Giveaway, friends, and colouring...

It's amazing how much stitching gets done when you're laid low and unable to leave the house.

I've finished a number of new designs over the last 10 days, but yesterday I decided to finish the Rosedaisy Alphabet "V" block I coloured back HERE. I had begun the stitchery outline on the day I coloured the block, but then got so busy with other design commitments that it was put aside. 

Now it's almost finished and I love it!

Adding simple backstitch around all the elements of the design adds depth and definition...

I chose a peachy/brown thread, instead of yellow, for the rosedaisy centres...

...but stayed with complimentary threads for the remainder of the block.

I definitely think I'll be colouring some more of my designs in the future.

The pattern for this 26 block set is HERE as a pdf, and HERE as paper. 

 Yesterday I shared about the kookaburras, and how they magnified one of my favourite Scripture passages (Matthew 10: 29-31). Later in the day I remembered that I hadn't shown you this yet...

It's a tiny crocheted sparrow brooch, which was made for me by my dearest friend in all the world, Ruth, and lives perched on a pocket of the Preston Bag I made from Dawn's pattern last month...

Do you remember me making this bag? If not, check out THIS blog post for all the photos...

Both Ruth and Dawn are beautiful and faithful sisters-in-Christ to me, and to have Ruth's sparrow live on the bag that Dawn designed, is very precious indeed - a reminder daily of God's faithfulness in aligning my heart with such inspiring women. I am incredibly blessed to be called their friend.

After almost five years of emails, Dawn and I met face-to-face down in Melbourne last month, and before we left to return to our own states, she gave me an extra copy of her Preston Bag pattern!

So how would you like to win this paper pattern and make your own Preston Bag?!

This is Dawn's original bag, and as you can see it's very different in colour choice to mine...

 Dawn's is a very pretty pastel with a white background to the pocket block, whilst mine is a more subdued French inspired colourway with beige Osnaburg for the block.

 To enter the GIVEAWAY...

All you need do is leave one comment below telling me what colours you'd use to make your own version of this bag.

Brights, 30's, country, pastels??

Make sure you leave an email address or blog address in your comment so that if you win I can contact you.

One winner will be drawn on Wednesday, April 30th, and the giveaway is open worldwide.

Good luck!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED - Winner was Diann from New Jersey

Have a lovely day, everyone.

Breathe deep, smile wide, and count your blessings...

I count *you* as one of my blessings.

hugs

Free Stitchery, and a wonderful giveaway!

As you know by now, my greatest delight in stitchery design is to bring God's Word to life with needle and thread. 

As I stitch these Scriptures I meditate on them, and take them deep within my heart to cherish and love.

Today I am sharing a life verse for many of  us.

Psalm 119:105 ~ "Thy Word is a Lamp" ...

I stitched this verse to embellish my daily prayer journal...

I used a piece of lovely cotton lace as a bookmark, which I stitched inside the back sleeve of the journal cover...

Be blessed as you stitch this verse, and treasure the truth of God's promise.

You can download the pattern free HERE in my shop.

  I have a dear, dear friend who has just published her second *amazing* book!

Michelle May of the Raspberry Rabbits, is the talent behind her very own "Folk Art Fusion" technique, and her new book FABLED FUSIONS teaches you how to create ten wonderful reverse wool applique projects that are all gorgeous!

I have this one below, "A Spot of Tea", ready to make for myself, as Michelle also has kits for each project if you like things all prepared and ready to go...

There are so many sweet patterns inside the book; you won't know what to make first!

Perhaps you'd like to WIN your very own copy??

Great!

Just leave ONE comment on this blog post, with a valid email address or blog link, and on November 12th I will draw a winner!

If I cannot contact you, I will draw another name.

Now if you can't wait and would like to purchase Michelle's book today, you can do so HERE in her shop.

 In fact, drop over HERE to her blog and see all the other lovely things she has to show you!

She's a darling, and one of my sweetest, quirkiest,  and most generous friends...

 Enjoy the stitchery, and good luck in the giveaway...

Jenny

xx

Sewing day with the girls...

Yesterday was our girl's sewing day, and Michelle hosted again - she took my turn as I was still a bit weary from the road trip with Mr E. That's the thing about friends; they step in when you need a hand, and I am blessed to call these girls my friends...

We laughed, laughed, ate, stitched, laughed, ate, stitched, laughed and laughed. Honestly, we go home from these days with aching jaws because we laugh so much!

This week Michelle was stitching the outline of her coloured block...

Her colouring-in on fabric is beautiful!

Heather was stitching another cute camel block from the "Long Time Ago in Bethlehem" quilt...

...and Wendy is re-stitching her Anzac tribute block.

She has been informed by the Armed Forces that she is not allowed to use the Rising Sun symbol on her design. Sad that she cannot promote our Diggers with their symbol...

I stitched the rest of the Mother Terasa block from Michelle May's "Sentimental Journey" BOM...

...and something else, but I can't show you that yet!

I was really thrilled that both Michelle and Heather have made bags using my Dream & Create pattern!

They both chose to use different front panels instead of the stitchery that was on mine, and I love them!

Heather let the fabric shine for her pocket panel...

 ...and Michelle used a different stitchery on her pocket. Gorgeous bags, girls!

This was my original Dream & Create bag, which featured in THIS Elefantz Home e-zine...

Now you know that our stitching day is also a day of feasting, right?!

Michelle spoiled us again! We had the loveliest fruit cake for morning tea, which I forgot to photograph, and lunch was a yummy quiche and salad....

....followed by dessert. Michelle makes the best trifles, and I haven't had one since her New Years Eve party, until today!

Heather watched carefully as Michelle crumbled chocolate Flake over the top...

...and Wendy was snapping photos on her phone at the same time. See her just behind these sweet trifles?

They were YUM!!!

And where was I during all this?

Doing what I love. Snapping photos of everyone else.

Next week it's at my house. \o/

Congratulations to my 5th Blogversary giveaway winner!!!

KATHRYN!!!

I have emailed you, and once I have your address this bundle of lovelies will be on their way to you!

Thanks to everyone who entered. Wish I could bless you all!

It's Mr E's birthday today, and Miss Blossom is taking us out for lunch.

In celebration I am going to share a new free design with you tomorrow!

Make sure you drop by to download it...

hugs

jenny

xx

Show & Tell Friday, a giveaway, and a sneak peek!

I have some lovely projects you've made using my designs to show you today, BUT, first of all I want to show off the 4th block from my 'in the process of being stitched' BOM, Daisy Days!

...Thursdaisy...

 

One of things I enjoy doing with my stitchery designs, is to add interesting bits along the way. For this block it was the ruffle along the umbrella edge...

...and the itsy bitsy caterpillar!

Hopefully I'll have all the blocks done by May, and the pattern will follow soon after. This will be a paper pattern with transfers so you won't have to trace the designs onto your blocks. \o/

Would you like to win an Elefantz pattern?!

Patty, from Granma's Treasures, is having a giveaway on her blog, and the prize is one of my paper patterns, 'A Cup of Kindness'...

Drop by her blog HERE to enter, but you'd better be quick!

Last year I shared a free BOM over 10 months, "Promises & Borders". It's been a real blessing to receive photos and stories about how making this quilt, or some of the blocks, has made your lives richer.

For some, quilts were made for friends going through extreme trials, and for others the individual block borders were used to mark weddings, anniversaries, or to frame a favourite quote or Scripture.

Lisa Mortel made some of the blocks the way they were designed...

...and added applique to others.

 

Making my design your own is exactly what I wanted with "Promises & Borders". You really did that, Lisa, and I love it!

NOTE: Promises & Borders is still FREE to download! Just visit my 'Free Designs' page HERE.

 

Noela Young is a long time Elefantz follower, and recently she sent me a photo of a present she made a swap partner. It was an Initial swap, and so she used my "Sprinkle Love on Your Heart" design, but added a beautiful S in the heart centre!

Ladies, I love what you've done! Thanks for sharing your photos with us.

The weekend is almost here, and I have a few new designs to play with, so I guess you know what I'll be up to!? I'm sure Mr E and I will squeeze in a few rides on our bike too. \o/

What about you? Is there something special you have planned for this weekend?