Needle Turn Applique

It was my great privilege to spend a day stitching with Vikki from Sew Useful Designs and Gail from Gail Pan Designs this week.

Gail was sharing her great needle turn applique skills with Vikki and I.

It was really fun, I have always wanted to learn the skill and hope to include it in my designs in the future.

This was my effort for the day, a little birdy! not much I know, but there was much chat and a homemade cookie or two, so....

I will keep practicing, I just love the neat result, thankyou Gail and Vikki for a lovely day.

Make sure you check out these two lovely ladies blogs, they are both very talented designers.

Blessings

Simone

Very Useful Things

I decided that my first designs for 2011 would be useful to the little people in our lives.

If your little darlings are anything like mine, they are usually off somewhere with you, going here and there, picking up other little people or Daddy, having trips out and about.

My girls always like to bring their treasures in the car with them, something to read, draw with or cuddle. This desire to tote all their favourite things inspired me to design

'A Load To Tote' a carry all open out bag in the shape of a case, with places for pencils, note books, ruler etc

My second design 'Precious Pennies' is a cute little purse with an extra long strap to keep hands free, room for a few pennies, tiny little friends etc

Both are available now, so ask at your favourite patchwork shop

Until next time

Blessings

Simone

Welcome Back!

Hello again and Happy New Year.

It has been way too long since I made a post and am happy to be back.

I hope you all had a truly scrumptious Christmas and made many loved ones feel special with hand made gifts!

We usually have a very quiet Christmas Day which is always welcome, the lead up is always crazy busy.

It was our first Christmas without my darling Grandmother who passed away in Feb 2010 she was 94, so a time of remembering and reflecting for us this year.

I usually bake quite a bit at Christmas time and made some gorgeous Lemon Curd again his year, and thought I would share the recipe with you all.

there is simply nothing better on hot toast!

Lemon Curd

Juice of 2 lemons

2 eggs, lightly whisked

3/4 cup caster sugar

125g (4oz) unsalted butter, chopped

1 teaspoon cornflour

Place all ingredients in small saucepan. Stir with a whisk over low heat until the mixture thickens, without allowing it to boil.

Remove from heat, pour into sterilised jars and seal.

Keep in the fridge

It will keep in the fridge for 1 month after opening.

Until next time, when hopefully I will have some new things to show, planning a tree theme this year and I will be working with Anni Downs gorgeous Felted Wool, plus heaps more!

Blessings

Simone

Australian Quilt Market

I can't tell you how absolutely exhausted I was after two whole days at the Melbourne AQM!

last Friday afternoon there I was setting up my part of the Creative Abundance stand, I can't tell you what amazingly talented company I was in! truly inspirational

I was so happy to meet so many lovely people who love my designs, always a relief!

and a real treat to meet a few people who's work I have admired for many years.

I was even given a few treats to have a play with, Anni Downs from Hatched and Patched gave me three bundles of her gorgeous felted wool to try, I am in love with the colours and the wool is so soft. I can't wait to start sketching and playing with ideas.

It was also a pleasure to meet Pam from Cottage Garden Threads who gave me two gorgeous skeins of her variegated threads to try.

All together a great show, already starting to plan for next year!

I still have one more design to write up before the end of the year so better get back to it.

Until next time

Blessings

Simone

Now is always the best time!

I have an exciting event coming up on my calendar, the Melbourne AQM.

I have been frantically trying to get my catalogue updated with all my yummy new things.

It will be my first Melbourne AQM, so I am looking forward to meeting so many of the lovely people who stock my designs. So if you are planning to be there come over to the Creative Abundance booth and say hi!

I have two new designs coming up, the first Piccalily Dogwood Dahlia I am very pleased to be releasing this design, I wore the Dahlia brooch to the gathering at The Quilted Crow recently and had so many ladies asking me when it was to be released, so I got my skates on when I got home....and here it is, I have also designed a gorgeous Arum Lily brooch to accompany it.

So if you were with us in Tassie last weekend here it is!

The second is called Digging For Apples a very cute little one dressed up in her favourite apple costume, peeking through, and a gorgeous apple motif door hanger.

Hope you like them!

Until next time

Blessings

Simone

The Quilted Crow

I had the privilege last weekend to be in my home town of Hobart, my hosts were the lovely Deirdre and Leonie from The Quilted Crow.

I had a wonderful time showing off some of my designs and meeting the lovely ladies who frequent The Quilted Crow, we all had such a great day of stitching. It was also lovely to meet Sue Daley of Patchwork with Busy Fingers, a truly inspiring quilt designer.

For those of you who don't already know, Deirdre and Leonie have recently moved their shop into an absolutely gorgeous old church.

It happens to be the very same old church I used to catch the bus right out the front of when I went home from school each day! small world, so it was very familiar being at their shop.

I was asked to design two new things for the day,

Tumbleweed

Hickory Hearts

I have now officially released them, so they will be hitting the shops very soon. Something yummy to get everyone in the Christmassy mood!

Until next time

Blessings

Simone

Habadash

I recently made the trip to Castlemaine approx 1 1/2 hours drive North West of Melbourne. I have been there many times but never to Habadash.

A superb little store dedicated to all kinds of vintage haberdashery.

I found so many things I would have loved to bring home, here are the things that made it .

I love the green flower buttons and the buckle will probably have a new life as a brooch.

If you find yourself in Castlemaine be sure to drop in, it is a treat.

Until Next Time

Blessings

Simone