Willowberry Designs ~ Alpaca Softies

Remember Parfait?? Wanna be in a giveaway??

Yes... me too.  I had a message from Perri the other day and it prompted the opening of the 'Parfait' filing cabinet in my head :-)  You know... the one that's labelled "Do a pattern and have a giveaway..."

So, Parfait is now written up and ready to go!

If you'd like to be in the draw for a 'Parfait' pattern leave a message on this post and I'll draw 2 names from the pink bucket next week.  Let's go for December 1st at noon - my time....

Good luck!

Stitching finished, now I just have to make the little bag.  I added a bit of an Aussie flavour with sprigs of wattle......  artistic licence granted :-)

It's one of the freebies over here - from the lovely Judith :-)

have a lovely stitchy day.....

Cheryl xx

Sharing a photo of an unexpected happenings.  Got a little gifty in the mail......

Ina, you're a gem.  Precious pincushion made even more precious because it's a surprise....

French General Rouenneries = fave fabric at the moment... perfect combination 
 

Crisp points

Remember when I talked about achieving a crisp, sharp point?  Well I decided I probably could show you today............ 

It's so simple it'll make you laugh.... and if you already know then you're very clever :-)

have a seat and watch real close......

For today's lecture, I'll pretend I'm making a hanging sleeve for the back of a pretend mini quilt with a pretend name.  Let's call her 'Eva'.    Moo, Can you put Willis down so I can borrow your hand? 

Thank you....  :-)

 

 

Fold the fabric in half lengthways and sew across each end.  Secure the seam with a backstitch at the start and finish (as if you didn't already know that... )

 

 

At this stage you might be tempted to snip the corner off.  Don't!! because it gets tricky in a minute.  Go and find some chocolate instead.  See that big professional X through the next photo?  

That means NO.....

 

 

Fold the seam allowance (along the seam line) to the back and finger press

 

 

Are you ready for the tricky bit?  Slide your thumb to the inside between the two layers and pinch as close as you can to the corner.  A long nail on your poking finger is a bonus :-)

 

 

While pinching with your thumb and finger, push the corner to face right side out.  Moo has nice hands don't you think?  The black cord is Willis' harness lead. He's very clever and goes for a walk on the lead.  That's him in the photo at the top 

 

 

A bluntish skewer or point turner will crisp up the point.  Scissors and knives poke holes so it's best not to use them.  Now pardon the slightly blurry closeup

 

 

BIG DEAL you say.....  But... the benefit of NOT snipping the little corners off is that your points will always stay pointy because..........  well it just does and I could garble some nonsense but just try it next time.  It works.

 

Now go make a hanging sleeve.... or a pocket or collar or something else that requires a prickly point.  And tell all your friends

 

Today's message has been brought to you by Ratty - just to make you smile :-)

 

Who loves this?

It's sweet isn't it??  and it's called 'Sweetheart' too!  This beautiful little quilt was designed by Terry Layton as a pattern for Fresh Hope..........   How pretty........

How are you all going with your christmas gift stitching?  Mine is going

s l o w l y

because life is just too busy right now  :-)

But I did finish my SSCS 09 swap gifts and get them in the mail today.  Deadline...?   Today! Just in time

Sneak peeks

Busy day today but I'll be back later.  Until then, go have a look at Fiona's sewing studio........ How fab would it be to have that much organised space??  And she 's not fibbing..  I saw the before photos :-)

have a fun stitchy day

Cheryl xx

Have you got a minute?

Good.... Me too!  :-)

So much to tell, so little time - have you seen Vikki's freebie over at the Gum Tree?  Gorgeous!!  and there's one on the go in my house.  Redwork stitching with DMC 115 instead of the applique, it's hanging around with figgy pudding.  Isn't it cute?  It might just be going to someone across the miles...  maybe...

It's almost Monday again and that means there'll be ANOTHER free design for you - this one will be from the lovely Fiona at Mother's Cupboard so check under the Gum Tree for your free pdf pattern.  I've seen photos and it's gorgeous.....

Hats are happening here in my house....

 

they're FREE over at Tozz's corner - all 9 little hat stitchery patterns are still available for you to download for free.  I'm doing these in redwork.... got a thing for it at the minute.  Maybe there'll be more redwork to come so stay tuned!  You'll be wanting to see that.........

I've traced and coloured Judith's Christmas Rose project and it's ready for some stitchin' action.  Can't wait to start this one, I think it's going to be so sweet...

Stitcher's Angel Gifts

Christine has received the bundle of fun stuff I sent across the miles...  A mini wallhanging all about quilting, a little 'angel' mug mat, a sewing and needle folder and a wee little rosie bag just the right size for carrying a couple of garden faeries.  I hope she has some.....

Well that was fun...........

Now tell me which one you prefer..... our sweet little birdie on the vintage cross stitched doiley

or the same birdie on the gorgeous pale blue damask?

$3 at Lifeline Thrift Shop last week bought me 3 beautiful damask napkins, the large'ish cross stitched table centre and an embroidered linen piece.  All in perfect condition

 
I love old stuff

That's it for now........  another busy day tomorrow.  Wasnt' it hot today???  Yep, even the trees on the ridge look hot

 

You know those perfectly crisp and sharp points that you see and you wonder how on earth you can get them so crisp without poking the end of the knitting needle or scissors through the fabric? 

One of these days I might show you how to do it........ :-)  Maybe.......

have a lovely stitchy day

Cheryl xx

I've got loads more to tell but I need my beauty sleep apparently..... But!!  We can't have a post without a quilt - this gorgeous thing is by Aileen.  Crisp blue and white quilted with large open blossoms...... simplistic deliciousness - AMEN

this week's quilting and doings....

I searched all day and finally found a spare 38 seconds to quickly scribble a message and show some photos

If you're looking for a sweet baby quilt contact Mary at Fresh Hope - [email protected]

These are some of the little bubby rugs I recently quilted for Fresh Hope - Mary will now bind them and have them ready for sale in the wink of an eye....  all of these little quilts have poly wadding/batting

'Up up and away.... Teddies in the basket' - 100% cotton

'Garden Party bugs' - flannel

Blue alphabet - flannel

Sampler throw - 100% cotton

What else has been happening?  Some needle turn applique beautifulness.  Do you like the chain stitch finish around the leaf?  Just for something different... this is a sneak look at a new project for Creating Country Threads.  I'm so pleased with the finish and I can't wait for you all to see it too!  That will be in a few months time.........  :-)

 

and this one is just delicious!  But only a little peep of it because it's not finished yet...  beautiful threads on fabric as soft as silk.... tactile loveliness :-)

Remember Eva?

Well, it's just hanging around waiting for it's turn to shine... :-)

And last of all..... did you see Dawn's christmas freebie design under the gum tree?  Go have a look, it's so sweet!  It's the sixth freebie and that means there are still three more to come... and they're all GREAT - especially because they're FREE!

Actually that was second last of all..... I hit the quilting studio most mornings by 8.30am.  Normally I'm all tizzed and tarted up ready for whatever the day brings.  As you can see, my hair is coiffed and curled and primped .... (I've retired the silver bulldog clips in favour of these, apparently they actually ARE for hobbling wayward fringes...)

I slip into my stilletos....

and trundle off down the back stairs to go to work for the day....  (purple tracky dacks* hide the hairy legs... did you know that?  Well, now you know....)

What adventures did you trundle into today?

Hope you had fun, wherever you went :-)

seeya

Cheryl xx

*FOOTNOTE:  For the non-Aussies.... 'tracky dacks' are the bottom half or 'pants' part of a 'track suit'... fleecy lined, they should only EVER be worn in quilting studios and sewing rooms....never in public  :-)   AMEN

Creating Country Threads Magazine goes to......

Tine in Copenhagen!!  Tine's comment was the lucky one drawn from the pink bucket

 

 

Tine, I'll need your slow mail address so I'll contact you by email soon.  You very own copy of 'Creating Country Threads' Magazine will soon be at your door :-)  I know you'll love it, it's full of heaps of fun stuff!!!

What else have I been up to?  Gettin' up to no good, let me tell ya

Dawn's cute little 'no fat chocolate cake' design - it's available on her blog for free!  I've completed the stitching but not sure how to finish it off....  If it were a real piece of chocolate cake there'd be no problem - straight down the hatch..... :-)

So what should I do.... Maybe a panel on a mug bag?  Or a pretty mat for the table?  Let me know what you think......

Happy Anniversary to me and the Funny Little Man.... I baked a roast dinner tonight and we had choc mousse for dessert... yum.   Thanks for all the sweet messages and nice wishes, I'm pretty sure we'll last at least another 31 years.  I'm worth it..... 

wii fun

Bloss bought a wii.... here she is with her Dad playing tennis in the cave.  Did we think in 1989 that in 20 years time we'd hold onto things that look like cordless phones and play tennis in the lounge?  Nope!! 

No stitching in my fave stitching chair while that pair are jumping around the room !!  Blossie won and yes, there were tantrums from the loser....

Just a peep at one of the gifty bits I made for my Stitcher's Angel partner.... cute little buttons... and lovely rosey fabric from Fiona at Mothers Cupboard

Thanks for entering the giveaway, if you have trouble finding the magazine and will simply collapse if you don't get one, let me know and we'll see what we can do.... :-)

seeya next tomorrow

Cheryl xx

Not sure what's happened with the text tonight.... mad!!!  Hope you can read it properly :-)

Sharing stuff - and a giveaway

In the last story I mentioned that I had a project in the new issue of Creating Country Threads.  This is the cover.... Vol. 10 no. 3

 

And here's my project - a set of co-ordinating cushions named 'Primrose and Passion'.  Seeing them in print is a bit like introducing your newborn babe....  makes me smile like a new mum  :-)

 

 

They're quite the show offs....

 

 

 

Some fun reading as well .... look at that chubby smiley face!

 

 

The Country Threads team have presented these projects in such a fabulous environment.... I love the photo of the very formal medallion quilt just hanging around in an old tree in the country.... and 'Parterre' the red green and gold needle turn quilt looking completely at home draped casually across a paddock fence...  It's like they were meant to be there :-)

To Danielle and the team - a big thank you for making them look so great!

 

I'm thrilled with the profile story so I've decided to have a giveaway..... AND a pattern special (read on to the end)

 

If you'd like to be in the draw to win a copy of the latest edition of Creating Country Threads, leave a message on this post and I'll draw a winner at noon on Wednesday 4th November my time - that's Qld time!  

 

Hmmmm - 4th November.... that's our anniversary!  The funny little man has been putting up with my nonsense for 31 years this week.... does he deserve a medal?  Yep, you betcha!!

 

Now I also mentioned that Primrose and Passion would make perfect companions for 'Rosebud - the bluebird of elegant song'

 

Soooooo...... how about a special price for the 'Rosebud' pattern for the same period as the giveaway?

Normally $8.95 USDfor the printed pattern, you can purchase one during the next four days for just $5.00 USD and pay only $2.00 postage!

 

You'll find it in my Etsy store by clicking on the link

 

The funny little man and I have just spent a dreamy weekend up at the Bunya Mountains for a bit of R & R... ahhh, the serenity...  I'll tell you more about that next time because I have a secret to share.....

 

I keep thinking of things I want to tell you!  There are two parcels on the way to my house which means I'll be having a date with the mailman again.  A fabric bundle from Fiona at Mothers Cupboard and another fabric bundle from Quilt Fabric Delights - a whole bunch of Rosalie Quinlans fabrics... can't wait!!!  How pretty are they????

 

 

but Holy Dooley!  tomorrow is another Monday and that means ANOTHER free design from the Gum Tree!!

Go visit the Gum Tree Designers blog to catch up on all the gossip from the Gumnut girls - there's a lot happening at the moment and so much more to come :-)  The girls and I are all busy creating new things to share with you all and there are lots of exciting things planned for 2010!  Some really super happenings are being cooked up..... 

 

have a lovely stitchy day,

Cheryl xx