August 29, 2010

Holiday happenings

My husband and I are currently on holidays in our favourite part of the world - Queensland.  It's a drive of 2500 kms from our home. We enjoy driving off in our campervan each day with a very flexible plan and never quite sure where we'll be next time we stop.    We love camping in the Australian bush and spend a lot of time spotting and identifiying our wonderful bird life.  We have fantastic national parks and there's nothing better than waking up to the sounds of the bush.

But this holiday has been VERY different.  I'll keep you in suspense on the details, but we've had a week of amazing experiences and feel as if we're in the middle of a whirlwind!

The amount of sewing I've done consists of sewing on a button and tying off some threads on machine applique which I did before we left home!  But I do have a photo of a scrappy quilt which I completed before our departure.



I am so pleased to be using up lots of my stash!

Seeing I don't have much to show you, I thought I'd let you see a couple of great examples of what people have done with the free Gifts of grace block pattern.



Don't you love what Chrissie has done in using the block on a cushion?

And here is a lovely version of the kindness block from Melody.  Have a look on her blog to see a couple more blocks too.



Till next time, happy stitching!

Regards
Val

August 22, 2010

Fantasia

I can now reveal another project of which you saw just a sneak peak some time ago.  It is my wall-hanging called "Fantasia" which has just been published in our fantastic Australian magazine, Country Threads.


Here it is on the cover:

and inside the mag:

and a close up of the centre panel:


Fans hold quite an attraction for me.  I have loved them from early childhood.  We actually used them quite a lot in the hot Queensland summer, long before electric fans and airconditioning were common!  And now I enjoy making them in patchwork.

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On another note, Christine sent me a photo of some lovely coathangers she made using my free tutorial pattern, "Doing Frilly".  Aren't they just so pretty?


Hope you are having a great stitching week!

Regards
Val

August 15, 2010

Free Pattern - Gifts of Grace Block 7

It's time for the next block in our free Gifts of Grace block of the month pattern.  How are you going with stitching your blocks?  I've seen some gorgeous interpretations of the blocks on your blogs and have put some of the photos below.  I LOVE seeing what you have done so leave a comment or send me an e-mail to let me know when you have photos of your completed blocks.

This month's block is all about loyal commitment - Faithfulness.  As usual, you can find this new block, and all the other blocks in the pattern, on my website here.  Scroll down to the bottom of that page to see them all ready for download.



Now, here's some beautiful work to drool over:

Don't you love Ine's block in red:


And look at these wonderful green tones that Elaine has used:


And here's Teresa's bright and happy version:.


Enjoy!

Happy stitching!
Val

August 8, 2010

Winners! ... and a Table Runner


And the winners are ......

Trusty random generator has decided the winners of my e-patterns giveaway:

Winner of the Kitchen Dresser pattern is rockgranny who said "Congrats on two front covers, I think the Kitchen is my favorite."  Rockgranny, the pattern has been e-mailed off and is on its way to Croatia.

Winner of the Laundry Cupboard pattern is Katherine who said "I have to say it is cruel of you to ask us which one of your cupboard patterns is our fav... :0) They are all sooo adorable, but if I were to have to choose I think I would have to pick The Laundry Cupboard. At some point I plan to purchase all of them.
I am a follower of yours and have to say I just love your work and want to thank you so much for sharing with us.  A Big THANK YOU. "  Katherine, as you have not shared your profile publicly, I can't contact you, so please e-mail me so I can send you the Laundry Cupboard pattern.

Thanks to all who entered the competition and for joining in the fun.


Some months ago I showed you some sneak peaks of one of the patterns I designed using the gorgeous Garden Party range of fabrics.  It's now been published in the beautiful Australian Country Craft and Decorating magazine.


Isn't it amazing the way the hearts in the centre form a secondary star pattern?:


And aren't the colours just gorgeous?


I love designing for this magazine as it gives me an outlet for the elegant designs that are in my head!  If you aren't able to buy the magazine in your country and wish to purchase the pattern, then it is available on my website here.

Keep an eye out next weekend for another block in the free Gifts of Grace design.

Meanwhile, happy stitching!
Val

August 4, 2010

Only a few days left to enter the Pattern Giveaway

There are only four (and a half!) days left to enter the Pattern Giveaway.   You can see the two patterns on that post, but here are a couple of photos of some of the components on the wall-hangings to whet your appetite.




Happy stitching!
Val

August 1, 2010

Biscornu and some Gifts of Grace photos

You might remember some sneak peaks of this a few months ago, well it's time for the reveal now that it's been published.  It's my Harmony Rose Biscornu work cushion and scissor case.  There's lots of lovely bullion stitch roses with beads and charms for embellishment on green evenweave linen.


Here it is on the front cover of Australian Country Craft and Decorating - see it on the right - it's only small against the gorgeous quilt:


And on the inside:


 If you don't have access to our Australian magazine, then you can purchase the pattern here.
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There's been lots of lovely stitching going on around the world so I thought I'd show you some of the wonderful interpretations of my Gifts of Grace blocks.

Here are Penny's with a lavender theme.  Aren't they just so sweet?


And Sandra has chosen to embroider the outlines instead of using applique.  Haven't they come up beautifully?


And here's Teresa's - aren't they pretty?


It's just great seeing how each one puts their own interpetation on the design. I hope you've been enthused to get started on your next one ... and I'd love to see some more photos.

Happy stitching!
Val