It's not easy keeping a design under wraps for almost a year, but that's what I did.
This week the new issue of Australian Homespun Magazine hit the newsstand with one of my designs featured inside, but blow me down, I had no idea it would make the cover!
Isn't the colouring page format wonderful!?
But I think you may like to see it stitched, right?
My heart is for home and what nicer way to celebrate home than a trip down memory lane to fresh baked apple pie cooling on the windowsill, and naturally one of my sweet birdies needed a starring role too!
It took me months to decide how best to display the stitchery.
Intent on creating a window frame border I waited for just the right idea to evolve. Patience paid off!
One day I found a big old wooden frame at a bargain store. It was just the right size and after painting it lemon it became the perfect window frame for "Dishing Up the Past"...
This design uses mostly back stitch for the embroidery, but there's also pops of chain stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch, running stitch and a lacy curtain edge made from long lazy daisies...
Australian Homespun is available in newsagents throughout Australia and New Zealand, Spotlight stores, and various suppliers internationally. You can also purchase the digital magazine from Zinio, Apple Newsstand and Google Play.
There's also an interview with me on page 52, and a few stitching tips scattered through the pattern!
IDEA:
Imagine a favourite family recipe written inside the window? Or perhaps you could pin it there? I'm going to pin a photo of Nana and Pop inside my hand stitched window because that's where love for home began in my life.
If you've got this project on your to-do list I hope you enjoy it immensely!
Thank you to everyone who entered my little orphan Tuesday stitchery giveaway.
Your kind words of encouragement in the hundreds of comments were indeed precious.
A winner was drawn yesterday, so imagine a drumroll as I announce her name okay?!
BRENDA WINKLE, congratulations!
I'll be emailing you very soon for your postage details, and as well as my orphan stitchery you'll receive a fat quarter of the gorgeous Tilda fabric shown in the photo above.
Another magazine I was blessed to be featured in recently was Helen's "Bustle & Sew".
It's such a lovely e-mag full of interesting projects, articles, recipes and other marvellous things!
In
the May issue you'll find Helen's interview with me in her e-zine's 'Meet the
Maker' section plus one of my designs to stitch.
Helen and I have been online friends for a number of years and though our styles are quite different we both adore hand embroidery and are encouragers of each others work.
If you would like to read the interview, Helen has kindly allowed me to share it with
all of you.
Download the interview HERE
You may also like to brew a cuppa and head to Helen's website for a browse through all her lovely bits and pieces (she has some really sweet free patterns) which include video tutorials and e-books.
Have you ever wanted to make a softie but not sure how?
Helen has a free e-book to teach you how!
Visit Bustle & Sew HERE
I've been a little quiet on the blog this past week as I damaged my sciatic nerve and sitting for any length of time at my desk is rather painful so while I continue to recover blog posts may be a bit sparse, but I shall still blog as much as I'm able because it's something I love.
Have a blessed weekend my dear friends and readers, and to all you mothers -
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
on Sunday.
hugs
