Those new designs are ready!

It's a lovely thing when you form a picture in your mind, transfer it to paper, then bring it to life with a needle and thread, and some perfect-for-this project fabric.

That's how designing is for me. 

I can be inspired by something I've read, a conversation over a pot of tea with my family, the sound of birds busily nesting in our trees, or perhaps just a wistful idea that stops by for a moment in my thoughts. There are often weeks that pass when no new pictures form, and where once I wondered if I'd ever design again, now I relish those times as long moments when I can indulge my desire to make other people's wonderful ideas. 

But then, my time of creative drought passes and a flurry of mental activity reignites and I am filling pages in my sketch book and wondering how many of them will see themselves dressed in thread anytime in the near future. Such fun!

Today I have two new design sets to show you!

~ Tea 'n' Toast ~

...a set of three simply 'country-fied' waffle-weave and redwork breakfast delights!

 

The tea cosy....

  

...the tea towel...

  

...and the bread bag!

 

These are so pretty and very quick to make up for gifts, or for your own home. Wouldn't they be a special Kitchen Tea or housewarming  gift? Or perhaps for friends who travel in their caravan?

~~~~~

~ Heart and Home ~

...a pretty duo of lavender scented door hangers!

 

 

These are so pretty, and a wonderful way to let people in your home know what is most important to you. They are also perfect for housewarming, engagement, or wedding gifts.

~~~~

You can purchase either of these patterns today for $4 each, or both sets for $7.

PLUS, I also have a bonus!

If you purchase one or both of the sets above I will give you this pattern for free!

I have made up my Little Bird stitcheries into a journal cover, address book cover, and notebook cover! 

Your free pattern will include the instructions for making all three, along with the Little Bird designs!

Tea 'n' Toast Set $4 USD

Heart and Home Set $4 USD

Both sets of patterns $7 USD

I will email the patterns to you within 12-14 hours of purchase.
Hope you like them. :-)
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

4th Friday Show and Tell

I have some gorgeous projects from wonderful blogging friends to show you this week! My July "Little Bird Challenge" has borne so many wonderful projects from you!

Let's start with Anita, who made this sweet placemat, with the stichery framed in ric rac...

...and Pat who used the stitchery to to embellish both ends of a table runner!

Di used her stitchery as a redwork display for a bag....

...and she also finished one of my Shabby Roses blocks from last's years BOM!

Have you made my Shabby Roses quilt yet? Heleen has finished hers and it is *beautiful*! She did all the machine quilting herself, too...

 You can see more photos of Heleen's quilt HERE.

My first BOM for this year was ~Bouquet~, and Teresa decided at the last minute to enter her completed quilt in the Mt Gravatt Show. She won 2nd place!! Congratulations Teresa!! \o/

Teresa also won 2nd place for another quilt! What a successful showing she had. :-) You can see more photos HERE.

Now to something very close to my heart. My Lord and Saviour. My dear friend Allie used both of my Little Bird stitcheries to make a wallhanging - but she added something else. The words from a favourite old hymn...

Isn't that precious?

Another sweet friend, Carrie, also used two of my designs in a cushion I *love*! She used Little Bird in Tree for the centre stitchery, but she added the verse from my Hopes and Dreams bag around the edges!

Those fabrics are perfect, Carrie - framed so beautifully. :-) You can see more photos HERE.

Last but not least this week, look at the pretty cushion that Dot made using Little Bird!

 Dot and Carrie both used muted colours in their cushions, and they work so well...think I'll need to make one for me! :-)

All of you are so inspiring!! Thank you for letting me share the work of your hands.

~~~~~

If you would like the patterns to the Shabby Roses Quilt, the Bouquet Quilt, or the Hopes and Wishes bag and Journal set, they are all available HERE in my Etsy Shop.

~~~~~

I saw the surgeon yesterday, and I am booked in for surgery on my hand next Friday, August 6th. Prayers are most appreciated. 

Have a wonderful weekend! I'll be back soon with the next block in Daisy-do, AND a new challenge for August! No hints...(zippedy doo-dah, zippedy-ay....)

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

We *might* have a house...

I think we've looked at more homes in the last week than we have in our entire lives before then.

We have finally found one that we put an application in for, and tomorrow we'll know if it will become ours (to rent) for the next 18 months. 

Nightimes and very early mornings have been quite productive for Blossom and I. It helps to keep busy when your life is a bit topsy turvy!

Look what we've made...

Blossom loved the look of THIS tutorial and made her own version on some baby shoes...

...and then she decided to play with a tiny pack of 2 1/2 inch Frolic squares that Dawn sent her. She made the sweetest fabric envelope (her own pattern!)...

Then she gave it to me. :-) I'm going to put all the lovely little notes she writes me inside it.

~~~~~

Have I ever told you that I have a real zipper-phobia?? Well, I truly do. I hate them - they scare the bejeebers out of me! When Blossom and I made those clutch purses the other day (you can see them HERE) I finally began to build confidence in working with those zippered teeth.

I found THIS tutorial and increased my zipper-skills by making two really sweet cosmetic purses last night...

...then today I finished my Handkerchief Purse (a gorgeous pattern of Judith's). I had done the stitchery months ago, and had the fabric chosen for the finish, but just kept holding back because of the stupid zipper. Not anymore! \o/ All my beautiful vintage hankies now have a safe and pretty place to dwell.

Not content to stop whilst I was on a roll, I decided to make another zippered purse, this time using my own 'Little Bird In Tree' stitchery...

Oh, forgot to mention that I coloured my stitchery, too. Those Golden Delicious apples look scrumptious!

Have you begun your July Challenge yet? 

Look at Heike's beautiful pillow! She has made my little design her very own, and I love it!

~~~~~

 Tonight I am going to rest. We may have many days of moving ahead and I think I can slacken off a bit with the sewing, don't you? (But I can hear Blossom turning pages in pattern books....)

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

PS: I was asked if it was ok to use green for the leaves in the Daisy-Do BOM. Dear friends, please use whatever colours you like - make the block *your very own*. Give yourself permission to be creative. :-)

The July Little Bird Challenge!!

When I shared my ~Little Bird~ stitchery design last week I had an idea to share something a bit bigger as a Challenge project for July. So,  I sketched up a simple design and stitched it...

 (can you tell I'm into ~Little Birds~ at the moment?)

This design is called, quite simply, ~Little Bird in Tree~.

The Challenge you have for July is to stitch this IN to something. Perhaps a bag, a pillowcase, a journal cover...whatever you like! But let me know when you do so that I can add your name and blog link to my sidebar - then we can all come and look-see! :-)

We'll call  this the July Little Bird Challenge. (Perhaps you could use both Little Bird stitcheries in a project??) You can download ~Little Bird in Tree~ HERE.

It would be great if you also added the button below to your sidebar and link back to this post. The more people who participate, the more fun we have!
(If you don't have a blog just email me and I'll share the photo for you)

~~~~~

 Priscilla used the small ~Little Bird~ stitchery I shared on a scissor keeper for her childhood friend. It is beautiful in variegated blue, lilac and green thread.

~~~~~

Still no news on the house we'd like to rent. The real estate agents haven't been able to contact the home owners yet. Would you pray they make contact today please?

~~~~~

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

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...

~~~~~

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.

~~~~~

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

~ Little Bird ~ a free stitchery design for you!

Have you been making items for Judith's Early Bird Christmas Crafting? 

So far for June I have made only 4 items to put in my Christmas gifts box - not very productive I know,  but I am working at looking after this trigger finger so I stitch slower than usual. 

However, last night I sketched a cute little design for some mini gifts, and I thought I would share it with you. I even used some of my Tilda fabrics, Tilda threads, and Tilda ribbon!

Both stitcheries are identical but I have used them for different purposes, and added some embellishments.

The stitchery is called ~Little Bird~, and my first mini project was a Scissor Keeper adorned with a large Swarovski crystal...

...and the second mini project was a key fob, with some Tilda ribbon and small seed pearl beads in the corners.

I also fussy cut more Tilda fabric for the backs...

You can download the ~Little Bird~ stitchery design HERE.

I think it would be cute as a redwork, too.

What will you make with your ~Little Bird~?

Hugs

Jenny

xxx