I have had a child-free week this week and it is truly amazing how much stitching you can get done when there are few domestic activities to attend to! A nutritionist would probably take a very dim view of my menu this week, but you can still get vitamins and protein from a cheese and salad sandwich! (can't you?)

Before I show you what I have been stitching I need to show you Debbie's block two of a Kittens Tale. How gorgeous is this quilt going to be!

I have been stitching Natalie's Secret Garden, and here's the finished article. It was a such a lovely project to stitch.

These little things are that I have made for the Sewing Kit Club - a pincushion, needlecase, scissor keep and project basket. They are the same fabrics as Natalie's sewing tote. I loved working with them so much for that project that I needed to use them more!

These turned up unexpectedly yesterday morning - a few of Amy Butler's Midwest Modern fabrics - totally different to those fabrics that I have been working with this morning, but absolutely wonderful. Now what can I do with these...

And these arrived too - not such a good pic as they are the most glorious green colour, and the slightly heavier weight fabric, fantastic for bags or home decor.

Hopefully I will be finishing the last Redwork Christmas block this afternoon at stitching group. I'll show you that next week.

Happy stitching,

Jenny

Sunny Days

That was good! The holiday break, that is - it was really good! Fantastic sunny days, pleasant balmy evenings, some good movies on TV, heaps and heaps of time to tend to my garden (long overdue I can tell you!) and just a little stitching thrown in there as well. I hope that your holiday was good too. I am not so sure about making New Year's resolutions but my wish for 2009 is that it is one of harmony, both worldwide and personal - with a dollop of joy in the simple things of life - that sounds really good to me.

So, the holiday involved lots and lots of this....

....to the point where I needed to hire a rather large trailer to get rid of it all (and this is only half way through the ''gardening experience'' - not much was safe from the jaws of the secateurs or lopers!) Oddly enough I couldn't quite squeeze it into the wheelie bin.

We went for walks - Jake took his bike....

...and I took my camera.

And then there was a little of this....

I started stitching these little pieces which are to make up into Natalie's (Cinderberry Stitches) Secret Garden sewing tote. I am making mine using the Heritage range of fabrics from Moda and it is nearly all finished. I am really delighted with how it is looking.

I have also finished block 8 of the Redwork Christmas - gingerbread men and houses - yum!

Take a look at this very very cute little range of granny prints that arrived the day before Christmas. So sweet - I am really keen to make a little cot quilt in a traditional pieced design - I'll show you when I have got it started.

I am looking forward to planning some new classes this year, and I already have two quilt patterns sitting there, begging to be started. The year awaits - and what to start first!

Happy stitching.

Jenny

Merry Christmas!

Hi and Merry Christmas to you all! It's been a while since I've been here but you know how it is I am sure - each year I promise to get organised and start those Christmas gift projects earlier and then it just doesn't happen. I am pretty confident, though, that they will all be finished by tonight and that there will be no last minute Christmas Eve stitching this year. I wanted to show you a picture of some of the girls at the last class for the year - the Cushion Club. Here they are ....

Sorry about the pose, Pat, but you were such good fun and this is the best I had! I have to say that I have never laughed so much in all my life. The antlers played tunes as well! Which was fine until all three of them were playing a different tune at the same time. In between all the frivolity we tried to make these little round cushions!

I also wanted to show you what Debbie is doing - she has started the gorgeous new block of the month quilt from Lynette Anderson, A Kitten's Tale, and this is her first block. Debbie has used quite a lot of fabrics from the new Moda range I have, called ''Heritage'', and it is absolutely stunning. I'll show you her progress each month.

I have finished block number 7 of the Redwork Christmas. Delicious Christmas pudding, just in time for Christmas day.

Most of the other bits and pieces I have been working on I can't show you, cos then it might spoil the surprise. But, this is a lovely little Christmas tree stitchery I finished a couple of years back - it is an Angels in Disguise pre-printed stitchery pattern and is one of my favourites.

I wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas, and here's looking forward to a brilliant 2009.

Happy Christmas Stitching.

Jenny

Decorations

Have you got your Christmas tree up and decorated? We did ours last weekend, and then tried to find places for all the Santas! This getting more difficult each year - I keep telling myself that I do not need any more Santa's but there is always ''just the one'' that I have to have.

This past week I have finished the sixth redwork Christmas block - sweet little birds gathering holly.

Also, Sally's two friends have joined her - this is Susie and Mary.

Thought I would show you a few of the little treats I have at the moment - these utterly gorgeous little glass jars - love the little preserving ones - filled with buttons or braids maybe. Decorations for your sewing room!

Little tins - for more buttons!

Divine vintage ribbon and cord. I have my eye on those spools!

Aren't these just the most beautiful angels in the world! They are about 10'' long and handpainted by Barb ( Theodora Cleave designs) - a fabulous Christmas treat.

We had Bag Club again this week and here's the neat little shoulder satchel we made. I know that quite a few of these may well be made up in time for Christmas!

We have our final Christmas Club of the year next week - am looking forward to stitching some lovely little ornies, designed by Marg Low. I will show you a picture of them next week. Have fun decorating and stitching this week.

Jenny

"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

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

Fabulous Flannel Fish!

Last Friday Heather came to stitching group with show and tell - this is her gorgeous fabulous flannel quilt - isn't it just amazing. Front and back are flannel and the colours are incredible. What do you think?

Cushion class starts this week - we're making cute little topper cushions to start with.

All of a sudden I am hearing that it is only so many weeks or so many days until Christmas. Now, I don't mind at all as I am a Christmas addict. There are some really lovely Christmas fabrics and panels in the store right now - these pics are from one designed by Deb Strain for Moda, called Royal Holiday.

If you have got projects to be done for Christmas you better watch out, Santa is coming, so you better get stitching.

Have fun!

Jenny