Rose Tattoo - a free design...

Remember back in June when I embroidered a little posey onto my blue cardigan?

Well my daughter Aisha thought it was beautiful so I asked if she'd like me to stitch another for her and she said, "Oh Mum, would you?! I'd love an embroidered cardie of my own."

I bought a black cardigan because that's a useful colour for any woman to have in her wardrobe, and sketched a spray of roses to stitch as they are Aisha's favourite flower. 

Last time I'd trialed the Sulky product but this time I used the Legacy brand.

It was a little easier on my hands, not quite as much gummy resistance to push the needle through, and it washed away quicker as well. 

I still don't like either product though.

They are not kind to arthritic hands but they serve a good purpose for projects like this when you're embroidering onto dark clothing and cannot easily trace the design in place. 

The three large roses are chain stitch and the rest of the design is a mix of backstitch, blanket stitch and colonial knots.

(I made these leaves)

Simple red and green on black.

Very effective, and Aisha was thrilled with her mum-made cardie. 

It doesn't take long to stitch this up so I thought you might like to have the pattern.

Embroidered cardigans would make lovely Christmas gifts...or embroidered mittens, gloves or scarves?

Blossom would like a grey embroidered cardie so at the moment I'm thinking of designs that would suit her.

A little stitchery certainly adds something special to a cardigan, don't you think?

You can download my free "Rose Tattoo" pattern HERE.

Hubby and I had a fairly relaxed weekend. Did you?

On Saturday morning we visited Blossom, Ross and Cully May, before returning home to finish our work - Mr E assessing his student's final end of year projects and me writing patterns for the next issue of The Stitchery Club.

As sunset drew closer my beloved asked if I'd like to go out for dinner and you know I said yes, right?! He took me to our favourite Thai restaurant and afterwards we drove along the water's edge with the cool evening breeze blowing around us. It was incredibly relaxing, so much so that we were in bed asleep by 9 pm. 

On Sunday morning we headed north to visit my dear friend Rosie who is recovering from a double knee replacement.  I baked blueberry muffins and took them along...

In spite of her pain and discomfort we laughed and laughed. 

Mr E and Rosie's son had us in stitches (they are both cheeky fellas!) and it was so good to see Rosie being just as cheeky back to them. She keeps us all on our toes!

You know, I've been fighting depression for a few weeks and it got so bad last week that I almost deleted my blog...but I have learned over time that I must not do anything extreme when depression has a hold of me, that I must be patient and wait until it lifts to make any big decisions or changes. 

Seeing Rosie yesterday was a tonic for me, as was a long phone call the other day with Fee. 

Having good friends (and I only have a few) who know you well and love you through the good times and the bad, can be the difference between sinking deeper into depression or reaching for the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm blessed to have these two women in my life and I hope I am a blessing to them as well.

If you're feeling like I was reach out to someone who knows you, a friend or family member who can come alongside and cheer you. It's not always as easy as that, I know, but being reminded that life has so many good moments that you can both laugh about and reminisce over is a tonic not to be overlooked. 

Don't forget to be that friend to others as well. 

Something I've just realised is that when the dark end of life takes hold of me I stop eating healthy, snacking on sweets and ice cream instead. I know that having good nutrition is very important to mental health so it surprised me to acknowledge I'd blindly forgotten all about this and done the complete opposite for three whole weeks.

Today I put aside the sweeties and chose to get back to the delicious natural foods which nourish my body and my mind.

I started by making 2 litres of fresh veggie juice and then prepared some roast vegetables to use in lunchtime salads through the week. 

I cut pumpkin and sweet potato into small pieces, then tossed them in coconut oil and salt before roasting them on trays until they were soft inside and slightly golden on the outside.

Sometimes I blend the roast pumpkin with chicken stock, roasted garlic and a little curry paste and heat it up in a saucepan for a spicy pumpkin soup lunch.  SO delicious!

I don't waste the pumpkin seeds either.

Removed from the pulp I toss them in coconut oil, salt and Cajun spice before roasting until they are golden and crisp.

Seriously, these are better than every other snack food I've tried.

In fact, these disappeared in 5 minutes.

Fortunately Mr E doesn't like pumpkin so I never have to share.  

It feels much better knowing I'm doing something positive for my health again.

Later in the week I have some great Christmas planning and Christmas gift ideas to share with you, but for now I have to trace pattern sheets and check them for accuracy before putting Friday's new issue of The Stitchery Club to bed.

Memberships for this issue close on the 16th so if you'd like to join just head over HERE.

Have a blessed week, and be sure to stop and enjoy the view.

Life is too short not to smell the roses.

hugs

My new 'homemade' design (and a recipe)...

This heartfelt design, which speaks of the love put into everything I make for others, has taken a while to finish.

I designed "Homemade from the Heart" back in late August when I received the Tilda "Cottage" fabrics. The centre applique block was stitched the first weekend of September but then we decided to move house so it was packed away for a while and to be honest once we'd settled in here I just wasn't sure how to finish it.

So it has sat waiting in open view on my sewing room table, neglected (even avoided) for over four weeks now, because not a glimmer of an idea passed through my thoughts.

I'm pretty good with the business of designing embroideries, but ideas for displaying them in a project requires far more creative thought than I can usually muster in a given time frame.

But you know, when you leave something for a while and go about your life doing other things, one day an idea just falls upon your heart...and that's what happened yesterday.

My beloved was quite unwell and in a lot of pain when he woke in the early morn so he took the day off work to heal up.

I decided there'd be no Elefantz work for me either, that I'd do a little baking instead, maybe some hand sewing and perhaps paint my wooden serving tray now that the rain is gone. 

Around mid-morning I was preparing that Tomato Tart recipe I showed you the other day, reflecting on how simple it was with just a handful of ingredients and needing only a few minutes preparation before baking in the oven. 

And that's when the 'penny dropped' as my dear Pop would say.

SIMPLE.

Just keep it simple.

Back in the sewing room I cut fabric for three simple borders and binding while the Tomato Tart baked.

After lunch the sewing machine came to life and so did this mini quilt.

With a cup of tea at my side and an old episode of Downton Abbey on the telly, I hand quilted in the ditch between the borders and also a line inside the white border.

All that was left was to attach the binding around the outside edge, add a hanging sleeve and sew the binding to the back.

Simple, sweet, heartfelt and handmade.

Exactly what this pattern was designed to express. 

I've hung it above my desk where I can be reminded daily to simplify life and designs and ideas and even relationships, to focus on what's important and not the superfluous stuff, to make daily moments count more than 'dreamy' long term plans.

The pattern for "Homemade from the Heart" (embroidery/applique and mini-quilt in one) is in my shop now if you'd like to make it for yourself or as gift for someone you care about.

Visit my Craftsy Shop here to browse all my patterns 

or 

go directly to this particular pattern.

That Tomato Tart was indeed delicious and will appear again on our dining table.

The recipe suggested using Roma tomatoes as they have less juice and we love them anyhow so I had plenty in the fridge.

A puff pastry base is spread with mustard ( I used Dijon) and the tomatoes are layered over it.

Salt and pepper, a sprinkling of fresh oregano leaves and cheese...

...and into the oven at 180C for 35 minutes.

Served with a scattering of fresh basil, more oregano and a green salad, and our lunch was ready.

Honestly, it was delicious.

Next time I'll bake this in a long tray and perhaps at a slightly higher temperature as the base wasn't quite as crisp as we like, but really we had no complaints tucking in. Simple, rustic even. Like us.

I think this recipe would be a good one to play around with, using the main idea as a recipe base and then altering it with other simple ingredients (what you have on hand). Perhaps throw on some roasted peppers and olives, use pesto as your base and replace the grated cheese with feta. 

Mmm...I'm getting ideas for Sunday lunch!

It's Friday lunchtime in my part of the world now and my tummy is rumbling after writing about yesterday's fare so I'll sign off with a hug and a smile, praying the weekend ahead is a peaceful one for you, overflowing with love, laughter, good food and Jesus. 

Be blessed always!

My sewing room and a new recipe...

The first treat I baked in this new home was Rock Cakes, also known as Rock Buns.

Mr E *loves* them, as do I, and you'll discover they are perfect with a cuppa anytime of the day and also make a delicious addition to lunch boxes or picnics.

The little Bee stitchery you can see on the photo above is a free addition with both recipe files. I've made up this recipe in two formats so choose the one you like best for your Living The Gentle Domestic Life Cookbook folder (and perhaps give the other to a friend?). 

Download the recipe & pattern HERE in my shop.

I took these photos of my new sewing room after making the book cover (yesterday's tutorial).

It's a larger room than in the old house, with the bonus of a built in wardrobe because it's designed as a bedroom. In the last house my sewing room was originally a formal dining room with no built in storage at all.

So this new room seems almost empty, sparse, because things that were once on display are now hidden away...but I like that. 

All my fabrics are in one place...

...and the sewing machine and cutting table are near the window for good light.

My stitching supplies, wadding, stabilisers, linen, threads, buttons, lace and completed projects are stored sensibly for ease of access and to keep things tidy (I love organisation - it helps me create).

Not sure yet what I'll hang in the room, I want to spend time in there first, get a feel for it.

I think next week when I've caught up with Stitchery Club work a good deal of time may be spent in here as I have a list of items to make for the house.

I'm smiling just thinking about that. 

New things for a new home and all of them have a purpose.

The next issue of The Stitchery Club is emailed to all members on October 17.

Would you like to see the patterns for this month?

I'll begin with the monthly quote design and this time it's one of my favourites from C S Lewis.

Following are the rest of my new patterns...each one with a heart to inspire.

If you're not already a member of The Stitchery Club you can easily join over HERE.

Membership for this month's issue closes on October 16th, and should you decide to join before then I will send you a free gift pattern, "Family & Friends", so you have something sweet to stitch before your first Club issue arrives!

That's it from me for the rest of the week. 

It's been lovely catching up with you all on the blog and sharing a few goodies along the way, but I'd best put my mind to book work and writing patterns over the next few days so I can play next week. 

Priorities, right?

But naturally I'll take breaks to bake.

Fresh bread and strawberry shortcake from yesterday's time in the kitchen...delicious.

May the Lord who is so good be your shelter in the storm, your comfort in sorrows, and your JOY every morning,

hugs

Missed the freebies this week?

Block 9 "The Love of Home" BOM is here.

Book Cover tutorial is here.

Lemon tree quite delicious...

I've had a few run ins with infection and migraine the past week so I've kept my distance from the computer as much as is possible, though we've still needed to go out house-hunting.

On Monday we submitted an application for one rental home near the beach which as Mr E says, "ticks all the boxes", and are currently awaiting a response. If that fails we have another home (on the beach) to inspect on Thursday. 

During our travels far and wide to look at prospective homes I noticed many lemon, lime and orange trees full of fruit and as is always the case when I see luscious round balls of citrus and smell their fragrance on the breeze, my thoughts turn to the kitchen and what I can make or bake with one or all citrus fruits.

My head was feeling much improved Tuesday morning so after brewing a large pot of tea I browsed through a few older style cookbooks and found a "just right" new-to-me recipe.

Usually I tweak a few ingredients and steps in recipes and this one was no different, but not because I was being extra creative. In fact, my kitchen now works on the 3 - 1 principle. 

For three weeks I will do one normal grocery shop every Wednesday, but in the fourth week I 'shop from the pantry' using up what we have already in the fridge, freezer and pantry supplies. I still need to top up with extra fresh fruit and veg, but everything else I can make or use what's on hand. 

Things like bread and almond milk are easy to make and as long as I have the basic ingredients always in stock we never run out.

When tweaking this new recipe I replaced tinned passionfruit with the fresh ones I had leftover from last week, and used more lemon because I had plenty on hand and love to add extra tartness where I can.

I don't think I shared a "Living the Gentle Domestic Life" recipe during August but as it was a month of intentional slowing and planning for the future everything non-essential was laid aside, but when Mr E and I tasted this Passionfruit and Lemon Slice it immediately became a priority to share with you!

We taste tested by cutting one piece into tiny squares and there was much "mmmmmm..." and "yummmm" heard around the kitchen as each little bit was savoured.

I've even drawn up a little lemon tree for you to trace and stitch while you bake your own Passionfruit & Lemon Slice. It's on the last page of the recipe sheets (both versions, full page and half page)...

...which you can download for free HERE in my shop.

Over the next few days I'll add all the previous "Living the Gentle Domestic Life" recipes/stitcheries into my shop as well.

Besides house-hunting and baking I've also been working on a new mini-quilt design using the next Tilda range of fabrics, Cottage, which will be in stores October 1st.

I began by piecing some tiny cotton spool blocks for top and bottom borders and then started on the sewing machine which will be the centre section of this mini quilt...

After the applique and embroidery was complete my mind wandered to hexies...

...which will create a side border for the machine block (I think).

I will have a play with that idea later today after Blossom and Cully May have come to visit for afternoon tea. Bloss is eager to try the Passionfruit and Lemon Slice, but she's also excited to open a parcel of pretty fabrics and lace sent to her by my dear friend Susan in the US. 

I'll leave you today with this inspiring story which lifted my heart when Blossom shared it with me.

It also caused a few tears to fall and made me realise a few home truths. It only runs for 5 minutes so I do hope you'll watch...

Never doubt your ability to bring joy to others.

God can always use a willing pair of hands, a heart that cares, and gifts you may not realise you have.

hugs