Boro, and a new Promises block for you...

Hello lovely ones. It's nice to be back chatting with you again, though my time away from the blog this month was a bit longer than I had planned. In hindsight, there's a pattern which has emerged in my blogging life the past few years, of needing an unspecified break every six months or so, to step away, refresh my thoughts, pray, seek the Lord's direction, and decide whether to keep going, alter my course, or close the door on Elefantz. 

I won't go into everything that's happened this month, just know that our family was challenged almost daily, and the only way we got through it was to hang on to Jesus, and not let the circumstances dim our faith in His goodness. We remind each other "and if not, He is still good" whenever seasons of trial, especially those seasons that appear to have no end in sight, are being faced. Currently, the end is still not in view, and some big decisions must be made, but God is with us through it all, and we know He shall provide at a given time in the way that is best for HIS glory. 

You know, there is so much comfort in this truth! I love opening His Word and studying, exploring passages in context, uncovering the original meaning of each word, praying for revelation along the way (and by His grace receiving it). There is no greater book to read than the Bible, for it is life giving, hope filling, way leading, course corrective, food for the soul, and rich in truths eternal.

During my absence I sketched and stitched a fourth design in the Promises of God project, and I wanted to share it with you today, before our next The Sewing Room block is shared.

Whilst stitching, I realised this was to be the final block in the project, as I have only a small amount of the vintage tablecloth fabric, and even smaller pieces of a few other vintage style prints I'd planned to use in borders...so, I sketched up a nine-patch quilt layout and will complete Promises of God that way. 

Perhaps you'd like to complete yours this way? Or do you have another idea you could share in the comments which others might prefer? I'll be sure to show you how my version comes together in another post, perhaps later in June.

Here are the four blocks in Promises of God. They are all free to download, and will stay free. Use the link below to download Block 4...

DOWNLOAD block 4 Promises of God

...and go HERE to download the previous blocks if you missed them.

The Boro Project...

Remember in April that I was repurposing an old white dress into a top using Japanese boro mending? In case you forgot, this is how it started, with white and grey patches along the bottom edge and some over the chest and neck area...

I did a lot more the first week of my blog absence, and when I was happy with it and felt no more patches or stitching were needed, I decided to dye the top blue. As we're having to be far more careful with our pennies these days, I thought it best if I gathered a number of old items from my wardrobe and dye them in the same batch, thus making the purchase of the dye viable and giving myself a new wardrobe in the process!

I ended up with two dresses, one pair of linen pants, one pair of garden shorts, one sleevless top, and that lovely Boro top.

The front...

The back...

I'm really happy with how it turned out, and have plans to do the same with a similar old white dress in the future, but next time in very deep purple because I suit the richer blue, purple and pink colour schemes.

While I've been away from the blog this month, I've been able to do loads in the garden, much of it clearing and replanting, but also adding new flowers for bees, and salad greens. I have a big sewing project underway, well plenty of small projects actually, but I'll share more about that in a few weeks, and I've also been studying a lot more about sour dough, especially how they managed it in the 1700-1800's - rather different to how I've done it over the past twenty years. 

Kelly-dog is wonderful, even when he's pulling the washing off the line, or the passionfruit off the vine. He adores us and we simply love him to bits. He especially loves sitting between us at morning Bible study, or in the evenings when we read or watch something interesting on YouTube. He tucks his head under hubby's arm in the mornings as though he's reading the Bible too - it's the cutest thing you can imagine. Of a day when hubby is at work, he's my constant companion and loves lots of cuddles. He also enjoys the occasional treat when I'm making lunch or my husband's work lunchbox for the next day...he especially loves the few raspberries I scatter outside the back door for him to find! :-)

I shall sign off today, though I have many photos and subjects to discuss that have been on my mind this month, they can easily wait for June. I am so grateful for each day that is given by God, and can tell you He has refreshed me enough to keep blogging the rest of the year. One day I think this door will close, but until that time arrives, my notebook is full of wonderful thoughts and ideas which I'd love to chat with you about. 

How have you been?? What's been happening in your life? 

Let me leave you with this passage, which has been light in my darkness this year, and excites me so much for what is yet ahead.

God bless, and big hugs,

Subscribe to my free Friday newsletter HERE and never miss a blog post, pattern or tutorial

Stitch my free 2025 block of the month 'The Sewing Room' HERE

Download Block 3 of my slow stitched Promises project...

 

I last shared a new block in my slow stitched Promises of God Project around August last year, before I took an extended blogging break, and you've been patient in waiting for a new one, so today I'd love to share it with you. 

I find myself drawn to this verse in Psalms quite regularly, as it seems to speak to me in many and varied situations, which does not surprise me as the Word of God is alive and living (Hebrews 4:12). And something wonderful about the living Word, is that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1), so of course it is alive and living. No wonder His Word speaks to us everytime we open a page and begin to read.

Life is filled with stormy seasons, and peaceful seasons, yet through all seasons, our God is with us, a very present help if we need it, and Someone to rejoice over us when unexpected blessings are revealed.

The last six weeks have been pretty stressful for our Blossom and her family. They have still not found a home to move in to after they leave their current one on January 27th, and they have only a few hours left before real estate rentals shut down over the Australia Day long weekend...but God only needs a few hours if His plan is to provide a home for them, and they have one last house to inspect today, their final chance before alternative plans are to be made. 

Yet through all of this, Blossom has praised God, and often said, "And if not, He is still good." We have prayed together, shed some tears when it all got a bit much and the children were struggling (especially autistic Rafaella), and then we have sung to God, and felt our hearts enlarge with gratitude as Cully May hugged us tight to join our prayer, and 4yo Charlie David stood on a chair to raise his hands even higher in praise to God as he sang. 

In a few hours I'll know what will happen, but regardless, God is good always, and we adore and serve Him with all our hearts. So should you, sweet sister in Christ. No matter what, no matter when, no matter how, HE IS GOOD. Fall into His arms and rest your weary heart, or stand up and sing praises to glorify Him...whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 

I'll update you on their housing situation in the next blog post, but really appreciate your prayers for a home, and that the children are calm and mentally at peace as they progress through the coming days. Thank you. xxxx

Use the link below to download the free pattern.

DOWNLOAD Block 3 of the Promises of God Project

If you missed the first two blocks they are HERE

God bless and know I'm praying for you too...

You will find me on Instagram HERE @jennyofelefantz

And my NEW IG account just for homemaking HERE @elefantzhome

Subscribe to my free newsletter HERE and never miss a blog post, pattern or tutorial

Stitch my free 2025 block of the month 'The Sewing Room' HERE

Last post, BOM blocks and an extra pattern...

 

As promised in my previous post, today I'm sharing the final two blocks in this year's free BOM, Joy in the Ordinary. 

The Sewing Machine - Block 11...now where would the world be without equipment to sew?? Dresses, curtains, bedding, repairs, baby wear, furnishings...it's a true 'maidservant' in our homes and I'm so very grateful to have a good solid machine to help me create and mend in this wonderfully ordinary life. 

Baking Essentials - Block 12...when I was a child watching Nana 'whip things up' in her tiny kitchen, it was like magic. How she could take a few plain ingredients and bring them together in a marriage of flavour and lightness never ceased to amaze my little girl mind, and I knew that when I grew up I wanted to be just like her. 

So I chose flour and sugar for the final block in this Joy in the Ordinary project in honour of Nana and the JOY she gave me watching her at work in her little home. We never know what little eyes are watching us as we go about our daily chores, but it is important to remember that if they see us grumbling and annoyed about cooking, cleaning, tidying, and serving our families, they will never want to do it when they grow up for it will be to them a burden that makes mummies (or Nanas) grumpy. 

Nana showed me there was JOY in caring for Pop and I, and her little home, so I grew up knowing this was the life I wanted one day too. And God blessed me. 

Use the links below to download the free patterns -

DOWNLOAD Block 11 

DOWNLOAD Block 12

Another free pattern I would like to bless you with before I take my extended leave from blogging for this year, is another Scripture design from the Promises series I began in early July. 

Like the first pattern in this series, I chose another Scripture about God being our light in the darkness. So many of us see the world through an ever darkening lens, and it can sometimes be a trigger to fearfulness and anxiety about what's going to happen in the months and years ahead. 

But God will always shine His Light to dispel those emotions, if we just trust in Him, look to Jesus - the true Light which came in to the world - and rest in His promises. 

As I said in my previous post, I do not know whether I'll continue blogging in 2025..and from today I am taking an extended blogging break for possibly a few months, or even till the end of the year, when I will have an answer for you all. So there will be at least one more blog post later in the year to share what direction the Lord is taking me in...and I am prepared for that to mean the end of the blog, if it be His will. The thing is, until I walk away for a good while, I will not know for sure. 

Use the link below to download the second free Promises pattern - 

DOWNLOAD Promises 18:28 free pattern

(the first pattern is HERE)

In regard to answering the questions which have come through in emails or comments, I have emailed many of them this week with my responses, but there's a few which I was unable to answer that way so here they are...

Q: How do you make the closure on the button bracelets? 

A: As the bracelets are made from felt, I only needed to cut a buttonhole through the felt as felt does not fray.

Q: What Bible do you read? 

A: I read a number of translations, though I do not read paraphrase Bibles. Mostly I read the ESV, NKJV, CSB and the CJB. 

Q: How do you study the Bible?

A: I read it. Every day, slowly, with a concordance to learn the exact meaning of the words. I also read the Bible in context, so I ignore chapters, but read through in the way it was written originally (with no chapter or verse or headings) to discover the full meaning of a passage/message, which can sometimes run for many chapters without a break. 

My husband and I also use the Complete Jewish Study Bible, and the Jewish New Testament Commentary, both which are compiled by Messianic Jewish scholars to teach in depth the meanings behind many of the events in the Bible, especially the New Testament and the teachings and miracles of Jesus as understood by His first century Jewish audience. 

For example - after the feeding of the five thousand the disciples gathered up twelve baskets of bread scraps. Over the years I have heard numerous sermons and teachings on this event, each one spiritualised in one way or another, but the simple purpose for that gathering up is that according to Jewish law in Jesus day, the destructions of food was prohibited. In feeding the 5000, our Messiah honours the edicts of Judaism by stating, "Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing is wasted." 

These are wonderful tools for really opening up the New and Old Testaments. Here's an interesting observation about the woman with an issue of blood...

Q: Am I still using spelt flour for my sour dough? 

A: Not at the moment. Spelt grain is four times the cost of local wheat grain. 

Q: Is your sour dough starter made from Spelt?

A: Not anymore. Just regular milled wheat flour.

So my friends, this is a good bye for a while. Let me pray for you...

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for every kind and caring heart which has been revealed to me through this blog over the past fifteen years. Thank You for bringing us together, from far and wide across the globe, to share our lives, our crafts, our recipes, our ups and downs, our prayer needs, and most especially our love for YOU.

Lord, in my absence, may you grow each dear woman here, and myself, closer and closer to the truth in Your Word, and to your Son. 

May we shed all those things that hold us back from walking in the bright Light of Your ways, and fill our hearts to overflowing with HOPE, gratitude, repentance, kindness, self-control, courage and selfless love. 

May we have Your purpose for our lives revealed each new morn, that we may know just how unique and lovingly created we are by Your design, no matter how many years have passed behind us. 

Use us to Your glory, Lord, and keep our minds fixed on the promise of Christ's return so that we do not become foolish and let our lamps go out. 

May every heart here know that YOU are God, the God who saves, the God who cares, and the God who sent His precious Son to die for us. 

To Him be all Glory and Honour and Praise forever more...

Amen 

From my heart to yours...

your friend, and sister-in-Christ,

This n that, a recipe and button bracelets...

 Hello dear ones, thanks for dropping by today. How are you doing?? Being a blogger it seems that I am regularly letting you know how I am doing, but I'd also like to know what you've been up to.  

The past few weeks, months really, there's been a lot happening within the family, things we choose not to share, things that in the big scheme of things are ours alone to manage, leaning heavily into the Father's arms as we wait on results, directions, provision and refreshment. As a family we all pull together, especially when the children or health are involved, and sometimes it's a mixture of both. So when I stop blogging for a bit, just know there's a family life to be lived, and loved, behind the screen. I think many of you would understand this (especially introverts like Blossom and I)...we process things quietly, pray and discuss between ourselves, always encouraging and being there for one another, always drawing on God's Word and His love to carry us through. There's no greater place to be than in His perfect care. 

My theme this month is TIME and that's exactly what God has made me aware of. Everything lately has needed time - time to sit quietly with Him, time for family, time for healing, time for rest, time for caring, time to consider the future, time to give thanks, time to sit in the sun and warm up, time to tend the garden.

At home, this is what I've been up to in the quieter days -

Baking biscuits. Cully May loves packets of Rich Tea biscuits, as do Blossom and I (they are especially perfect for dunking in a cup of tea!) so I found a recipe which was quite similar and made 54 of them - a huge saving on buying a pack, and everyone said they were delicious so these will need to be added to my regular baking schedule. 

The new sour dough bread recipe I mentioned recently didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. The steps once kneaded were great and I will continue using them once the weather warms a bit (we have no heating in our home and the nights of late have dropped to an unusual 6 - 7C, around 45F). I had to use heated rice sacks sitting under the bowl to help things along, and eventually got a fairly nice loaf, though a bit dense from such a long rise. 

The other thing I realised about this recipe is that even though it asked for 170g of sour dought starter, not everyone has the same consistency of starter. I have mine quite thick (like peanut better) whereas others have theirs runny or somewhere in between. I used to have a fairly runny starter until I learned that a thick starter is actually stronger and sours the dough better. So I shall go back to my old recipe, mostly judged by eye and feel as I go along, but use this new recipe's technique for kneading and rising.

Last weekend my computer crashed and dear husband with all his tech know-how spent his only day off work that week re-installing everything and setting it up as good as new. How blessed I am that he can do that stuff.

While he was busy at the computer I decided to 'finally' baste my Virtuous Wife quilt (the free BOM I shared last year)....

I also made the binding, and found my spare rolling pin to be perfect for storing it...

It was my intention to start hand quilting this week just gone, but the weather has been so cold (for the tropics) that my fingers really hurt pushing the needle through the three layers, so I have put it aside until the weather gets back to our normal warm dry winter. 

Please note that I have kept this pattern free far longer than I'd intended, but it will be going in the shop soon. If you want to download any of the blocks, or the ones you may have missed, they are all HERE. I'll keep them free until July 31st. 

Whilst quilting through three layers was difficult, regular stitching was fine, and I did manage to complete the first block of PROMISES as there were only a few words left to embroider.

These are the fabrics I'll be using for the project. They are bits and pieces collected here and there over the years - not all are quilting fabrics, but they have been washed so should be fine one day when the finished quilt gets a wash...remembering that I am doing this as a slow project that may take a couple of years to design and share with you. If you missed the first block it's HERE

More sewing, but not the creative kind. My lovely cotton cardie has been getting a lot of use during this unusually cold spell and I caught the back on a nail out back, which left a hole that needed darning before it grew any larger. 

I haven't darned in a long time, but I have very fond memories of Nana darning Pop's thick woollen hand knitted socks. They were made with love and cared for with more of that same love, because he worked shifts on the wharf back in the day when they often climbed ropes to get on board, and the winter harbour nights in Newcastle (where we lived then) were icy. His socks, balaclava and gloves were all made by Nana. xx

Since hubby pruned a lot of the trees this winter, the birds are dropping by for a feed more regularly. Their feeder had become almost hidden between the Ixora, Bottle Brush and Maraya trees, but now it has a wide viewing area so the birds can feel safe. Our old cockatoo friend drops by every day, and his friends join him later.

A day with the girls...

On Thursday I had Cully May and Rafaella over for some crafting, baking, and a sumptuous morning tea. 

We began with a pot of hot chocolate, freshly baked scones, homemade lemon butter and the last of my homemade strawberry jam. We chatted about all the things that matter to a 6yo and an 'almost' 8yo before clearing the table and getting in to some crafting. 

Inspired by Annabel's sewing day with her own granddaughters, I thought it time to give mine some simple and fun ways to become familiar with using a sewing needle, thread and buttons. I have a lot of buttons, mostly vintage, but I also have a large jar of bright buttons the children have used to thread into necklaces.

Before they arrived I'd sewn together two long narrow strips of felt (on top of each other - a front and a back), one each for them, one for me to teach with, and another that they could use to make a gift for Blossom. We were making button bracelets! 

Felt is lovely and soft for children to begin sewing with, and there's no fraying. The girls slowly became comfortable with the needle and thread, and then began the process of sewing on the buttons, using the tying method to secure them. Cully May was excellent at sewing, and Rafaella made the best knots when tying the buttons in place.

I ended up using Green and Orange colours for my teaching model because they are Charlie David's favourite colours, and I knew he'd want one when he arrived with mummy later to pick up his sisters. He loves the character Blippy, from the same titled children's program, and he certainly did get excited about his Bippy bracelet when the girls gave it to him. The fourth bracelet was for Blossom and she was so chuffed to see all the girls had made. Everyone left wearing their handmade button bracelets, smiles all around.

After the bracelets were made we spent an hour in the kitchen baking tart cases, and once cooled we filled some with caramel, some with lemon butter and the rest with jam. Then the girls set the table for a late lunch as they knew Mummy and Charlie David were on their way, and I made pizzas from leftover garlic naan bread (delicious!). After we all polished off the pizzas, it was time to feast on tarts...I thought I'd have some leftover, but noooo. Ha ha!! 

Before I sign off, I was asked to share Nana's baked rice custard recipe...

3 eggs, room temperature / 750 ml whole milk / 4 tablespoons sugar / 1 teaspoon vanilla essence / 1/2 cup cooked medium grain white rice (it's not as good with long grain rice) / grated nutmeg or cinnamon

Mix together the eggs, milk and vanilla in a bowl. Add the sugar, stirring well to dissolve as much as possible. 

Grease a small baking dish or casserole dish with butter. I use an enamel dish usually, just like Nana did. Spread the rice across the base of the dish, then gently pour over the custard mix. Sprinkle nutmeg or cinnamon over the top of the custard (we only ever use nutmeg, but some people prefer cinnamon).

Make a water bath by pouring 1" of hot water into the base of a larger baking dish. Place the rice custard dish into the larger dish and place in a preheated oven at 160C (320F) for 40 minutes. Check after 30 minutes because not all ovens are the same - if there's no wobble, take it out. If there's only a slight wobble it's okay to remove it as well...but if there's a good wobble, give it ten more minutes. 

My husband loves this with jelly. Blossom eats it out of the baking dish. I eat it with tinned pears, or out of the baking dish. ;-)

Hopefully blogging will be back to a more regular routine next week, and hopefully our nights will be warmer. I bought my first doona in fifteen years today because the weight of blankets on the bed lately has not been comfortable. Hubby has some issues with his legs and feet, so a light doona will be wonderful for him tonight. 

God bless you so very much. I pray that if you're having a time of struggle, ill health, family concerns, loneliness, stretched finances, sorrow, or just in need of a good hug and a cuppa, that the Lord will provide what is needed in the way it is needed most, and through the care and concern of those who love you. But may we all keep our hearts open to recieve from a stranger, or an unexpected source, for God uses many different avenues to answer prayer or bring a blessing. And if like me, you prefer to be the giver, humble yourself to receive...He taught me a lesson about that recently. As long as we have breath, God has a lesson to teach us, to grow us, to guide us in the ways of Jesus. 

I also pray that we each ask the Lord how we can be of help to another, for being His children involves both being cared for, and being a carer; being a giver and being a receiver; being His hands of love and allowing others to love us through Him. 

Love you all, 

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

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Herbing and sewing...

HERBING...

Herbing? Never heard of it before? I think I may have just made it up. ;-)

I have been herbing in the garden this past week, preserving and enjoying some of our fresh greens in various ways. We currently grow twenty-six different herbs in the garden, and whilst some will only flourish in our tropical winter, others bloom abundantly in spring, and the remainder prefer the hot and humid summer for displaying their bounty, it's actually a good system because we can harvest something tasty to add to meals, teas, or preserve all year through. 

This past week I wanted to do a bit of dehydrating so I began with the Tulsi (Holy Basil) leaves which we use in herbal teas...

The best time for picking is when the new leaves turn purple, and as Tulsi has numerous health properties I use them fresh, or dry them. In fact I made some herbal tea bags for my daughter Kezzie from many dehydrated herbs and they worked so well that I have just posted her a big batch.

I love having Dill growing through our winter season as it's wonderful chopped fresh for the Greek dishes I make my son-in-law, or stirred through fresh mayonnaise, or dried and crumbled for summer recipes. I also use the large dill seed fronds in a vase on the table with my roses...

Cinnamon Myrtle makes a beautiful tea, but also becomes a lovely spice rub when dehydrated and crumbled...

...and with such an abundance of Basil in winter, Pesto is always on the menu. Blossom's children could eat a jar of my fresh pesto with a spoon and still ask for more, so we make it go further by stirring it generously through pasta. 

Hubby loves salmon patties so of course I made some fresh mayo. In some of the mayo I added fresh chopped dill and it was so good we emptied the jar. Ha ha!! I told Blossom and now she wants some so I'll make more later today. 

Guilty confession. In between all the herbing I quietly finished off the last of a baked rice pudding (Nana's recipe) because it was taking up space in the fridge. Nah, just joking...I simply could not resist the temptation and gave in, adding some yummy raspberries for added health benefit. ;-)

SEWING...

I've been working on block one of Promises and it's coming along very nicely. I ended up doing two thin borders, instead of a second border of squares. As I explained last time, this is a gentle slow stitching project so I will take my time even with the bordering or fabric choices for each block. I chose the tealy blue second border because it blends with that same colour in the first border - oh, and I thought that vintage fabric was from a tablecloth, and now realise it's part of a curtain. Wish I had more, but I shall endeavour to make the small amount I do have go far. 

I chose the thread colour for the verse to match the tealy blue as well. 

Another lovely thing about stitching a slower project, is choosing the stitches along the way. For this block I've stem stitched the wooden borders, added double French knot buds around the applique flowers...

...and sewed my favourite blanket stitch embellished leaves. You can see the tutorial I made for those HERE and there's a free practice pattern as well. 

I've made a page for this project (link in the sidebar and also under my header) in case you ever miss a block. Go to the PROMISES of God page here.

The other bit of sewing I am currently working on is that cross stitch I began back in May. It's coming along in spits and spats, mostly in the evenings, but I will be very honest here and tell you that at this point I am quite over all those bricks...

...but I am pushing on to get the roof and steps completed, plus the mortar between the rest of the bricks (I have done about half of it so far) so that I can stitch the pretty bits. I took one break to stitch a leaf the other day because I have had enough of orangey bricks and needed to see some green. 

I am enjoying cross stitch again, after more than a decade of just hand embroidery, but I will be mindful of the patterns I choose in future. I really love this pattern, but I do not love sewing a million bricks. In the end it will be worth it, and Blossom keeps dropping hints about how much she loves it... ;-)

SOMETHING NEW...

I am trying a new sour dough bread recipe, a smaller loaf than all my other recipes as there's only the two of us here now, so hopefully it will work out well and become a regular bake. The instructions were very simple so I pray it really does bake deliciously. 

It can rise for the rest of day while I potter around and do other things, like visit the doctor for my echocardiogram results, water the garden, and cut up some old linen garments for usable stitching fabric. It's giving me a lot of joy to repurpose old garments this way and soon I'll have a shelf of them (after I sell some of my quilting fabric). 

I hope you have a gentle week, and that in those precious quiet moments when there's a quiet stillness all around, that you let the presence of God surround you and rest in His care. 

God bless, and big hugs,

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

Or sign up HERE for my free newsletter which often has extra benefits, freebies & tutorials!