Returning to my roots...

Hindsight is one of those things I wish I could capture in a pretty scented sachet and give as gifts to everyone who touches my life for the better.

Lately, for me personally, hindsight has opened my eyes to who I am and what naturally inspires me, and it's also allowed me to step forward by reclaiming my past. 

Mmm...that's quite a lot to chew over isn't it?

Let me explain.

When I began hand stitching in 2005, I wanted to make everything I saw. My attention was captured by the technique and ability to make something wonderful with my own two hands! I really didn't give a thought to what my preferred style was; the need within me was to learn and make 'any' patchwork or stitchery, just so long as I learned new skills and had something to show at the end.

By 2009 the confidence I'd gained over the previous few years now extended to sketching my own designs, and over the following year a natural delight in all things shabby, pretty, and roses bloomed in my creative heart.

I'm blessed to say that I can 'almost' make a design from any directive. My editors here in Australia at Express Publications regularly ask me for a particular project, and though it may twist and turn my creative cells for a day or two, generally I can come up with the goods - even if it's not my style or colour scheme. I am blessed to be able to do that. Really blessed, as that is me working for my bread and butter!

But, I think by doing that on a consistent basis, I have somehow lost my way with what previously came naturally to my fingers when a pencil and sketchbook were on my lap.

My God given bestie, Fee, has been a confidante; a mentor at times; both little sis and big sis depending on who needs the shoulder; and the one who has recently been encouraging and pushing me back to my designing roots. She has heard the wearying tones of my thoughts, and in love for me, spoken up.

Issue 15 of Elefantz HOME is me coming back to the designer I was and who I am and who I want to always be.

Pretty, shabby, roses, wordy, stitchy, Jenny.

Project 1 ~ Smile

I had a torn vintage handkerchief, but the fabric was so fine and luxurious to touch, that I used the good half as my stitchery background for this 'Smile' cushion. The soft floral background fabric was a gift from Fee , and the mother of pearl button a gift from another lovely friend, Jeanette, in a swap a couple of years ago.

 

 

Project 2 ~ Family in a Hoop

The actual stitchery is one I drew years ago, and originally it was much larger, and had no applique. This time around I've appliqued the word, and a border. The 6" hoop has been wrapped with organza ribbon. So pretty...

 

 

Project 3 ~ Family & Friends

This gorgeous design is bordered and bound with 60 year old lace. I collect old laces and love using them in my projects. There is an abundance of seed beads, colonial knots, applique and chain stitch in this wall hanging. It's time consuming to make, but ooooohhh, the final result is sublime!

 

 

 

(I will be selling a limited number of kits to make "Family & Friends", complete with the 60 year old lace, all beads, fabrics and threads! I'll let you know when they are ready to purchase.)

Bonus Project ~ Block 2, Mary, from A Christmas Story Quilt

Over 9 months I am sharing one block from this favourite quilt of mine in each issue. Last month was Angel.

 

I have also decided that even if you are not a subscriber to Elefantz HOME, I should make each issue available as a single $4 AUD purchase during the current issue month for those who would like to simply purchase an individual issue. Ok?

I'll set all that up for those who are interested later in the month. 

This coming issue also has a guest designer, my generous and talented friend, Dawn Hay from "As Sweet As Cinnamon". I'll share a peek of her design in another week or so. In the meantime please drop by her blog HERE and say hi.

So friends, I invite you to sit back and really enjoy Jenny being Jenny again. I know I am happily excited about what's ahead for Elefantz.

(Thanks Fee. xx)

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

PS: Tomorrow on my blog...what to do with doilies! \o/

Friends - both old and new...

People are often surprised when I tell them I am naturally shy. 

They think from how I write that I'm really outgoing - and once I get to know you I am quite relaxed and laugh (a lot) - but at first, I'm a shy thing. The fact that we have moved 18 times in 21 years probably has a lot to do with it, but I think being an only child raised by elderly grandparents could also be a contributing factor. I spent my growing up years quite removed from kids my age, and yet I was very content with my own company. Still am, actually.

It's because I am shy (and personally content) that I don't often seek out friendships when we move to a new town, and I rarely spend time away from my home as I homeschooled the two youngest children for 11 years, and have run my own business from home since 2009. 

My home is my place of security. My home is me in my natural habitat.

But I want to be brave and dip my toe in the waters of making 'real-life, people-you-can-hug-and-drink-coffee-with-friends'. 

I invited my good friend Wendy to drive up from her home 90 klms away and spend the day stitching with me on Friday. You see, I had invited someone else too. Someone I had never met! And because I am so relaxed with Wendy, I knew she would help me relax quickly. 

On Friday morning Blossom woke with a fever and stayed home from work, so my stitching group suddenly grew to four, and all my nerves vanished.

 (note to self: God is good ALL the time)

Inspired by Master Chef the previous night, I baked Orange & Blueberry muffins with an Orange & Vanilla syrup, and set out my favourite tea cups and plates...

Blossom got out a cross-stitch she'd started four years ago and never finished...

...and I prepared my own project to stitch.

Just after 10 a car pulled up, and the door to making a new friend opened. 

Not long after this Wendy arrived. And so our stitching day began!

Please meet our new friend, Angela. 

 

Wendy, me, and Angela

 Blossom was our photographer.

Actually, two hours into our day together, Wendy and Angela realised they had met years before and had been wanting to catch up ever since! Small world? Honestly, we laughed so hard all day that my shoulder and neck are still aching and I won't need to do any tummy exercises for a week!

Angela is a sweetheart, and even brought a freshly baked gluten free Banana Cake, whose leftovers Mr E happily enjoyed later that night. Thanks Angela. :-)

 I don't think we got as much stitching done as we'd planned, but I'm sure that's testimony to how much fun we had together. 

A good day. A new friend. And plans to do it again soon.

If you're shy like me, I encourage you to take the plunge and reach out to a new friend. It could be wonderful. :-)

~~~~~

I am so excited to be able to offer KITS for some of my new patterns! 

I get lots of emails from blog readers asking if I sell kits for my designs, and I thought it was probably about time I did some. 

In my shop HERE I have a limited number of kits available for making the...

"Daring Dresden" cushion cover ~ $27 AUD

...and the "HAPPY" Table Runner ~ $29 AUD

 

Both kits contain all the fabrics, trims and threads to make the project, plus a paper pattern. 

Both kits are free post throughout Australia, or $12 postage overseas.

You can visit My Elefantz Shop HERE.

~~~~~

All the info about Elefantz HOME issue 14 can be found HERE on the magazine page. You'll also see what my lovely guest designer for this issue, Vicki Tucek, has made for you! She's a very talented designer whose quilts are amazing!! Visit her blog HERE for some inspiration.

For the next 9 issues of the magazine I will also be sharing one block per month from my shabby roses "A Christmas Story" quilt. This is in addition to my three new Elefantz designs each month.

The first block we'll make is 'angel', and I will show you step by step how to copy my decorative applique technique...

 

I've already prepared my block. This is the third time I've made this quilt, and I still love it!

~~~~~

Time to get back to pattern writing...

Ho hum...the hard part about being a designer. ;-)

Have a lovely weekend, surrounded by people you love and lots of laughter, ok!?

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

Ooops! It's been a while hasn't it....

Ooops! Days pass so quickly when Mr E is home that I think I just did a blog post and discover, no, it's been almost a week. I know you'll forgive me. Time with him at home is most precious to me. 

Yesterday he took the mine bus from Townsville for the first time. He was beginning his first rotation of four, 12 hour night shifts, and riding 500 klms home on a motor bike after coming off four days of night shifts just doesn't seem the smart thing to do.

We drove in at 5am, and after the bus left I had a coffee by the beach, then turned round and drove the 132 klms home....

Back home with the animals, I settled in for some sewing time. 

The final few of my remade "A Christmas Story" blocks are finished now. I am loving them made up from my Aviary scraps; so different to the original.

 

 

 

Also completed are the remade "Shabby Roses" blocks, and I've now begun piecing them with my Tilda stash....

I'm tweaking the quilt design as I go; it will be mostly the same layout as my original, just a wee bit different.

Also come to life from my sketch book is a new design for the next issue of Elefantz HOME. 

I'm doing this in two styles - one redwork, and one applique - but I'm still undecided on how I'll finish them. 

 ~~~~~

Slowly I'm working through this new stage of adult life; the part where your children have grown up and left home, and you find yourself with more time on your hands than ever before, especially when your husband works away 60% of the time. Fortunately, they call me on the phone (a lot) and even bring me gifts.

Blossom gave me a little stitchery to finish as a leaving home gift. She started it a few nights before she moved into her new house and there's not much more to do, but I kinda like it the way it is...unfinished. It reminds me of her life, still more to be lived and enjoyed...

(the Christmas baubles design was a free one shared a Christmas or two ago, but I can't remember where from, so can't give you a link)

Kezzie dropped by this morning just to say "I love you, Mum", and gave me these pretty flowers. I put them in the vase she gave me for my birthday ~ perfect.

 

Another gift arrived in the mail yesterday, but this was from the very sweet Mary who found something at the op-shop where she volunteers, and immediately thought it would be perfect for me! I think you'll agree....

I really do have a soft spot for anything with elephants. Thank you so much, Mary! :-)

~~~~~

Before I go and cook some dinner for myself, and feed Sophie and Bob-the-dog, (both are at my feet right now looking up at me with love-lorn and hungry eyes) I have a favour to ask of you.

A magazine I faithfully read was cancelled last year. It had wonderful homely, crafty, money-saving, healthy living ideas and articles, and the day it simply vanished from the newsagents display without any forewarning was the day I realised how much I truly enjoyed it. 

Since then I have scoured op-shops and garage sales to purchase all the copies I missed. There are always a few stacked by my sewing chair to flick through during a coffee break....

...and every time I am left feeling nourished as a woman, mother, wife, and homemaker. Can you see why I am missing it?

Well, it seems I am not the only one who is longing for it's return!

Fellow designer Amanda has started up a Facebook page to see if she can drum up enough of a following that the publishers take note and bring back our beloved Notebook: magazine!

You can read about Amanda's campaign HERE on her blog, or go straight to the Bring Back Notebook Magazine FB page and 'like' it.

Please?

Thank you. :-)

~~~~~

I will return tomorrow with a show and tell of project photos sent in by lovely bloggers, but right now I'd best go and feed the little ones so I can have my feet back. 

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

Life has settled. 

The house is in order; just some fine tuning needed in the new Elefantz room and the new office/prayer room.

The kids love their new homes.

Mr E is almost half way home as I write this, so he should be here in around 3 hours.

I'll share a little photo journal of the changes in the rooms over the past few days.

This used to be Blossom's room; the dust strewn empty one I showed you on Friday.

Please come inside...

 

 

 

 

 

This was Sam's room, but it's now the new office and prayer retreat. I still need to do things in here (like pretty curtains) etc...

 

 

 

And both rooms have air conditioning!!! \o/\o/ 

This is the first time, after living in the tropics for 2 1/2 years, that I have had air conditioning in my office and sewing space. I am so blessed. It has helped enormously with my menopausal hot flushes! 

~~~~~

During the evenings I've been continuing to stitch the remade version of "A Christmas Story". Four blocks finished, four to go...

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks you to Kris and Chris, who have offered to help me out with some Aviary fabric if I run out of my small stash. The quilt blocks are so pretty in Aviary - very different to my original version with the deep burgundies and winter greens; though it was very pretty too! 

It seems right though. Linda in the US now owns my original 'A Christmas Story', and the colours are perfect for her winter Christmas, whereas this lighter version is perfect for my summer Christmas in Australia! Isn't that great!?

~~~~~

The quilt I've made using some of my Give Thanks blocks is ready to have the binding sewn down...

It's just a simple square-in-a-square design, but looks quite pretty. 

I was asked if I'd share the new 'Give Thanks' block I made for the quilt, and I thought, "Yes!"...after all, you might like to make a quilt with the blocks too, and this new little Give Thanks is a happy addition.

You can download the block design HERE 

~~~~~

Now to get back to making a welcome home lunch for Mr E! Chicken pasta salad today - protein and carbs after his very long ride home to my waiting arms....

Hugs

Jenny

xxx