Australian Country Threads Article

Just recently Australian Country Threads invited me to appear in their Special Appliqué Yearbook issue. Naturally I was thrilled. Being a lover of hand appliqué, designing a suitable project for the magazine was an easy and enjoyable task.
When the magazine arrived in my mailbox I was excited to find my cushion featured on the front cover and a lovely 3 page article with the title "Meet Australia's Leading Craft Talent", wow what can I say but that I was taken back.
It's always a wonderful feeling to see your own designs in print.
Here are some photos of the article and project.
















































I also have two new designs commissioned for a special children's issue coming soon, so keep your eyes open.
Thanks Australian Country Threads for your continued support.

Warmly Lenna

Best apricot jam recipe

Today I'm going to share my best apricot jam recipe. If you would like to learn how to make apricot jam then keep reading.


One of my favourite things about summer is the seasonal fruit that becomes available. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my mother and sisters with buckets in hand on our quest for apricots. Although we lived in town, we were fortune enough to have family and friends on nearby farms. Each year we would get the call to say "The apricots are ready, come out and help yourself"
What followed was buckets brimming with fresh, sweet smelling apricots and tummies full to bursting point.
The next day was jam making day and the house filled with the divine smell of apricots cooking as I learned from mum how to make apricot jam.
These memories came flooding back to me recently when our neighbour called over the fence "Want some apricots? There's more than I can manage over here so help yourselves"
As we scurried next door with our buckets in hand I felt like Martha B Rabbit excited about the prospect of stocking the pantry with jams for winter.
That afternoon I looked out my best apricot jam recipe and started processing.
Here's how to make apricot jam.















Wash then cut in half 1.5kg of apricots.

















Measure out 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 1.25kg of sugar.














Place the apricots in a large saucepan with 1/2 cup of water and 1/3 of the sugar.
Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
Boil the apricots until they are soft then add the remainder of the sugar and the lemon juice.
















Boil over low heart for approximately 30 minutes-to 1 hour.
The jam should turn a darker colour and should jell when cool.















I normally spoon a small amount out and cool on a crockery plate.
When the apricot jam is cool it should be thicker.



















Bottle in clean jars. Yummy!

Learning how to make apricot jam is easy when you have a good recipe.
Hope you enjoy my best apricot jam recipe.

Warmly Lenna

Creative Hand Embroidey Magazine Project

Finally the kids are back at school and I can catch up on all my blogging. I can't believe that weeks and weeks have passed since I shared all my news with you. Very remiss of me.
So, where to start?
Maybe it would be best to give you a summary of my hectic and crazy life since my sister's visit back in November. Yikes can that really be almost 3 months ago?
Sadly I didn't get much of a chance for sewing days in the holidays although I was commissioned by a leading American craft magazine to design a project for a special up coming addition.

I started with a brief sketch of two throw cushions.














Then it was off to buy some fabrics and as usual I came home with a lovely bundle to help get the creative juices flowing.











I also found some Ricrak in my braid basket that was the perfect shade.
And some yummy DMC embroidery threads...just right!

















I also decided to antique some fabric that had been in my fabric cupboard for years, just waiting for its out coming and moment of glory. Little did it know it was heading overseas!




















Then my next challenge was to find a free afternoon for some serious sewing.
Here's a glimpse of what emerged.

















I decided to attach the Ricrak with French knots.
































The next day they were both on their way to the United States, lucky them.
Unfortunately there wasn't enough room for me!

The cushions will be published in a Creative Hand Embroidery issue later in the year.
But more about that later.
If you would like to see some more of my embroidery patterns.

Chat again soon.
Warmly Lenna

Sewing Fun with my Sister

Recently my sister and her family came for a visit. It was her first visit to Tasmania so it was extra special for us and her family. We had ten days and lots of things to do and see. And despite enjoying the local tourist attractions, one of your favourite days was our sewing day together.
Amongst her suitcase she had managed to tuck in some wonderful designer fabrics by Kristen Doran. Many of you may already be familiar with her work, Kristen is one of our designer treasures here in Australia.

The fact that she had bought fabric amused me since she had not sewn on a sewing machine since High School. Something about the designs had captivated her imagination and she just had to have them. For many years I was the only sister of three who was excited by looking and playing with fabrics, and yet here she was pulling out lengths left right and centre gooing and gahhing at each one.
We sent our hubbies away for the day to do boys stuff and we started the day with keen anticipation and genuine excitement. The day gave me a rare opportunity to just sew for the fun of it. Normally I work on a new pattern design so I usually fuss a lot measuring and remeasuring and taking notes down as I work. But this day was different. I felt liberated and a bit of a rebel as I cut, sewed and cut some more. We had no patterns, only brief sketches of what we wanted to make. And yet we were very proud of our efforts.
In a single day with a chatty 3 year old playing at our feet we managed to make 3 notebook covers, a purse and two cushions.
Here's some pictures of the notebooks for you.
The back is just a gorgeous as the front, don't you think?





























Although I think the pace became a bit too much for my non sewing sister at times and she eventually crept away to the sanctuary of the kitchen to prepare the roast dinner for that evening.
This arrangement suited me perfectly as I continued to wizz along on the machine.

Here's the purse.




























When my two daughters arrived home from school they too were keen to get in on the act and another small purse was made by my 15 year old for Miss Three. There was much heated discussion at times as piles of off cuts were "bagzed" for future projects.


















I'm pleased to say that my creative spurge continued a few days later and a journal cover emerged for my eldest.
































I love the detail strip we added to the inside with the little birdies peeking out.

And to her delight a small bag for my youngest also emerged.
Thankfully there were a few birds left over otherwise we could have had a mutiny on our hands.







































I hope Kristen Doran would approve of our sewing day. We have her wonderfully inspiring fabrics to thank for it. There are two more cushions to come. Hopefully my sister will help me out with sharing those with you too. I think they have found pride of place on her bed.
If you haven't already discovered Kristen Doran designer fabrics then do yourself a favour and visit her blog and online shop.
Maybe I should design a range of patterns like these so everyone can enjoy them?
Let me know what you think.

Until next time happy stitching and fabric hunting.
Warmly Lenna

PS My sister has just sent through pics of her Owl Cushions.
Here they are for you.

Block of the Month Quilt Competition

Recently I launched a brand new block of the month quilt project called Cottages in Common.
Here's a picture of it for you.




















If you would love to create this quilt for yourself then keep reading.

I have just launched a competition on the Stitching Cow blog to help get the word out about this block of the month quilt project.
The good news is that you could win a membership to my online class for this beautiful quilt.
Imagine what you could learn from watching over my shoulder as I make this quilt.
Click here for more details.

All you need to do is include the graphic and link as shown below on your blog. Then email me your blog address to enter the competition. The winner will be announced 24th December 2008.
Just in time for Christmas!

Here's the graphic for you, you also have my permission to use the picture of the quilt as shown above. The image already has the link embedded so all you need to do is copy and paste it into your blog and hey presso you could become the lucky winner. Imagine how much fun you could have creating this treasured quilt yourself. Hours of pure sewing bliss could be yours.
Here's the graphic for you.













Here is the link embedded in the text as well for you.

Click here to discover more details about this beautiful quilt

Don't forget to send me the link to your blog to go in the running for this competition.
Simply leave a comment together with your blog address or email me via this blog.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Good luck!
Warmly Lenna

Witch Doll Pattern for Halloween

Celebrate Halloween this year with Witchy Poo, a new witch doll pattern.

I found myself with a free afternoon last weekend. Hubby took the kids on an outing and the eldest daughter was visiting friends. When I looked around and discovered that the house was quiet and I was alone I knew a rare occasion had presented itself!

Of course there was heaps of the usual housework to get done but the thought of doing all that did nothing to lift my spirit. I soon concocted a plan to create a new design for Halloween and before long Witchy Poo had been sketched and I was up ending the fabric cupboard looking for the perfect fabrics. (I knew it wouldn't stay orderly for long!)

The good news is that I had her all sewn up within a few short hours. It's amazing how much sewing and creating you can get done when you are not interrupted. Once her long black hair was in place and her hat was firmly on her head, I sat her on the kitchen dresser for inspection when the kids arrived home.

As they returned home they discovered her one by one and expressed their approval. There were a few giggles at her big nose and trusty broomstick. My original design had included a cat although I had run out of steam that afternoon and decided not to make her. The kids on the other hand were not happy with my decision and so the next morning, to their delight, the little white cat appeared.



My new Witch doll pattern is one of 4 new Halloween designs currently showcased on the Stitching Cow website.

Click here for more information about my witch doll pattern









I have also added a cute little Trick or Treat bag with a friendly appliquéd ghost which is very quick and easy to make. Here's a photo for you.



Click here if you would like more information about my Trick or Treat bag

I had a wonderful afternoon of sewing and the housework was still there waiting for me the next day.

I was so inspired that I have started to sketch some ideas for Christmas.

Hope you like my new Halloween patterns.
Check out the other new designs including a new Halloween Redwork pattern and a cute little felt purse decorated with a spider and cobwebs.

You can see them all on the Stitching Cow home page

Happy Halloween sewing!
Warmly Lenna

My Fabric Cupboard

Every now and again all the mess and disarray finally gets to me and I just have to have a clean up.
When I find myself on a creative roll things seem to go everywhere and before long I have piles of fabric, pens, pencils, pieces of paper and threads scattered all around the house (I discover them in the most unlikely) places). I wonder at times how hubby puts up with me, but thankfully he never seems to mind and mutters every now and again with a cheeky smile"whatever make you happy!"
I was starting to think I had a bit of a problem.
Then a very special friend of mine invited me in to her creative space just recently.
We were at a barbecue together and the conversation turned to patchwork and quilting. Before long we were bouncing ideas off one another and discussing quilting projects. She beckoned me to walk across the road to her house so that she could share a quilt in the making. The visit from me was unexpected and before she opened the door she hesitated with a smile and laughed "don't mind the mess will you?"
As I entered I indeed smiled. Not at the mess but at the creativeness that was happening in every direction I looked. It was wonderful. There was half finished projects, bundles of fabric spilling over from every flat surface, pattern pages scattered, amazing books lining the book case and beyond, and in the middle of it all was her sewing machine.
I enjoyed every minute of being in her special space. And I am very thankful she shared it with me in the state it was in. It made me feel much more normal.
Which brings me to my fabric cupboard. I knew things were starting to get a little out of hand when I started to struggle closing the front door. It was also getting tricky to open. A bit like the dreaded Tupperware cupboard where things seem to topple out as if trying to escape.
And so I took matters in hand and spent some time folding stacking and folding some more until finally some sort of order was achieved.















































The challenge is to see how long it stays in this state for. My guess is not very long but at least I have these picture to prove it was tidy once upon a time!

I came across these yummy embroidery threads just recently and had to have them.
They are so beautiful that I am not sure how I am ever going to bring myself to you them.
They currently take pride of place in their little box on top of my cupboard.















Hope I have inspired you to sort out your own fabric stash.
It's not all that bad really.
It's a wonderful opportunity to rediscover fabrics you forgot you had.
Or is that just a problem I have?
Feel free to add a comment and let me know what state your fabrics are in.
Until next time.
Warmly Lenna