Phyllis May's Kitchen - here it is!

Phyllis May was my Nana.

When I was three my sweet mum, barely 21 years old, died in a car accident and Nana stepped in to be my incredibly loving mother for the next twenty years.

We were financially poor, living in a tiny three room flat with my beloved Pop, yet we were more than rich in love, laughter, kindness and Nana's cooking. 

Her kitchen sparkled like no other, and every day as I walked up to the front door after school the aromas coming from her kitchen made me jump the three steps and swing wide the front door, rush through the living room and bedroom and into the heart of our home, her kitchen. 

Mixing bowl in hand, crisp apron tied around her cuddly waist, she'd beam from ear to ear at my entrance and pretty soon the kettle would be whistling and a pot of tea brewing while she buttered thick slices of fresh bread and spread her delicious homemade berry jam across the top. 

Sipping our tea, we'd share the jammy bread and she'd patiently listen to all the doings of my day as though I was the only person in the world she'd ever want to be with. 

Breakfast, lunch, after school, dinner...those simple, loving meals at the kitchen table with my Nana are the memories which shaped my own love for hearth and home, they were a beacon of hope and light when as a young mother with three small babes Nana left us to be with Jesus and my heart was shattered in a million tiny aching pieces.

When she died a part of me died as well and I never thought I'd recover, but time passes, some memories dim whilst others shine brighter, and now I am the Nana.

These past six months as I've been designing and stitching this tribute to my dear Phyllis May I've been almost daily remembering my childhood with her and the lessons she taught me through those years, the lessons which I did not fully appreciate until recently. 

I've also become more aware of the sacrifice she made to raise me during her 50's and 60's, so late in life after raising her own three children and two of her sister's children as well. At a time when she should have been enjoying the fruits of her labour and slowing down she opened her small home and her arms to raise a granddaughter as though born of her own womb. Such was her 'mothers love' for me.

And that is the story behind this memory book which I've named "Phyllis May's Kitchen"

There are 18 blocks in this project which come together as a beautiful fabric book with pockets to fill with all sorts of wonderful kitchen themed memorabilia, family photos, recipes, vintage linens, aprons or whatever your heart wants to hide within the pages.

This book can be a cherished chest to hold your own memories or a place to add new treasures which can be passed along one day to those you love...

In each of the eight months this BOM will run you'll receive the pattern to make one double page, so in the first month you'll make the cover and page 2.

In the second month you'll make pages 3 and 4, in the third month you will make pages 5 and 6 - and so on until you have all 16 pages.

But in the final month I'll also include page 17 and the back cover so in month eight you'll be making four pages instead of two.

Now let me give you a tour through the book...

THE PAGES

Cover (page 1)

Pages 2 and 3

Pages 4 and 5

Pages 6 and 7

Pages 8 and 9

Pages 10 and 11

Pages 12 and 13

Pages 14 and 15

Pages 16 and 17

Back Cover (page 18)

The page blocks finish at 10 1/2" square and are stabilised with template plastic which slips between two blocks which then come together to make one double page. 

There is an extra border added down one side of every block which at the end of this project becomes the spine which holds all the pages together as a book. Each page will end as 11 3/4" wide x 10 1/2" high.

PREFER A QUILT?

Before adding the extra border to create the book spine, all of the blocks are a set 10 1/2" square so it would be easy to make a quilt instead of a memory book.

PERSONALISE YOUR COVER

Included with the June pattern set will be the full alphabet so that you can personalise the memory book cover with your own name (or perhaps you have a Nana you'd like to remember too?).

THE POCKETS...

There are nine pockets in Phyllis May's Kitchen and you can fill them with whatever you like.

I've popped in a few photos and vintage linens for these pictures but over time I'll add items which are more personal.

ARE YOU READY TO SEW ALONG?

The first two blocks for "Phyllis May's Kitchen" will be added to my Etsy Shop on June 11th as a single purchase and included are the materials, thread and notions requirements for the project.

GO HERE TO PURCHASE the double pattern for June.

Each monthly pattern set will make two sides of a page with detailed instructions for the embroidery, applique, piecing and page construction included.

In the final month (January 2020) there will be four blocks and book assembly instructions which will bring this project to a close.

I hope to have you sewing along with Phyllis May's Kitchen because it will be a lot of fun!

God bless and big hugs,

Close to the finish line...

 This is the week, the week I complete Phyllis May's Kitchen.

And darn it, I have a weather related migraine crowding my breathing space. 

Many cups of Tulsi tea, pain medication and a supply of old Great British Sewing Bee episodes are keeping me settled on the couch where I can gently hand sew at a slow pace and not have my head rocked more by moving about. Fortunately I do not have an aura with this one and though I'm squinting a bit, my eyesight is fine as long as I take breaks regularly to close my eyes awhile. Even sweet Blossom is feeling the effects of a weather migraine so we're commiserating and praying for each other. 

Today is just a quick post to let you know why things may be quiet here for a wee bit longer.

Next time you hear from me I'm hopeful it will be with the full reveal of Phyllis May's Kitchen, but be assured I'm taking things slow and pottering along because after six months in the making a few more days really won't matter.

If you're feeling under the weather too, know that I'm holding you in prayer this week. The Father's hands are big enough for all of us so rest in them with me...

big hugs

End of a week...

It's Friday night and I'm wondering where the week has gone.

Monday begins full of purposeful plans for the home, the yard, designs, the sewing room, the blog, meals...and our family. And though a number of things were crossed off my list this week there's quite a few that weren't.

The way of life, yes? 

Always be ready to let go of your plans because tomorrow arrives with ideas of its own.

Slowly I'm finishing the blocks for Phyllis May's Kitchen and when the final two are complete I can begin setting all the blocks together...quite probably in a way you might not expect.

But first I need to make sure the picture in my mind can be transferred to real life. 

Hopefully God will expand on the 'how' because I'm becoming increasingly committed to stepping outside the box with this new pattern, just a little cautious about how to make it work so that you love it as much as me.

We've had a few rain showers at night and then today they fell more often. Chatting with a neighbour and some other people whilst out and about there's a genuine fear of too much rain after the floods, but these short spells have been just enough to dampen the gardens and cool the late summer air. 

Our 'almost pet' cockatoo Betty has finally learned to stand her ground at the bird feeder when Double Trouble arrive each morning and I have to admit it's nice to see the three of them breakfasting together while hubby and I sit nearby with our coffee and fruit.

The garden is alive, lush and green with new growth abounding.

The red/orange ixora is in full bloom again, a splash of brilliant colour in an otherwise green yard...

Before my birthday, when my eyes were crusty and hazed from the mould allergy and spacial awareness was not at it's best, I knocked my gorgeous Cath Kidston mug off the counter and it shattered across the kitchen floor. 

This mug was very special to me as it had been a gift from Fee quite a few years back. I told her immediately because only she really understood how much this upset me at the time, but the following day my family got it too. Mr E and Blossom, bless their hearts, trawled the internet for days trying to find the exact same mug but none could be found. Hubby showed me all kinds of Cath Kidston mugs but I could only shake my head because the broken gift was the prettiest of all.

Not wanting to part with the pieces I placed them in a container for a possible mosaic project (when I learn how) but was able to salvage the top two inches and part of the handle as a little garden display with one of the seedlings we recently bought. I simply pushed the ragged edges into the soil around the coleus.

A perfect colour match and a way to still enjoy my favourite mug...

Years ago another friend, Vikki, sent me this little rabbit and I thought it might be sweet outside too, sitting under the shade of some elephant ears (jade plant)...

I'm going to look for more trinkets for my outdoor pots over the weekend as I love small pops of interest scattered through the garden, the kind that make you stop and look closer. 

One of my potted basil plants has thrown seeds and here and there new plants have grown in the garden bed. This one came up between the guava tree and the mock orange.

Remember when I wrote how God had very clearly told me that this year I was to "use what you already have"?

Well I'm following through in many ways. 

In fact those words resound in my heart every day so I'm applying them to many things around the home. But I'm also using this advice in my sewing.

Do you remember my 2015 block of the month, My Vintage Kitchen?

All redwork. 

Simple little backstitch blocks with a spattering of lazy daisy and running stitch here and there.

Well, I'm giving it a fresh makeover!

These little stitcheries are actually the inspiration behind Phyllis May's Kitchen, but the new BOM is much larger and includes a lot more detail and many more blocks.

Anyhow, back to the fresh makeover...

I'm using Elea Lutz's new fabric range Bluebirds on Roses for the borders and also as my palette for choosing the stitchery thread colours. 

This time there's more variety in the stitches with the addition of chain stitch, stem stitch and satin stitch for example. 

And I'm loving it, can't wait to have it hanging in my home. The mini quilt layout will be different too...might even add some small pieced blocks. And the colours - happy colours. Just what I love in this home.

But I can only dabble with this project as light relief on quiet evenings because Phyllis May's Kitchen is the main project and must be properly finished soon.

I do have a finish to show you, though!

My 36" square sweet pea blanket is complete.

This is Rafaella's 1st birthday gift (March 4th), her very own soft and cuddly blankie. The border is a very simple pink chain as dear Blossom loves it that way. 

We're really quite a simple family you know...

A birthday parcel arrived this week from my friend Ondrea and amidst all the pretties she sent were these two beautiful handmade gifts.

Aren't I blessed?

Do you plans for the weekend?

Mr E has grass to mow and a shelf to paint, whilst I have some plants that need attending to and a linen cupboard to refresh. We'll also see little Rafaella to give our gifts as hubby will be working on her birthday. I can't believe it's been a year since this precious bundle arrived! 

Blossom has made Rafaella a special birthday outfit featuring the hand stitched bodice I made a while ago - can't wait to show you the birthday photos. 

May your days be sewn together with grace, kindness, hope and laughter.

May your trials be short and your sleep sweet.

Be assured God finds the greatest delight in the time you choose to spend with Him so stop often to linger in His presence. It will be life to your soul.

hugs