Books & Roses, a new giveaway and home life...

 

This month for our bookmark I decided to add some wording, and just use the floral contrast fabric as a narrow border above and below the centre block, which was stitched onto white cotton/linen.

I really like this effect of five rows, alternating stitcheries onto the white linen, with two narrow rows of that very old pretty rose print Tilda fabric. 

(I do wish Tilda would once again design those beautiful soft floral prints...sigh)

Yesterday Blossom, Cully May, Rafaella and Charlie were here for the day, and Rafaella presented me with one of the double hibiscus flowers from our tree in the front yard. The colours blended well with this bookmark, don't you agree? And to be honest, it's just as pretty as a rose.

Some months I stitch two versions of the same Books & Roses stitchery, but the first one is always in the blues, greens and reds of my original theme. 

Have you been stitching a few different colours? They make wonderful gifts to post away or pop inside a book gift.

Use the link below to download the June Books & Roses pattern.

DOWNLOAD June Books & Roses

Here's the original version of June's design...

GIVEAWAY!

Perhaps you'd like me to send it to you in the mail?

You could do with it what you like - make a bookmark, or place it in the centre of a patchwork block to frame? So many ideas.

If you'd like to win the blue and red version of this month's block just leave a comment on today's blog post.

Make sure you have also included a way that I can contact you, otherwise I'll have to draw another winner if you haven't.

I'll keep this giveaway open until Monday June 13th, when a random name will be drawn. If you're the lucky one I'll send it off in the post that same week.

So once you finish reading this blog post pop in a comment, and let me know how you'd display the little stitchery.

Winter is here!! Oh joy, oh delight!!

It may not yet be cold, in fact it is not, but it is cooler, and that causes my heart to sing and my fingers to delight in the work of tending soil and growing flowers, herbs and produce.

Winter is the most wonderful time of year to grow food in a tropical climate. We have planted out tomatoes large and small, long English cucumbers, pumpkins, passionfruit, blackberries and rocket so far. 

There is beauty in an abundance of colour from the calendulas, zinnias, marigolds, roses, petunias, schlumbergera, chrysanthemums, elderflowers and even older herbs which have gone into flower now.

It's pure delight to be outside each day and tend to the garden beds, hang the washing, and sit with a cuppa to watch the tiny honey eaters flitting in and out of the trees.

I found these strawberry blonde marigolds as seedlings at Bunnings, and because my Nana had strawberry blonde hair in her younger years I decided to plant some in honour of her.

(she confessed one day that many redheads would refer to themselves as strawberry blonde)

There's a lot of weeding and pruning to be done this week so that's what the next few mornings will hold for me.

Now that winter is here, I will get back to hand-quilting Simple Days. 

Our early spring last year turned into summer within days and even with the air conditioner running it was far too hot to have a quilt laying across my lap, even though I longed to see it completed.

I only managed to hand-quilt the centre block, and the other eight just had to wait, but I have Simple Days ready and waiting to begin the very relaxing process of hand-quilting during my afternoon rest time over coming weeks. A little each day will add up over these next three months. 

If you're new to my blog, and would like to see all the blocks in my Simple Days design, pop over HERE for a look. 

And for those of you who have ummed and aahed about starting this project, I have a SALE on all nine Simple Days block patterns in my Etsy Shop until June 7th.  The patterns are 20% off until then, but you will need to use the coupon code, which is one word - SIMPLEDAYS  - at checkout.

OR use the link I am providing to get the discount automatically ... use THIS link.

In the evenings I am continuing to grow my Hydrangea crochet blanket. It's coming along beautifully, though there is one colour of yarn I'm almost out of, and I want it for the border, so I may have to purchase a skein unless I can choose a different vibrant yarn in my cupboard. But you know when you have a picture in your mind of the completed blanket and can't seem to alter it? That's me with this yarn I'm almost out of. Oh well, I shall figure it out, no doubt. 

Well, dear friend, that's it for today from our little quarter acre near the river. I hope you're doing well and also managing the change of seasons with delight as I am. No matter what though, put your hand into the hand of God, like a little child, and pray for Him to show you the beauty around you in His marvellous Creation. 

I've found that one important thing I can do when times are hard and another valley tempts me enter, is to look intentionally for beauty, and cherish it close to my heart. 

God bless, and have a truly wonderful day.

hugs

Missed the Books & Roses free patterns from previous months? You'll find all the links HERE

Kitchen Crafts Project No 2 plus a giveaway!

 

Did you make the 1st Simple Kitchen Crafts project? Perhaps you missed that post and the companion pattern? You'll find it HERE

This month my Simple Kitchen Craft is a recipe book cover with bookmark. 

I was going to share a lot of my recipes with you this week, all in one file to download, but this is going to take far more time than I imagined so it might be a couple of months before that's ready - however, as I turned page after page of my own recipe file, I could see the loose pages are very stained and torn and forlorn...and of course, that gave me the idea for a fresh, bound and covered recipe book.

I wanted something bright for the kitchen shelf, as well as the opportunity to use up some recycled lemon linen and a piece of fabric which has languished in my stash for far too long. The right choice of thread colours brought both linen and fabric together nicely.

Can you see the little hole in the centre of the jug? It's made the same way as the hole in the String Bag stitchery last month, because I was a bit absent minded when I stitched this pretty jug and thought it was for another string bag. So, if you want another string dispenser bag you could stitch the jug for it, okay?!

I bought a good quality journal for this project, one with sewn in pages so that it could stand the test of time...especially if it's going to be passed down. The pattern has full instructions for the stitcheries and also for making the recipe book cover. I especially like having the bookmark sewn into the cover. 

It is sewn into the back cover...

...and folds over onto the page you're using. 

I thought that if I write just one recipe a day into my newly covered book, that's a task which could be easily accomplished. To imagine writing more than that - well, it just wouldn't happen. Best to set a goal that is manageable, not one which overwhelms you. Besides, with the issues I have with nerves in my right thumb, I would only manage a single recipe at a time anyhow, and I want it all to be neat. Did I ever tell you that I received an award for "The Neatest Books in 6th Grade" when I was young? Sadly, my handwriting has gotten a tad sloppy since typing took over in life. Sigh.

Having a pretty recipe book is actually a good incentive to keep your handwriting neat, don't you agree?

Use the link below to download the pattern. And would you mind pinning it to Pinterest for me? 

DOWNLOAD Simple Kitchen Crafts Recipe Book Cover pattern

My Pinterest 'P' has disappeared from my blog photos since the latest blog-makeover, and I haven't had time to fix it. Again, sigh. Eventually I'll catch up with things, but I really am enjoying having hubby home right now, so time with him is a priority for the next fortnight.

Now, a giveaway!!

My friend Xanthe, of Wife-Made, is a very clever quilt designer who also dabbles with a variety of other patterns for her shop. I absolutely love this younger sister-in-Christ, who is married with four children, and works her design magic from home, for she has the funniest sense of humour and is the kind of woman who puts you at ease immediately. 

Well, recently Xanthe offered me one of her brand new oven mitts, made from recycled woollen blankets and gorgeous fabric linings. Bless her heart, I said yes please...and it's in the mail and on the way to me now. Squeal of delight!

But Xanthe also offered to give me one of her oven mitt kits for a giveaway here on Elefantz!

The kit will not be the same as the oven mitt in the photo above, because all of her kits are unique and made from different woollen blankets and fabrics. In fact here's some pics of the oven mitts designs she has...

Xanthe sells KITS and PATTERNS for her Oven Mitts in her shop so if you'd like to jump in and start sewing now, use the link below. 

VISIT the WIFE-MADE SHOP

But let me show you a few more of her patterns, because if you're not into oven mitts you just might like to sew a set of beautiful wings for that special little girl in your life...

...or start piecing an Espalier quilt?!

You can follow Xanthe HERE on Instagram or use @wifemade

Okay - the giveaway...all you need do is leave a comment on today's blog post (the one you're reading right now) and be sure to leave an email address if you're anonymous or don't have an email attached to your usual comment profile. 

I'll draw the winner on Tuesday May 17th (Australian time) and if your name is drawn out but I cannot contact you, then I will do a redraw - so please leave contact details.  

The winner will receive one of Xanthe's Wife-Made Oven Mitt kids, and the giveaway is open internationally. 

Now why don't you pop over HERE to her blog for a visit?

Bless you all, I'm actually a bit under the weather today with a sore throat and achy all over so sitting here typing all this up was much easier than washing all the floors. I mean, they'll be there tomorrow, right? But today, feet up and lots of lemon balm, honey and ginger tea...and maybe an afternoon nap. 

Hugs