Give Thanks: Week 6

Well, how is everyone going on the Homespun Stitch a Long?? It's been so wonderful to recieve emails from so many of you participating in the program. I'm really looking forward to seeing your end results!

Well, the 6th stitchery has been released today, titled, Threads of Friendship. The finished size of the block for this one is 2x3".

Have fun stitching!

Homespun Brag

Yup, 'tis time for a shameless brag.


Almost this time last year I had the immense pleasure of receiving an email from Catherine Sanchez, the editor of Homespun magazine. Having seen my blog, she asked if I would be interested in designing something for the magazine. Um, YES!

Well, I had the latest issue (Vol 11.2) arrive on my doorstep the other day, and lookie what I found on page 133.



The quilt is titled "For these I give thanks," and features a number of stitcheries all based on things to be thankful for. I won't give too much away, as this is just a 'pre-release' sort of thing, as the quilt comes out next issue. It will be a web based project and Homespun is releasing it as a Stitch-a-long for 23 weeks.

So, it is all rather exciting!!

Note to self - no more Easter Eggs!

Chocolate and me is really quite a lethal combination. I have no will power when it comes to chocolate, so it never stops at 1 easter egg.... Before I know it, I have eaten 12. And Easter isn't even officially over yet! *sigh* Back to the walking and exercise bike this week!

I had some good news this week that Jantine recieved her giveaway present in the mail!

I'm so glad to hear it has arrived safe and sound in the Netherlands, and Jantine took some great photos of her 3 'helpers' unwrapping it all. Make sure you pop on over to her blog and have a look.
Oh, and here is the little monster softie I made for Jantine too. She was just so cute that I really had trouble parting with her!! Let alone my mum, who is determined to keep anything and everything I make. Luckily I was able to wrap her up (the monster that is, not mum!) before she noticed.

I was looking at the Moda Bakeshop blog the other day, and saw these cute pincushions (Sugar Cube Pincushions) on there. So of course, I had to make one for myself. I have to admit though... My one doesn't look anywhere near as perfect and polished as theirs. My little pincushion has a slight tilt to one side, so if I'm not careful he will topple over. And let's not dwell on my stitching that is plain to see from the outside, because of course it was all done by hand. And hand sewing is not one of my strongest points!

But.... I still love him. And he will serve his purpose well, and that is the main point!
I finally took a slightly better photo of my red and white quilt, "In my garden." Except that now this one looks too dark. Ah well. I can't win.

I have been working on my "Give thanks" quilt, and it's looking great so far. Ok, I tell a lie. Well, not a really big lie. But I did something on it that I'm not entirely sure if I'm happy with. And so now I need to sit and think, and look at it for awhile till I'm sure. And if I then decide that I don't like it, I'm going to need to unpick a block and sew a new one in. So the quilt is hanging on the back of my couch, waiting for me to decide what to do with it.

Does anyone feel like doing a 'sew along' with me? It's like a free mystery block of the month sort of thing. AmandaJean over at CrazyMomQuilts has done a Quilt-a-long in the past. It looks like great fun! I have a great design in mind for a quilt, and I would love to do it as a sew along and share it with you. That way anyone that wants to join in can. I'm still mulling it over.... but the idea has really taken hold in my mind.

What are you thankful for?

As I have been working on my new quilt, "For these I give thanks," I have been thinking of all the things that I am really thankful for. And one of the main ones is....

Like all of you I'm sure, my family are so very important to me. I still live at home with my mum and dad, and my newly married brother and sister-in-law only live 30 minutes away. I love spending time with them, and I usually prefer to be with them, than with my friends. My brother and I are only 3 years apart in age, and so we grew up virtually being best mates. I have so many wonderful and great memories of my childhood, and teenage years, and they all center around my family.

So everyday I thank God for the wonderful family he has blessed me with. I couldn't have chosen a better one!!

So the 'family' block has been the next addition to my quilt. And I can't wait to do the rest. I am LOVING this quilt! So, what is one thing you thankful for? I would love to hear it!Yesterday I bought some cheap fabric from Spotlight, and this morning I made some pot holders for a gift. Was my first time making pot holders, but they are so easy and quick to make, that I reckon I will be making more of them.

But, what I really love about these two?? That I used the selvedge of the fabric for the hangers.

I reckon it looks great!

And finally, just because they were so yummy, here are some cupcakes I made last satuday.

And yes, they were all eaten within a day or two.