This week I baked him a batch of Jam Drops, which are an old favourite in our family and would disappear fast when the children were young and still at home...but these days they last a bit longer because I tend to only have a few myself, preferring to leave the rest for hubby.
Anyhow, I had planned to share the recipe with you yesterday, but I'd been working hard behind the scenes on patterns for my new Faith, Heart & Home Club (here) and as I began writing out the recipe had an idea to create a simple pretty Jam Jar pattern for pure enjoyment rather than work...and then I'd have it and the recipe to share with you today!
Small projects are fun for many reasons, such as - you get to use up fabric scraps; they are quick to sew; and they make great gifts!
My little Jam Jar block became a decorative pot holder, though I tend to hang pretty potholders in the kitchen or with my aprons instead of using them, and that's exactly what I'll do with this one.
This new Jam Jar pattern is a free gift from me to you, but it's also my way of slipping back into the way I blogged for more than a decade. Earlier this year a reader felt the need to tear me down in a very long and ugly email, and even though it was clearly sent with a mean spirit, the venom within triggered a season of doubt and for many months now I have just not felt like blogging the way I used to.
But God, family, and close friends, who know me well and give honest and loving counsel (we're not the sort to tell people what they want to hear, but we offer truth in love), prayers and personal evaluation, have over time lifted the cloud and, well, here I am back again, with fullness of heart.
There have been a few false starts as I tried to slip back to normal, and you probably read those posts, but they were hopeful posts as I still hadn't quite gotten to a place where I could share the 'why' of this year with you. Now I have, so enough said on that topic. Let's just enjoy blogging again, okay!? :-)
Included with the Jam Jar pattern is our family recipe for Jam Drops and I do hope you try them!
Use the link below to download the free Jam Jar pattern and accompanying Jam Drops recipe.
On a totally different subject, Google have made many changes to older pattern or recipe links I have shared free through Google Drive over the years. I shall gradually work my way through those links to update them in the relevant blog posts, but as I do this I shall re-share a number of those patterns again (updating photos and patterns etc) here on the blog - in fact, one a week until the end of the year. It's Wednesday today, the best day for me to do that sort of blog post, so that can be the day.
I also want to kick off November, and every month through to the end of next year, with a UFO Finish Challenge. I did this years ago and still can't believe how many lovely projects were completed and how full my gift box was before I stopped - no idea why I stopped, sigh.
Anyhow, that's a bit of what's being written into my blog planner for the next 14 months, and honestly, it makes me happy. Hope you enjoy what's ahead too.
Last but not least, let me know the kind of things you enjoy about this blog, what you're interested in reading about, learning, sewing...what makes YOU happy when you visit Elefantz?
Bless you my lovelies, and may the Father of Lights shine brightly in your hearts and homes every day!
hugs
