Stash-busting bags

In a rash moment, I committed myself to making 50 or 60 little gift bags for the Creative Craft Retreat in Queensland in November this year.  My previous donations have been a pattern or a stitchery - not much effort required - but this year I thought I might be able to reduce my stash a little by making these bags.  You can see what colour shelves I got stuck into last week:

 

They were whizzed up on the overlocker to speed up the process and are quite a practical size - 8 x 10 inches.  The only trouble is I cannot really see any dent in the fabric pile!!!

Oh well, another 30 and the stash should surely get smaller!

Hugs

Val

The Cup Bag - pretty and practical

My Sweet Treat Cup Bag is in the latest Australian Country Threads magazine which arrived this week.

As usual, it incorporates two of my favourites - applique and embroidery.  Here are some more of the appliques:

You can tell how much fun I had designing this!  I love making things that are pretty and practical!

I have put the pattern on the website for anyone who does not have access to our Australian magazines.  It's available for just $5 AUD if you wish to buy it.

Happy stitching.

Val

A basket for those Easter Eggs

I just looked at the calendar to find that Easter is only two weeks away!  Maybe you would like to make this sweet Easter basket for your favourite little one to collect their eggs.

A different colour choice and it would be just as suitable for a boy. The pattern is available for purchase here.

And if you hurry, there are just two days left for the special offer - "Buy One, Get One Free". 

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Remember these ... ? 

   

 

I've had so many comments and queries, I decided it really was time to prepare my Birdhouse Pincushion pattern for sale.There are two patterns included for just $5.  This will be appearing in the Handmade magazine which will be on sale on March 31st, but if you don't have access to the Australian magazine, you can purchase the pattern here.  And get yet another pattern to the same value FREE, if you hurry!

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My darling daughter, Janelle, sent me these photos of her Gifts of Grace blocks.  She finished Block 2 in record time - just a couple of days after I posted it for download! 

Hasn't she done such a lovely job?

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I've posted off my quilt to a magazine, worked on a new wall-hanging design and have been doing some stash-busting this week ... but more about that next time!

Happy stitching.

Val

Free Pattern - Gifts of Grace, Block 2

Have you managed to get started on the Gifts of Grace free BOM yet?  Because ... it's time for me to give you Block 2!

The lovely gift of grace this month is JOY - not just being happy when everything is going well, but a deep joy even in the midst of trials and troubles.

I hope you like this new block and enjoy stitching it. You can download the pattern from my website HERE.

There is just one week left for the special Buy One, Get One Free offer on all my patterns.  This will close on 22 March, so don't miss out on the bargain.

I managed to post off two projects to magazines this week, so some more deadlines have been crossed off.  The rest of the week I've continued to play with my lovely Garden Party fabric.  An easy quilt is all pieced, quilted and finished:

and I've started on a bag with some of the left-overs.

Hope you have a good week.

Happy stitching
Val

Get one free!

It's my BLOGAVERSARY! 

On Tuesday a year ago I entered blog land, and what a wonderful journey it has been sharing my life as a stitcher! What wonderful blog friends I have made all around the world. Thank you for being part of my journey.

Now you can't have a celebration without a freebie! What I have planned for you is a

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

offer on all patterns. If you buy a pattern, you will be entitled to receive another one of equal or lesser value, FREE ... And you get to choose which one you would like!

So if you would like to join my celebrations, hop over to my website and make your choice.

One IMPORTANT thing: To receive your free pattern, DO NOT add that pattern to the Paypal Cart, otherwise you will automatically be charged for it. Please e-mail me and let me know what you would like to receive as your free pattern after you 've made your purchase. I will then e-mail you both the purchased pattern and your free choice.

The free offer will last for two weeks, ending on 22 March 2010

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This week two lovely ladies have let me know they have already completed the first block of the new Free BOM - Gifts of Grace! Aren't they clever ... and organized! They have done such a lovely job too. Here's Janet's:

and Martina's:

                                 

How are you going with yours?

Watch this space next week for the next block of Gifts of Grace.

Happy stitching,

Val