There are some projects that I love more than others, and some that just tug at my heart strings and don't let go. It's the latter ones that I can be quite sentimental and protective of.
This year I designed and stitched a quilt that had so many 'motherly' attachments to it. As a homeschooling family I had the pleasure and privilege of teaching my children many things that some children either never have access to or are taught within a school scenario.
Poetry is something we began very young, along with Shakespeare's plays - by age 6 and 7 the children were wrapped in the English prose and drama of the 16th Century, and happily reciting 19th Century verse. With dress-ups and puppets, paint and paper, we explored the world of the great writers and made memories that will not tarnish with time, but grow more wonderful as the childhood years pass further into yesterday.
The very first book of poetry we owned was Robert Louis Stevenson's 'A Child's Garden of Verse', a gift from Mr Elefantz. It had so many poems of observation by a young and bed-bound Master Stevenson, poems that proved joyous to take in and make our own.
It was always my intention once I had learned to sew, that I would begin a series of children's quilts to celebrate that first book of children's verse, and this year I began with Robert Louis Stevenson's ~The Cow~. Oh how I love this quilt! It represents so much joy as a parent, and so many memories of my young children.
This month it appeared on the cover of Creating Country Threads magazine...
...and my friend Vicki snapped a photo of it hanging on the CCT stand at the Melbourne Craft & Quilt Fair last weekend.
I had no idea it would be hanging on display there, but I can tell you I am as proud as punch! The only downside was realising she wouldn't be home again as soon as I'd hoped. :-)
The pattern is available this month in the magazine for Aussie subscribers. If you are not Australian and cannot purchase a copy of the magazine, I am offering the pdf pattern for $4 US until the end of July only.
After that Miss Molly Moo is all my own and the pattern will not be available.
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I am also thrilled to be sharing the inside of the magazine with fellow Gum Tree Designer, Vikki! Her sweet stitchery is beautiful!
Do you remember when I stitched it myself and made it a door hanger? It looks perfect in my new home! She had it on her blog last year as a free project for a while. Did you make it too?
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I also have my 'Save The Trees' bag in the current Handmade magazine. It has a pocket at the front to fit a small cutting board, and a huge interior for all your sewing essentials for a trip to the quilting group.
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We're still settling in the new home, but each day it becomes more relaxed, more 'ours'.
I feel like Dorothy of Oz.
There's no place like home....
Hugs
Jenny
xxx
PS: Don't forget to go and look over all those wonderful Rouenneries pincushions we Gum Tree Designers made for each other. Photos are on our blog HERE!
