A Day Trip with Hubby for Patchwork Fabrics

Last week I went on a day trip with Hubby to a regional field day on a quest for patchwork fabric. I don't usually tag along with Hubby as he goes about his work but last week was different because he lured me away from my sewing machine and computer with the promise of patchwork fabric and gardening stalls. He knew that I would find such a combination irresistible.

Many of you may be unfamiliar with field days. They are usually of an agricultural nature and are held outdoors in the middle of a paddock. There are rows and rows of tents and stall holders offering everything from tractors through to hardware. Anything really that a farmer may find of interest.

Thankfully the woman folk are not left out and there is a section full of craft, jewellery and home ware type stalls. As promised there were  a few patchwork fabric stalls and I could not resist coming home with some bits and pieces for the stash.  I came across this cute little cupcake display of gorgeous little patchwork fabrics.

And I also found this panel of patchwork fabric on a Japanese stall that I could not resist for Miss 9. She fancies herself as a dancer so you can see its appeal factor.

Here is the panel which I am hoping will be big enough to make a bag out of.

The garden stalls did not disappoint either and I discovered some beautiful white Lilly bulbs to plant this season and some lush tubs of parsley for the herb patch.
All in all I had  a fabulous day and I know that Hubby enjoyed having me along for the ride. Now I just have to put my new patchwork fabrics to good use.

Until next time.
Warmly Lenna

Josie's Cot Quilt

It's finally done, a clot quilt for my new Neice.

When my sister gave birth to a new little girl back in September I promised her a new cot quilt. After meeting and sharing a first cuddle, it was decided that the quilt was to be in reds and creams. Our next get together was to be in March so I new I had heaps of time?!!!

Well so I thought!

A week before I was to leave on my March holiday the rotary cutter came out and this new quilt started to take shape. My new Neice lives on  a farm, hence why I incorporated her home, a fence, some trees and  a bird. The bird was particularly special because it was drawn by my Miss 9 who was eager to contribute.

I'm pleased to say that the new cot quilt was very well received and my little Neice was promptly wrapped in it. I hope she could feel the love I carefully put into each stitch.

I thought perhaps that I should make this cot quilt into a pattern.
What do you think?

Warmly Lenna

Favourite Pin Cushion Pattern

Do you have a favourite pin cushion pattern?

I have a confession to make.

In January I forgot my friend's birthday. She never forgets my birthday so you can imagine how bad I felt. Trouble was her birthday fell in early January and since I was still in Christmas and holiday mode, I forget to update my new calendar for the year. The calendar has all the family and friend birthdays written clearly in black pen, and usually this sytsem works,that is with the exception of all birthdays that fall in early January.

My friend was away on holidays at the time which did soften my forgetfulness just  a little bit, but I still felt I had to make it up to her. Especially considering that she never forgets my birthday and always surprises me with something wonderful.

So when she admired one of my little pin cushions recently I knew I had to find some special fabric and some time to make one for her. My friend is a lover of Japanese fabrics so I searched my fabric cupboard high and low until I found the perfect Japanese fabric to suit.

The pin cushion she admired was luckily one of my favourite pin cushion patterns. I have made lots of them and they are scattered around my home so that I always have pins close and handy.

Here is a picture of it for you.

 

And I found an old button amongst my button collection that was perfect.

Making pin cushions is so much fun because they are quick and easy.

Although the pumpkin style pin cushion is my favourite I do like designing other styles that are fun and decorative as well. The skyes the limit really.

Here are a few of my other pin cushion designs.

 

Pin Cushion Polly is  a pin cushion doll I designed a few years ago.

Here's another novel pin cushion I designed (although I never got around to writing up the pattern for this one). He is rather cute isn't he!

You can find all these pin cushion patterns and more at Stitching Cow.

And here are a few other pin cushion patterns from flickr to inspire you as well.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

Hope you have found some inspiration for making your next pin cushion pattern.

Warmly Lenna

Warmly Lenna

Recipe for Making Basil Pesto

Summer in Tasmania this year has been particularly beautiful and I am proud to say that Hubby and I have managed to grow our own Basil. This is considered quite a feat amongst Tasmanians,  so I found out when we relocated here a few years ago.

Temperatures down here are not normally considered ideal for Basil growing so you can imagione out excitement when we were able to pick enough to make our own Pesto.

I think some of the secret has been growing it from seed and then placing it along the edge of a small garden bed enclosed with sandstone. Hubby has made two batches and I am sure we will have enough for another few jars before the summer ends.

Here's the recipe just in case you are partial to Basil pesto yourself:
 Blend the following ingredients in a food processor
2 cups fresh basil leaves
60g pine nuts
3 garlic cloves
salt and ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Then stir through the grated cheese.
100g freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Bottle and enjoy.
We use ours stirred through pasta as well as on the base of home made pizzas.Yummy.

Until next time.
Warmly Lenna

Embroidery Patterns to Enjoy by Little Green Cottage

Hope you find some inspiration from these embroidery patterns.
I've been playing around with a new video program.
I've included a collection of graphics from some of my most popular embroidery patterns.

I'm looking forward to getting the creative juices flowing this year with some new designs. I have lots floating around in my head and the kids return to school this week Yahoo!!! That means I can play my own music, I will have food in the fridge and it will be blissfully quiet without any interruptions.
Can't wait. In the meantime, hope you enjoy my special presentation.
Let me know what you think.



All these embroidery patterns can be found at Stitching Cow as e-patterns.
Or drop me an email if you would prefer a paper version to be sent to you.
Chat again soon.
Warmly Lenna

Handbag Sewing Patterns in Creating Country Threads and Homespun Magazine

January was a very exciting month for Little Green Cottage with two handbag sewing patterns being published. The first appeared in Australian Homespun Magazine. It was commissioned to feature something Australian to tie in with the monthly theme. And being partial to my garden I thought it appropriate to include some little Wrens dancing amongst the Spring blossoms.

I always enjoy designing bag patterns because they come in very useful for all my sewing projects.

The second of my bag designs appeared in the Applique Creating Country Threads Yearbook. It features Poppies which have been created from Yo Yos and I have hand embroidered the stems and appliqued the leaves. The bag is made from a lovey piece of wool that I sourced last winter. I think it will make the perfect knitting bag.

The patterns for both handbag sewing projects are currently available so look out for them at your local newsagents. They will also be available as downloadable patterns from the Stitching Cow website within the next few months.

Hope you like them, which one is your favourite?
Until next time.
Warmly Lenna

An Afternoon of Sketching

Last week was hubby's birthday and it was decided that we should celebrate by having a barbecue down by the river at Richmond. This worked in well with the weekly touch football game that hubby and master 13 enjoy each Thursday afternoon.

Not being very interested in football, Miss 16 and I decided that we should go for a wander around the quaint township of Richmond, which is a visual delight. The town is one of the oldest in Tasmania and has proudly retained many of its original stone cottages and buildings. Richmond is most famous for its convict made bridge which is the oldest in Australia.

 

 

I was delighted when Miss 16 made mention that she had her sketch pad in her bag and that perhaps we should sketch a scene together. Miss 16 is very artist and is always sketching, whilst mother has not sketched just for fun in a very long time. So the idea was exciting although a bit unsettling, especially when Miss 16 announced that she had only packed two black ink pens which meant that there was going to be no room for error. Yikes!

We eventually decided on a scene and settled ourselves on a park bench. The idea was to record what was in front of us in a short period of time. We didn't want Hubby to notice that we had both disappeared from the football sideline.

We both started in and did not look at each others sketches until the end. It was amazing how different our interpretations were.
Here is my sketch.

 

And here are some close ups.

Unfortunately I do not have a picture of Miss 16's sketch, although I can tell you that it was very good and much better than mine.

I was lucky enough to find  a picture on Flickr of the side of the building we sketched. It's the white building on the right.

Reliving this afternoon now I appreciate how wonderful it was.
Far more important than the sketches was the special memory that we had created. I fondly remember us both sitting there in silence, sharing a creative moment and enjoying each others company.
It was very magically and will be remembered for many years to come.

Until next time, have fun.
Warmly Lenna