous with a fat quarter or two rolled inside and given as a gift...

Wondering how to use up your stash of felt?
No words, but excellent step by step photos to make these bookmarks can be found here.

Tomorrow I have a free Easter stitchery to share with you. I'm using some of my French General stash from years ago...

Have a blessed and joy filled week!

hugs

Just before Easter...

It's Easter this weekend, a time when we remember and celebrate the greatest love story ever lived. The day before is my preparation time for our meals on Good Friday.

Do you eat fish on Good Friday?

Sometimes we do, and other times we just eat fruit and veg for the day.

Today I cut up fresh pumpkin and sweet potato...

...into little cubes, and tossed them in olive oil, sea salt, and freshly grated garlic cloves. 

Then I scattered them across a baking tray...

...before roasting for about 30 minutes until they began to brown and caramelise.

When cold, I popped them in a container and stored in the fridge. We'll have these in a rocket, haloumi and tomato salad tomorrow.

I also made my favourite green bean dish! Just blanch the beans in boiling water for about 90 seconds, then drain. Whilst still hot, toss the beans in a mix of sesame oil and tamari. Dry roast some flaked almonds and scatter across the top. YUM.

 I bought some Crimson Snapper fillets to accompany the salads.

The kitchen is certainly a favourite place for me to be these days. As the tropical summer has passed, there is a slight cooling in the air before sunrise, and also at dusk. Perfect for inspiring my other creative pastime.

(although midday temps are still around 31C - 90F!)

I bought some gifts for my grandsons, and Kezzie, from Little Eco last week, and they arrived in yesterday's post. 

Kezzie loves her garden, and is teaching 5yo Deegan about growing vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Little Eco had Heirloom seeds on sale, so I bought a few packs for her, and some for me. Also on sale were lovely colour pencil sets and wooden puzzles, so there is a useful Easter parcel heading their way today. Much more fun that chocolate eggs!

I also found a book for littlies about gardening, so popped that in for Deegan as well.

I'm so proud of Kezzie! She's a wonderful mum, always doing hands-on activities with her boys. 

Before I posted the parcel, Blossom decided she'd make sure the puzzles for 12yo Calab were mature enough. Ha! It took her 5 minutes just to open the bags!

But then she got started...and a fair while later...she was successful.

 

Tomorrow I'll plant out my seeds in large pots (not allowed to dig up a garden in this rental house), and also some garlic cloves. 

My winter in the garden is like most people's summer. 

Tropics. Awful in summer, glorious in winter.

Since Easter 2009 I have shared a Resurrection stitchery on my blog.

It's the same one every year, because it says it all for me.

Just alternate click on the photo above and save to your computer.

"He is not here; He has risen, just as he said!"

Matthew 28:6

God bless you this Easter.

Hugs

Jenny

xx

My friend Vikki and her gorgeous bunny!

I first met my friend Vikki back in 2009 through my blog - right at it's beginnings!

She bought my very first paper pattern when I was just 'feeling the waters of designing' and started selling through Etsy.

It was the original "Shabby Roses Cushion", which is still one of my favourite designs, and Vikki gave me such a moral boost by her purchase. She tells me she still has that pattern today, bless her heart.

Well, my very talented friend has become a designer in her own right, and I gotta tell you, the girl is GOOD!

Today she has released her first new pattern in ages, and boy was it worth the wait!

From Vikki Columbine, of Sew Useful Designs...

~Rosetta Rabbit~

Vikki has this gorgeous pattern available as a PDF download HERE in her shop today, or as a paper pattern HERE through her blog.

 

Vikki also has a limited number of kits available to make the project just the way it is in the photo!

Visit her blog HERE for more details.

I know it's close to Easter, but I'd hang this all year round, wouldn't you?!

Hugs

Jenny

xxx