The 2017 Simple Sampler...

Before I show photos of my new Sampler progress I think a big smile from Cully May will brighten your day more than anything else, don't you?

She and I spent four hours together yesterday, all by ourselves, and I became re-acquainted with those old Play School songs I used to sing to her mummy, aunties and uncles when they were little. 

We played on the floor and blew raspberries at each other, she sat on my lap while I rolled us around Elefantz HQ in my office chair (and boy, did she love that!), she tried her hand at answering emails on my laptop but sadly I don't think her language skills are employable yet...and for the odd 15 minutes she took a nap. 

I was exhausted when mummy and daddy came to pick her up after lunch, but it was a very satisfied and happy exhausted. And isn't that the very best kind?

Now, about my new Sampler.

For months I've wanted to design a single-piece Sampler stitchery, but it needed to be one which could also offer a set of individual embroideries for other projects.

The background I chose was a small and beautiful piece of traditional pink and white cotton gingham which had been stored away for years waiting for 'such a task as this'. 

It really has brought the Sampler to life. much more than I'd dared hope.

"My Simple Sampler 2017" will be the pattern for January's issue of The Stitchery Club.

Here's some progress peeks...

There are six small embroideries separated by double rows of running stitch and a title design across the top.

Along the bottom I will stitch my name, but the pattern will include an alphabet for those who stitch this Sampler to sew their own name. 

The first three embroideries are completed, and over New Year and early January I'll stitch the remainder.

Not sure yet if I'll finish my Sampler in a frame or as a mini-quilt. 

With all the life changes right now (Mr E changing jobs, looking for a new rental home, packing up and moving within 3 weeks...) that's not something I need to have an answer for immediately, but a decision to make in a couple of months.

But regardless of the final display, I'm genuinely loving stitching it...

There are some CHANGES to the normal flow of becoming a member of The Stitchery Club during the next month as we'll be in a state of 'movement and upheaval' and I have decided to give myself a little holiday break.

Normally new members have until the 16th of the month to join and then receive the new issue of The Stitchery Club via email on the 17th.

For the next Club issue only, I am closing new memberships on January 5th.

You can join anytime between now and the 5th if you are not already a Club member and within 24 hours you'll receive a free gift pattern via email so you'll have something sweet to stitch while you wait for your first Stitchery Club issue to arrive on the 17th.

This is the gift pattern I'll send you...

Go HERE to learn more, or to join the Club today.

Note: The pattern for "Made with Heartstrings" is here in my shop as a single purchase.

I'm off to visit a friend this morning, then home again to settle in and finish stitching Cully May's Christmas gift...but I can't show it to you until after the big day. Wish I could!

Be blessed as you go about your doings...

hugs

Words matter, and some lovely gifts...

I remember the first time I heard the phrase "LOVE is a verb". 

It changed the frequency with which I spoke the l-o-v-e word because I realised there's a lot of responsibility and weight behind those four little letters when you put them together and offer the LOVE verb to another person.

To say "I love you" requires an action on my part, a doing, a being - it requires a follow through, because it can't ever be a 

throw-away statement or an off-hand response or an automatic 'by rote' reply.

Telling a person you love them carries a great deal of responsibility to show that love. 

For example that can be how you treat them privately and publicly, how you speak to them or how you speak of them to others.

 Love, true love will be evident in our day to day behaviour towards those we have given these words as a promise.

This reminder is one I personally need quite often in a world where that dear LOVE word is too often thrown around like confetti and the other week when Dianne and Wendy visited I thought about it all over again.

In fact, a few more words made a place in my thoughts that day and they came from a beautiful kitchen towel Dianne had made for me. 

I'd never seen this fabric before and she told me it was a piece she had kept for something special, so imagine how very humbled I feel being the recipient of such a lovely gift of such significance.

The words meant a lot and I shall be pondering them for a while.

I kept thinking, "I'd like to be remembered this way".

As one who loved rightly...

...and lived a beautiful life.

Who cultivated a beautiful soul, humble (still working on that) and helped by her gracious Lord.

One who knew she was loved.

Already though, and above all, I can say with my whole heart that I believe in my God and I know He loves me.

I daresay this kitchen towel will never touch a dirty plate or handle a hot oven tray, but it shall hang in my kitchen, a reminder of who I'd like to be remembered as. 

There's been quite a bit of excitement about the pincushion I made Heather (this blog post) and questions as to 'where' is the stitchery pattern featured on the front...

The pattern is here in my shop, though it does not contain the wording 'you are my dear & treasured friend' so I'm popping it right below for you.

Just alternate click on the photo below and choose 'save image as' and you can save it to your computer and print it up in a word document. You can also alter the size to suit that way. I stitched "you are my dear" above the Prim Spin Posey stitchery, then "& treasured friend" under the Posey.

Some lovely gifts have arrived in the mail this past week. I am definitely feeling rather spoiled and cherished.

From my sweet friend Agueda in Spain, this exquisite hand crocheted lace which I shall only use on a very special project next year, and my very first ceramic thimble...

From dear Sherry in the USA, the most delicate tatted snowflake, which shall be hung on my Christmas tree...

...and from my dear, dear friend Fee, an assortment of special goodies she knew I'd love!

If you'd like to make Fee's Zipper Pouch or 2017 Fridge Magnet Calendar she has tutorials 

on her blog - isn't that wonderful? These are simply lovely and useful gifts.

You'll find Fee's blog here.

I hope your week does not overwhelm you but offers pockets of peace and calm, moments of sheer delight and laughter.

I'll be winding down my blogging for the rest of the year, perhaps sharing a few sporadic posts here and there as the mood strikes, but I do intend relaxing more each day and relishing in these final moments of 2016 which will see Mr E and I celebrate 25 years of marriage on December 28th.

Breathe deep, give thanks, and enjoy your day,

hugs

I was working on...

...something while we were in the car on our road trip. It began at home then came with me to be completed while we were away. 

During the late afternoon highway hours I tend to get very tired and need something to keep me awake so I can chat with Mr E helping his concentration as well, especially as early evening brings kangaroos, wild pigs and wallabies across our paths. Such was the case our first day on the road so out came my partially stitched block, needle and thread.

Strangely enough I chose satin stitch flower centres and buds to focus my sewing attention on in the waning light, which amused Mr E no end as they needed unpicking and restitching numerous times during the steep and winding mountain descent between Mount Molloy and Port Douglas.

Arriving at the motel as the sun was setting I packed my sewing away and decided I wouldn't even look at it again during our short holiday.

That resolve lasted all through the next day.

My needle resumed it's task on day 3 during the trip home, but this time we drove the coastal highway which had a lot of road works so there was plenty of stationary time to fix my Monday mistakes. Mr E again found this amusing. Gotta love that man.

Here's what my distraction-from-tiredness-in-the-late-afternoon-sun became...

The colours were inspired by a random fat quarter I found at Spotlight a couple of weeks ago and some vintage Bakelite buttons from my stash.

No idea what the fabric is, and I couldn't find any more of it.

If I could, I'd probably have bought the bolt. 

It even feels beautiful...

Last night I was exhausted, satisfied, but exhausted. Every muscle and bone throbbed.

4WD-ing over muddy and rugged terrain tends to do that. 

It's not until a day or two afterwards when the thrill and adrenaline have subsided that you realise the ache ringing out in your body is real and requires attention by way of rest.

But like I said, it was a satisfied ache, a 'slow-down-and-enjoy-simple-things-for-a-few-days' ache, so I made a big jug of fresh fruit and vegetable juice, sat down with pencil and paper, and drew a simple design to stitch. 

After all, stitching plants me in one space and stills my mind.

Mr E chose a movie, we sliced Ciabatta, cheese and salami for dinner, and I stitched this while we relaxed.

Very simple. Very easy. Very enjoyable. 

(the food was good too)

(these two pattern are here inside November's issue of The Stitchery Club)

It's Friday afternoon here in my little corner of the world and we're winding down.

The weekend looms near with the promise of delicious curries at the Indian Festival and maybe some garage/yard sales at dawn tomorrow if we can find any selling camper-van gear.

With only three days left of Mr E's holiday break we'll take it slow and relish every hour, simply savouring the moments.

Hope you do too.

hugs

A rose sewn bird...

Some of my very first designs featured lots and lots of shabby roses. In fact a few of my first quilt designs were "Shabby Rose" quilts and they're still among my favourites today.

The sixth design for this month's Stitchery Club issue celebrates those first roses...

The theme for October's patterns is "A Stitchy Kind of Christmas" so I have added rose topped scissors on my signature bird's wing...

I'd like to finish this design as a hanging bird ornament. 

By drawing a 1/2" border around the outside of the embroidered bird I can cut on that line, sew the bird to a same shaped piece of backing fabric, stuff with filling and add ribbons to hang.

If I have time today that's what I'll do.

If not it will be tomorrow, but I'll be sure to show you once it's finished.

There's only 3 days left to join the Club and receive the October patterns as they are emailed out on Monday 17th.

JOIN today and  don't miss out.

Just to jog your memory, here are the other five designs inside this month's issue...

Note: A few people have pointed out that my "Handmade Helper" sewing machine is facing the wrong direction, but the thing is that's how I drew it and stitched it. Daft me! LOL!

So, included in the patterns will be two version of the sewing machine, one facing left and the other facing right. 

Have a lovely day,

I'm off to give Cully May her quilt. Yay!

hugs