Pruning, free pattern, and the $2 dress...

 

I originally planned for June to be a month of focusing on friendship - with others, but mostly growing deeper in my friendship with Jesus. 

We all make our plans at one time or another, and often they are well thought through, good and productive, but have you found that sometimes God will take our plan and widen it's scope to grow us, or to make us aware of extra things that need to be included or perhaps discarded?

June has turned out to be a rather insightful God-widening, lovingly pruned, friendship walk between me and my Lord, and I believe, as always with the lessons God brings us, that it has been for my good, for His glory, and to help me flourish and bear fruit in these latter years of life.

As I reflect on the first half of 2024, His pruning shears have been in regular use within the garden of my heart and mind - it's just been a tad more evident this month. 

My friends, if you're undergoing a holy pruning season right now, do not resist it, but surrender to the work of God within you, for only He can remove the things which stifle our fruitfulness for the Kingdom, and flourish us in His blessed gift of life for the years still before us. 

JUNE at home...

We have lived here in the tropics for fifteen years now, and this is the coldest June we have experienced. Many of you will give a chuckle when I tell you the average night temperatures lately as your own winters are fraught with snow, ice and blizzards...but for us, who have barely more than a pair of jeans, some socks and a couple of cardigans to complete a winter wardrobe, it's definitely been a surprise.  For the past three weeks it's hovered around 11-14C overnight (51-57F) and with no heating in the house we've had to pull out both quilted coverlets and a polar fleece blanket for the bed. Hubby is wearing socks to bed as well. 

I was still swimming my laps in the cold pool at 6am every morning until Monday this week when it was so black outside that I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. Hence, swimming is now around lunchtime when the weather is a rather glorious 25-26C (78F) though the water is still extremely cold. The winter solstice is just days away so by my calculations I may be back to 6am swims the second week of July. God willing. 

We have had no rain since March, other than one morning of good showers in May, so the ground is dry and crunchy...

We've done a heap of tree pruning lately, and are still working on building up better soil in the small raised beds which we hope to use next autumn for growing the normal 'summer' vegetables we've raised every winter since buying our small home on a quarter acre. But it was a wise decision to not grow them this winter as the past few years they have been hammered by pests and bugs. By resting the soil (isn't God wise about resting the soil every seventh year?!) this year we have been able to work on other areas of the gardens - removing some trees, plants and shrubs; moving and re-moving fences; replenishing soil in raised beds and the front yard; making use of large pots for flowers and herbs; and tending to the fruiting trees and shrubs currently producing, such as blueberries and passionfruit. I am also just about to lift the ginger as the tops are dying and it's risen out of the soil and looking luscious. I get very excited about the ginger because every year it has been a success. 

Even our huge Poinciana had a prune, before hubby installed the birdhouse he made whilst teaching back in 2020. This tree is a real bird attracter and it's such a joy to sit underneath and look up at all the different types of avian visitors. 

Hot meals are on the menu at last, and soups rank high, such as this curried roast pumpkin & garlic soup with coconut cream and sauteed minced chicken. 

Many herbs are flourishing in the cooler temps, and I'm enjoying the surplus of coriander leaves (cilantro) because I can only grow it here in winter as the weather is too hot and humid the rest of the year. 

Blossom and the children visit every week, or we meet somewhere for a treat. They love to see what I have been baking and end up taking home a few containers full, so I've been trying a few different recipes lately, such as these sourdough choc-chip biscuits (cookies). You can find the recipe HERE

 Some cooking of a different kind has also been taking place. Magnesium lotion is very good for aches and pains and sleep, but it's quite expensive, so I made my own for a tiny fraction of the cost. The instructions are HERE and the result is lovely. My eldest daughter Kezzie has requested some, and I gave a tin to Blossom yesterday. It makes a great item for the gift cupboard!

I'm still working my way through each series of The Great British Sewing Bee, which definitely ignited the desire to sew my own clothes, so I recently bought a couple of patterns from Spotlight to try (along with more yarn to finish the trim on my new kitchen curtains)...

I also bought a bunch of reduced chrysanthemums as my roses are not faring well in the blooming department this winter and have been duly pruned back. 

I think in my last post I mentioned buying $2 sheets at the op shop in order to make some dresses because I don't want to use 'good' fabric until my skills are better honed. Well, I made my first dress from a $2 sheet and I quite like it so it's being added to my spring/summer/autumn 'housedress' wardrobe. There was even enough fabric left to make a top, which I'll be sure to do in the future.

I watch GBSB on the iPad Britbox app while I cut and sew...

(all done except the top stitching and hem)

(final fitting...and such a serious face as I put a hand in the pocket and assess the fit.  LOVE a side-pocket and was happy to learn how to include two)

(top stitching done)

Not bad for $2, and this inspired me even more to keep sewing my own clothes. 

Using up my quilting fabric for purposeful items around home is another sewing avenue of late. These are for my linen cupboard and each buttoned square contains a set of sheets. So easy to make, as well as being pleasing to the eye on the shelf. I will be thinking of many more ways to use fabric for organising and storage in future. Do you have any ideas to share??

Yesterday Blossom, the children and I went to the playground and as the kids played for three whole hours, we chatted about life, God, health, pruning, sewing and homeschool. After lunch we headed to a few op-shops as I wanted more cheap sheets for sewing, and Blossom needed clothes for Cully May. 

First stop was the RSPCA op-shop which proved wonderful as all the children's clothes were $2 each, and she found a huge bundle of unused homeschool books for Charlie David's first years. I found a lovely top for myself and a nice huge $2 sheet which could easily make two dresses. The kids loved this new-to-us op-shop as they also have cats for adoption that children are allowed to pet (if they prove to be calm and responsible around animals, which Blossom's children are). Blossom went in with the kids and they played with two lovely one-year-old cats for about 15 minutes...and then Blossom called Ross to ask if they could adopt them. He was in agreement, and she came home with the paperwork. They need to get permission from the owner of their rental home first, so we have prayed and asked God's will be done and shall wait to hear the outcome.

Blossom and I prayed openly about this in the op-shop, just as we'd prayed openly about other things when we sat in the playground with other people around. I'm very proud of my daughter for being so open about her faith in Christ, because I do not see much of this around...in fact I don't remember seeing people just praying together in shops or parks or playgrounds unconcerned about those nearby. This is what we want the children to learn, and I was blessed to have Cully May openly pray with me about something that mattered greatly to her while we were having lunch. 

Children learn by our example. In these last days, when it seems that the return of Jesus is possible in my lifetime, Blossom wants her children to know the Lord, turning to Him before any other, and able to share about Him to those they meet along life's path. That's a lesson for all of us, regardless of age...

2 Timothy 4:2...

"...be ready in season and out of season..."

I thought I would leave you with a few really good videos that have encouraged Blossom and I recently.

FREE GIFT 

Last thing for today is a free download for you to stitch - "Hope in the Lord". I believe that many of you have struggles or trials right now - it could be health, finances, relationships, or a decision which must be made. Dear ones, never forget that the Lord is right there for you. Never lose HOPE, never let the enemy tell you He does not care for that is a lie. 

Stand firm in your faith, in HOPE, in the truth of our Saviour's sacrifice and eternal love which will stand the test of eternity. He is for you, never against you. His will for your life is greater than your own will for it. Surrender to God and let Him carry you. xxxx

Use the link below to download this free pattern

DOWNLOAD Hope in the Lord pattern 

God bless dear friends, and may you find the delight of pruning to be worth the challenge it initially brings. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called, according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

Hugs and prayers,

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The close of autumn in Australia...

 It's the last day of autumn here, and though in the tropics we don't get the golden falling leaves, or the chilly days and nights, we do notice the temperature drops to a lovely temperate degree which means the air conditioners are no longer needed, and we only use the ceiling fans from mid morning to late afternoon. We can sleep with windows open again (though the traffic noise takes adjusting to) and look forward to soups, casseroles and custard veiled puddings. 

Thank you to those sweet ladies who emailed to check up if I was alright as it's been more than two weeks since my last post. With the theme this month of...

...I made the decision to only post on the blog if I had something to share, show, or felt like chatting. Thinking back on my earlier blogging years, when I was writing them 4 or 5 times a week, the purpose in those days was often sewing, stitching, gentle domesticity, or recipe related - things I did a lot of at the time and enjoyed sharing about on the blog. My favourite posts though, were the regular Sunday devotionals I shared for a few years, but they were for a season, and as time went by I found myself more openly including the Lord in every post I wrote, and that continues today. 

Though I still sew, stitch and cook, keep house and live a gentle domestic life, I also have three gorgeous grandchildren living nearby who I see often with their mummy, my dear daughter Blossom (whose real name is Elizabeth in case you didn't know). I also garden, create as much as I can from scratch, spend precious time with a beloved husband when he is home from work, care for our young pug Molly and aging cat Sophie, and go for long country drives with my darling on his one full day off each week. I also immerse my life in the Word of God, because without that I would not function well in all the other areas that take my time. 

So shedding some blogging time has freed me to live my joyful, very ordinary life, in an even more relaxed, and yet very productive way. I was going to say that this was fairly normal to pursue simpler days as you age, but I don't think it's about being older as many women are still very outgoing and social at my age, but more about maturing in my thoughts, and no longer feeling the need for affirmation. Hmmm, that was a big revelation. When I began designing in 2009, my family encouraged me but they did not like my style. I had my patterns published in magazines more than a hundred times over a period of seven or eight years, and that, along with blogging, gave me the affirmation I needed to continue designing. 

But (praise the Lord) I grew up and the past few years it hasn't been important to be affirmed, but it has been very important to learn more about gardening, homemaking, natural health care and repurposing - all with a desire to care responsibly for my home and family, in order to glorify the Lord. 

I wonder what stage of life you are in? Are there changes happening in how you're approaching things? Have you been 'shedding' things in your life throughout May?? 

Around home it has been a very productive time this month, especially in the garden as I am doing things differently this year, 'shedding' the things which have progressively failed in previous years. I'll do a post on the garden in June.

I've also been busy completing Blossom's 30th birthday quilt with the binding and a label...

As the quilt is a Dresden one, I decided to make a chubby Dresden block for the label and stitch a wreath and words of love in the centre circle. The quilt itself was quilted with a leaf design as my girl loves leaves and requested this. It turned out beautifully...

Her birthday was last Sunday and it was a wonderful celebration! Ross had bought her a gold chain with a beautiful gold and emerald pendant, and the children and he had decorated the house very early in the morning and would not let her get out of bed until it was all done. We met for lunch and had a marvellous time together, the first year we have 'gone out' for a birthday since her 21st...but she wanted us both to not have to worry about cooking or cleaning up, but to just relax and celebrate. It truly was special.

A second celebration on that day was news that my 16yo grandson Dee (Kezzie's youngest son), who lives on the opposite side of Australia to us, had accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Mothers and grandmothers, do not give up praying for your family...God works in His own way and in His own time. All we need do is pray. xx

Many years ago, before I taught myself to embroider and quilt, I did cross stitch, and loved the designs of Australian heritage homes by Olga Gostin. The one above is called a Queenslander because many homes in my state 'back in the day' needed to be cooled and kept dry due to our heat and wet seasons and cyclones. You lived upstairs, but the underneath was open for the breezes to cool the house, or the water to pass through. I love these homes and have been fortunate enough to live in some when we were still renting. The home we bought in 2018 is a small low set house as my husband has serious arthritis in his knees and could no longer use stairs. But we have this hanging in our home (he loves it too) as a reminder of the Queenslander beauty. 

After a break of about fifteen years I am once again enjoying the slow pace of cross stitch, and the pattern which has my time at the moment is coming along nicely. I watch an episode or two of The Great British Sewing Bee (on Britbox) after lunch each day as I stitch. I have some hip issues and this afternoon break is wonderful for the essential rest I must have after homemaking and gardening in the mornings.

I put a lot of care into my husband's work lunches as his hours are long, but recently I'd not been as mindful of my own need for a healthy lunch. We do not have an evening meal Monday to Thursday, hence the need for a hearty and healthy lunch. Now I not only plan for his work lunches six days a week, but also for my own...and I really enjoy using leftovers, like in this simple fried rice full of veggies and made with brown rice.

Some days I heat up pre-baked vegetables and some chicken in bone-broth from the freezer, other days it might be avocado and salad on sourdough with a boiled egg, or baked beans with a parmesan sprinkle and toast. If I've been out grocery shopping and running errands, or spent the morning at Blossom's with her and the children, I might opt to steam some pre-packaged frozen dumplings when I get home. 

But I always finish with a bowl of watermelon chunks, which is available in the tropics all year through. As I'm taking an extended break from sweet home baked goods, I get my sweet treat this way for now.

Making my own protein balls for hubby is another important change for me. I have made them for him over many years, but I don't have them myself. Why?? No idea! Now I do. 

In the sewing room, I have bound a very large piece of wonderfully thick woven fabric I found for $8 in the reject bin last year at Spotlight, for Blossom's trio to use as a picnic rug in their backyard at lunchtimes...

....sewn a few more jar covers and crocheted the edges...

...and am working on creating new kitchen curtains, and a laundry curtain, from six identical tea towels. I have a kitchen tea towel in the same print with a crochet edge (which is what gave me the idea!) and it is always on display over the oven door as it's so cheery and pretty, so now I'm going to recreate it as two curtains, also with the crochet edging. The hems have all been unpicked now, and the towels are washed and ironed. Hopefully I shall make a start on them over the weekend.

What are you making?? Anything specific as a gift or for your home?? I'd love to hear about your own month of May before we move into June. :-)

Next week I'll have the free June pattern for this year's block of the month, "Joy in the Ordinary". If you have missed any of the blocks shared so far they are HERE, all free. 

God bless you and keep you safe, well, and cared for in every way you have need. May His joy be abundant in your days, His provision always at hand, and His love so firmly full in your heart that no matter what happens, you know you are loved and cherished by a Father who only ever has your good in mind.

Lots of love

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Removing old layers to see what matters now...

Life is meant to be lived, and as you edge closer to the winter years that truth becomes far more valuable than in younger seasons. You know, it can be quite confronting to ponder the long time passed, and the much shorter time ahead. I'm definitely not thinking negatively (or morbidly) about this truth, but rather taking notice of it in order to wisely choose how I use the days God continues to gift me from now on. 

And that's why I've been absent from blogging for a couple of weeks. I found other things to do, things that were not only productive, but joyous and fun. Even the regular domestic tasks of my simple life took on new delight, and I woke up excited to go about my chores and put things in order around home. There's also been fresh creativity in my days, and truly, this quite surprised me. 

I took my own advice about 'walking the room' again in April, and discovered what I had suspected for a while. 

My style has changed from the overabundance of pretty things around the home (most of which I made and designed) to being considerate of what my husband and I genuinely like. I think simplifying can do that, perhaps? The past few years my personal decluttering of things that have no value, or take up time or space unnecessarily, has helped me look at all aspects of the life I have chosen to value and pursue...and when those layers are lifted away, its much easier to see what is left in a new light. 

Taking away from the 'scenery' within our walls meant that I am able to consider and plan what I can make or build or re-purpose, to create a home atmosphere that really reflects who we are in our little home on a quarter acre, not just me.

It's also easier when some things are stripped away to recognise what offers satisfaction, enthusiasm, and purpose, for both my husband and myself. Much of what is displayed around home is there because I designed and made it over the past fifteen years of creating my business, Elefantz Designs, but it's quite a mismatch now if I'm honest because there's a variety of style changes which follow my growth as a designer, and it simply never was a reflection of my husband's rustic Australian country style. So...I'm removing items I'd not considered previously, and giving prominence to the artwork and colours which hubby and I both like. Naturally, some areas are more me than him - the kitchen and laundry for example! But that's okay, a homemaker makes a home for herself and her husband, so it is natural to bring some of him and some of her into the home, right alongside the 'we'. 

Over the past few weeks I've really enjoyed using up smaller fabric pieces and making reversible jar covers for my homemade jam...but over time this spread into many jars in my pantry. 

Not every jar has a cover because I like them scattered around, bringing a very homely look to the kitchen. I also made some for Blossom but 3yo Charlie absconded with them, insisting they were hats for his dinosaurs and the girl's dolls. Ha ha!! 

After about fourteen fabric covers, I made one with a crochet edge...

...and then progressed to an embroidered cover, which I absolutely love and shall be making more of. I'm thinking of cows, ducks, birds, and little garden scenes. I  may even use some of the stitcheries from HERE or those I've included in this year's free Joy in the Ordinary BOM. 

But this little bee pattern was a purchase I made on Etsy last week. I was looking for different jar cover patterns and bought this one - however, I did not realise it was only a pattern for the bee. Still, I do love how the designer has displayed it on linen with a lace edge in the photo. 

The jar cover pattern I have been using came from Olesya on Youtube, who shares THIS wonderful tutorial! If you fast forward to around 16 minutes you can watch it (be sure to turn on the subtitles)...but I never fast forward as I am inspired by her homemaking and enjoy every minute of her videos from Belarus. 

I completed the first crochet rug of the year and look forward to using it if winter arrives, as that is always a surprise in the tropics, and have begun a second rug in much earthier colours. 

After months of contemplating how to use some kookaburra fabric Annabel sent me for Christmas, I decided it would be perfect for the French Press we use for de-caff coffees on the weekend. 

I love kookaburras, have done so all my life. Our front door has a stained glass kookaburra, and there's a hand painted canvas of a kookaburra just inside our front entrance. When they visit in the garden I am enthralled! Last week I had three 'laughing' in the Poinciana tree, and then another sitting on the edge of a potted rose. 

They seem to frequent our home mostly in autumn and winter so I expect to see them often over the next few months. Never heard a kookaburra? Well, have a listen and you'll understand why we say they laugh...

I have definitely been keeping my hands busy. Here's a few more occupations I have applied myself to this month...

(first cross-stitch project in more than a decade!)

(protein balls for hubby's lunch box)

(the garden out back, focusing on herbs, flowers and greens)

(garlic rolls using Olesya's recipe here)

I have also completed the final Dresden block for Blossom's 30th birthday quilt and will be sewing them all together with white borders this week. 

I wrote an April to-do list at the beginning of the month, and as I wrote about back then, I included some self-care to-dos as well...hence the sewing! I have been so happy making time to sew things for home, try new recipes, and grow new things in the garden. 

But there are other to-dos that pertain to home-maintenance, correspondence, sorting our cupboards and drawers, deep cleaning under large appliances such as the washing machine and fridges, and emptying the pantry so I can go over all the shelves with pine oil to deter bugs (it really works). Then I will begin some new things like making salve from the calendula flowers I grew last year, making candles for the first time, and painting a very old bookcase. 

I have finished two books so far this month - one of Mrs White's homemaking volumes, and the first of the Rose series by Roger Lea MacBride (these are stories from the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter, Rose) which I enjoyed immensely. In fact I am taking it over to Blossom's today as she'd like to read it herself, and later to her girls. 

Now here's a good tip if you have old musty books. I bought this first book of the Rose series very cheaply off eBay and it really smelled bad, the kind of musty dusty smell that causes you to sneeze a lot with every page. I remembered something from our homeschool days and decided to give it a try. Put a small saucer of bi-carb soda with a few drops of essential oil (I used eucalyptus) in a plastic container with the book. Place the lid on and leave the book for 3-4 days. After that time the smell should be gone - and for this book, it was. :-)

I read recently - "If I do not take care of myself now, I won't be able to in the future' - and it has given me much to consider. Once again, with the winter season of my years coming quickly, I need to nourish the body, mind and spirit in ways that will help me in the journey ahead. Just yesterday I learned that I have hearing loss, and in one specific aspect it's quite substantial in both ears, so this just increased my awareness of looking after myself better than I have in the past. 

However, God is Sovereign over all my life, and the most important thing I can do for my future years (God willing I have them) is to draw even closer to Him, to study His word deeper than I already do, and to pay attention to that still small voice which no hearing loss can silence. If I do this, then the rest will fall into place because He is my Father who loves me, and Who daily refines my thoughts, desires, character and beliefs. If you are wanting to take better care of yourself, seek the Lord first, and He will show you how. 

Till next time,

hugs

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