Valentine flowers for me ...

... and for you! Enjoy.

These are the only flowers I will see for Valentine's day! Yes, I am married to a man who thinks it is all a lot of commercial rubbish! But that's OK. I'd rather have a man who sticks to his principles, than one who bows to pressure. I gave him one of these cards, just for a stir!

1. Pin Heart, 2. waiting, 3. Embroidery on linen, 4. Untitled, 5. Magnolia, 6. stitch by stitch, 7. Pink Hydrangea, 8. Amazing colors, 9. Pure White, 10. Flora Wall Wear - 2, 11. Thinking "June", 12. Quilt Festival, 13. Astronomia

Journal cover tutorial

Thank you for your interest in my tutorial. The tutorial has moved and is available in its entirety at this link. Best wishes, Bloom.

Victorian bushfires - ways to help

I find myself wandering aimlessly about the house today, unable to focus on anything as my mind keeps returning to reports of the horrific loss of life in the Victorian bushfires. Authorities are saying the most immediate way of helping is to contribute financially and to give blood. There is also desperate need for spare generators and fuel. Red Cross is adamant that 'items' not be donated purely because distribution is logistically difficult at this stage.

For stitchers keen to help, there are many plans afoot amongst the wonderfully generous Australian blogging community:

• Melly & Rosie of Melly & Me are auctioning many of their beautifully handcrafted samples here, the total proceeds of which will be donated to the Bushfire Appeal.
• Gillian of Silly Gilly is offering to coordinate a combined auction of handmade items on Ebay on Friday 6th March. Details here.
• Cindy of bugandpop has set up a blog called Handmade Help which will list handmade items being auctioned on Ebay or sold through Etsy for the Appeal. Click on the Handmade Help button to the right to take you there directly.
• Janet of Wildcraft Farm is selling stitchery patterns & kits, the entire proceeds of which will be donated to the CFA (Country Fire Authority. Details here.

Thank you for your kind concern for me & my family expressed in your comments. How lovely you all are! I am many hours from the fires, but the smoky haze when I go outside is a constant reminder of the suffering further south.

Victorian bushfires

It somehow seems inappropriate today to prattle on about stitching or gardening when so many in Victoria are suffering such loss of loved ones or property in horrendous bushfires. My thoughts and prayers are with the many families who have been affected. Hoping for a change in the weather soon to alleviate the atrocious conditions.

Dear Jane returns ... to a mess of fabric all over the lounge room floor

I am back to my Dear Jane blocks after months of inactivity. Now that the kids have returned to school, it is a little easier to find some stitching time.

F13 Tour de France

I used my new silk threads to needleturn this block and it really is very beautiful to work with. The silk 'disappears' into the fabric wonderfully.

A8 Florence Nightingale

And this is the fabric mess on the lounge room floor! In a mad rush of enthusiasm, I cut fabrics for this quilt immediately after my visit to Hatched & Patched with Chookyblue two weeks ago. It is my version of Anni's new pattern 'Ava Rose'. I am using these 'Barefoot Roses' fabrics by Tanya Whelan. And here it sits, strewn on the floor, waiting for me to be happy with the 'random' placement of the fabrics! It takes me a long time to 'do random'!! Hopefully, more progress on this front soon!

Linen + anything = success!

I made up this quick & easy little journal cover this week, using linen & scraps.

 

I took lots of photos as I stitched, so hope to have a tutorial up for it soon.

I love linen!

Warning: Heavily bloom-laden post

Chookyblue's recent visit to town happened to coincide with some local Open Gardens, so in addition to visiting Hatched & Patched, we also gallivanted about gardens together.

There were stunning vistas to enjoy ...

... the gentle & soothing splish spashing of water on a hot day ...

... majestic stands of silver birches to cool ourselves beneath.

And then there were blooms! Fiery red dahlias in the summer sun, wafting about above gorgeous chocolate brown foliage ...

... dahlias of a different form, spiky & showy ...

Oooh, and then there were hydrangeas, a sentimental favourite from my childhood. And in the most delicate and pretty of colours ...

And even the roses looked lovely mid-summer,

apparently untouched by hot winds.

Sweet pots of evening primrose lined stairways ...

as did ruby red penstemon:

There were little retreats for friends only to stop to rest (sign reads 'Friends Welcome, Relatives by Appointment!):

and seats of a different type, perhaps not for sitting these days! Can you see what this little red chair once was? Now that's what I call repurposing!

We saw hardy succulents flowing carelessly from pedestals ...

... and the most amazing use of echeverias for bordering vegetable beds!

And this was one of my more gob-smacking finds: a stunning lilium standing boldly & beautifully upright against a reed fence ... WOW!

And all the while, the sheep next door grazed peacefully & nonchalantly ...

 except for this one ...

... who was obviously called upon to be the showman of the mob. "Baaaa-ha-ha ... how I love an audience"!

Pink or blue? I wonder ...

A friend is expecting a baby very soon. In an attempt to be on time with a gift, I am covering my options, & preparing one in pink & one in blue!

How cool is this, Dear Jane?

If you have a Flickr account, you might like to have a play with PictoBrowser. It turned my Dear Jane set into a cool slideshow instantly. Click on the PictoBrowser button at the lower right hand corner of my slideshow if you'd like to try it. Otherwise, these are my Dear Jane blocks to date.

Chookyblue comes to town

The ever cheerful & enthusiastic Chookyblue popped in for a visit last week. Being the terrible influence that she is, she had talked me into visiting Hatched & Patched before I could blink! Here is just a sample of the temptation which greeted us at Anni Downs' beautiful shop:

Luscious 'Ava Rose' fabrics by Tanya Whelan greeted us at the front door ...

... followed closely by a new, 'quick & easy quilt' design by Anni made up in Ava Rose fabrics. This pattern quickly made it to my bag of purchases.

There were beautiful samples from Anni's newest book, 'The World as it Should Be' ...

... including the delightful 'A Peaceful Life' quilt, ideal for farm boys, old or young.

This book managed to jump into my bag too!

And there was general gorgeousness every which way: The 'Mill Flower Quilt' ...

... needlepunch from 'Simple Pleasures' ...

and stitcheries, also from 'Simple Pleasures' ...

... sweet 'Making Tea' wallhanging ...

... 'My Heart My Home' quilt ...

... and cute little felt Christmas baubles.

There was also a beautiful version of Natalie Lymer's 'Truly Scrumptious' quilt.

But this is the quilt that stopped me in my tracks on this visit:

An astonishing foundation-pieced beauty by Chris Jurd. I stood staring & admiring this quilt for ages. Very impressive! Thanks Chooky for a great day. My bank account is so much the poorer thanks to you!