The Elefantz 2014 Calendar and tutorial!

Today I want to share with you a very simple and lovely way to display a calendar!

My Elefantz Home subscribers have already received their 2014 Stitchery Calendar via email, but if you'd like one yourself I have it for sale in my shop as an instant pdf download HERE today!

My very first calendar contains twelve stitcheries for you to make throughout the year...

 

...as well as the printable calendar!

So let's get back to that tutorial, ok?

Firstly, print up my calendar (or use one you already have), and choose a wooden frame that is larger than the calendar pages, and fabric that will co-ordinate with the frame colour...

Remove the glass from the frame and dispose of carefully.

Remove the backing from the frame...

Lay the frame down onto a piece of thin fusible Pellon and trace the inside shape of the frame aperture onto the Pellon with a dark pen...

Centre the Pellon behind the fabric you have chosen, and fuse it in place. The fabric will need to be at least 6" larger than the size of the frame backing...

Machine quilt the fabric. I chose to do narrow lines down the checked section of my fabric, leaving the floral panels as they were...

If you are using the Elefantz Home 2014 Stitchery Calendar trim the pages by 3/4" down each side, and 1/4" from the top...

 Carefully stacking the calendar pages on top of each other, use a fine new needle in your sewing machine to 'sew' a line 1/2" down from the top edge without thread - this will allow you to tear away the pages at the end of each month...

Sew another line a little way above the first one, but this time use thread as this will bind your calendar pages together...

Place a couple of small pieces of masking tape behind the calendar (these will be removed later)...

Position the calendar pages onto your quilted fabric backing, and sew a line of cotton lace across the top, being sure to sew through the calendar pages. The bottom of the lace should cover the perforated tear line you made with your machine...

Sew a second row of lace above the first, covering the top edge of the calendar pages. Add a couple of old buttons at either end of the calendar edge. My buttons are over 70 years old and stained, but that's what made them a perfect match for my vintage style fabric...

Fold the fabric behind the frame backing board, keeping the calendar central to the frame opening. I used masking tape to secure my fabric edges to the backing board because I will remove it at the end of the year and re-use the frame again.

Place your calendar inside the frame and display in your sewing room!

My 2014 Stitchery calendar, which contains a printable colour calendar plus pattern sheets to sew the stitcheries featured each month, will be available to purchase through January only.

It's just $7.50 HERE as an instant pdf download - that's less than 65c a design! Happy New Year blessing indeed!

Also in the shop today is a simply sweet new design of mine...

~ Lemon Rose Pillow ~

I think this would be a lovely gift for any age!

 

Time to breathe now...time to refresh...time to look ahead.

May your New Year be filled with adventures and delights every single day,

hugs

jenny

There is a change a'comin'...

The December issue of Elefantz Home has now been emailed to all subscribers. On a wing and a prayer this was, thanks to the help of my trusted proof readers and daughter Kezzie. xxx

It is also available HERE as a single purchase.

As a Christmas gift from me to you, this issue is priced lower than usual at just $6 USD, and contains 7 projects. xx 

This is only a short blog post, as I still need a few more days break to get things sorted out for our impending house move on December 16th.

It seems we're not leaving Townsville after all - Mr E and I made an 11th hour decision to stay here for another year. Blossom will be again be living with us for this next year and is thrilled to have her own little granny flat under our new rental. Good news all round. 

In this new issue of Elefantz Home I've put my heart on the line sharing personal reasons for the new direction my magazine and designs will head in 2014. These last twelve months have seen some of the hardest times my family has had to face, and the weight of that has taken its toll.

I've prayed a lot, and I've searched my soul.

I think next year you will see the true depth of who I am as a woman, wife, mother, nana, and friend - as well as designer.

I pray next year brings me back to my roots; my home. I pray I bless you along the way.

Today Blossom and I had an early morning breakfast at a cafe in the city, and reminded ourselves what was most important in life. God, family, friends, joy, love. She is a blessing.

The coffee was good too.

See you next week,

Jenny

Coming in the December 6th Elefantz Home e-zine...

The next issue of Elefantz Home is geared for the boys and men in your life!

That may be sons, grandsons, husbands, fathers, brothers - or just a guy who means a lot and you'd like to bless him with something hand-made that isn't girlie.
I've tried to keep things simpler this month, so you'll find interesting use of quilt blocks, basic hand quilting,  the use of small ties in place of some machine quilting, and gifts that can be put together in a day.

"Peppermint Aero Cushion"

(Blossom named it because the fabrics reminded her of a peppermint chocolate Aero bar!)

"Dee's Trinket Pouch"

(perfect for little boys who like to carry tiny toys in the pockets!)

"A Gift from Heaven"

(simple heirloom baby quilt - could be made in any colour scheme for boys or girls)

"Goblins" quilt

(teenage boys, especially gamers, would love this!)

"Dinnertime" placemats

(simple gifts for any age ~ perfect to make for a family you love!)

"Winter's Fellow"

(he thinks he's the star of the magazine this month, and though I've made him as a mini quilt, you could stitch him onto a larger quilt, or a cushion)

And just because I can't resist having something flowery and girlie in my magazine, there is also the pattern for my new "Hidden Bow Tie" runner...

Also in this issue we'll have our very first "Kezzie's Corner"!

My daughter Kezzie is chatting with us about raising boys, and being the only female in her male dominated home...

If you've ever wanted to dig deeper and get to know what makes me tick, you're going to love my reverse interview this issue!

My gorgeous and quirky friend Vikki of Sew Useful Designs sat on the opposite side of my interview table this month and threw some curly questions my way. She's got hidden interviewing skills indeed...

This issue will be published on December 6th.

All information about purchasing this or any of the previous issues can be found HERE.

We're back to house hunting...
...have a marvellous weekend!

hugs

Jenny

A little boy and a fellow...

This week I've kept busy finishing the projects for the December issue of Elefantz Home.

Today I stitched down the binding on "Winter's Fellow", my final mini quilt in the 'Seasons in Rework' set...

...and turned these lovely cotton drill fat quarters...

...into a little trinket bag for my grandson Deegan!

There are three little pockets across the front, and an easy velcro closure so his sweet 5 year old fingers can open and close the bag without help from mum Kezzie...

The handles are made from soft cotton twill, reinforced with a red striped canvas ribbon.

Perfect for tough 5yo boy use!

On Friday I'll share pics of all the projects you'll find inside the December 6th issue!

Tomorrow Mr E and I will spend the day looking for a new rental we can move to in the New Year.

We'd love it if you'd pray for us to find the 'right' house. Tomorrow is also the release of the next block in my Daisy Days BOM - "Sundaisy". I'll have it emailed out to all subscribers, and in the shop for single purchase, by Thursday evening. 

Big day ahead so I might just pop off to bed early tonight.

sweet dreams, my friends

Jenny

Baby blues...

I've just finished the final touches to a baby boy quilt heirloom quilt.

Vintage linen, doilies, recycled lace, new lace...

 

...precious sentiments stitched in blue...

...favourite blue and white fabric scraps.

Soft white cotton lace edging.

Sweetness.

This project will be inside the December 6th issue of Elefantz Home e-zine.

Now the not-so-fun part. Time to write the pattern.

Have a blessed weekend, dear readers...

Jenny

Some quiet time...

Stitching something so pretty at the moment...

...while I listen to my sweet husband and take a few days off work. 

When I started the second volume of Elefantz Home e-zines back in April this year I promised Mr E that this time around I wouldn't allow myself to burnout from over-work running this wonderful, but laborious, one-woman-show.

I feel a 'little' burn out happening at the moment, so I'll disappear from the blog for a week and recharge my batteries doing some no-obligation relaxing things, ok?

You'll be in my prayers every day, and I look forward to sharing some stitchy things when I return.

In the meantime, you can instantly download the new issue of Elefantz Home e-zine as a pdf HERE in my shop from today.

Photos of the seven projects inside can be seen HERE. 

All subscribers were emailed their issues this morning.

Have a blessed day, my friends,

hugs

Jenny

xx

A free design, and lots of peeks too...

I shared this design last year but as the blog has many new readers a year later I thought I'd share it again.

It's a wonderful promise for all those who love the Lord to live by, and take to heart.

Perhaps there is someone you could stitch this for? I stitched mine as a pincushion for my friend Michelle on her 50th birthday.

"Freedom"

Pattern available as a free instant PDF download HERE in my shop until December 31st 2013.

All the projects for the November issue of Elefantz Home E-zine are completed, so let me show you what you'll find inside to keep your stitchy fingers busy!

This is my "Girls, girls, girls!" issue, and the projects were designed to suit a range of female age groups...

Dottie Dog Handbag for little fingers to carry...

MUM framed stitchery with separate templates for mom, mam, sis, and mamae...

Garden Bloom bell pull for yourself, a friend, or maybe your sister...

The larger Potted Hearts bell pull in traditional colours for those who like a more formal design to hang in their home...

Tree Happy ipad sleeve for the teenager who has everything (or the mum like me who loves her ipad!)...

2014 love birds stitchery for use on so many projects including THIS diary cover I shared the tutorial for in yesterdays blog post...

...and the third mini quilt from my "Seasons in Redwork" series!

...Summer Mellow...

 Slightly different this time, as I've used lovely cotton lace for the binding!

And isn't my duck really 'hot'?!

 This issue's book review is Caroline Zoob's "Childhood Treasures" and I'll show you the tiniest little embroidered button that Blossom made, inspired by this book...

There is still time to subscribe to this coming issue, but you must do so before October 30th, as the magazine will be published a few days earlier this month. 

I'm having a few days off to relax and refresh, so the e-zine will be sent to all subscribers on the evening of October 30th (instead of November 1st).

All subscription information is HERE. 

 Now I guess I'd better write the patterns and the e-zine!

Big coffee first though...

hugs

Jenny

xx