On the doorstep...

I forgot that I had ordered these - turned up in a little brown box on the doorstep yesterday morning. This is a gorgeous little selection of "Park Avenue" fabrics by 3 Sisters ......

.....and these are just too cute. What do you think? Cutest birdies I've seen in a while:)) The softest shades of lilacs and greens. ''Sew Chick'' from Benartex ..

This lot, I hadn't forgottten - have been waiting very patiently for this fabulous delivery of French General ''Lumiere de Noel'' - this is drool worthy fabric!

You like? Certainly put a smile on my face when I opened the boxes:))

Still smiling:)

See you later

Jenny

What a Hoot!

Such a wonderful feeling of relief - stocktake is over!! Check out the sale pages on the web - some pretty tempting bargains, even if I do say so myself.

A few gorgeous new patterns arrived this week - a couple from the fabulous Natalie Ross - 'The Hootie Hoo Family' ...

... you just can't help but smile when you see them, can you. And 'Lucy's Ladybird Adventure' - wouldn't a little girl just love these...

From the other fabulous Natalie, of The Birdhouse Designs, there is a very sweet little wall-hanging - 'Gum Tree Angel'...

Also wanted to show you the cutest little angel dolls that are going to be the ''star'' of a class next month - this is ''Hope'', designed by The Farm Studio girls.

If you're interested in making a ''Hope'' angel doll, or two, for yourself, check out the classes page on my website.

Okay - just popped in to show you a couple of newbies and tell you about Hope. Back soon with some more goodies, I'm sure.

See you later

Jenny

Too cute!

The past couple of weeks have seen me sifting through every last one of my patterns, counting for stocktake, and discounting for the sale page on the web. I've been pretty ruthless - there are dozens and dozens of patterns for sale as I made a concerted effort to reduce! Also fabric - and once I have tackled the fabric side of stocktake over the weekend you can be sure there is going to be a whole lot more of that on sale too - have a look for them on the 'specials' page.

So while it is out with the old, it's also in with the new and these gorgeous newbies arrived just a couple of days ago. Natalie Bird has just released a new book called ''A Thankful Heart'' and truly, this book is stunning. This is the main quilt project ...

...and this shows a little bit of everything else that's in the book....

The bunny is just the cutest ever - "Best Bunnie" award!

This is Melly's newest addition - Tally....

...and Tripp...

I've been starting to get a few of May Blossoms sweet patterns too - here's one of her new ones - Snug Puppy - cute ay!

And can you just imagine what a little Christmas tree would look like with these draped all over.... Sugar Plum Medallions....

Here's Cinderberry Stitches ''Flat Nat'' - definitely on my list of things to stitch :)

I've sorted out the Robyn Pandolph ''Beach House'' fabrics into fat quarter bundles - they're so pretty - soft pinks.......

.....pale blues.......

.....greens...

.....and sweet creams...

These will be on the ''fabric'' page of my website. They are American fat quarter size which is just ever so slightly smaller than ours - about 45cm x 55cm instead of 50cm x 55cm.

Nice treats don't you think?

Have a fabulous week :)

Jenny

New Goodies

I've got some gorgeous new patterns to show you - lots and lots of stitchery - yum!

A "Vintage Postcard" cushion from Crab-apple Hill Studio...

... and ''Nesting Time"...

.... a close up of ''Friendship Blooms Over Garden Fences''...

... and a close up of one of the stitcheries from ''Snow Days'' (this quilt is a must for me to stitch - it's stunning!)...

...and last but not least from the girls at Crab-apple Hill, a close up of the cutest Snowman quilt you've ever seen - Snowmen from A to Zzzz. (Sorry but this was a bit of a challenge to get a pic!)

From the gorgeous Brenda Ryan - here's a couple of her latest. The Topiary Trio is so beautiful (it's on the ''must'' list too :))...

... and her second William Morris inspired cushion series - ''Two Red Roses across the Moon'' - using the fabulous Cottage Garden Threads...

Also, a couple of weeks back now I received my order of French General linen towelling - it's a narrow width cotton linen weight fabric - already hemmed, and absolutely perfect for stitching. Am working on a little project with it - let you know how it goes.

They are all on my website - http://www.thestitchery.co.nz/. Back to work, now - just thought you might like to see some of my new goodies.

Keep warm while you are stitching!

Jenny

What's in the box?

Sometimes when I climb the steps to my house, and dawdle up the path towards the front door, I see a box on the doorstep - well .... no matter what I was planning to do when I got inside, it is no longer relevant! What's in the box? It absolutely has to be opened immediately to reveal it's treasure! And that of course is always followed by a period of patting and stacking, folding and smoothing the treasures - the dusting can wait!!! But sometimes I find the box as I am leaving the house and that, I tell you, is sheer agony, because it's usually as I'm running just a smidgen late to go and pick up the child from school or soccer practice or going to watch his soccer match. And I can't open the box first!!! It's really hard to concentrate on a soccer game when there's a box to be opened!! The sight of a fairly ugly but practical brown cardboard box, all taped up, sitting on the doorstep is enough to banish the wintry gloom. So, this is what the box revealed on Friday....

.... and this....

... and in a smaller, plastic package where these....


... and some of these....


... it's easy to see why I like boxes (and small plastic packages) on the doorstep isn't it. And I've even been super organised and got them onto the website already :)
Keep warm and happy stitching
Jenny

Stitchery Tote

Just finished this yesterday - it's going to be a little day class on Saturday 26th June - mostly hand-stitching the front panel during the class - but if you are a fast stitcher you will probably also start to put the bag together. There's also a neat little needlecase to go with it. It will be all kitted up, just as you see it here. The full details are on my website.

Off to stitch!

Jenny

Scandinavian Christmas

You know how much I've been raving on about this gorgeous quilt....


... Lynette Anderson's fabulous "Scandinavian Christmas". Well, finally I've put together a kit of fabrics for the quilt top. I have a very limited number of the kits, and am just about to pop them on my website, under the Block of the Month page.


Nice, don't you think. Of course that means I absolutely have to start stitching mine now - have been meaning to start for a few weeks but you know how it goes sometimes. I get sidetracked by one of the other dozen or so projects on the go!!! So now that I have my own little ''kit'' of the fabrics, it is far too tempting not to start.
Maybe now...
See you later :))
Jenny

...and now...

Mattress mission accomplished - it went exactly according to prediction - why don't they build mattresses with handles!!! Or at the very least, with less slippery fabric. It really was a bit of a giggle, but we got there and it is now tucked away in the loft for winter. So, I've spent the past week loading up the studio, arranging and rearranging until I got something that ''worked'', and playing with some of the new fabrics along the way. This is what it's looking like now ...

It's a pretty little room - am really happy with how it looks and feels. It's got nice vibes! Course that could have something to do with the fact that it's full of fabrics that I love...

This is a new range from Moda - called "Looking Back" - it's got a real country feel to it - gorgeous blues, tans and reds - been a while since I've 'done' country, but I was tempted when shown these fabrics - quite yummy patterns and colours. I've also been playing with some very very very nice new fabrics from another Moda range called ''Evening Mist'' - the softest gentlest colours ever. I'll show you next post 'cos I should have it finished by then.

Here's a couple of new patterns that arrived this week - this from Simone Gooding who designs under the name of "May Blossom". I've not had Simone's patterns before - isn't this gorgeous!

This is another of Simone's patterns - so beautiful.

And this is Marg Low's lovely little Sweet Heart Birdie pattern - very sweet indeed!There's plenty more to come but that's my lot for today - have got birdies wings to bead, and strips of fabric to stitch.

Happy stitching

Jenny

Hello!

Hey, you made it over! The StitcheryRoom is where I'm going to be spending part of my time this winter - I'm converting one of my guest rooms to a studio for the winter months. This is what it looked like on Saturday...

... and Sunday morning...

... and then Monday...

...I know - it's got a little way to go yet, but come next Tuesday it will be looking good. You do not want to see the hallway though - luckily there are no guests staying until Friday - by then I will have worked out a way to get the biggest mattress I've ever seen in my life up the skinniest set of stairs - round the corner, through Jake's room and into a loft which is full all ready!!! I can see it all now - half way up the stairs I am going to collapse into a fit of giggles because of the hopelessness of the situation, I will be in serious danger of being crushed by a big (very big) squidgy mattress, and Jake will be hanging on to the other end of the mattress for dear life but knowing him, he will be laughing just as much as me. Can't wait!! And just imagine the fun when we have to bring it back downstairs come Spring - doesn't bear thinking about really. I do sometimes ask myself - why?? I really do have a bad habit of not quite thinking some things all the way through!! Who could tell there was going to be a tricky bit on the end?

So, assuming I survive the mattress to the loft "situation", this is where I'll be planning and stitching for classes, where you can pop in see samples, come for a cuppa, and check out the new stuff. This blog will be all about the StitcheryRoom - it's where I'll show you what I'm working on and what's new. I've already ordered in some absolutely fabulous fabrics for upcoming retreats and classes. Just for starters - these are new...

.... gorgeous aren't they - a fabulous soft pastel range called ''Veronique'' from P & B Studio. And these are some new patterns that Lesley from Faeries in my Garden has designed ...

The studio will be open each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11.00 until 3.00 p.m. (first day is next week). Also, if you're planning a girls' weekend to Dunedin, or a craft trip, you're welcome to come visit - I'll put the kettle on!

Next post I'll show you the finished room, and maybe have some details on upcoming classes and retreats.
See you then.

Jenny