Willowberry Designs ~ Alpaca Softies

New tutorials are ready at QFD Creative... from Lisa, Amanda, Rachel, Rachael and Mel... have fun :)

Where have you been??!!

Hello Ina!!  :-)

Quilting....

for Narelle - such an interesting pattern

and for Helen

and a dozen others but would a dozen photos of quilts be boring?  I think so....

Playing with some stuff...  mmmm a bit of Verna mixed with some gentle spots and a blendy pinky one... it's prettiness personified.  I'm writing the tutorial tonight and then it's off to Sarah at Quilt Fabric Delights to share with you all in a few days time...

~ Weekend doings ~

The funny little man harvested his pumpkin crop on Saturday... this is half of the bounty, the rest is tucked up in it's 'airy' bed under the house.  Thanks for the hints Cath!  and Wayney :-)

then he went to visit the neighbours with a couple of pumpkins, a couple of lavender, a sad little basil, a frilly necked lettuce and a few crazy twisted carrots for our little friends, Lucy and Sophie who live next door with their Mum and Dad

off he goes (he ALWAYS wears his finest shirts in the garden... apparently he has 'yard undies' too, you'll have to take my word for that one...)

out the gate

down the road

up the neighbours drive

he came home minus barrow ~ plus smile

Yesterday he planted peas and some coriander in the herb patch. That big lump of green bush behind him is his friend Basil, he's a giant herbivore... making friends with the bees

Happy birthday Moo :-)  Gorgeous girl... luv ya to bits!

What else's been happening...?   Raspberries!!  That's what!  At least 2 each day...

amazing little bubbles of sweet tartiness!  and so versatile...

only four more sleeps Shaz... make sure you take some stitching, sneak it into your 'unmentionables' bag, he won't even think to look there ...

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Have you chosen your favourite fabrics for the farm babies yet?  See the previous post, I'll be making a decision in five days time.... and if you're wondering which fabric range is in the lead, it's Me & My Sister Favourites!  Makes me smile because me and my sisters have a mad time when we all get together :-)

have a lovely stitchy day

I love this ~ have a read and you'll have a little smile... we all do it...

Cheryl xx ..

and btw, Norm says hi ~ precious furbie is still with us and getting lots of loving.  Here he is in his fave spot for chilling out...

'Under the Sea' bits n pieces AND a giveaway :-)

We're a bit 'newsy' in the willowberry house today, lots to tell, lots to show and a giveaway... but you gotta read through till the end for that... :-)

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Here's the plan for 'Under the Sea' .... finished size approx 24" x 33"

The yardage requirements will also be included in the instructions for block 5 ~ available on May 1st.  You'll meet Sebastian and Lola.... they waltz to the whale's song  :-)   I think Sorena will have to show her face sometime in May as well... she's too gorgeous to stay hidden till June 1st!

A simple 9 patch layout with sashing and cornerstones

~ You'll need ~

Stitchery Blocks ~ 9 x 7" x 9" (18cm x 23cm) blue fabric, trimmed to size after stitching

Sashing & lower band ~ 10" (25cm) contrast 1 ~ I'm using a batik

Cornerstones ~ 2" (5cm) contrast 2

Borders ~ 14" (35cm) contrast 3

Binding ~ 8" (20cm)

Batting and Backing ~ approx 26" x 35" (65cm x 87cm)

How are you going with your underwater stitching?  I know there are LOTS of busy fingers out there and if you'd like to share your doings, join our flickr group so we can all go 'ooh' and 'ahh' over your photos!

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In the current Homespun magazine you'll find projects by Vikki of Sew Useful Designs and Dawn of Dawn Hay Designs ~ they're both gorgeous and 'must do's'

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Now for the giveaway.... J

I'd like some assistance from my assistants... please...

I had a visit yesterday afternoon from Mary (from Fresh Hope).  We chatted about all manner of things but mostly about the Fresh Hope pattern range and Mary's plans for the next few months... a beautiful lady and a tireless worker...

These guys ~ who made their debut in Creating Country Threads last year ~ will have a few little tweaks and become a Fresh Hope pattern in the very near future

I'd like to give them a makeover... and I can't decide ~ just simple smallish prints, but which ones?

Fresh and bright ric rac Rosie the lamb? or a more gentle mottled blue moo cow?

 

  Soft little animal nursery prints? or bold with a purple paisley pony?

  

Help me choose by leaving a comment telling me what you think and I'll throw your name into the pink bucket

At the end of April, Ratty will dive in and choose one of you to win

A full set of finished little farm babies!!

FUN!!!

have a fun day...

Cheryl xx

Special message for my friend Gudrun in Hono, Sweden.... I’ve lost your email addy!!  Please contact me, I have something for you J

Creating Country Threads

Vol 10 No. 9 features 'Golden Threads' ~ a beautiful celebration of friendship and how important it is to share treasured times together.... with kindred spirits and birds of a feather :-)  I designed this sweet wallhanging almost 2 years ago (this post) and stitched it while I recouperated from surgery.  I really am not a good 'recouperator'... way too much to do around the traps rather than be sitting on the btm all day, so I had to have some stitchin' at hand.

A friend has made it up as a memories keepsake using sepia toned family photos, neutral prints with vintage laces and other family treasures.......  Gorgeous!!

AND ~ there's a chance to win one of five 'Girlfriends' tote patterns ~ check out page 97 when you get your mag :-)

This issue should be available in newsagents in the next few days

It's always exciting to see the doings of friends from all over and on the weekend I received an email from a fellow patchwork nut...  Judy had been wanting to make a block holder for some time and found my Homespun project ~ 'My Block Folder' ~ just right.  It was featured in Homespun's Easter issue... No 82 (Vol 11.3)  It carries like a tote and opens flat with lots of pockets and a flannel block storage 'page'

Here's Jude's version of 'Bluebird Serenade'... made from the Blush range by Basic Grey

Deliciousness :-)

I love seeing your creations....

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Today I'm working on the final layout for 'Under the Sea' and will share that with you tomorrow

Thank you for the lovely messages about our Normie... he's still with us and getting loads of loving 

have a lovely stitchy day,

Cheryl xx

Squirrelled away doing fun things....

and I have lots of stuff to share !!

Did you know you can now follow me on twitter?  Click on the little link over there a

I'll let you know when each new block is ready or if I have a special announcement :-)

What have I been up to?

Secret practice for my next QFD Creative project... scrolly nonsense going nowhere...

'Under the Sea' block 5 is finished and I'm working on block 6... there'll be some important news to share about these blocks next week!!

'Create' is almost ready ~ mmmm, yummy linen... it's been a bit tricky choosing the right frame finish for this one... I decided on a rubbed over vintage French white.  There will be a giveaway next week to coincide with the new pattern release, stay tuned :-)

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A morning out in bayside Brisbane with Joy ~ and these came home with me :-)

Vintage floral themed quilt labels, pale blue spots perfect for bug stitchings (Dolores Alexander is about to take flight) and a wriggly, muddy, underwatery coral print

will it make it through the sashing fabric audition?  hhmmmm ~ not sure.... maybe too murky?  not 'fresh' enough?  maybe I need a batik....

it needs to play nicely with these guys...

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Stitching more red hats... you can find the patterns on Vicki's blog

I'm using DMC 115 variegated ~ too cute

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and one more snippet of news to share...  Our Normie isn't very well ~ he doesn't have too much longer with us.  That will be a big sad day... he's shared our world for over 15 years 

Does that face not say 'Poor me, I need lots of loving...' ?  and yes... poor him is getting LOADS of extra loving... scruffy old pooble :-) 

seeya next week for some 'Under the Sea' info on ~

The layout... The next 2 blocks... Neat stitching... The whole plan, Stan...

Cheryl xx

Gettin' jiggy ....

Every time I look at this block it makes me giggle...

Peeping at block 5 of 'Under the Sea' ~ ready to share on May 1st...

Have you seen Lynette's shoes?  I love 'em, want 'em, gotta have 'em!

have a fun day

Cheryl xx

I found something...

I found a little bit of extra time each day :-)  It was tricky but I searched and found it....

Over the weekend I made the decision to withdraw from the 'Gum Tree Designers' group ~ lots of reasons why but the most important one is that I just needed to find a bit more time for me

They are a great bunch of girls who will continue to create gorgeous stuff and share lots of new designs ~ and I wish them all the very best :-)

Bloss made hot crossed buns and choc crossed buns (here they are .. the round ones have a choc surprise inside, they're waiting for their crowns of chocolate crosses) ~ YUMMO, light, fluffy, fruity yumminess... best eaten warm from the oven

Have you had a happy easter........?  Funny little man drove me around the countryside for a few hours yesterday, it was just delightful!  A gorgeous warm Autumn day filled with country roads, green pastures and a stop for lunch in a little country town.  Unwinding, chatting the whole way... total relaxation.  And if you remember 'Rickarts' in Rockhampton, the cafe where we lunched is just like it!  Happy memories....

Our Mother Pumpkin Vine is exploding with fat, round pumpkins

Ratty ~ 'hands off my pumpkin'

YUMMO... pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, roast pumpkin and garlic mash, warm roast pumpkin chicken and cashew salad...  Hungry?

Here's 'Mr Fothergill' patting his pumpkins and crooning a lullaby... Funny little man, makes me smile.  He deserves a medal for putting up with my nonsense for 33 years...

yep, he's in there...  See??

'Parfait' e-Pattern is now available from my etsy store

and there are only 6 5 Rosebud Patterns left at the special price of $7 (with a bonus e-Pattern)

seeya tomorrow :-)

Cheryl xx

'Verandah Views' - available for one week only

Click on the 'Verandah Views' link in the sidebar - under the 'Free Downloads and other stuff...' heading

the files will be available for one week only ~ after April 10, the pattern will be listed in my Etsy store for purchase

Remember these little guys?

Bathtime - block 2

and Fowl Play - block 5

Ina made cushions using 3 of the little stitchery patterns... how pretty and mushy!

This is by Delores

And this one by Sylvie

and head over to flickr to see stitchinthyme's fab photos

So many more photos have been shared over the months... It's great to see what you girls do with these patterns.   If you have photos on your blog and would like to share, leave a message on this post so we can come visit!

Happy Easter to everyone and whatever you have planned, have fun!

Cheryl xx

‘Rosebud’ ~ the bluebird of elegant song'

has had a facelift....   Well the pattern jacket has anyway and I have 14 of the 'old' ones left to sell ~ at a special price.  She's still the same beautiful bird and the pattern cover is still very pretty :)  Here she is....

 

and here is Ratty to demonstrate how soft and snuggly she can be J

  Would you like one....? 

Not a Ratty...... a pattern  J

As a bonus, with every purchase of a Rosebud pattern, I’ll include one of my e-Patterns for you to enjoy

So if you think ‘Rosebud’ would look divine on your bed or sofa or under your kitty ... visit my Etsy store...

The 'Rosebud' pattern is on special for just $7.00us and $1.50us postage (free postage within Australia)

Have a lovely day ~ Blossie is making Easter buns... Hot crossed and Choc crossed buns.... YUMMO

I think it's almost time for another 'whadda ya think this is?' game.  Check back with me on Saturday

Cheryl xx