Shabby Roses Monogram Sampler for you!

It's the final week of Monogram Mondays, and I'm so excited to share the full Sampler template today, as well as show you how I chose to display my completed design...

Do you remember this damaged old handkerchief I used to stitch "G" back in March?

I decided to use the the two remaining lace edges in my finished Sampler block...

 ...and added a row of green stem stitch between the Sampler block and the borders.

Today you can download the full Shabby Roses Monogram Sampler design for free HERE in my Craftsy Store.

I've received a number of email from subscribers of Daisy Days who were not sent their blocks this month. If you have not received block 2 via email and are a monthly Daisy Days BOM subscriber, please email me and I will get it to you straight away.

Have a sweet week. 

I am filling up on coffee today because there is a magazine being written and I am a little behind.

I should find something sweet to help me - chocolate would be good...

Hugs

Jenny

xx

"Sweet Dreams" are made of these...

Today I am going to show you all the projects inside the next issue of Elefantz HOME e-zine, published on July 5th!

This is my first "Sweet Dreams" issue, so everything inside has a sweet and sleepy theme.

I'd love to hear which project is your favourite!

There might be a little gift in it for you if you leave your email address in your comment. Hmmm, got you guessing now?

Okay, back to the projects in Volume 2 Issue 4!

"Sleep Soundly" lavender sachets, finished with precious little beads...

 

 

"Dream a Little Dream" bed cushion...

"Nodding Off / Out to Play" reversible door hanger for the children's room...

 

...and Block 4 of the Shabby Rose "Beauty" BOM.

Also inside this issue you'll find -

* a step by step recipe to prepare Blossom's favourite nightcap treat, "Lemon Posset"

* you'll learn how to make your own 'sweet dreams' bath salts (perfect for gifts too!)

* have a browse through my collection of Jane Brocket's crafting books

* ...and we'll look at ways to improve your rest naturally.

If you're not yet a subscriber to Elefantz HOME e-zine, visit the magazine webpage HERE for simple instructions! New subscribers who sign up before July 4th will also receive a free pattern for "Live, Laugh, Love" to make while you wait for July 5th...

How are you going with your Monograms? I've covered twenty of them so far over the last 20 weeks, but today I am sharing three at once.

U, V, W...

 

You can download the PDF file for these three templates HERE.

Next week I will share the final three monograms, and reveal my completed Sampler. 

 

 Now remember, leave a comment telling me which project in the coming issue of Elefantz HOME e-zine you like the best, and as long as you leave an email address I will send you a little gift. 

It's a sweet dreamy gift, in case you're wondering...

Hugs

Jenny

xx

Monday's Monogram and other stuff...

I'm quite excited that we're so close to the end of the alphabet with Monogram Mondays!

Today I'm sharing ~T~...

We only have six letters left, but these will be shared over the next two weeks so we can finish in the middle of the year.

Next Monday I'll share U, V and W.

On July 1st, we'll stitch the final three, X, Y and Z.

Download today's letter, ~T~ here.

Today I met with some girlfriends at the Tumbetin Tearooms for a luscious morning tea of coffee...

..and cakes!

 

 

The Tearooms are part of the beautiful Palmetum Gardens here in Townsville, and one of my favourite cafes. You might remember THIS blog post last year when I took my grandson Cal there for a 'just the two of us' date before Kezzie and Bert's wedding.

As I work from home it's always a lovely treat to get out of the house and not be surrounded by all the business side of things! I relax easily when I am out in nature, and the Palmetum offers that (as well as the delectable food!). It's my second favourite place to be. My first choice is always up the mountain.

Tell me, where is your favourite place to chill out? Are you a nature lover like me, or do you prefer a different atmosphere?

I've been stitching up a storm this weekend, and have now finished Block 3 of Beauty. 

As much as I enjoy stitching my new designs, I also try to take some time out every month or two (depending on how busy I get), and stitch someone else's pattern.

Late Saturday night I decided to make a start on Dawn's pretty set of table-runners. With just one charm square pack, and some solid yardage, I will have two lovely long runners when I finish!

I chose an "Avalon" charm pack...

...and had the pieces cut, pinned, and ready to sew, by the time Mr E called 'lights out' just before midnight.

 On Sunday we went for a long bike ride, and today I met up with the girls, so I didn't get the first runner machine pieced until after dinner tonight. 

I'll sandwich it in the morning, and hopefully have some machine quilting finished by morning tea so I can show you in tomorrow's blog post.

It's rare that I make a project with no embroidery, but this is very relaxing, and I'm enjoying the discipline of machine piecing.

Mr E is calling. I'm turning into such a night owl!

Hugs

Jenny

xx

S is not for Cheesecake!

S is definitely not for cheesecake, but is IS for 'scrumptious!'

 This weekend Mr E asked me to make him a Lemon-Lime Cheesecake, so naturally I did.

But he also requested cherries on top.

It's not cherry season. It is winter. 

But, I am a wise wife with a constant store of frozen cherries in my freezer (to make my favourite mid-afternoon snack, a Choc-Cherry-Almond-Milk Smoothie), so he got his wish.

I call this 'The Simplest Lemon Lime Cheesecake Ever'.

Would you like to make it too?

Recipe is ready and waiting for you HERE.

Today, as you may have guessed from above, we're stitching S in our Monogram Mondays.

 My S words are scrumptious, simple, smile, sweet, and Saviour.

What are yours?

My Sampler is coming along beautifully; are you stitching one of your own? I'm not sure how I'll border it yet, but I'd best make up my mind soon, because....

...I'll be sharing all of the remaining monograms by the 1st of July! 

The last seven Monograms will be shared over the next three Mondays because I have something new to share with you later that month. No clues...just get excited.

You can download 'S' HERE.

 

I have finished the two little girl quilts for Pam's wee daughters, and only have the labels to attach to the back. I didn't want to put Pam's name and 1962-2012; the reminder for the little girls seemed so harsh on their memory quilts. So, I printed onto fabric the last family photo taken before she died, and added this...

I'm all out on my own with this one, so I'm asking you all, do you think that is okay?

My mummy died when I was just 3yo, and I think I would have preferred having 'mummy and me' to life dates...but that's me.

Over the last couple of Sundays I've been sharing photos on my Facebook page of words I'm stitching on to a small inspiration pillow in the making. So far I've shown these two...

Can I leave you this morning with a couple of thoughts?

Take time every day to 

~laugh~

...because life has challenges that can bring us to our knees. Let the things people remember about you not be sadness or disappointment,  but let it be your smile, your hugs, and your unique and 'moment-changing laugh'.

~believe~

...in who you are, that you make a difference, that loving you has made someone else a better person, and that God loves you more than you have ever imagined possible.

Hugs

Jenny

xx

Rrrrrr....and other things!

I had the loveliest Sunday this week. 

A bike ride up the mountain with Mr E and our friends Michelle and Dave. 

Followed by a lazy afternoon of stitching, and then a fabulous night at church. 

Of course even on the best of days silly things can happen to spoil things. 

When our church service began, the lights dimmed for the praise and worship. We stood up and I bent down to move my Bible and purse under the chair, but in the dark I didn't notice the back of the chair in front, so my nose took a rather hard bump, continuing to bleed for the next 90 minutes of the service.

 Now I have this very tender brand across the bridge of my nose.

Still, church was great, and I'm sure my nose will recover, but I'll be sure to look before I bend over next week!

Monogram Monday and it's R this week...

R is for Reynolds, relaxation, riding, and "rrrrrreally silly things to do in the dark".

You can download "R" HERE.

Well, what a huge response to my free "All Wrapped Up" design last week!

If you missed it, just click on the Freebies button up there under my blog banner.

I've just finished writing and formatting the next issue of Elefantz HOME e-zine, and I think it might be my best yet!

The projects are really sweet...

 

 

 I've also added a new section, Hints For You, and this month I'm focusing on a question I get asked every week - "how do you sew such a neat backstitch?"...

...I even have a simple step by step tutorial we'll practice on!

Just for fun, and adding to the cute umbrella theme of the Dolly Quilt & Bag set, I've also put one of my older patterns in this issue...

...plus another new section, "On My Bookshelf". This month I'm reviewing two of my favourite craft books!

 To top this month off we'll enjoy a nice long chat with designer Michelle Ridgeway who has the sweetest little bear stitchery to share with you...

The cover is looking good, and the magazine is right now in the hands of my trusty proof readers.

Not long to go until publishing day!

 

Need to subscribe?

All the info can be found HERE on the Elefantz HOME webpage.

Have a lovely week ahead!

I'll be resting up for a day or two, and maybe stitching. 

Maybe? Ha. You know me better than that.

hugs,

Jenny

xx