Sample Quilt

Have been thinking of a way to collect

all my stitching samples

together.

You know -

all the ones I did for the shops,

and the studio,

and just for me just for fun.

Well,

I thought,

a quilt would be the answer.

Randomly stitch and piece them together,

and see what happens.

So I've begun to collect them all up -

some are still in their raw unfinished state,

others had become cushions

and others...

wall hangings.

I've cut them out of the cushions

and the wall hangings,

and this is what is happening ...

 

 

... this is the first stitchery I ever did -

a gorgeous wee design by Lara Siddons -

stitched not long after opening my shop

in Geraldine.

Who knew way back then

that this was the beginning of

a passion for stitching :)

 

 

...another of Lara's designs ...

 

 

... this is one of Barb's - love her birdies :)

 

 

... feel a little bad about this one,

cos I can't for the life of me

remember whose design it is.

(sorry :( )

 

... this one goes way back to the early days too -

one of Brenda Ryan's absolutely gorgeous designs -

of which I still have a few more tucked away

to stitch over the next few years :)

 

 





... more of Brenda's designs :)

 





... and the cutest little bunnies,

from a Rabbits Haven pattern.

 

It's what I've been working on today,

a good start don't you think :)

There are loads more to do yet,

but I think it's going to work,

and I think it's going to look

pretty good.

I hope :)

 

Meant to show you what I was working on last week.

My stitchy mojo is back in full swing :)

This is the beginnings of a new bag

for my knitting needles :)

I'm soooo happy with how it's turning out ...

 

 

Have just stitched random favourite

bits and pieces

onto a big background piece of linen,

and then I'll sew it up into a longish bag shape.

Have done a bit of hand stitching on it since

this photo was taken,

but next post I will hopefully

have it finished to show.

(if I don't get too sidetracked

with other ideas first :) )

 

I stitched one of my most favourite sayings

onto the bag as well.

 

 

Okay,

I may go and make some more blocks now.

Was going to go for a run,

but honestly,

the wind is absolutely howling here

and

trying to run in a Dunners force 10 headwind

aint no fun!!!

It can wait :)

See you

Jenny :)

 



A Piece of Pink

I found a piece of pink cardigan

that I had chopped off

to make a long cardigan short.

I remember thinking at the time I chopped it off

that I should keep the remnant

just in case :)

Well, just as well:)

This is what I decided to do

with the piece of pink.

 

 

Hearts :)

 

 

...with a little bit of linen,

lace

and my favourite buttons

handmade by my

favourite

button maker :)

 

 

When I finish here I'm going to the sewing room.

My hearts need a backing,

a pretty little wire hanger,

a smidgen of stuffing

and lots of lavender.

 

So...

on Saturday I went for a little day trip.

I offered to drive someone to an event,

thinking it would be a nice excuse for a day out,

I didn't know it would mean

a 4.30 a.m. start!!!!

(am pretty sure he forgot to mention that minor detail,

though I can't imagine why!!)

Have to say,

I didn't exactly bounce out of bed

(come on - who bounces at that time of the morning!)

but you know what -

it turned out to be one of those perfect days:)

 

This was the view

from the top of the mountain

when we arrived.

 

 

And about an hour later

it was warming up

and looking so pretty.

 

 

I had a few hours to myself after leaving the mountain.

Was in two minds as which way to turn

when I got to the bottom.

I went left :)

 

Come for a walk ...

around the streets of

Arrowtown.

 

 

... very very pretty cafes ...

 



 

... down a side alley ...

 

 

 

... the lolly shop ...

 



 

... the bread shop ...

 

... really cute cottages ...

 

 

 

...the prettiest gardens..

 

 

 

...shiny red ...

 

 

...cute little churches too ...

 

 

... and close the gate please on your way out ...

 

 

Gorgeous little town:)

 

Now it's coffee time,

freshly baked banana cake,

and stitching hearts :)

See you.

Jenny :)

 

 

The day in flowers :)

Day one of the new year,

and no resolutions have been made

'cos I'm not convinced

that resolutions matter.

For me it's more about

thinking,

and planning,

and a bit of dreaming,

about where the new year will take you

(if you let it).

 

I made this little needle case

for a friend for Christmas.

I am so pleased with the colours

and of course

every needle case

needs to be decorated 

with one of Barb's

 truly gorgeous

buttons...

 



 

... and

it wouldn't be quite right,

either,

without some very very pretty

vintage lace...

 

So,

it's been a blissfully

quiet and relaxing day at home today.

Sadly the sun has not really

made much of an appearance,

but I did manage a little garden time

before the rain started again!!

 

These had self-seeded in my little vegetable patch

and I just couldn't bear to pull them out ...



 

 

So with camera in hand

of course I had to have a wander round

and here's what I found ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





So there you are -

that's the day in flowers :)

Now I have a little idea I want to play with -

involving a needle,

some linen,

and my favourite shade of blue :)

Happy New Year!

 

Jenny :)



Merry Christmas!

Today I have stitched...

 

 

and wrapped...

 

 

I have baked and cleaned ...

have written Christmas cards,

and finished my Christmas shopping.

I am ready :)

 

And a very merry Christmas to all :)
 

I have to say that
this has been the most extraordinary year.

I'm fairly sure that I have experienced

every possible emotion this year :)

The good,

and the not so good...

 

New friends,

and new experiences.

Times of delight and fun,
and plenty of laughs.
But,
 in all honesty, 
 there have also been times
that have been incredibly physically demanding.
And...
times of pain.
 
I have learnt so much about myself this year,
but I have also learnt there is much
about
human nature that I am sure
I will never work out.
Well...
I guess that's what keeps it interesting.

So ...
I can't wait for Christmas Eve -
my favourite part of Christmas.
It just feels ever so slightly magical
and if you listen
very very carefully ... :)

Merry Christmas :)
Jenny xx
 



Pretty nice :)

I'm just going to pretend

that it hasn't been months

and months

since I've written ?!?

Can't pretend,

though, 

 that I've not missed

my stitching,

but

life has a habit of changing

and change is good :)

 

But spring brings renewed enthusiasm

for all sorts of things,

and one thing

that never fails to amaze me

is

how the garden here

delights and surprises me

year after year.

The bluebells and tulips have been and gone,

and now it is the turn of delphiniums,

foxgloves and

granny's bonnets.

 

 

The brilliant blue delphinium spikes

are so prolific this year -

I'm picking bunches of them for inside.

 

 

And so far,

fingers crossed,

there have been no full blast winds

to break them down.

 

 

I decided that I really really needed

to stitch some little pretties

again.

And Christmas is coming,

so yes,

I thought,

if I start now,

I can make some little gifts.

 

I made this little heart,

just for fun,

and just for me,

to kick start my stitchy mojo again.







 

 

And today I played,

with my favourite things -

linen and lace

of course,

and a few little words ...

 

...live, laugh & love...

 

...friendship...

 

...happiness ...

 



 

... and a few notes of music :)

 

I'll decorate these now,

with a little bit of embroidery maybe,

some buttons and hearts -

a bit of this and a bit of that.

 

It's nice to be stitching again.

And it's nice to watch my garden grow.

And even though it's ridiculously busy,

life is pretty nice too:)

 

Jenny



 

A little stitched dress...

So this is what I am working on

at the moment.

It started with a little dress 

that I stitched onto linen,

about seven or maybe even eight years ago!

I remember which house I was living in

when I stitched it,

and it certainly wasn't this one,

or the one before:)

 

And then,

as so often seems to happen with me,

it sat for a while,

but it was never covered up,

or in a pile.

It was always in view,

'cos I loved it.

It just took a little while

to do something with it.

 

 

... I added some buttons,

beads,

and stitches...

 

 

... lace,

of course...

 

...added some borders...

 



 



...and I'm going to pop it into

a gorgeous old oak (I think it is) frame.

It's taken a while

but it's nearly finished

and now I can get the next half completed project

back on the go.

I need to go now -

need to figure out how to make it fit,

(and stay in)

the frame :)

See you

Jenny

 

So I wondered.....

...and I have been wondering

for a quite a while now,

what to do.

You see,

I have all these

''samples''

from my shop days

and

what do I do with them all.

They could sit folded

on

shelves

as they do now

for another few years,

but I've been thinking

that maybe I should just try

and let them go.

Find them homes :)

 

 

Some will be hard to let go of

cos they have memories attached to them,

but

seriously,

the time has come.

So,

if you are at all interested

then pop on over to

facebook,

the Makers Studio page,

see ... it's on the sidebar,

or the Makers Studio blog

and have a look.

Or email me here -

I don't mind :)

I'll just do bits and pieces

over the next few days,

weeks,

whatever:)

I'm not all that fussed

about prices.

Make me an offer :)

I would just like to see them go somewhere

other

than sitting on my shelves.

 

See you

Jenny :)