Some final June Denim Challenge projects, plus my 'Little Bird' in redwork...

Here are some gorgeous projects to finish off the June Denim Challenge.

Cath made this really sweet bag, taking ye olde denim into serious bling!

...and Rana made a whole host of things, but I just LOVE this one! Advent Stockings! Isn't she clever?!

To finish off, you will love Stephanie's bag!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this challenge - I think you will all agree that you can make a whole lot of gorgeous things from denim!! I, for one, will never discard another old pair of jeans...

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Have you stitched up my free 'Little Bird' design yet? Nancy did hers in redwork and it's so pretty! 

 If you missed my 'Little Bird' freebie, you can find it HERE.

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There will be another challenge for July, but I'll wait until my next post to share it with you. Build the suspense....LOL!

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

The end of a term!

Today marked the end of Term 2 for our school year and now we begin a 4-week mid year break. It also heralded the end of Blossom's only year at school, and her return to home education - although we're not sure yet what direction that will take. For now we'll just relax and enjoy the holidays!

The last two days saw the entire school involved in the Sports Carnival and Blossom made sure she competed in a number of events to support her team, Chad, before she left. She ran the 200, 800, and 1500 metre races, and the Principal even thanked her for her efforts over the loudspeaker. We're so proud of her! She is leaving the school well thought of by the staff, and has even been asked to return next term as a teacher's aide for grade 8/9 maths classes a few times a week.

Now, while I'm declaring my pride in Blossom, I can also share that same pride in our 17yo son who completed his Certificate 3 in IT Studies yesterday!! \o/ This was quite an accomplishment at just 17, but he has worked very hard to do it - it took him just 8 months to complete a 2 year course. Well done, Slicer!!

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My heart is also bursting with delight at the girls in my Home Ec sewing class who have finished their quilts!!

Here is Charlene's - a present for her nephew....

 ...and Hannah's chenille quilt that is so soft she wraps it around her every chance she gets!

Taylor made a very pretty applique quilt, and used button tying to secure the layers...

Kayla's nephew was born just hours before I took this photo of the quilt she has almost finished making for him. It's lovely soft flannel, and all the letters have been appliqued on...

And Alison has made herself a cover for her saddle-cloth using applique and stitchery!

Well done girls!!! I have enjoyed being a part of your classes this term more than you know! :-)

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I've finished the new BOM that I will be sharing with you from July 1st, and tomorrow I'll share some photos as well as tell you what materials you'll need to make it. I hope you like it as much as I do!

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My finger has taken a turn for the worst again. The only relief for me is to stay off the keyboard...and that's not easy. Never mind, I'm being good most of the time, so perhaps slow and steady will see a recovery in time?

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The June Denim Challenge?! How are you going? Have you been checking the bloggers listed on my sidebar who have signed up for the challenge?

Look at Linda's slippers!!!

...and Stephanie's table runner....

...and Teresa's lunch bag!

Aren't they all so clever!! I am very inspired....must get back to my denim. I'm thinking of making THIS clutch using denim and perhaps some lace. 

What are you making today?

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

The doctor's results, some Challenge projects, and books...

Hi dear friends!

It's winter here now, but only at night - the days are lovely and warm and we're still wearing t-shirts. The downside of the cold nights is the effect it is having on my 'trigger finger'. All the tests for my joint problems have come back and I do not have any of those nasties I was warned about - thank you Lord! We did however discover that my medication for hypothyroidism (I have been hypothyroid for 15 years) needs to be substantially increased. My dosage was cut in half last year by a doctor I was seeing, and ever since my TSH levels have risen, meaning I am not getting enough medication - this in turn has caused a lot of health problems, one of them being 'trigger finger'. The lovely doctor I have now had never heard that hypothyroidism and 'trigger finger' were linked, but they are.

I can't get in to see the ortho surgeon for another 5 weeks (he is on holiday) and it may be weeks after that before the surgery can be performed, so I'm having a cortisone injection in my hand next Tuesday to tide me over until then. Now that the medication for my thyroid has been increased again, I should see some relief in my other symptoms over the next 6-8 weeks.

All this means that I need to cut right back on blogging (typing) and emails. I'm sorry, but I won't be replying to comments or private emails for a while...this finger must be rested or it may become permanently locked before I can have that surgery. 

I can still do lots of photo posts, with minimal chit chat, and some gentle hand embroidery is good for me to keep the joints flexible, but that's about it. 

Thank you all for your concern and caring comments over this issue of late. {{{hugs}}}

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I'll try and share all the bits and pieces that need to be shared in this post today - then I'll give my finger a holiday.

Here are some denim challenge projects. All are amazing!!

From Kris...

 

And check out Sheila's HERE and Teresa's HERE!

Make sure you click on all the links in the sidebar to the other bloggers that have taken up the challenge! You will be inspired! :-)

A few bloggers have emailed me this link to another denim Challenge, and I am so in love with these slippers! Have a look HERE. There is also a page of 25 things to do with old jeans HERE.

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For those who love Tilda fabrics but have trouble purchasing from sites that are not in English, Lone sent me a link to THIS online store in England.  Thanks Lone! 

You all sound like you would have loved the new Tilda's Summer Ideas book I gave away recently? Katrin sent me a link to look at all the pages - it's beautiful! I cannot wait for mine to arrive in the mail. I purchased my copy HERE, and you can look through all the pages HERE. Thanks Katrin!

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In this month's issue of Australian Patchwork & Stitching magazine you will find an article about me in the 'Getting To Know' section. 

...and you'll find the pattern for my 'Snail Trails' baby quilt. The writer did a wonderful job of the article! I was a bit teary reading back over it.

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This is my latest book buy, from the talented girls at Prints Charming!

 I bought it HERE at Book Depository. (It has a different cover depending on what country it is published in) They teach you how to screen print your own fabrics, and have templates you can use to make some gorgeous designs!

I'm also making a project from this book that I got at a clearance sale last month at Dymocks Book Store...

I love this bag but I am using seeded homespun for mine, with a deep blue thread for the emboridery. 

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Now, what have you been up to this week??

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

Another doily and those jeans....

Today was the day, I had decided...I would not be sidetracked. Those jeans needed to be made into something useful!

I had been admiring all my doilies (after playing with one last night) and still had the idea to use one with my denim pieces. When I saw this one and showed it to Blossom she immediately thought about the story of The Blue Willow Plate - a favourite tale from her childhood. So this doily was destined to be my Blue Willow Bag!

We love to wander the various weekend markets - whichever town we live in at the time! - so market bags are very useful. Small, long straps, just enough room to hold some cash, my phone, and the car keys.

I decided the embroidered doily section would be perfect as the flap on a bag so I made it with rounded corners, using more of the plain doily area for the backing...

After adding a buttonhole to the doily flap, I found some checked fabric laying unused in my stash, perfect for lining of the front as well as for the back of the bag (denim lining for the back section).

I was wanting a shaggy look around the edges of the denim/cotton fabrics, so stitched the seams on the outside and clipped along the edges.

The shoulder straps were made with 1 inch strips of denim and cotton, then seams sewn along the outside, and once again I clipped into the raw edges for that ruffles effect when it was washed. One large white vintage button sewn in place and voila! I am so pleased with how it turned out after a quick cycle through the washing machine and an hour drying in the sun!

 

The total sewing time took me an hour. 

Meanwhile Blossom sat on the floor in my sewing room and worked on the last of her assignments. 

 Only three more weeks (then a 3 week school holiday break) and she'll be back to homeschooling. 

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 Betty made a denim bag a while ago for her grandaughter, and she sent me a photo to show you (she has no blog). Isn't this clever!?

Also, go to Vickie's blog (HERE) and have a look at her denim thread catcher...if you have a spare jeans leg you can make a few for gifts!

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Mr Elefantz and I went for a lovely drive up to Balfes Creek while my market bag dried in the sun, but I'll show you the very interesting photos from there another day...

Hugs

Jenny

A cooking course, and a new challenge for June!

It's May 31st - another month has passed and as I look back over these last 4 weeks I wonder at how I could possibly have fit in so many things. Life really rushed past doesn't it? One of the things that dissapoints me about my obsessive sewing habit is the way my love of cooking wholefoods has sort of slipped by the wayside with each month and year that passes. 

Time to get back on track.

I am very excited because I decided to sign up for an online cooking course that begins tomorrow!  Jenny at The Nourished Kitchen will be holding online classes over 12 weeks - How to CookReal Food : An online cooking class. 

This is exactly MY kind of food, but I need to learn by seeing, because reading about this in books just doesn't do it for me. Jenny will have video lessons and print outs, so I am pretty sure this will be great for my kind of learning. I think sign ups close today, so if you are interested you'll have to be quick. I know it's going to cost $$'s initially but in the long run it will be worth its weight in gold for my family and our health.

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I've decided against doing a hexie challenge in June. Why?

This is why...

Mr Elefantz has grown out of his jeans. Now as soon as they landed on my sewing room floor I had an idea! 

Nearly everyone has an old pair of jeans somewhere in the house, and if you don't they can be bought at an op-shop for a couple of dollars.

My June Challenge is 'what can you make out of a pair of jeans!?' 

I may even try and make as many things as possible out of ONE pair of jeans - what do you think? Want to join in?

Leave a comment on this post to let me know if you'll take up the challenge! I'll put a list of links to participating blogs so we can all have a look through June and see what everyone has made. :-)

(I might even offer a prize for one lucky participant....)

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Don't forget, the ~ A Christmas Story ~giveaway closes tomorrow night! Look HERE for details if you haven't entered yet.

Hugs

Jenny

xxx