Creating Country Threads Project Lizzie

Look who appears in this month's

Creating Country Threads Magazine.

Lizzie is no stranger to some of you because she featured in another blog post of mine. She was the naughty doll whose shiny black painted boots left a nasty surprise on my Laura Ashley curtains.

But all is forgiven because she features on the front cover, looking ever so elegant.

  

You can see from the cover that this issue of Creating Country Threads is

a stitchery special packed full of embroidery projects to tempt you. 

And as usual Danielle and the team have done a wonderful job photographing here.

She's perched in the garden which is fitting considering her floral hand embroidered apron and petticoat

Don't forget to look out for Lizzie in the shops, I'm sure you will have fun making her up for your home.

But please remember to keep her freshly painted boots away from your curtains!

Craft Fun at School Fete

Things get extra crazy around here when it is time to have some craft fun making items for the school fete.

Luckily I have some very clever "crafty friends" who come to my rescue as the date looms.

As usual everything is left until a few weeks before hand. Then all of a sudden it dawns on us.

We kick into action. Our needles are sharpened and our sewing machines begin to race.

Fabric is chopped, creatures are stuffed.

Coffee and chocolate is consumed and there is much laughter.

Slowly the baskets are filled with all manner of crafty delights.

Here are a but a few.

Scrappy Bunnies

Little Birds and Owls made by little hands

Beaded Lizards

Santa's Little Helpers

A few Purses

Heat Bag Characters

And some Button Baubles and an Angel for the tree

Lots of craft fun!

Stroll around my garden

I had always dreamed of having an English cottage style garden. This month as I strolled around my garden with coffee mug in hand I rejoiced because my dream had become a reality.
Here is what I saw...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Such a wonderful thing when a dream becomes a reality!

Nursery Rhyme Quilt Presentation

As part of the launch of my new Nursery Rhyme Quilt I have put together a presentation for you to enjoy.

It may take a few minutes to load but it will be well worth the short wait I promise. For best viewing select full screen, then use your ESC tab to finish.

Sit back and enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Warmly Lenna

Nursery Rhyme Quilt

It's finally finished, my new nursery rhyme quilt.

This block of the month pattern series has been floating around in my head for some time so it's such a relief to finally see it finished. I have been thrilled with the response from everyone and have enjoyed hearing stories about new baby arrivals and special grand children.

One lady wrote to tell me that as she printed out the pattern she was reminded of her own childhood and the pleasant memories she had of her own mother reciting nursery rhymes to her. This brought a smile to my face because I too have fond memories of singing nursery rhymes to my own children when they were younger. 

I hope they never get lost in our society because they have such value.

If you would like to share the journey of my nursery rhyme quilt, see the blocks close up and discover how you could be stitching this quilt starting from today, head on over to Stitching Cow.

There's a special slide show presentation to enjoy or go direct to the Nursery Rhyme Quilt information page. Enjoy!

Warmly Lenna 

Fabulous give away at Stitching Cow

Just  a quick note to let you know that I have just launched a fabulous give away on the Stitching Cow blog.
Head on over there right now to discover how to improve your sewing skills and go in the draw to win an amazing prize worth over $100.
 Good luck!
Warmly Lenna

Tacking or Basting a Quilt

Tacking or Basting a quilt is an exciting step because it means your quilt is almost finished.

I'm very excited to let you know that my new nursery rhyme block of the month quilt was at this stage a few weeks ago.

Here it is on my worktable as I was hand tacking it in preparation for hand quilting. I always start down on the floor but it is agony on my knees (I have floor boards!!!), so once I get a few lines of tacking in place I put it up higher.

 

 

Speaking of tacking out a quilt for hand quilting, I thought I would share a few  tips with you.

If you have tacked out a quilt before you will understand that after a while your fingers become very sore from picking up the needle. A tip to avoid this is to use a teaspoon (yes you heard me right). When your needle comes up from the back place the teaspoon underneath and you will find that it is much easier to pick up. Because the pressure is on the spoon and not your fingers it takes all the discomfort out of it. 

Although use an old teaspoon rather than one out of you best cutlery set because it can get scratched from the needle.

Another tip is to use a contrasting thread that is easy to see. This will make pulling out the tacking much easier at another stage. I also work from the centre out and always knot off into the border of the batting rather than the quilt top. Working a row close to the outside edge is another tip which will ensure that your binding goes on without a single pucker.

Hope you have found these tips for tacking or basting a quilt useful.

Warmly Lenna

www.stitchingcow.com