Monday, November 24, 2008

"Changing Rooms"

Have you noticed how many of us give our homes a big ''Christmas'' spring-clean before the big day. My Mum pulls out all stops - dusting and cleaning the house from top to bottom, even doing all the windows inside and out (now that is keen!) Regardless of whether the Christmas celebrations are taking place at her house or not - it is immaculately spotless! Me, well, not quite so eager to turn the house upside down and inside out, except when it comes to decorations and the Christmas tree - now that's another story! But, I did think it was a good opportunity to give the shop a bit of a revamp. So, I've been busy playing ''changing rooms'' over the weekend - what used to be at the front of the shop is now at the back, and what was at the back is now at the front! A change can be quite refreshing and it feels like a new shop!
I have some gorgeous work to show you this week. This is Barbara's ''Flower Girls'' quilt - she did this as a block of the month pattern and chose stunning soft florals to set off the stitcheries. The quilt pattern is one of Brenda Ryans designs - a favourite of mine - and you can see more of hers at http://www.brendaryan.com.au/.
And here's a couple of Debbie's latest creations. I love this hand-pieced bed runner - Deb said this was her first hexagon project - isn't it beautiful.

This is her sampler quilt - fabulous colours.
Me, well I've been doing a little bit of stitching too. A bag...

... a doll called Sally (a Rosalie Quinlan design)...
and some of Barb's new Christmas stitchies that I put into this.....

and these....

..and the fifth Redwork Christmas block.

I wonder how many of you have got Christmas projects to start and finish before Santa visits. I know I've got a few! One of the many fun parts of Christmas - picking the perfect project to stitch for that special friend, and then getting it finished, sometimes still stitching on Christmas Eve. Happy Stitching!
Jenny

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Back from holiday!

I've been away for a little break. And it was fabulous! We had a cute little blue car and spent two weeks cruising round a small part of Queensland - off the beaten track sometimes and in amongst it all at others.
Australia has the most amazing bush - I can smell the gums and native trees as I write this.

I must admit, though, this sign had me wondering. Worm races????
Feeling like a new person now! Here's what we did last week at the Bag Club. There was every conceivable colourway of this bag made and it looked great in all of them.
These are some of Barb's gorgeous new Christmas buttons ....

and some of her Christmas decorations.

Speaking of Christmas, this is what the ladies will be making at this week's Christmas Club. St Nicholas is a fabulous Santa pattern designed by the girls at The Farm Studio. He really is rather gorgeous isn't he.

I am currently working on some lovely little Christmas stitcheries - the new ones from TheodoraCleave. You can see them on her website - http://www.theodoracleave.com/. I'll show you mine in a couple of days. I'm off now to set up for St Nicholas tonight.
Jenny