November 14, 2010

A free pattern!

As promised, I have a free pattern for you for November, now that the Gifts of Grace Block of the Month project has finished.  By the way, I will leave the nine BOM blocks on the website for free download until 31st December 2010.  You might like to tell your friends they are available and that they will need to download the patterns SOON!  And don't forget to send me a photo of your completed blocks.

The free pattern I have for you this month is a sweet little pincushion which I showed you some months ago - The Garden Gate.  It is 6 inches square, made of felt, and as you can see has an embroidered fabric centre. I hope it's a project you will enjoy making and maybe it's something you could make for a stitching friend for Christmas.


You can download the pattern from my website at the bottom of this page.

We are continuing to explore our new district and I plan to show you some photos next post.  Meanwhile, the cactus garden is a continual source of amazement.  I'm not really fond of cacti, but there are so many interesting plants in our garden and there are new flowers appearing almost every day, that I'm finding it quite delightful.  Mostly yellow ones this week:







And now back to some stitching ... Penny has very kindly shared some photos of her completed Gifts of Grace block.  Aren't they just so lovely:




One of my lovely blogging friends was having trouble embroidering grub roses, so I did up a diagram for her and I have now included this in my Bullion Stitch Rose tutorial.  I hope this will make the steps clearer.

And how about this for a give-away? Corrie has this lovely Rosalie Quinlan range of fat quarters to give away. 



Hope I win, but just in case I don't, I've ordered some different fabric which I plan to use on my next free block of the month project.  If everything goes to plan, I hope to have the first block ready for you in January. At least I've done some sketching, so that's a start.  I can hear the sewing machine calling out, "Come and use me - it's been a long time." I think we've done all the paperwork to change our address, visited all the necessary government departments with only our final trip (of four) to the Motor Vehicle Registration to do this week, rearranged the garage and garden shed, itemised where I've put everything in my craft room, replied to all the lovely people who sent us farewell greetings, and once again the creative juices are flowing so hopefully I will be back stitching this week.  Woohoo!

Have a great week.

Regards
Val 

19 comments:

Susan said...

You sound pretty well sorted out. And although cactus may not be your preferred plant - at least they are in the ground and flowering. Love the pinchsion - very sweet.

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

Thank you for such a gorgeous freebie!
Will you being doing classes in a shop or somewhere in you local area?

Penny said...

Thanks for The Garden Gate :) Love it ! Thanks for sharing my Gifts of Grace blocks.If you noticed, I didn't use the bullion stitch for the roses. I better go to your tutorial now!

Maria McCabe said...

I love all your work! So pretty! I went to the page and didn't see the pattern though - just the free BOM which I am happily still stitching away at! Any advice?

Sharon said...

Thank you for such a cute freebie! The flowers in the cactii look so delicate and lovely!
Glad to hear you are getting settled in your new home.

Sammy said...

Thank you so much for the freebie. I love the garden too. Thank you for your generosity.

Love,

-Samya :-)

Stitched With Prayer said...

Val, Thanks so very much for the free pattern. Now that I finally figured out the grub roses with the help of your great diagram. I am goingn to start making some Scissors Keeps AND the lovely new pin cushion as gift for my family members and friends that quilt and stitch. The pin cushion pattern is just lovely...perfect for gifts from the heart. Thanks again so very much. Hugs...

Stitched With Prayer said...

OH, I also meant to tell Penny how beautiful her Gift's of Grace blocks are. Thank you for sharing, it helps motivate me!!!

Teresa said...

The flowers look too delicate to be real - almost like tissue flowers, so beautiful. I finished block 9 and posted a picture of it on my blog today if you would like to check it out. You are welcome to copy any of the pictures on the blog of the blocks I have made if you are keeping a record of them. Thank you so much for these patterns, I am going to miss getting a new one this month.

Sheila said...

Thank you so much for the pincushion pattern, you are so generous. Don't get too close to those cacti. When we visited Arizona a few years ago we were walking through an area with cacti and before you know it I had cacti needles in my hands. I swear they jumped out and got me. Have a great week!

Val Laird said...

Thanks for the advice, Sheila. I'll keep my distance from the cacti!!!

Regards
Val

Allie said...

My jaw dropped when I saw that gorgeous pincushion, Val, you are TOO SWEET to give that to us! I can't wait to make several.
That cactus garden is really something - I'm not fond of cacti either, but the flowers are lovely and the shapes are so interesting! I'm glad you're settling in so well, hon.

Bluebell said...

Hi Val, Thankyou for the lovely pincushion pattern and Whilst I was printing that off I noticed yout tutorial for Bullion Roses, I have always wanted to do these so now I can have a go.
Love Jillx

Melody said...

Oh Val,
What beautiful flowers and I just love the pin cushion. Everything you so generously share is a delight. Thank you.

Loralynn said...

What a darling little pincushion! Thank you so much for the free pattern!

Anonymous said...

Lovely pincushion, thanks for sharing! With all our recent snow, looking at a garden gate is a happy thought. Drop over and see my garden under snow pictures...

- Mary, The Curious Quilter

Stitched With Prayer said...

Val, I was wandering in my favorite quilt shop yesterday and they had one copy of an Australian Magazine (I forget the name, it is upstairs)...but I grabbed it and when I got home looking through it and loving everything, there was your beautiful purple Needle Case pattern. I was beyond delighted. Congratulations on being in the magazine. The pictures are so lovely and I already have my fabrics selected to start on it very soon. Way to go Val!!! Hugs...

Unknown said...

Hello once again Val. Thanks for the free pincushion instructions, it looks so beautiful. Glad you are settling in. We will pay the big balance for our new home on Dec. 3 and will gradually move in during the 2 weeks after that. Oh what fun that will be, especially sorting out my craft stuff. It has been over 3 months now that most of my stuff has been packed away. I have lots of lovely felt tucked away in a box somewhere.
I am continuing to knit a lovely 2 ply wool triangular shawl, just to keep my hands busy. Thank heavens summer hasn't set in yet!!

Maryanne

vernagrace said...

Hi Val, what a spectacular place to live! Getting up every morning and seeing those views as you walk along must take your breath away! So glad you are loving where you live and being close to family is an added blessing. You are a very generous lady and I thank you for the beautiful pin cushion pattern, I love garden gates and was tickled to see this one.
Blessings and continue to enjoy adventuring out into your new surroundings.